COLUMBIA SAILING CLUB FEBRUARY 2015
the Telltale
History of a Long Boat…Solera Charles Calhoun There are many boats on our property. Some are for the excitement of racing and some for the pleasure of cruising. Some are new and some show some age. But there’s one that is over 85 years old and has a racing PHRF rating of 156 as compared to a J24 rating of 168, or a J27 with a 126, or an Ultimate 20 rated 144. Keep in mind the lower the rating the faster the boat. That boat is named Solera and is owned by Bruce Seiffert. The original designer and builder, Starling Burgess, the son of the designer of three America’s Cup yachts, was a gunner’s mate in the Spanish-American War, invented a new type of machine gun, wrote three books of poetry while a Harvard, and opened a shipyard in Marblehead in 1905. In 1910 He built the first airplane to fly in New England, went on to build the first licensed aircraft company in America, built the first seaplane to take off and land on water and later designed a three wheeled car which according to many looked more like an egg than a car. In 1928 Burgess’s creativity lead him to build a 30 foot boat which he called the Atlantic. His marketing skills produced 80 orders which were racing the next summer. By 1930 the first fleet of 100 Atlantics was formed. Solera was given to young George Franklin as a high school graduation gift in 1929 and over a decade proved to be one of the premiere boats in her class winning club championships in 1930, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, and
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At The Helm Commodore J.C. Moore
The weather has been on a real roller coaster ride and continues to do
so. But better weather is coming, and with it, sailing season can begin in
earnest. Preparations are underway for the Easter Regatta on April
3 – 5. The dead tree removal and rip rap project by the camping area is
underway. Spring Work Day will be March 21. There is a lot to be
done, and we need all of the helping hands we can muster.
After much discussion since the January BOS meeting and during the
February BOS meeting, the Board of Stewards decided that the fairest
way to raise dues was to combine it with an increase of the land parking fees and the back cove slippage fees. Accordingly, all dues, land parking fees and back cove slippage fees will be increased by ten percent (10%) starting with the second quarter billings. Club and back cove initiation fees will remain unchanged.
On a lighter note, with the Easter Regatta comes the Easter Egg Hunt. All club members’ children and grandchildren born in 2004 or later are invited to participate. If a club member wishes for their child to receive a personal invitation to the Easter Egg
Hunt, they need to send the information to Carla Moore at [email protected] as soon as possible. A hard deadline will be sent out via e-blast soon, but don’t wait!
J.C.
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CSC Auxiliary News President Diana Wrisley
Hard to believe February is rapidly disappearing into the history books! Our diary shows we began the year with an awesome New Year’s Eve party where a good time was had by all. Kudos to Karen Counts, Juli Calhoun and everyone who made it happen! Any excesses of the preceding late night revelry were quickly dispatched on New Year’s morning at the annual Polar Bear Dip in which a few hardy souls dunked their toes (and certain other parts of their anatomies) into a chilly Lake Murray. Mother Nature didn’t provide much encouragement for sailing, but a sumptuous meal of Hoppin’ John drew plenty of attention. Many thanks to Jim Altman, Pat Freeman, and all who helped make this a wonderful beginning to the new year. Our first meeting of the year was held on January 13th. We had a great turnout and began making plans for the coming year. Thanks to Nan Nussler and Kim Milling for the delicious dinner and dessert. Our first outing of 2015 found us visiting Artizan, a combination art gallery, jewelry store and more, where we learned about felt hat making, enjoyed libations and wandering around the store admiring the artwork of local and national artists. Some CSCA members wore hats and won prizes – Best Story went to Debra Kelly, Prettiest went to Candace Leaphart and Most Panache to Rebecca Dotterer. As we viewed the wide variety of displays we were delighted to discover one of the artisans is our own Betty Evans, whose handiwork is beautiful! Special thanks to Kris Kenline and Betty Evans for arranging the lovely evening at Artizan. By the way, if you find yourself in the vicinity of Bull and Gervais streets with a bit of spare time on your hands, drop in at Artizan at 1217 Bull Street. The most recent CSCA meeting took place on February 10th. Marybeth Mahrer provided a delicious meal and we wound up scrap-booking well into the evening. We also reviewed plans for our very own Mardi Gras celebration, February 17th, 6:30PM at Alodia’s Cucina Italiana. We were reminded to bring our purple, green and gold masks to wear for the evening. The occasion doubles as our “Pajama Party” where CSCA members are asked to bring PJs for Sistercare.
Please be sure our 2nd Tuesday monthly meetings are on your “to-do” list. We’ll email reminders.
Diana
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Membership News Vice Commodore, Andrew Clarkson The Board met earlier in the month and approved two new provisional members.
Please welcome to provisional membership: Andreas Schuhmacher and his wife Regina have two sons: Nicolas (7) and Lucas (6). Andreas grew up windsurfing in Europe. He and Regina purchased a Catalina 250 in October 2013 and in the past year have sailed on Lake Murray regularly. Andreas says he recently had his first racing experience by participating with the Race Committee for the 2014 Midlands Regatta. “We love sailing because we enjoy being out in nature together as a family and relaxing on a boat. We like experiencing the new challenges and adventures that come with sailing. We also like the fact that the sport is peaceful (mostly) and has little impact on the environment.” “We want to become better sailors and improve our knowledge of sailing. We also want to provide our boys the opportunity to grow up sailing and develop a love for sailing and the outdoors. We like that the club promotes racing, the opportunity to be a part of a crew on other boats and to experience different boat types. We particularly like that this club offers a safe and family friendly environment. Having spoken to many members, we feel like we share many interests and values, and that our family would be a good fit.” Elaine Parshall is no stranger to the Columbia Sailing Club. She grew up in the club and her family has been a large part of the CSC community for many years. She is a four-time winner of the CSC Outstanding Junior Sailor Award. Elaine has lived out of town for a number of years, including the Northeastern US and most recently in Hartsville, SC where she is Division Chair of the Accelerated Engineering Program at the Governors School of Math and Sciences. She has taught adult and children sailing for many years, as well as being a high school sailing coach. After 30 years, she returns to our community to be close to her “friends at CSC and to her family.” Elaine owns a sunfish and I’m certain plans to give her brother David Parshall a run for his money on the water. Please join me in welcoming both Andreas and Elaine.
Applied for membership: Judith Parshall Williams has recently applied for membership. She and her husband Fred own a Mirage 5.5. In her vast sailing resume’ she has sailed Sunfish, Y-Flyer, S-24, Evelyn 26, O’Day Tempest, Penguin, Kirby 21, Capri 16 & JY15 to name a few. Judith is a Past President of the CSCA (1987). Judith writes that “the Columbia Sailing Club has been a part of my life since 1972 when Corky Parshall joined the club. Palmer McArthur told me after Corky died that the club was ‘My Family’.” Over the years, as my children, David and Elaine Parshall have joined this illustrious group, I feel the need to once again be a part of all the activities, sailing with my children, helping with club regattas, and in the kitchen.” (More membership news on page 8)
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The Rear View Rear Commodore, Dan Robinson February at CSC may seem like a quiet time for sailing, but the club is bustling with activity as we plan for the 2015 sailing events. Alex Bolan has the Easter Regatta preparations well underway, and Jan Jernigan is working with US Sailing to organize the Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship in June. Maria DeHart updated the flag officers on the summer Youth Camp status last month, andthe planning of that event has started. We will publicize the camp details to the membership and begin running ads in local publications to advertise this camp. The calendar for the Thursday night dinghy races is completed, and we have scheduled 10 races beginning in early June and ending mid-August. The dates are published in this month’s calendar of events as well as on the club’s website. Preparations for the Midlands Regatta and Oyster Roast will start this month. We need volunteers for this November event, and the biggest need is a PRO and multiple race committees for the various classes. The club membership’s participation is crucial to making our signature regatta a success again this year. So, volunteer for one of these great sailing events, and lend a hand if you are called on to assist. You’ll meet other club members, learn from them, and have fun.
Let’s Go Sailing!
Dan
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Tiller Talk Hootie Bushart
Lake Murray Yacht Racing Association It is that time of year again when sailors from all over the lake starting thinking about getting back on the water. A great way to improve your sailing ability, meet other sailors and enjoy sailing on Lake Murray is to join the Lake Murray Yacht Racing Association, LMYRA. LMYRA offers a full slate of sailing from buoy races to island races that cover a large portion of the lake. During the Spring, two buoy and five island races are planned. For the summer LMYRA offers special races: Overnight Race, Single Handed Race, Couples Race and four evening buoy races. Finally, for the Fall, LMYRA has scheduled two buoy and five island races along with an LMYRA Regatta. The registration forms can be found on the LMYRA website, lmyra.org. You can register for the entire year or just the spring series. If you register for a series you are automatically an LMYRA member. There is also a membership form you can fill out. The membership form is for sailors that just want to keep up with PHRF sailing on Lake Murray through our TillerTalk newsletter or just want to support sailing on the lake. Along with the registration and membership forms, the schedule and sailing instructions can be found on the website. The site also includes results from last year, list of officers as well as other information about sailing on Lake Murray. LMYRA will have a skippers meeting for the spring series on Friday, February 20 at 7:00 at Columbia Sailing Club. Sailors that did not register by mail can register from 5:30 to 7:00. At the meeting Awards for the Fall Series will be presented, new officers will be elected, the eight bells ceremony for sailors that have passed away during the year, and new members will be inducted into the Lake Murray Sailing Hall of Fame. So come and enjoy the fellowship with other sailors and take advantage of beautiful Lake Murray and enjoy sailing with other sailors. If you have any questions please give me a call or email me.
Hootie Bushardt LMYRA Sailing Chairman 803-553-5464 [email protected]
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Solera continued 1941. But after many years of racing Solera sat for years in the parking lot of the Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club in Oyster Bay, NY. There she stayed lightly cover and the roost for various waterfowl. Tony Hagar, a son-in-law of the Franklin family, was given Solera and recounts that “the first time I saw Solera in 1997 she was a sorry sight; a foot of water in her bilge, her forepeak covered in bird droppings and feathers, the wood of her rudder falling away and rotting on the ground beneath her”. In May of 2000 Hagar had Solera restored and re-launched in July, 2001. However, the fiberglass which was used during restoration began to crack and the entire outer shell had to be ground off. The keel was dropped, cleaned up and re- bedded and a new fiberglass rudder was installed. Solera still sported wooden spars, the mast replete with hounds and diamond stays. An aluminum boom was also installed. Other problems plagued Solera such as having the mast step collapse due to standing water in the bilge. All the fittings and winches had to be replaced. Following the repairs Solera became a family cruising boat for many years. In the words of Tony Hagar, “Solera was meticulously laid-out to lug me and/or my wife and extended family on low-stress harbor cruises of relatively short duration”. Bruce purchased Solera in April, 2011 and brought her to CSC. To prepare her for racing he replaced all the hardware to include refinishing topsides. It was Lorraine’s idea to keep the name to honor the original owners, the Franklin family. She began LMYRA racing in August, 2011 with three generations of Seifferts on board. Bruce can’t wait to return to Cold Spring Harbor YC in September during the Atlantic Nationals. He says he’s taking her home to sail once again.
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Other News Telltale Flashback John Wrisley 55 years ago this month... The Telltale called for member help in finishing and painting the interior of the brand new clubhouse.Zan Heyward, Sr. was congratulated for chairing the committee that successfully converted the treacherous clay club access road to an all-weather surface, using greenstone. Bob Webster sent in an order for several blue blazers for members who wanted them, and a New Hampshire firm was hired to manufacture patches bearing the CSC burgee. The club was waiting for confirmation from SAYRA of the date of its 3rd May Midlands Regatta, the first to be hosted at the new club site. Jack Helms reported that club members owned 9 Y Flyers, 5 E Scows, 5 Lightnings, 3 Hamptons and several miscellaneous yachts. Jessie Helms said Jack was completing construction of his own Y Flyer which she said would be painted black and blue and named “Skinned Shin” in her honor. The February, 1960, newsletter concluded with: “That man you’ve seen walking several feet off the ground lately is Crawford Clarkson
1960 Telltale typed by John Wrisley on [elevated by] the birth of his son, A.C. Clarkson, III. To say the Clarksons a stencil using a 1942 Royal typewriter. are happy over the event is an understatement. For a while there, Crawford Copies were run on a mimeograph in Phil McLain’s basement at 510 Harden. was outnumbered by the ladies in his house. Congratulations!”
Cleo on The Mend On February 10th Ted Koberg, Dave Mahrer, Bradley Anderson and Bob Beauregard completed the installation of the snubber system on Cleo and the Dock. The repair of the damaged pontoon will be completed before month end when it warms up. Total Project Cost = $338.33
Membership news continued... In other membership news, the board voted to move Bob Meyer from provisional to regular membership. Also, Jeff McIntyre has resigned from the club in good standing. Lastly, if anybody has ideas about potential new members, educational programs or speakers, please do not hesitate to contact me on either my cell (803) 600-3119 or email [email protected].
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2015 Calendar of Events
MARCH
March 3-5 Spring Clean-up APRIL
April 3 - 5 Easter Regatta JUNE
June 4 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 1 June 8 - 12 Youth Sailing Camp Week 1 June 11 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 2 June 15 - 19 Youth Sailing Camp Week 2 June 18 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 3 June 25 - 30 US Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship JULY
July 2 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 4 July 9 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 5 July 16 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 6 July 23 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 7 July 30 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 8 AUGUST
August 6 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 9 August 13 Thursday Night Dinghy Race 10 SEPTEMBER
September 26 - 27 Lake Murray LMYRA Regatta OCTOBER
October 3 - 4 D12 Laser Regatta NOVEMBER
November 6 - 8 Midlands Regatta & Oyster Roast
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THE TELLTALE 292 SHULER ROAD COLUMBIA, SC 29212