October 2025 Papoose Article

The Lake Mohawk Yacht Club started August with major repair work on the floating dock and the T-dock, led by Rear Commodore, Docks and Grounds, Jon Hirschey and ended the month with a fantastic Margaritaville Night Party at the Tiki Bar led by Kristina Genovese with a lot of sailing in between, including the Marine Base Regatta led by Snipe Fleet Captain Peter Roos.

On the afternoons of August 5 th through 7 th , Jon Hirschey led a team that included John Trela, Toby and Carol Hilgendorff, Alex Fox and Bill Robinson to replace all of the planking boards on the older sections of the floating dock and many of the older boards on the T-dock. Both docks are now in great shape.

On August 3, with a course adjusted by RC Hank Jelinek for the light wind, six sailboats: two Lasers, 3 Sunfish and a Hunter 140 sailed two races. In the first race, based on the Portsmouth Handicap, John Trela and Toby Hilgendorff in Lasers were first and second; Dmitry Kersh in a Hunter 140 was third; Dave Buza, Jon Hirschey, and Xavier Franko in Sunfish were fourth through sixth. In the second race Trela and Hilgendorff were first and second again and Dave Buza was third.

On August 17 th , Peter Roos, Captain of the Snipe Fleet, organized the Marine Base Regatta, opened to all Lake Mohawk Country Club members with a sailboat, with trophies for the first three places. The sailboats were scored on a handicap system. The Regatta had been postponed from the week before, due to lack of wind. Despite the radar showing that there were thunderstorms in the area, with one that looked like it would clip the edge of the Lake, nine sailboats: two Lightnings, two Snipes, a Laser, a Hobie Wave, a Hunter 140, an American 18, and a Sunfish, with intrepid sailors onboard headed to the starting line.

With the wind out the Southwest and a six-leg race scheduled, Rich and Gail Miner and Bob McNamara in a Lightning were able to get a good start near the Committee boat, with Toby and Carol Hilgendorff also in a Lightning close behind and Jon Hirschey in a Hobie Wave on the line a little bit to leeward. Tim Mackey in a Snipe moved up on the first beat. On the second beat, Chris Mackey, also in a Snipe, caught a great lift that carried him up to the weather mark and into second place. At the second weather mark, the wind suddenly shifted from Southwest to Northwest. By the jibe mark, the wind continued to shift toward the North, and there were whitecaps covering the lake and thunder was heard in the distance. It became obvious wind was spinning off of a thunderstorm, and a leg that was planned to be off the wind had become a beat with strong winds and whitecaps all over the course.

Based on the Portsmouth handicap scoring, the Miners finished 1st , Chris Mackey 2nd , the Hilgendorffs 3rd , Dmitry Kersh in a Hunter 140 in 4th , Jon Hirschey in 5th, and John Trela in a Laser in 6 th . The second race was canceled due to high winds and some capsizes. However, at the party that followed the Regatta, everyone had a good time.

On August 24th , the wind was light and variable, so the LMYC had a single-handed day with two Lasers and four Sunfish and Hank Jelinek acting as RC, assisted by Constance Gill. In the first race, the Lasers switched places several times, but John Trela ended up coming in first. In the second race Toby Hilgendorff came in first. In the Sunfish races, Jon Hirschey won the first race, followed by Shirley Miller, Mark Marussich and Alex Fox. In the second race the finishes were Shirley, Mark and Jon.

On Saturday evening August 30th , led by newlyweds Kristina Genovese and Doug Wolfe, with help from many LMYC members, the Yacht Club sponsored a Margaritaville Night at the Tiki Bar. The amazingly beautiful night was very well attended, with some people saying they never saw so many people at the Tiki Bar. The evening featured live music from Brian St. John, raffle prizes including pickleball paddles to cornhole boards and more, Hawaiian Leis and other prizes. The first 50 people received their drinks in souvenir blender cups! Cheeseburgers in Paradise were available from Senatore Sandwiches. All raffle proceeds will benefit the LMYC’s Junior Sailing Program. Hawaiian shirts or LMYC gear were popular, and the whole crowd of old friends and new friends had a wonderful time. Many cheers for Kristina and Doug!

Commodore Rich Miner