Send in your membership form ASAP. The form can be downloaded from the website. It’s a tremendous help to have the form and money in as soon as possible.

John Norton

For information on CSC Races connect to the url link listed below-

   Ten skippers and crew ignored the predictions for colder weather and were rewarded for their senselessness by near perfect winter conditions for the first January Jordan (Winter Series) event at Vista Point on January 5. Steve Cardoze, Alan Backus, and Frank Mason set up a short W/L course and shortened and lengthened the races with 1 vs. 2 laps. With this arrangement we completed 5 fun races in less than 2 hours in winds that varied from 12-14 mph, gradually falling to the 5-7 mph level as the afternoon progressed.

   Four Lightnings set the standard for fleet attendance, with Henry and Avis Bridgers bringing their brand new Lightning out for its maiden voyage, along with John Pelosi, Ed Michels, and Michael Rees. The Thistles were represented by Charlie Hitlin and Kevin Sheehan. Dave Batchelor was there with his Flying Scot, John Norton and David McBrier with their Lasers, and Pete Crawford in his Capri 14.

   Ed’s far-fetched story was that he oh-so-randomly picked up his third crew in the parking lot – it turns out this guy (Nicolas Granucci) was a prior Lightning Junior Worlds runner-up Champion. Sure, Ed. We know you’ve been secretly recruiting this guy for months – probably got him a job locally and paid for his move down here. Well, Ed’s known for his tall ones. Turns out, Ed was so awe-struck he couldn’t steer the boat and had to turn the tiller over to the guy!

   Get this: David Batchelor shows up out on the racecourse sailing with a camera mounted to the masthead. Talk about getting a bird’s eye view on the fleet! Look out, we’re being watched from every angle. Next thing he told us he plans to mount a second camera on his transom. Yea, then he can record the looks on the faces of those he’s beating and put ‘em up on the web.

   Then there’s our fearless leader John Norton, sporting his Laser, renamed Kahma Door – (learn to spell, John!) and what does he do? arranges the whole affair, chili and all, then goes out there (gracious host that he is) along with his friend McBrier and the two of them beat the pants off the rest of the fleet, grinning the whole time. Some nerve.

   This was a competitive bunch this weekend. Note the finishes (on the Web under Members Only/Events/Race Series). In race 2 there was a THREE way tie on corrected times for third (each boat therefore received 4 points) between a Laser (Norton), a Lightning (Michels – excuse me – Granucci), and the Scot (Batchelor). Then the next place finisher is only one second behind them (Charlie Hitlin)! And congratulations to Avis for two firsts amongst the Lightnings. Sorry Rees, the competition is getting stiffer. Get yourself a new boat, dimwit.

   The chili social (and secret beverages) topped off the perfect afternoon (thank you John Norton, Alan Backus, and Scott Lowery, for providing us with 3 pots of great chili). Cardoze, et al., said anyone who capsized would not be entitled to any chili. Almost everyone was listening, except for Norton, who never listens to anybody. But who could deny him who fed us. Everybody rehashed their exaggerated tales of what went wrong on the racecourse (all attributed to bad luck, interestingly), while Pelosi madly documented the event with his digital camera. Joleen graciously drove 40 minutes to attend only the social, solely for the purpose of (and successfully, mind you) delighting the crowd with her niece, Amber (John, please tell me you got a picture of Amber).

   For several years the Carolina Sailing Club has been sailing year-round. The "Winter" racing is two Sundays a month, at Lake Jordan. Very Informal. Last time we had 4 Lightings among the 10 boats racing. Next days are 1/19 and 2/2. ("Summer" racing starts on Kerr on 4/12, and on Jordan on 4/26.)

Ed Michels

Sat Feb 22, 3-8 PM

Oyster roast; wine, beer, soft drinks provided

(bring warm clothes; oysters served outside!)

Feel free to bring your favorite heavy hors d'oeuvre for the food table

At the home of Henry & Avis Bridgers

74 Poplar Lane

Pittsboro, NC 27312

phone: 919-542-5547

email: chickenbridge@mindspring.com

Please RSVP; number of people who are

___oyster eaters

___non-oyster eaters

Directions on request.

   Dale Oller is a Trauma Surgeon and ex Naval Doctor who has resided in Raleigh for 15 years. Dale has a house on lake Gaston, where he keeps his Sunfish and Hobie Cat sailboats. Primarily a recreational sailor, Dale has recently been doing some racing as a crew aboard Bob Graves’ Lightning up on Lake Gaston and participated in several CSC races at Lake Gaston due to low water levels at Kerr Lake this past summer. Of the last four outings they managed to capsize two times, but Dale swears it wasn’t the crews’ fault, he places the blame squarely on the head of the helmsman. You’re learning quickly Dale (it’s always the helmsman’s fault, except when the crew forgets to uncleat the jib when tacking in 20+ mph winds)!

   Terry is married and has 3 children and his oldest daughter Alicia has crewed at the Lake Jordan Series on John Pelosi’s Lightning and Terry has crewed on a Thistle at Jordan. Alicia is planning on taking sailing lessons from the experts at CSC this year.

   Mike Sigmund is a new associate member and has been crewing on Alan Bachus’ Thistle on Lake Jordan. Mike is somewhat new to sailing, having done a little recreational dinghy sailing many years ago on the Potomac River. Although he dosen’t race it, Mike has a 18’ Chrysler Bucaneer which he has rigged for singlehanded recreational sailing. As an active member of the Army Reserve, Mike will be heading overseas at the end of this month.

   Robert Hyde lives in Raleigh and has done some crewing in the recent past with CSC sailors and is interested in doing more of the same this year.

   Thanks to you that made it out after the ice storm to come to our Annual Meeting & Party on December 7th. Everyone brought great food, considering most of us had no power. The awards and DJ provided us a rewarding and fun evening. It was great to see the junior sailors with us and getting their awards too.

   This upcoming year , look to alot of social events. We want to make sure we have as much fun off the water as we do sailing !

   After each of the Jordon Winter Races, we aim to have Socials with some grub to keep us warm. On January 5th, we had a Chili Cookoff with 3 greatentries: Texas Style, North Carolina style, and Norton style ! A "Soup Kitchen" will be our next grub event after the January 19th races.

   We're also getting together to watch the rock stars race the big AC boats ! On January 11th, 20 members and guests enjoyed the first race of the Americas Cup Challenger Finals at the Upper Deck. Competing with the pro football fans brought some jabbing, but I think they learned some things about sailing . . . . We'll be getting together on February 15th at 9pm at "Out at the Park" to watch the Americas Cup Finals on the big screen - in a private room this time. Come on out, it's great to see our favorite pastime on a big screen in a sports pub with a pint in hand.

   Don't miss our 3rd Thursday Socials at 6:30 at "Out at the Park". Because of the Feb 15th gathering and the Boat Show, we won't have a February Thursday Social, but come out March 20th.

   We've got some different ideas to try for socials after our regular Kerr Race Series with each fleet running them each month . . . stay tuned . .

   I'm interested in your ideas and assistance.

Alan Backus

Social Chair

   Launching was a challenge as the Corps of Engineers were in the process of making repairs to the dam. This reduced the water level to about eight to ten feet below normal; most of us backed down into the mud and pulled the boats out to clear water. Once in the water, however, the pace picked up. Conditions were 15 - 20 knot steady breezes with erratic puffs all over the lake. We elected to keep the spinnaker in the bag, as our skipper was concerned about launching the chute in heavy air (I was looking forward to some practice and coaching flying the spinnaker -- maybe next time). The air would become heavier later in the afternoon. A low pressure front made it’s way towards the coast the previous night that presented us with conditions that are best weathered by experienced competitors with little margin for error. As we made way towards the course I remembered Ed Michel’s cautionary remarks during the skipper’s meeting. After making a few final adjustments out on the water, Skipper Jueschke ordered us to don our life jackets. Paul is a wise and experienced Lightning sailor, always staying ahead of the boat; his decision to exercise safe sailing would become our saving grace later that afternoon. The first upset occurred when Commodore Michel’s boat capsized on a downwind run; his crew skillfully recovered to finish the race.

   I think we took ninth in the first race; two and one-half laps around a windward / leeward course. The wind picked-up during the second race and we were the first boat around the windward mark. Approaching the leeward mark we sailed through a series of quick jibes and on the last maneuver a puffer knocked the boat completely upside down (not a good place to be on a chilly, windy day). The Coast Guard tried, unsuccessfully, to right us. One of the crash boats, piloted by Brian Hayes, arrived and fished me out of the water. Brian managed to right the boat at which point he made a spectacular leap onto the deck and managed to get things under control with our third crewmember. The boat returned to Henderson Point with enough speed to enable the bailers to drain all the excess water. As we grabbed our skipper out of the water I heard the report of the signal gun echo across the lake—once, twice, and then three times conceding that we had all had enough fun for one day. I learned later that no less than five boats capsized in the second race.

   Once out of the water we began to shiver so badly that the committee transferred Paul and I from the crash boat onto the Coast Guard vessel where we were immediately ordered to go under cover into the cabin. I became very concerned about our fearless, now shivering, skipper who was exhibiting signs of hypothermia; at this point in time I was numb myself. The Coast Guard officers gave us blankets and hot coffee while we motored, at high speed, back to the clubhouse. The Capitan jokingly offered us a whack of bourbon to warm our spirits; I really did not think that this was appropriate. Besides, sailors are supposed to drink rum; right (?). We spent the next thirty minutes in the clubhouse kitchen next to the oven until we thawed enough to change into dry clothing. I later learned that our third crewmember injured his wrist shortly after the boat was righted. I always wanted to be in the Coast Guard (I should be careful what I wish for!).

   After our chilling adventure we decided not to sail on Sunday. We were not the only entry to pack up; heavy winds, whitecaps and a brisk chill on Sunday persuaded several of the other crews to head home. I watched, at a distance from the launch ramp, the remaining entries on the racecourse skillfully making way around the markers. Lightning sailors are spirited, die-hard competitors -- nothing like gusty conditions to quicken the pulse of a seasoned Lightning crew! As we disassembled Paul’s boat at the landing, three more boats left the racecourse to return to Henderson Point proclaiming that it is better safe than sorry.

   My baptism in the icy waters of Lake Kerr gave me a new religion. Witnessing fellow crewmembers freezing their toes off made a believer out of me. I have a newly found respect for safety procedures, quick thinking, and the importance of teamwork. I offer sincere gratitude to Skipper Jueschke, The Carolina Sailing Club and the Coast Guard Auxiliary as I salute Commodore Michels, as well as the skilled efforts of the Race Committee, in their coordination of the Borderline Regatta.

Frank Mason

The Carolina Sailing Club website – www.carolinasailingclub.org has updated news information such as Race Series Calendars, Race Series Locations and Directions, Social Calendars, Sailing Photos, Seminars, Boat Shows, CSC Board Meeting Reports and links to other sailing web sites. For new information recently added to the website follow the link below.

http://www.carolinasailingclub.org/news/changes.htm

If you have any questions, and or suggestions about the newsletter please contact George McKim at gmckim@bellsouth.net or call me at 782-3029.