Please watch your mail box for your 2007 OSYC annual dues statement and get a check and your updated information form back to me as soon as you get a chance. 2007 dues are $240 and the 2007 slip fees total $200. Checks should be mailed to OSYC, C/O Jay Harrell, 2710 Henderson Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341. Payments are considered 30 days late as of February 1. Thanks, Jay

From time to time members store left over food in the club refer/frig and occasionally it stays in there for a long time. The refer/frig is cleaned out by volunteers and if is sometimes hard to tell what needs to be thrown out and what should be kept. To help out these volunteer cleaners, it would help if, when you leave food, you would put your name and date on the container. This will help them distinguise between personal items and those that are invertory from the last club event and also identify left overs which may have been forgotten by their owners. Your cooperation will be appreciated.

Photos which I took at the Halloween Party in October 2006 have been posted. [PHOTOS->http://osyc.net/photos/2006-10-28%20Halloween/] If others have photos they would like to share, send them to me by [email->mailto:jimmy.harrell@riverside.net]

Notice!! {{{ During Winter Months The Water May be Turned Off Due to Possibility of Freezing Pipes CHECK TO SEE IF WATER IS ON BEFORE USING TOILETS (BY TURNING ON LAVATORY FAUCET)}}} TO TURN THE WATER ON Take the [T-Handle->http://OSYC.net/photos/Water/photo001.htm]tool hanging on the back of the storage room door and proceed to the [water meter->http://OSYC.net/photos/Water/photo002.htm] which is located next to the chain link fence near the street, about half way between the gate and the lift. Place the end of the tool over the valve which is on the street side of the meter and turn counter clockwise. OK to leave the water on until you leave at the end of the day. [Photos->http://OSYC.net/photos/Water/]

Its time to start thinking about the Pensacola BEER Cruise in June. Click on the link for more information. [BEER 2007 Web Site->http://bellsouthpwp2.net/b/s/bs_allen/index.htm] Send an email to [Ben Allen->mailto:bs_allen@bellsouth.net] if you want to be on the skippers list. Include the following information: Skipper, Vessel, Boat Type, State of Residence Some will arrive earlier than the official start and stay later. I hear that Bob Horan who is retiring soon will be down there for three weeks. Maybe he will let some of us join him. I would like to comple a list of OSYC members who might be planning to go. Send me an [email->mailto:jimmy.harrell@riverside.net], including your cell phone number, and I will compile an OSYC skippers list. Cell phones will be useful in keeping intouch during the curise as well as on the road. Never can tell when someone might need some assistance.

The forecast was for 80 degrees, partly cloudy and decent wind. A regular fairy tale for sailing in November, as we suited up in shorts and tee shirts and headed out to finish off the OSYC racing year. We choose the standard distance course – from the club around Hauck’s Reef and return. Sailing were Jay Harrell, David Huggins and Doug MacMillan on Jay’s Viper, Bill Shaw and Carl Saylor on Bill’s Viper, Jimmy Harrell and Calvin Smith on Jay’s Beneteau, and John and Sherry Davis on their O’Day. It looked like a normal day until we got past Erin Point. The wind was NW giving us a close reach up the lake with an occasional tack away from the shore. But I was busy getting the feel of my new boat and didn’t notice the big veer left in the wind direction. We were having a blast eeking out every bit of pointing and boat speed from each gust and lull, until I started looking for the island that marks the reef. It should be right there, yes? NO! We had sailed up the wrong creek. After sheepishly turning back downwind, we eventually caught Calvin and Jimmy – “Where ya’ll been?”. Grumble. We passed them before the turn at the reef, but not by much. Bill and his Viper were far ahead with the spinnaker up. But I had already been tricked by the wind once – we stuck with the jib and were rewarded. In the meantime we also watched what happens to a Viper when a spinnaker broach takes the mast horizontal. To wit: nothing, it just comes back up. And that’s with the heavy aluminum mast. (Note to Justin, the keel is heavy enough already.) Granted Bill and Carl were just out playing, but we still managed to beat them back to the finish line, then turned and did a bit of a joy ride to practice out spinnaker work. We obviously need more. Here’s the kicker: this year, the record run on Hauck’s Reef has been 1:41 for keel boat and 1:35 for a Thistle. We finished in 1:23, even with a detour and no spinnaker, and didn’t break a sweat. I’m wondering what we can do with a good wind. Bill finished a short time after us, and Jimmy some time later (I forgot to record the times.) John and Sherry suffered from a distinct lack of wind and got in somewhat later. Sunday dawned cool and howling for our final “fun race” of the season. Unfortunately, the howling died down to meerly “good breeze” by the time hit the water. Jay and Paul Bolinger took out the Viper, and Jimmy and Anastasia Bolinger and Bryan Jackson took out the Beneteau for a few cruiser quest points. Paul and I worked out a few more of the bugs with the spinnaker drop and I’m starting to have some hope for the one line retrieval system. It’s still harder than using a turtle, but it’s improving every day. And that’s all folks. The club goes dormant for the holidays, but we are already thinking about the ‘Frostbite’ series in January.

{{{Minutes of the Oconee Sailing and Yacht Club Fall Membership Meeting}}} {{{November 11, 2006}}} {{Call to Order}} The meeting was called to order by Commodore Bill Shaw at 7:30pm in the OSYC Clubhouse. Jay Harrell was present as Secretary. {{Role call and establishment of a quorum}} A count of voting member/families present was done by a standing count-off and collection of proxies. The following 6 proxies were submitted: – 1. Ronnie Hartley to Al Hauck – 2. Roger Hartley to Al Hauck – 3. Tommy Barker to Jimmy Harrell – 4. David Huggins to Jay Harrell – 5. Jack Mahaney to Jay Harrell – 6. Shawn Bresnehan to Jay Harrell The following 32 voting member/families were represented and voting in person: – 1. Abrams, Warren & Linda – 2. Ballard, Charles & Regina – 3. Ballard, Richard & Cynthia – 4. Bollinger, Paul & Anastasia – 5. Bragg, Mike – 6. Brown, Ken & Michelle – 7. Corbin, Miriam – 8. Davis, John & Sherry – 9. Duncan, Dave & Mary – 10. Ekstrom, Pete & Joan – 11. Enchelmayer, Carl & Susan – 12. Griffin, Ken & Jennifer – 13. Harrell, Jay & Sally – 14. Harrell, Jimmy & Charlotte – 15. Hauck, Al & Ginny – 16. Hinson, Tom & Mary Helen – 17. Horan, Bob & Jean – 18. Hunter, Bill & Fran – 19. Jackson, Bryan & Marie – 20. MacMillan, Doug & Debby – 21. MacMillan Jr., Doug & Nikki – 22. Morrow, Jeff & Linda – 23. Mueller, Dick & Arlene – 24. Phillips, Greg & Charlotte – 25. Saylor, Carl – 26. Schnider, David – 27. Shaw, Bill & Kay – 28. Shaw, Roger & Candi – 29. Smith, Calvin & Grayson – 30. Wisdom, Mike – 31. Young, Ronnie & Sandy – 32. Thorpe, George Finding 38 members present in person or by proxy, the chair ruled that a quorum was present. There were no objections. {{Approval of the minute}}s The minutes of the Spring Meeting were read by Secretary Jay Harrell. No corrections were noted. The minutes were approved as read by voice vote. {{ Committee Reports}} The following Committee Reports were given: – 1. Membership Report by Secretary Jay Harrell: the club stands at 74 paying members. – 2. Financial Report by Treasurer Jay Harrell: attached statements were distributed and discussed. – 3. Docks and Grounds Report by Jimmy Harrell. – 4. Membership Committee Report by Dick Mueller. Attached. Committee members at this time are: Dick Mueller, Past Commodore; Jimmy Harrell, Vice Commodore; Howard Gregory, Trustee; Ronnie Young, at large; Pete Ekstrom, at large. – 5. Racing Report by Doug MacMillan Jr. “Racer of the Year” award was presented to Ken and Jennifer Griffin. – 6. Cruising Report by Jimmy Harrell. “Cruiser of the Year” award was presented to Greg and Charlotte Phillips. – 7. “Member of the Year” award was presented to Dick and Arlene Mueller by Commodore Bill Shaw. {{Nomination of Officers}} Al Hauck presented the report of the Nominating Committee. The Committee nominated the current slate of officers and board members for re-election, unchanged, as follows: – * Bill Shaw for Commodore – * Jimmy Harrell for Vice-Commodore – * Jay Harrell for Secretary/Treasurer – * Al Hauck, Ronnie Hartley, Bob Horan, and Howard Gregory for Trustees John Davis made the following nominations from the floor, which were seconded: – * Ronnie Young to replace Ronnie Hartley – * Greg Phillips to replace Al Hauck – * Ken Griffin to replace Howard Gregory Hearing no further nominations, the Commodore closed the nominations. {{Election of Officers}} Ballots were counted and distributed. Additional ballots were given to proxy holders. Ballots were marked, collected and presented to the Secretary. The Secretary requested Paul Bollinger to help with counting ballots. The final tally is as follows: – * 38 total votes cast – * 38 votes for Bill Shaw – * 38 votes for Jimmy Harrell – * 38 votes for Jay Harrell – * 38 votes for Bob Horan – * 18 votes for Howard Gregory vs. 20 votes for Ken Griffin – * 17 votes for Ronnie Hartley vs. 21 votes for Ronnie Young – * 16 votes for Al Hauck vs. 22 votes for Greg Phillips The winning candidates were: – Bill Shaw for Commodore – Jimmy Harrell for Vice Commodore – Jay Harrell for Secretary – Bob Horan, Ken Griffin, Ronnie Young, and Greg Phillips as Trustees. The winning candidates were asked if they were willing to serve. Ken Griffin declined to serve. Hearing no objections, Howard Gregory was elected. New board is as follows: – Bill Shaw, Commodore – Jimmy Harrell, Vice-Commodore – Jay Harrell, Secretary/Treasurer – Dick Mueller, Past-Commodore – Bob Horan, Greg Phillips, Ronnie Young, and Howard Gregory, Trustees {{New Business}} Calvin Smith moved as follows (copy of his hand-out is attached): “{Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees examine Article IV Section 2 of the Constitution and Section IV of the Bylaws and present to the Spring Meeting 2007 amendments to said sections of the Constitution and Bylaws that will amend the present wording in such a way that the membership process be changed to establish: 1. A Probationary period for new members. 2. An affirmative vote by the membership for the final acceptance of new members. 3. Substantial removal of the black ball provision now present in said articles}.” The motion was seconded, and debated. Doug MacMillan moved to amend as follows (copy submitted to secretary is attached): {Strike all text after Spring Meeting 2007 and replace with the following: “a report regarding whether or not the club’s membership process needs to be amended along with any subsequent amendments}”. The motion to amend was seconded and debated. Mr. MacMillan’s amendment was adopted by a voice vote. Mr. Smith’s motion, as amended was re-read as follows: “{Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees examine Article IV Section 2 of the Constitution and Section IV of the Bylaws and present to the Spring Meeting 2007 a report regarding whether or not the club’s membership process needs to be amended along with any subsequent amendments.}” Mr. Smith motion, as amended, was voted by a show of hands. 20 people voted “Yes”. Finding 20 votes to exceed half of the 38 votes present, the motion was adopted. {{Adjournment}} Commodore called for any other New Business, finding none the meeting was adjourned.

It came as no surprise to anyone to discover that OSYC has more than one sailor who likes to go {really} fast. So when Bill showed up with his cool new Viper, I just had to give it a try. The results: easy, fast, fun. Then he tells me there’s one for sale in Savannah, and the kids really wanted to take a trip to Tybee, and I happen to like fast boats… So suddenly, OSYC is home to the fastest growing one-design fleet of Vipers in the southeast, reaching a 100% growth rate in just a few weeks, and adding an entire new class of boats to the OSYC results pages. I got my very used “new-to-me” boat set up just in time for the club Halloween Regatta. Which would have been great except for the wind howling down the lake blowing the tops off the whitecaps – I was hoping for something a little less for the maiden run. So we raced the Beneteau on a simple out-and-back course (which Ken won once again) and had fun as usual. Back at the dock, I just couldn’t take it any longer, the wind appeared to have dropped a bit and I had two crew ready for a spin. So we backed her down the ramp, struggled with a misaligned keel bolt and finally headed out. The whitecaps came back pretty quickly, but it turns out the Viper loved it – and so did the crew. The spinnaker ride was truly outstanding, despite the lack of a GPS to record our speed. (The spinnaker retrieval took us about forever and I was wondering how we were going to avoid the dam and still sail downwind.) Yep, she’s solid and fully broken in now – when the wind blows, the Viper is going sailing! And one day, when we stop dropping the spinnakers in the water, we might even win some Portsmouth races despite our 70.4 DPN! In the meantime, we’ll just have to make do with line honors and match racing with Bill So don’t forget, these boats are more fun sailed with three crew so come join the fun. And if the bug bites, we can introduce you to Justin Scott who can help you find your very own Viper.

2006 Annual Halloween open Regatta October 28 and 29Sailboat Races Saturday Dinner Costume Party and Contest Raffle to Raise Money for Storage Shed – – – – – – – – [CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS->http://osyc.net/news/2006_Halloween_Regatta.htm]