Awards Galore

Pat Dolan accepts the Ron Wilson Award

The 2005 Awards Banquet last Friday was a big success. Thanks to Lisa Winters for her leadership in coordinating the event.

Fleet awards were given to qualifiers in the Sunfish, Laser and Lightning fleets. John Fishbeck, Doug Carlson and the "Wind Dancer" team headed by Pat Dolan received the championship awards.

In addition, a number of other awards were handed out:
  Crew of the Year: Scott Watkins and Gil Chesbro

  Rookie of the Year: Jamie Rasmussen

  Corinthian Award: Larry Koster

  Jane Marshall Wet Bottom Award: Susanna Tellschow

  Flying Wedge Award: Blaine Severin and Tom Deits (for the "perfect bowline" that didn't get tied to the dock.

The Ron Wilson Award, recognizing a club member that most demonstrates the club dedication, active racing participation and enthusiasm for sailing exemplified by late friend and longtime club member Ron Wilson, was given to Pat Dolan.

Susanna Says Thanks

Susanna takes a picture last Friday. Many e-Sheet and web site photos in 2005 were taken by Susanna.

Editors Note: Susanna Tellschow made several trips to the podium last Friday at accept awards. She qualified and received awards in both the Sunfish and Laser Fleet Racing. She was also recognized for Skippering a Lightning as well as being on the "Wind Dancer" team that won the Lightning season championships. Susanna also received the Jane Marshall Wet Bottom Award. We received the following note from Susanna.

I got caught off guard Friday and was left speechless - literally. Pat offered the e-sheet, so I could say thanks for the generosity of so many people this summer, providing a sailing experience which was broader and more extensive than I could have hoped for - to Pat, and Mike for their time, tutoring, and the loan of Lasers, to Doug, Jim Fletcher, and Terry for the help in racing (and a chance to dunk a Lightning!), to Maribeth for the loan of her Sunfish to qualify, and a very special thank you to the Marshalls for their wonderful donation to the club that provided an extended introduction to skippering in the Lightning fleet - what a great summer! See you next season!!

Moody Re-Elected, 2006 Budget and Dues Set

Stephanie and Mike Moody at Friday's Banquet

Mike Moody was re-elected Commodore of the Lansing Sailing Club for the 2006 year at last Friday's Annual Meeting, as were most other members of the Board of Directors.

Also returning will be Pat Dolan as Vice-Commodore, Merrick Hurlbutt as Secretary, Dave MacKenzie as Treasurer, Gil Chesbro as Facility Director, Doug Carlson as Director of Club Boats and Ann Siegle as Post-Commodore.

New to the Board for 2006 will be Jim Fletcher as Rear Commodore, Susanna Tellschow as Member-at-Large thru 2007 and Jamie Rasmussen as Member-at-Large thru 2006.

Members at this Annual Meeting also adopted a budget, dues and fees for 2006. Dues and fees will increase slightly to approximate cost of living increases. Regular Dues will be $430. Major projects budgeted for 2006 include initiating work on the waterfront where the seawall and ramps are deteriorating rapidly. Another major project budgeted is dock section replacement and a committee is already at work on researching options available.

Crew Overboard Rescue Requires Practice

The Quick Return Maneuver

More than 100 individuals recently participated in on-the-water studies of crew overboard rescue techniques. Using a variety of boats, including both sail and power boats, the group spent four days in August on San Francisco Bay practicing a number of techniques.

The most important finding is that practicing crew rescue is the most critical element. At least five different boat maneuvering techniques were used in the exercises, including the Quick Return method shown at right in an image from the Royal Ocean Racing Club web site.

Other rescue methods include the Figure-Eight, Deep Beam Reach, Fast Return and Gybe to Hove-To. The method that works best depends in part on what point of sail the boat is on when a crew member goes overboard.

Complete details on this event and the findings after four days of research and practice can be found at www.cobevent.com.

"The bottom line," says freelance writer Danielle Dignan whose article on this event appears in the current "Sailing" magazine, "is that to save someone from the water you must be able to return to that person as quickly as possible, while keeping everyone involved safe. The only way to develop confidence with these skills is to practice often. Many people are surprised to find that practicing recovery maneuvers can actually be fun, improve the general sailing skills and wind awareness of everyone onboard, and teach the skipper a thing or two about his or her own boat. At all costs minimize the risk of someone going overboard, and when the unfortunate happens, know for certain what method you will use to recover someone. And if no one ever falls off your boat just think how many fenders and hats you can recover perfectly.

• 2006 Listings will begin in March.

• The complete Calendar of Events is on the LSC Web Site. Click on "Calendar"
• Second Wednesdays: Informal Gathering at Spagnoulas. 7:30 thru May

• Volvo Round the World Ocean Race. Seven boats in a round the world race ending in mid June 2006.