August 2011 Papoose Article

We start off by welcoming new family members Nick and Patricia Calandrillo and their children, Daniel and Stephen and invite other LMYC members to join us. One of the many advantages of being in the LMYC is the opportunity for qualified sailors to use one of our club owned Sunfish or Snipes. And if you don't know how to sail or need to brush up on your skills, we offer adult sailing lessons and will try to accommodate your schedule. Contact Angela Hopkins at (973) 729-2432 for more information.

Thanks to Constance Gill, we are again having Wednesday Night Races held every Wednesday during July and August with the first race at 5:30pm. These races are open to adult LMYC members and all 2011 Levels II and III Junior Sailing Program students. We race Sunfish and Snipes (for advanced JSPs and qualified others). Be sure to show up EARLY to rig and get to the line on time. Spectators are welcome to watch and join us for pizza. The prices are right at Adults: sail & pizza $10.00; Juniors (12-15 yrs): sail & pizza $7.00; Pizza only, per person: $5.00.

June 12^th and 19^th proved to be days without sufficient wind to sail so racing was canceled but on June 26^th, despite the fact that the wind was not very strong, the Anderson, Miner and Okner Lightnings competed with Constance Gill and Angela Hopkins running the races. Perry Anderson and Rich Miner swapped for first and second place and Don Okner took third in the two races that we sailed.

The Marine Base Regatta was held on Saturday, July 2^nd. Four Lightnings and three Snipes competed in light air. Scoring was handicapped in accordance with the Portsmouth Yardstick. Lightning Skipper Richard Miner and his crew, Gail Miner and Ken Potts took first place honors. John Marx came in second in a Snipe and in third place was Jeff Urbanski, back in town from Texas, also in a Snipe. Perry Anderson, Don Okner and Chuck Chute followed in their Lightnings. John Incantalupo was the race official for the event that consisted of one, light air race with wind (when it was there) out of the west-south-west.

On July 4^th, we participated in the Sparta Independence Day Parade. Our float, Chuck Chute's Lightning disguised as a pirate ship, with crew members from our Junior Sailing School, and pulled by John Miller, took first place honors. A photo of the float and its crew accompanies this article. Later that day things sizzled at our annual Family Picnic, which included a pie baking contest won by Laird Johnson and Shirley Miller in a close second place. Josh Oldridge won the jello eating contest and the Mackey boys dominated in the toy sailboat race. Afterward, we enjoyed the fireworks from the docks at our club. Thanks to Gail Miner and Margaret Anderson for running a great party and to all others who made it a great day.

The wind was too light again on July 10^th so there was no racing on that day. However, there will be many more days of racing and we still have a number of events planned for this year. Among the events is the Commodore's Cup Regatta on Labor Day weekend. This is our last, open regatta for the year. Any LMCC member with a sailboat of any type is welcome to join us. Please make note of the following updated schedule so that you can mark your calendars and make your plans:

· August 13^th Jack Robertson Cruising Day

· Sept 4^th Commodore’s Cup Regatta and Party following the racing

· Oct 15^th Finish Line Party (alternate date Oct. 22^nd)

· Nov 20^th Awards Brunch

Please note that Race Official assignments for this month are as follows:

July 31 Rich Miner / Gail Miner

Aug. 7 Hank Jelinek / Howard Gooblar

Aug. 14 John Marx

Aug. 21 Constance Gill / Angela Hopkins

Aug. 28 Don Okner

Sept. 4 John Miller / Ian Oldridge--Commodore”s Cup Regatta

Also note that we are always looking for used Sunfish and Snipes, in good condition. Many LMCC members have boats that they no longer use. So, if you would like to consider a donation, please let us know. Your boat will go to a good cause—teaching young sailors their skills.

Visit us on the web at www.lakemohawksailing.org and consider joining us so that you can sail and socialize with us! For more information about membership in the LMYC or, if you want to learn to sail, just call our Vice Commodore, Gail Miner at (973)729-5283, email us at sail@lakemohawksailing.org or write to PO Box 29, Sparta, NJ 07871

Until next month, smooth sailing and God bless America!

Don Okner