We all wish you a happy 2011

Arrival Wenona & Henk in Amsterdam Oct. 1. 2010

2010 Sydney-Hobart race winner faces protest over alleged rule breach

http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/

(CNN) -- Wild Oats XI crossed the line first in the 66th Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Tuesday, but the Australian super maxi's fifth victory in the annual event is in doubt due to an official protest.


Wild Oats and Ran were both reported by the race committee a few hours earlier after breaking safety rules by failing to make radio contact, and a hearing will be held on Wednesday.

"Both have reported only by telephone, which does not comply, so the protests were lodged at 5.05 p.m. today," committee chairman Tim Cox said.

The rules are in place after six people died when severe weather conditions hit the 1998 race, sinking five yachts and forcing a record 66 to retire.

"This is a fundamental safety issue," Cox said. "Should a situation occur, we cannot organize search and rescue operations via telephones. I consider this a serious breach."

There is no way that as skipper I would have left Green Cape without knowing we were 100% compliant with the rules

The 100-foot Wild Oats, skippered by Australian Mark Richards, sailed into the Tasmanian capital two days, seven hours, 37 minutes and 20 seconds after leaving Sydney Harbor, having led most of the way.

"A few people got their facts mixed up," Richards said. "We've got some of the most accredited yachtsmen and women on this boat. We've won numerous world championships. We've dealt with juries all our lives and we're very confident we did everything by the book.

"It is disappointing. There is no way that as skipper I would have left Green Cape [on the south coast of New South Wales] without knowing we were 100% compliant with the rules."

Wild Oats finished second last year, breaking a run of four successive victories.

But this time Richards and crew safely negotiated gale-force conditions which led to 16 boats retiring to finish well ahead of their rivals, completing their journey up the Derwent River at 8:37 p.m. local time (0937 GMT.)

Second-placed Investec Royal was not expected to finish before midnight.

Its skipper Sean Langman reported that his boat had experienced several problems.

"The damage we sustained was to the reef lines earlier and some tack lines on the headsail which, running without a headsail, put us an hour back. Also, a fuel tank broke lose. These tanks carry so much fuel that you've got a quarter of a ton to manhandle, which is difficult," he said on Tuesday.

"We didn't realize that we had a substantial leak in the bow and carried on with a ton and a half of water, which we only detected this morning. We have a watertight bulkhead up there and when we opened it, water came pouring out." British entry Ran, skippered by Niklas Zennstrom and one of the pre-race favorites for line honors, was well off the pace in 12th place.

Sydney-Hobart race winner faces protest over alleged rule breach

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Sailing days in 2011

Merry Christmas and Happy Sailing days in 2011

Wenona and Henk

Kevin Jewett and Michael Kuschner campaign for the 2012 Olympics

With Your Help…



Kevin Jewett and Michael Kuschner campaign for the 2012 Olympics


Many of you remember Kevin Jewett and Michael Kuschner from their years with the Lake Calhoun Sailing School (LCSS). Both of these sailors now have extensive racing resumes!

Kevin taught sailing and coached some of the first successful LCSS racing teams, at the time using the X-Class boats. He was devoted to success, and developing our young sailors who showed interest in competitive sailing. Kevin’s sailing resume includes his 2004 Olympic Campaign for a US Boardsailing position.

Michael was in the LCSS sailing program for three seasons, and showed immediate enthusiasm and desire to develop his skills in competitive sailing. He exhibited early success in the X-Class, and also went on the learn and compete in other class boats. His sailing resume includes a position on the US Sailing Team during the 2005 Kiel Week.

Now, Kevin and Michael have teamed up to sail the highly competitive 49er Class boat in the upcoming Olympic Trials in preparation to gain a position in the US Sailing Team for the 2012 Olympics.

Your support is needed at this time, to help fulfill their dreams of Olympic sailing and to win a Gold Medal!

The Calhoun Yacht Club has resolved to support Kevin and Michael through a matching grant donation. Donations to the Jewett/Kuschner Olympic Campaign Fund, through the Geneva Lake Sailing School, are tax deductible for the donor, while CYC funds are not. To encourage individual contributions, CYC will match individual donations, up to a total match of $500. When you donate to the JK Olympic Campaign Fund, inform CYC Commodore Mike Elson at melson@visi.com of the amount. Your donation will be kept confidential. Again, CYC will match the first $500 total of the individual donations. (CYC is assuming you want the deduction for the 2010 tax year.)

On their website www.jksailing.org you will also find more detailed information on Kevin and Michael’s campaign, as well as sailing items which will generate additional contributions to the fund.

Manny thanks for your consideration.

http://yachtpals.com/olympics-sailing-49er-3016

To all CYC members "To acquire a 1985 Class A boat".

Hi All Sailors,

As many of you know a group of Lake Calhoun sailors have ventured out in an effort to expand our sailing experiences to acquire a 1985 Class A boat. We have join the White Bear Lake sailors and are one of 9 A boats racing Monday nights during the summer.

We are entering our 5th year and are looking to expand out group. This is a little different arrangement because all the sailors own a equal portion of this boat. We are looking to expand our group of five to as many as ten for the 2011 season.

Members come and go and the group has shrunk to four racers. To join we ask for a buy in fee (used to improve the boat) and a annual operation fee ( used for maintenance, insurance and fees). Total would be under $2,000 for 2011 and the operation fee has been between $350 and $450 per year each. If the group chooses to sail in an off lake regatta the people racing will cover those cost. As you may know there are 6 positions on an A boat.

What makes the A boat so fun is that of all scows the A boat is more dependent on the team that any other. The positions include, jib person, board person, spinnaker person, spinnaker helper and back stay person, mainsail person and skipper. We will need help in any and all positions. New crew members are expected to race with us on Monday nights on White Bear Lake from late May until mid September.

Sailors are expected to show up between 5 and 5:15 Monday nights. We are off the lake between 8:30 and 9. We understand every one cannot make every night. This is why we want as many as ten owners. There is talk on also sailing on Sunday nights if there is enough interest.

If this opportunity in interesting to you please call me.

Bill Coppage

Office 952-942-5322

Intelnet 8*207-3597

Cell 952-221-5965

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-Scow

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Rolex / Daniel Forster

Over the years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Cruising Yacht Club of Australia have had marked influence on international ocean yacht racing. The club has influenced the world in race communications and sea safety, maintaining the highest standards for yacht race entry.

The club’s members have also fared well in major ocean racing events overseas, with victories in the Admiral’s Cup, Kenwood Cup, One Ton Cup, the Fastnet Race and the BOC Challenge solo race around the word, not to mention the America’s Cup.

Read how the Rolex Sydney Hobart began in David Colfelt's obituary of Peter Luke, CYCA co-founder. Article courtesy of David and Offshore Yachting, Dec/Jan 08 issue.

http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/editorial.asp?key=527

Passion for Sailing Yields CYC Awards for Research Data Director

Passion for Sailing Yields Awards for Research Data Director


Posted on Dec. 8, 2010

Sailing has always been a passion for the Owens family. “It’s really fun when the wind is right and you can feel the power,” said Ed Owens Jr. MS, DC, director of Office of Data Management at Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies. The Owens family was recognized on Nov. 14 by the Calhoun Yacht Club for their performance at the weekly races on Lake Calhoun.

They received three prizes including the Most Improved Sailor award. “This award indicates that some of the more experienced sailors are getting worried that I might be able to beat them soon,” Dr. Owens joked.

The Owens’ family also received the Family Participation Bowl, which is awarded to the family who participated the most and works as a team. Dr. Owens’ wife, Lilli, enjoys spending time with her family on the lakes. “We are unable to resist being on the water and enjoy where the wind takes us,” she said.

The Owens daughter, Emily, a student at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, received the Knoblach Bucket award for the most spectacular crash of the season. “It was most spectacular because it involved a double flip over and finally, the boat sailed away with no one on board,” Dr. Owens said. “I maintain that it was all a training exercise, and it demonstrated how the bottom of the boat is clearly marked, ‘I meant to do that!’”

Emily said the crash was the perfect learning opportunity. “I was honored and excited because I did something extreme and I’m very proud to learn from my mistakes,” she said. “My only worry was when the boat sailed away without us!”

Dr. Owens said his family joined the club two years ago and has enjoyed meeting new people. “There are some great folks in the club that will go out of their way to help each other out,” he said. “We were quite pleased to receive the awards and they came as a complete surprise.”

http://www.nwhealth.edu/nwtoday/edwardowens.html

Congratulations.

Merry Christmas to all

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

To all Sailor Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving we sure miss you guys.

Henk & Wenona

A dicey approach in a bit of wind

Do this several times, until you're really good at it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBsA3wa5OGE

Congratulations to all 2010 Champions

Hi Sailing Friends,

Congratulations to all of you to be part of the CYC Keelboat racing and I hope that after this winter season you will continue the effort.

Don't for get the CYC Gala Diner and pick up your Cup's and be proud of it.

Here in Holland all is fine and will keep you informed.

Regards.

Henk

Race Results and Scoring

Henk tells me that the scoring for the Keelboat Fleet races is in need of explanation. No surprise, considering my own ascent up the learning curve which is still in progress. So I'll do my best.

First, the season results are as follows:

Leadbelly Series – 4 races sailed – May 29 through June 19
1st place – Rich Makela
2nd place – Henk Berkheij
3rd place – Brian Bourne/Alberto Forte

Party Boat Series – 2 races sailed – July 10 & 24
1st place – Brain Bourne/Alberto Forte
2nd place – Rick Kane
3rd place – Henk Berkheij

Handicap Series – 2 races sailed – August 14 & September 4
1st place – Rich Makela
2nd place – Henk Berkheij
3rd place – Rick Kane

Season Championship – June-July-August races
1st place – Brain Bourne/Alberto Forte
2nd place – Rich Makela
3rd place – Henk Berkheij

In the Championship Series each boat’s worst score is thrown out (not included in the total).

Each boat is assigned a handicap that accounts for differences in length, sail area, and other factors that affect boat speed. Handicaps were obtained from the list on the US Sailing web site. For reasons the scorer is still trying to understand, a particular class of boat may be assigned different handicaps by different clubs. US Sailing lists the maximum, minimum and average of all figures reported. Your scorer used the average for each class in 2009 and 2010. The handicap is used to adjust the finishing times to determine the finishing order for scoring.

We’ll start off next season with a gathering in which you can all ask questions and get better acquainted with the scoring system, and offer suggestions on how to make the results easier to follow. In fact, such suggestions are welcome anytime.

See you all at the banquet on November 14.

CYC Awards Banquet November 14

We missed it!

With all the hoopla of Henk & Wenona's party, we somehow missed the fact that it was Talk Like A Pirate Day!!!!
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

My pirate name is - Mad Jack Cash!!
http://www.piratequiz.com
-Rick K

CYC Goodbye BBQ Party for Wenona and Henk - Sept,19,2010

Dear sailing Friends,

Wenona and I would like to thank you, especially Mike and Shannon, for the great farewell BBQ party at Lake Calhoun yesterday September 19. We wish the CYC and all its members all the best and fair winds. Our new residence will be in Central Holland close to the city of Utrecht called Woerden just about 30 minutes from Amsterdam.

Fortunately, Henk has old Navy friends owning 38" keelboats cruising the North Sea so we will be sailing those waters after our Dutch winter.

Through this Blog and Facebook we will keep in contact with you all and follow your races, the CYC activities and keelboat races.

Thank you again for all for your trust and friendship.

Wenona and Henk

No Race September 18

The CYC judges boat, with all the marks, will be operating on Lake Harriet on Saturday, September 18, in support of the annual Die Hard Regatta sponsored by Lake Harriet Yacht Club. Therefore the CYC Keelboat Fleet will not race on Saturday. Weather permitting, some of us may come down to sail anyway just for the joy of it.

Alberto needed a better vantage point...

Last Saturday evening, A night of goodbyes and music.

Dear Friends,

By Alberto's imitative, Brian and Deanne, Shannon and Judy joint last Saturday at the Red Stag Supper Restaurant for a farewell evening for Wenona and Henk.

It was a great evening, although we missed some people like Nabil and others.

After we had our meals and some cocktails we moved to the other site of the restaurant where Alberto's friend Karen set up her Karaoke show.

She has a beautiful voice and after a few more cocktails Henk sung "Just the way you are" from Billy Joel and dedicated the song to his lovely wife Wenona and later sung Endless Love in a duet with Karen.

It was a great evening and thanks again to all.

Wenona & Henk.

The day the "Excessive" was sold - Friday September 3th 2010

The new owners of the Excessive at Lake Calhoun.

Dear Keelboaters,

Please meet Dan and Sonia the new proud owners of the the "Excessive" .

Wenona and Henk wish them great rides and fair winds and we hope that you will be as helpful with them as you all have been with us over the  years.

Good Luck and many thanks.