Folsom Lake Yacht Club June/July 2021 THE TELLTALE SMOOTH SAILING SINCE 1956 Commodore's Corner - Kerry Johnson Unmask and Sail! Yea! According to news reports, California is easing most Covid-19 restrictions. The State is supposedly keeping the mask mandate, but the CDC says that if vaccinated you can go maskless in small gatherings. We are very close to getting back to “normal" and that means we can start having in-person club social functions, like member meetings, BBQs and … Cup Boat Races? By now, you received an email from me regarding a new race series expanding on the annual Cup Boat Regatta, which is normally held in August. For those unfamiliar with Cup Boat Racing, it's a social event in which competitors build boats out of one Styrofoam cup, straws, tape, mylar sails and pennies for ballast. The Folsom Lake Yacht Club 1 Folsom Lake Yacht Club June/July 2021 boats are then raced in the host’s pool using shop fans for wind. Racing starts after everyone enjoys socializing and a BBQ. It is a great family event. Considering that club racing has been swamped by pandemic restrictions and low water, after some discussion with board members, I figured now's the time to raise a first shape on socializing again. It's long overdue and considering so many of us are vaccinated or now drilled to wear masks if not, let's hold a sailing-oriented social event that gets us together in person. So, the Cup Boat Regatta is expanding from one to three races with additional poolside gatherings planned for June and July. An added benefit to Cup Boat racing is that the water level is never an issue. The first race of the series will be June 15 at the home of Mark and Stephanie Erdrich. What's different from previous Cup Boat regattas is that you can build your boat ahead of time and bring it to the event (or make one there). So, there will be more time for socializing and racing. Cup Boat parts have been left in a bag in the clubhouse. If you're at the lake, stop by and pick up hull (cup) or two, a sail and straws to make your boat. If you plan to attend (even one race), email me. The June race will be combined with the Commodore's Picnic. So, on June 15 only, the club will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and sodas. The following two Cup Boat gatherings are no host, meaning that you bring your own food to BBQ and drinks. Plus, depending on your last name, we ask attendees to bring an appetizer, salad or dessert to share. Upcoming races: Cup Boat Races are great for socializing, but what about real racing? It’s kind of frustrating that we are finally opening up enough to get back to racing only to realize we don’t have the water. It looks like the State is happy keeping the lake at 396’, just below our minimum rule for keelboat racing and predicted to continue to drop. In reality, the lake level affects keelboats more that dinghies ... primarily at the launch ramp and maneuvering in and out of Hobie Cove. If keelboat owners are comfortable taking on the risks of launching and avoiding hazards on the way to the racecourse, we can hold races, but I need to know from you keelboat skippers if you're willing to launch for any of our remaining scheduled races. Folsom Lake Yacht Club 2 Folsom Lake Yacht Club June/July 2021 I will volunteer to be RC for Summer #2 this Friday - 6/11 and let's keep in touch regarding future races. Wednesday Beer Can Races: As I am still recovering from major surgery and can’t sail, I have been out every Wednesday night to get my fix, albeit from shore. Well, I have to say it has been a disappointing turnout so far. One or two boats each week. Come on, get out there! I’ve seen more action watching submarine races! (Editor's note: on good authority, The Telltale can report that our Commodore saw more than his share of submarine races when he was in high school.) Other local racing: Several FLYC members made the trek to the Whiskeytown Sailing Club’s Memorial Day Regatta. The Galerias and Werders competed in open centerboard A class, Craig and Mary Lee won the Daysailer class and we had several local Banshees attend (see the Banshee report from Wayne Cassingham). Several members indicated their plans to sail in this past weekend's Gold Country Yacht Club’s Go For The Gold Regatta. Also, dinghy sailors should check out Lake Washington Sailing Club’s One Design Series (next race – 6/26). Gone Phishing: Recently, yacht clubs (and I’m sure other organizations) have been targeted by scam artists by gleaning email addresses of board members from club websites and sending board members a phishing email, signed by the “Commodore”, asking them to purchase online gift cards or authorizing the treasurer to pay a fake invoice. Of course, these emails do not come from the “Commodore” at all. Please know that neither I nor anyone from the FLYC board, would ever ask you for urgent help in buying gift cards via email. If we need something from you, we would reach out personally with a phone call. The Board has taken steps to alleviate the situation. We have deleted all personal email addresses from our contacts page on the FLYC website, and replaced them with one generic email – [email protected]. Still, please remain alert. Stay Safe my friends! - Kerry Folsom Lake Yacht Club 3 Folsom Lake Yacht Club June/July 2021 To Race or Not to Race? by Vice Commodore Rob Cram For club members who've been hesitant to sail in a non-club regatta or have not sailed an away race for some time, regatta season is well underway (even though it is in a somewhat shortened format due to the Covid hangover). Well, considering low water on Folsom Lake, now might be the time for a road trip. In addition to the fellowship of friends and other sailors, racing sharpens sailing skills. Racers point better. They can go where they want to sail more efficiently and satisfactorily. Who knows? That maneuver you learn by racing may be just what you need, should you join fellow sailors on a delicious bareboat cruise to some exotic destination or, more mundanely, useful in dodging an inattentive powerboat when the pool gets full again on Folsom Lake. So why would one be hesitant sailing in an out of town (or even in town) regatta? Understandably, an away race can be intimidating. There is local knowledge to learn, different sailing instructions to absorb and an unfamiliar fleet with whom to sail. I'll admit, I've thought twice about these things in the past, and still do, to some degree. To be bluntly honest, I really don’t know the rules as well as I'd like, but then few sailors do. Good sailors are always learning and getting better, and by racing you force yourself to improve your sailing, because you're sailing with a purpose. I've found that locals at an away race are eager to welcome you and help you succeed on their water. There's generally somebody around that will let you know - some more enthusiastically than others - and in most cases congenially - how to go about doing your best on their lake or bay. ... Now about that ‘overlap rule’, how does it really work ...? If competing in sailing is holding you back, I hope my experience might help. I struggled with feeling comfortable racing when I started entering regattas. Now, I've been racing 12 or 13 years and have come to find joy in the camaraderie and accomplishment of sailing a boat fast. I still have a long way to go until I'm sailing at the level I want to be, but I've come to embrace competition. It has made me a better, more confident and knowledgeable sailor. By the end of each race, I've learned, any competitive vibe that occurs on the water fades away by the time you tie up. What's left is good-natured sharing of the day's adventures, once the sails have been rolled. Some might think twice about the cost of traveling to a regatta. I’ve found competing in a local regatta to be about the most cost-effective fun one might have. Just as with how much you invest in your boat, going to an away race can be as fancy or low key as you choose. All you really need is a tent, a few provisions, and most regattas (Covid aside), have been known to offer some decent dinner fare (and swag) at reasonable prices. So, pack your vehicle, give the wheel bearings on your trailer a spin and give an away race a try. Here are some to put on your calendar: • Yosemite Yacht Club ‘Spring Regatta’, Merced. (Generally Mid-May). Canceled 2020 & 21. Hopefully returning next year. • Whiskeytown Sailing Club ‘Memorial Weekend Regatta’, Whiskeytown Lake (Redding area). Folsom Lake Yacht Club 4 Folsom Lake Yacht Club June/July 2021 Held during the Saturday/Sunday preceding Memorial Day. • Gold Country Yacht Club ‘Go For The Gold’, Scotts Flat Reservoir (Nevada City). Early June. (Normally, a 2-day event). • Lake Washington One-Design Summer Series. 6/26 www.lwsailing.org • Fresno Yacht Club ‘High Sierra’, Huntington Lake (Central Sierra).