CYC KeelBoaters tender and crash boat assignments 2010.

Dear Keel boaters,

As a member of the Calhoun Yacht Club and participating in the CYC Keelboat races on Saturday mornings we have the responsibility and assignment once or twice to Tender and safety crash boat duty during the season.

All active members, C-Boaters, Laser sailors and Keel boaters are helping out here to keep safety standards high on our lake during races and as well for transport before and after races to our boats this way we do not have to pay out of our CYC financial reserves for this to members of the Calhoun Sailing Club.

I placed a link here on our blog under "Important Information" where you can find the dates of your tender assignment during the 2010 sailing season. http://www.lakecalhoun.org/cyc/racing/schedule_judge.html

Please have a look at this and if you need to change a date please contact me.

Thanks.
Henk

Brian and Alberto Launching their Catalina 27.

Dear Keelboaters,

After weeks of hard work and planning finally Brian and Alberto where able to lauch their Catalina 27 into Lake Calhoun and will be participating in the next CYC Keelboat races.

We all wish them luck and fair winds.

Follow Captain Bligh

Four men are attempting to sail an open boat the same course that Bligh took when set adrift from the Bounty

CYC Member ship payments season 2010

Dear Keelboaters.

If you want to sign up for the Calhoun Yacht Club or still have to pay your 2010 fees please contact me next Saturday before the race or give me a call at 612-310-0113 or send me an email at henkberkheij@gmail.com

See you all at the lake tomorrow.

Henk.

First Keel Boat Race of the season last Saturday

Dear Keelboat sailors,


Last Saturday we sailed our first race of the year and thank you for all being there at the start line on time. It was a fantastic morning with sunshine, winds up to 15 knots with gusts even higher.

It was great to see us all preparing for the race and even Nabil was on time, hahaha, the start was confusing for some, like Henk, did found out the race already started after a minute or so, Brian, Nabil and Rick and family took off on a starboard tack and Rich sailed free of foul winds on a port reach out to the middle of the Lake with Henk and Wenona in pursuit, Alberto with Brian’s party boat stayed a little behind but came in line as well after a few minutes. After picking up some good winds Henk was able to round the first buoy in front of Rich and was able to make distance of the whole fleet and with his new sail the Macgregor took off with a non-disputed lead. The last minutes of the race Brian and Rich fought for the second and third place and even when Brian was able to overtake Rich it was him to beat them in the last yards.

The plan was to sail a second but shorter Olympic course but it was decided that there was too little time left as the C-Boater’s where supposed to race after us.

Discussions with the CYC board are underway for the Keel Boats to race two small Olympic courses, When the judge sees that one or more boats will take too much time to finish the first race they are entitled to let the skippers know the race stopped so we can all line up for the second race.

If there are any other idea’s please let me know.

See you all at the next race Saturday the 5th at 11 AM

Vandals on Lake Harriet strike again by Clay Babcock

I have to report that sadly, a boat has been damaged by mindless vandals again on Lake Harriet. Unbelievably, it has happened to one of the boats that was heavily damaged in last August's attack.

This time, they broke into a forward hatch, climbed in, and after drinking some beer they brought with them and smoking some pot, ransacked the boat.

 I LOST a boat in that last attack, so writing this post makes me feel ill. And as bad as this all is, there are several factors that make this even more disturbing.

Read more at:
http://www.cruisinglakeharriet.com/2010/05/vandals-on-lake-harriet-stike-again.html

Last Saturday's Keelboat race falling in the water

Last Saturday morning six keelboats prepared to race each other for the first time this season 2010.

Before starting this little report I wanted to welcome Werner and Bill to our little Keelboat racing group and it was great to see them all prepared and take off as the first boat heading for the start line at the south side of the lake. Alberto rigged Brian’s party boat and sailed with no crew, we welcome newcomer Sandy to the Keelboat fleet with her O’Day Mariner 19, she sailed with Brian out on the lake, Roger had his family on board, Rick sailed with his wife and Henk and Wenona welcomed Clay from Lake Harriet as crew member.

Ed Schwarz was our judge and he set up the Olympic course, during this period the weather started to change quick with black clouds, winds where picking up and rain started to fall with buckets at the time on all of us. Ed informed all captains that if he noticed any lightning he would cancel the race and that is what happened lightning lighted up the sky and thunder fell upon us, after just 15 minutes sailing we all docked and went for cover at the Tin Fish warming up with hot coffee with our after sail conversations.

On our way home we run into Nabil and informed us that he would be with us racing next Saturday as well as Rich. So, with luck we count at least on 8 boats.

Thank you all for being there and see you Saturday May 29 for the first official race.