VOLUME VI /ISSUE 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 on the Cover
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VOLUME VI /ISSUE 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 On the Cover... Lake Erie Soloists ......................... 4 That “Alone at Sea” fear was overcome en masse as 17 adventurous soloists tackled Who’s Representing the USA .................... 6 one of the most dangerous bodies of water on the planet in the name of sport Here Comes Katrina ................................ 8 ... for some it was for the very first time. USS Spadefish ......................................... 10 Officers Commodore Dave Arthurs ............ 455-3935 [email protected] Hazards of Alaskan Drilling ................... 20 V/C Dave Amatangelo .................. 452-0010 [email protected] R/C Tom Trost ............................... 490-3363 2008 EYC Elections ................................. 33 [email protected] F/C Gerry Urbaniak .................... 454-4456 Celebrate Holidays at EYC ................................ 12 [email protected] Directors The V Berth ......................................................... 19 P/C John Murosky......................... 456-7797 [email protected] Howard Miskill “Yachts & Yachting” ................ 32 Bradley Enterline....................... 453-5004 [email protected] Sam “Rusty” Miller .................... 725-5331 CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS [email protected] Greg Gorny .................................. 323-1743 [email protected] Matthew Niemic .......................... 835-8967 [email protected] Dave Sanner ................................. 454-6374 From the Bridge [email protected] Conrad Stachelek ......................... 459-6991 [email protected] Commodore Dave Arthurs Contributors to this Issue P/C John Ashby.*......................... 455-2757 [email protected] A good crew makes the Captain’s job easier track, improve the services to the membership Jan Stachelek.*............................. 459-6991 and this certainly applies to my tenure as Com- and recruit new members to keep our Club [email protected] modore. This past year has been full of projects strong. I ask you for your continued support Judy Emling * ............................ 833-3293 to improve our infrastructure – completion of for the new Bridge and Board in 2009. With [email protected] the J, K and L dock reconstruction, new gas your support and their dedication we have a Dave Heitzenrater *...................... 449-5126 well, landscaping of the entrance gate area combination that can’t lose. Thanks to all the [email protected] and the beginning of the D and E dock recon- member volunteers on all the committees. Aimee Nicolia *............................ 455-0833 struction to name a few. These projects are ac- This Club does not run without them. [email protected] complished by well trained staff supported by My years on the Board and Bridge have been Bradley Enterline *.................... 453-5004 many member volunteers. Their dedication to exciting and I will carry those experiences [email protected] their Club is what makes the Erie Yacht Club with me forever. Thank you for allowing me Toni Sample * ...................... 864/227-8833 so successful. the opportunity to work for you! [email protected] I would especially like to thank my fellow Dennis Markley *......................... 835-1101 Bridge officers and Board members. They [email protected] have worked tirelessly to keep our projects on * Committee Members Greg Gorny Directory Peg Way Club House ........................ 453-4931 Club House Fax ................. 453-6182 Jim Cole Fuel Dock/Guard House..... 456-9914 Canoe House ...................... 453-6368 Adrienne Levis EYC Web: www.erieyachtclub.org E-mail: [email protected] Roberta Rey EYC Catering: Elizabeth Dougan 453-4931 or [email protected] P/C Dick Waller* Mailing address: P.O. Box 648 • Erie, PA 16512 P/C Bob & Mary Morrison, PDYC Created, Designed and Published by J.G. Ashby Advertising, Inc., Erie, PA. Gary Boldt 3 Well, here is my take on this adventure ... along with the first of numerous freighters that the rumbline by late afternoon. Brad and Dave considered figuring I’d screw it up and hit the Tom Trost and I delivered the boat to NCYC passed both directions during the event. There were continuing their boat for boat battle out mark. The two of us jibed around the mark, the week before the event. The trip took just was no real sleep for me the first 12 hours or so of sight ahead. This battle would continue all sheeted in and immediately saw the third boat over 30 hours in conditions that varied from with the temperature near 90 and high humid- the way to the finish. of the group passing us to weather going the motoring to motorsailing to ripping along at 8 ity. Ankle-biting flies topped off the evening. A predicted front blew through early evening opposite direction. Amazingly after 200 miles, knots plus with just the main up. Interesting The first night out had lightning over the Ca- on Sunday swinging the wind from a 6 knot three boats rounded the Seneca Shoals buoy skies, passing freighters, and entering way- nadian shore. Nothing close to the majority of westerly to a 10 knot northerly. This would separated by less than a hundred yards. points for navigation aids and islands in the the fleet, but the storms had the wind doing have been good news had I not been napping I got settled down on the course home and western end of the lake occupied our time. flip flops for a couple of hours before settling below and sailing wing & wing with a blooper watched the Tartan 37 pull away and the We arrived well rested around midnight Fri- down. This proved to be the only frustratingly flying at the time. I cleaned up the mess and third boat, a Pearson 36 ketch, power past on day to the welcome of Wally McMinn, the race slow part of the challenge. Morning brought took off at a good clip toward the turning mark a close reach in the 15 knot breeze. I finally originator and NCYC member. We were the a thunderstorm with varying amounts of wind at Seneca Shoals. The north wind built quickly Here the Erie competitors are “all tricked out” went below for a nap and managed to sleep last of the Erie connection to arrive. The next and rain based on your location. There were and I eventually completely dropped the main in their official LESC “really nice shirts”. And through the 20 minute alarm for the first time day we headed back home to regroup and re- At the race’s end many of the competitors’ craft no major changes in positions through that and sailed on a close reach, rail down, with look at those “sappy, happy to be alive” smiles in the event. I actually slept for almost an hour. supply for the Challenge. are moored at the EYC’s new guest dock. time, just individuals springing ahead then the #2 genoa only. The reach proved to be ...(L to R) are the author Greg Gorny, Marty When I realized what I had done I bolted up I returned to NCYC the next Friday with Marty a south breeze at about 8 knots, perfect for a being reeled back in as they cleared or ran the last chance to get some good rest before Fox, Brad Enterline and V/C Dave Amatagelo. the companionway to check for traffic but saw Fox from Erie who sailed his Paceship 26 in reach to Pelee Passage. I followed Brad En- into the windless areas. During the day the hand steering the last couple of hours to the other two in the maze of shore lights off Lacka- none. The temperature had gone down as the the Challenge. I spent the day cleaning off terline across the start line (actually I followed wind varied from SW to W and from 5 to 15 turning mark. wana. I finally spotted the buoy about a mile breeze built and I ended up sleeping in long spiders, rigging Serendipity for the start, and him the whole race) and tried to get my heart- knots. I had a mix of sailing angles on both I put the main back up as the wind eased and a half away and began to relax a bit. With pants, a sweatshirt, and full raingear. By now, looking over the charts for the hundredth time. beat back down to double digits. An hour or jibes with various sail combinations. All of this to about 15 knots and took aim at the Seneca a half a mile to go I sighted one of the other I didn’t even bother to take off the inflatable Saturday morning the day of the start had the so into the race I hoisted the chute (in a wrap combined with meals, naps, and the required Shoals buoy with an ETA of a little after 2:00 nearby competitors blocking out the lights on PFD and harness, it wasn’t worth the time. competitors gathering for breakfast and group of course) rolled up the jib and reached along radio check-in every six hours kept me busy. am. One of my biggest concerns had come to shore with his sails but the third boat’s posi- The breeze held and the rest of the night was a photos. The six first-timers in a solo challenge as the larger competitors cruised past. The Any expectations of putting up the sails, setting pass, making the turn at night in a solid breeze. tion was still unclear. About 2:30 am I round- series of naps, minor sail trim, and traffic look- had smiles that seemed a bit more tense than wind eventually went ahead and I took down the autopilot, and leaning back for a relaxing Oh well, no choice now. The 2:00 am radio ed Seneca Shoals about 50 feet behind Paul out. By sunrise Monday I was off Dunkirk and the veterans. the chute (much smoother than the hoist). cruise had long since turned into fantasy. The check in had 3 of us apparently within shout- Nickerson the race chairman in his Tartan 37.