| Spring Weekend Getaway: Charleston ! |
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| Charleston, SC Sailing Getaway & Tour of the Beneteau Boat Factory
The Passport Sailing Club is plannig a funtastic sailing trip to Charleston with a side trip to visit the production facility of Beneteau boats located in Marion, SC. The Charleston area is known for it's excellent sailing environment, historic hotels, laid back beaches, good restaurants and outstanding shopping !
Just imagine sailing the Ashley River along the Charleston Battery with Fort Sumter in the bacK ground. More details to follow, stay tuned !
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| A Maine Schooner Vacation Anyone ?? |
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 It's Time to Live a Sailing Dream !!
Lanier Sailing Academy and The Passport Sailing Club has organized a six day fanatsy sailing trip onboard the 135 year old schooner "Stephen Tabor". We'll be sailing from our homeport of Rockland exploring the picturesque coast of Maine and participating in the Rockland Windjammer Parade.
Come join us for a once in a lifetime journey living the 19th Century schooner lifestyle while escaping the kliller summer heat of Georgia.
Where: The Coast of Maine
When: July 12 thru 18
Cost: Boat and meals: $937; typical airfare: $350
Prerequisites: Only friendly people allowed.
 Why: You've been dreaming of this since you were 10 !
Who: Matt & Cindy will be leading this vacation group :-)
Capacity: 22 passengers
Extras: The Rockland Windjammer Parade, experience old style sailing, participate as crew or just hang out, gourmet food, sight seeing ashore, cool summer evenings and a few surprises.
To discuss the details or register, please call Cindy or Matt at(770) 945-8810. Also, feel free to log onto the schooner Stephen Tabor's website: www.stephentaber.com for more dream material (vacation anticipation is soooo cool !)
Just another fun activity from The Passport Sailing Club.
Space on this sailing fantasy is very limited. Don't delay.
We double dog dare you, to live a dream ! |
| Photo Gallery |
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LSA met a new friend when Keith Finger attended a regatta last Fall and captured these and several other pictures. People who have seen the prints at the dock office said "Keith has an eye for photography." If you'd like to see more of Keith's work, go to www.GetSuperShots.com, click on Private Galleries, then select Schlenger. Password is hschlenger. You can also contact Keith at 770.309.5651 if you want a copy without promient copyright notice.
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| Sail from Home this Winter: 2 Free Ways |
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After reading the recent Docklines about the VOR Game, I had to write and tell about the regatta simulator I've found called Virtual Skipper (or "VSK").
This is a very realistic match racing simulation that can be played against the AI-computer boats, or online against other people, similar to Volvo Ocean Race. I've found this more realistic in the controls and ambient effects. There are tides, wind shifts, wind shadows from competitors, and even shore effects. You can race ACCs, Melges 24s, Big Cats, or Offshore boats.
It's a free, but big, download. Or you can go full boat and pay $30 for all the tweaks. I haven't had the nerve to go the full paid version as I may be somewhat addicted to VSK, or so my wife is telling me. That's OK, I've gotten my daughter hooked too. My wife can't fight two of at us the same time. I'm still playing and actually learning some racing strategies while I'm at it.
I'd like to set up a virtual LSA team for the winter. That is if we make it around the world on VOR.
Fair winds,
 The Volvo Ocean Race (http://www.volvooceanrace.org/) is underway. The best sailors from all over the planet are racing around the world in state-of-the-art Volvo Open 70 sailboats. The conditions are extreme and the speeds are fast. Now you can join the Volvo Ocean Race from the comfort of your living room by entering the Virtual (on-line) Volvo Ocean Race. The route follows and mimics the conditions of the real race. There are over 40,000 participants racing on-line so far. Being a virtual racer entails logging onto the race a couple times each day to adjust sail selection and heading and check on your competition.  Some Passport Sailing Club members have formed our own Virtual Volvo Ocean Race team. You are invited to join us! As a member of our group, you can track the progress of your Lake Lanier sailing buddies while keeping the trash talk flowing. If there's enough interest, maybe we could even come up with some prizes or at least a party or two along the way. Here's how to sign up (it's free and easier than it sounds, I promise): 1. Log onto the website for the virtual game ( http://www.volvooceanracegame.org/home.php) 2. Follow the steps on the website to register for the game and outfit your sailboat. 3. Once you have joined the race, use the magnifying glass icon on the main game screen to search for Rich Jones's boat, which is called Sweet Jane. 4. After you've located Sweet Jane, click on "Send a Message" which is located under Sweet Jane's picture and current stats. 5. In your message, tell Rich your boat name and ask to be added to the team. 6. Look for a message back from Rich a day or two later inviting you to join in. Note: You can join the race at any time even if you missed the start. You'll be placed toward the back of the fleet, but don't get discouraged. The next leg of the race will start everyone from the same spot. Be glad you didn't have to bob your way through the doldrums. We hope to see you in virtual Cape Town, which is our next port of call. |
| Can't make it to the Lake? ;-) |
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| This will make you feel better (or not )
This is even funnier when you realize it's real! Next time you have bad day at work think of this guy. Rob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana. He performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs. Below is an E-mail he sent to his sister. She then sent it to radio station 103.2 FM in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who was sponsoring a worst job experience contest. Needless to say, she won.
Hi Sue,
Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother. Last week I had a bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad after all.
Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job. As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wet suit. This time of year the water is quite cool. So what we do to keep warm is this: We have a diesel powered industrial water heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea. It heats it to a delightful temperature. It then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose. Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints. What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wet suit. This floods my whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi.
Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to itch. So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse. Within a few seconds my butt started to burn. I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony I realized what had happened. The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit. Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it however, the crack of my butt was not as fortunate. When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into the crack of my butt. I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing hysterically.
Needless to say I aborted the dive. I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totaling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression. When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet. As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber.
The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't poop for two days because my butt was swollen shut. So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your butt.
Whenever you have a bad day, ask yourself, is this a jellyfish bad day? Wishing you a year without a single jellyfish bad day!!!!! |
| Living the Dream: 2009 version |
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 Interested in putting your Bareboat Certification 103/104 skills to use?
Opportunities abound, from the easy, nearby and inexpensive trips of Pensacola, to the more exotic British Virgin Islands, St. Martin or maybe even Tahiti. This is the best time to plan for a Winter/Spring trip to some place extra fun.
LSA has scores of members who are experienced coastal cruising sailors. Let us know when you're interested in going and where and we'll match you up with others of like interests and dreams. Please contact John or Matt for further details. (For the safety of all involved, Bareboat Certification is required to participate in this referral program. One certification per couple).
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| Clinics and Events to meet new friends |
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Get the most from your PSC Membership
 Penguin Regatta Saturday, January 10th (Yes, we said January !!) 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Come and join us for an all lake, all day regatta that includes hard core long distance racing, a scavenger hunt and a few surprises !! Only the bravest sailors need to apply !!!
Of course, after the regatta, we'll be whipping up some hot vittles in an attempt to cure the expected mild hypothermia !!
Also, please feel free to join us for a rum tasting event to follow dinner. Lets see who can bring the best/most unusual rum to share with all. As always, feel free to sleep onboard our boats overnight. We would rather you crash onboard our boats than crash on your way home.
Please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724 -- $20 food and soft drink fee -- BYOB
2nd Annual Rum Tasting Saturday, January 10th 3:00pm - 6:00pm
See article above.
 Coastal Navigation Clinic
Have you ever wondered how the old pirates navigated without the trusty GPS by thier side ? Please join Capt. Matt for a three hour overview of "manual navigation". We will cover NOAA charts, navigation tools, dead reckoning, tides & currents and basic electronic navigation aids.
The price is -- FREE -- to our club members, please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.
 Heavy Weather Sailing Clinic
Saturday, February 7th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Please joing Capt. John for a three hour overview of offshore heavy weather sailing. This classroom presentation will provide videos of various high risk situations that will allow for "What Now Captain?" discussions. This is the best way to absorb these sailing skills without becoming sea sick!
The price is -- FREE -- to our club members, please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.
 Capri 22 Regatta, 2009 Spring Series
Break open your new 2009 calendars and cirlce these dates !! The warm weather is just around the corner and the Spring Regatta Series will be here before you know it ! Come to one or all of the races/cookouts ... whatever your schedule/family will allow.
Race 1 --- Saturday March 21
Race 2 --- Sunday March 29
Race 3 --- Saturday April 18
Race 4 --- Sunday April 26
Race 5 --- Saturday May 16
Race 6 --- Sunday May 31
Watch For These Future Clinics
Understanding the weather
Bareboat Management Tips
Spinnaker Freak Out
Docking
Anchoring
Sail Making & Repairs
Celestial Navigation
The Art of Naked Sailing & Proper Sun Screen Applicaton :-) |
| Basic Coastal Cruising & Bareboat Certification Courses |
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 TRAIN FOR THE DREAM !!
Basic Coastal Cruising BCC-103
Bareboat Certification Courses BBC-104
Chesapeake Bay Trip: BCC & BBC Courses & Annapolis Sailboat Show in October 2009
Sail the Chesapeake Bay while taking your 103 & 104 courses or just come along for the ride. We'll be visiting the colonial town of Annapolis Maryland, (home of the US Naval Academy), The small fishing village of St. Michaels (home of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum), the quaint town of Oxford, the fantastic Inner Harbor of Baltimore and of course several secluded and picturesque anchorages along the way.
Details to Follow ---- Stay Tuned.
Pensacola BCC & BBC Courses
OK ....so you have this dream about sailing the Caribbean with your arm around your girl and your hand around a cold beer and your bare foot around the helm. We can make this dream come true ! Come spend six days and five nights on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida and experience the award winning courses of Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Certification !!
2009 Schedule for Pensacola
Sunday, March 8 thru Friday, March 13
Sunday, April 5 thru Friday April 10
Sunday, May 3 thru Friday May 8
Sunday, June 7 thru Friday June 12
Sunday, October 11 thru Friday October 16
Sunday, November 8 thru November 13
Sunday, December 6 thru December 11
These award winning classes are in big demand and will sell out 120 + days before start date. Don't delay !!
Feel free to call Cindy or Matt at (770) 945-8810 to learn more about your sailing dream in paradise.
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| Humor: Photo Caption |
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From last month:
<> Where did skipper Vaughn learn to go around a mark?
<> I thought the idea was to be 'on the ball,' not under it.
<> 2 marks and a Vaughn.
<> Do you think anyone in the regatta will notice it's missing?
Send your caption and we'll include them in next month's Docklines.
Deadline is the 20th of this month |
| Contact Us |
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As always, if you have any questions, concerns, feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments about Lanier Sailing Academy, the Passport Sailing Club or Docklines, please click here to contact LSA's owner, Matt Fleming so that you may have the best possible sailing experience. |
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Docklines 
Lest you only think this for a bunch of drunks, think again. The event is for the sophisticated, cultured palate of the season traveler --- and for those that want to. This is not a phoo phoo drink festival . No, this is a learning experience. A memorable way to wrap up the Penguin regatta.
1 1.80 Leslie Lessing
