 Docklines from the Passport Sailing Club
Spring: The wind and weather you've been waiting for all winter! |
|
| Cultivate new crew by sending this to a friend. |
|
 |
|
Events to Improve your life |
Capri 22 Regatta Spring Series
Sat, Apr 17, 2-6pm
Sun, Apr 25, 2-6pm
Sat, May 15, 2:30-7pm
Sun, May 23, 2:30-7pm
Sat, Apr. 10 10am - 1pm
Big Boat Cruising
Sat, Apr 17, 3pm til 6pm
Sat, May 15, 3pm til 6pm
Full Moon Night Sail
Sat, Apr 24, 7-10pm Sat, May 22, 8-11pm Sat, Jun 26, 8-11pm
Sail Trim Clinic
Sat, May 8, 10am til 1pm
Lobster Bash !
Sat, May 15, 6pm til ??
Future Events
Family Day (back by popular demand)
Understanding the Weather Clinic (first time !)
A new season of fun!
|
|
Hours & NumBers |
|
April
Dock Hours
Weekdays
10am - 5 pm
You can sail until sunset
2:30pm - 8pm
To reserve
a boat, please call the Dock at
770-614-5724
To contact the LSA office:
770-945-8810 |
|
Quick Links |
|
Weather: NOAA for Flowery Branch
Weather Underground: Buford
Lake Lanier Lake Levels, Water Inflows & Outflows
| |
|
| Volume 41 Issue 4 |
April, 2010 |
|
| Letter From Matt |
|
|
As an eleven year old kid growing up in Baltimore City, I would watch in envy as my older brother headed to the Chesapeake Bay for a day of sailing with our church pastor and family friend. After he left for the bay, I'd ask my mom "when can I go sailing". She reminded me that one day I would be old enough to "crew" and to just be patient. Patience is such a cruel word for an 11 year old boy attempting to grow up too fast.
After a few years and numerous sailing dreams it seemed that my turn as crew would never come. But one spring Sunday morning my patience was about to pay off. As I was leaving church services my pastor and I exchanged our typical parting words with his usual probing question that's designed to see if I was paying attention during his sermon. With his unusual second question, came an invitation to become crew for the 1971 sailing season. Wow, the dream of sailing was about to become real.
That same afternoon we headed to the bay with a car full of tools, paints, caulking, cleaners and equipment. Traditionally, the position of crew also included several days of spring maintenance on the 28 foot wooden sloop. By the end of my first day I was covered in caulking tar, paint and sweat. My clothes were tarnished, but somehow my dream of sailing was not.
After a dozen or so days of work, the wooden boat was finally ready to be dipped into the waters of the Chesapeake. She was craned into the river. The mast and rigging were raised and organized. The sails were folded on and the inboard gasoline engine was started. We headed out into the Chesapeake Bay under full sail, a full smile and full of sailing dreams to come.
That first sail lasted just a few hours but started a life long desire and the need to be on the water and with the wind. We explored the northern bay together for three wonderful seasons, creating many boyhood memories that are near and dear to me.
These youthful adventures somehow turned into a career that started with a tour in the US Coast Guard followed by a jaunt with Annapolis Sailing School and a sobering fifteen year visit within the corporate world. Eventually I found my way to Lake Lanier and the sailing academy.
Every spring I'm reminded of that old wooden sloop and the kind and generous man that introduced me to the sailing life style and the life lessons learned while challenging the winds of the Chesapeake.
However, it still amazes me how folks can move through life without embracing and implementing their dreams. Life is so short and unpredictable. Don't be patient with your sailing fantasies. Challenge the wind soon, real soon. |
| Great news for your spouse or significant other |
|
Because you care about your spouse or significant other, you'll want him or her to know that there are activities for them.
During the 4 remaining regatta dates, they are invited to be on the race committee boat. Relax and enjoy watching the race. Have our race director explain what's going on or just watch what you are doing. Then join everyone for the 'storytelling' at the post-regatta dinner and party.
Two other events are also inviting for you and your special someone. The Big Boat Cruising and Full Moon Cruises are skippered by Passport Sailing Club staff so that you and your special someone can relax and enjoy the afternoon or evening sail.
Call the dock for more info or to RSVP. |
|
Results: Spring Regatta results |
|
 Our first two Spring Series regattas were held in March, following a very well attended clinic earlier in March.
March 20 was the first of 6 regatta dates, Ted H. and Tiger P. had the best day, finishing 1st, 3rd and 1st aboard Hot Dog. Alan B., Phil K. and Linda P. (Tiger's wife) finished second for the day with a 4th, 1st and 2nd place finish aboard Great Dog. One can imagine the talk between Tiger and Linda about sailing skills.
Kurt H., Kate K. and Ann K. finished 3rd for the day, just one point ahead of West Dog and two points ahead of Natasha.
Racing on March 28 proved thrilling. Winds of 8-10, with gust to 15 allowed the race committee to do longer, challenging upward legs, with the upwind mark upwind of the public boat ramp. The windshifts near the mark keep almost everyone on their toes.
Thanks to Ann K., Linda P. (who provided the above photo) and Ed U. for performing race committee duties.
The highlight of the racing was the great starts all 4 boats had for both races. Three boats ended up with the same score (based on finishing). Mike B. and Cliff O. on West Dog finished 1st and 3rd, yielding the best overall time for the day, beating Hal S. and his guest Ted C. on George Dog, who finished 2nd and 2nd. Kurt H. and Tiger P. on Hot Dog finished 3rd and 1st; however, their overall time landed them 3rd place for the day.
Of note: A couple of people were last minute cancellations because of the forecast of possible rain. The rain held off until the post-race dock party started, so it was another wonderful day of wind and friends, followed by the typical jocularity that regattas generate.
Hope to see you at the April races. | |
|
|
|
|
| Spring Lines |
|
What are spring lines? Most times, for us sailor folk, they refer to the docklines that control the boat's forward or aft movement when docked. They are also the docklines that are most helpful when you are trying to get away from a crowded dock and out on the big water where the dolphins play, or in the case of LakeLanier, where the Bass boogie.
I was born on the first day of spring about a half century ago on Northwest Florida's EmeraldCoast. Old Memaw Honez said that I was the first Spring baby of the year. The doctor slapped me on the butt to make sure my lungs worked and then headed off to go sailing. According to Memaw, the first spring baby is especially sensitive to the coming of Spring with its warm weather, gusty winds and new life busting out everywhere. Spring babies are what nature had in mind when it made the seasons. In the natural order of things, it just makes sense to spend the hottest part of Summer, the rainy Fall and a wicked cold Winter tucked away all nice and cozy in the Momsters' womb. The perfect time for the newborn to join the party is when the temperature is just right, the wind is warm, and the trees and flowers are coming back to life and it seems as if the cold North winds will never blow again.
Mankind has a tendency to ignore nature's wishes and scatters its offspring all over the calendar. As a result some newborns that missed the optimal arrival time have grown up carrying the frowns of fall, the woes of winter, and the heat rash of summer with them through out the year.
As I sat at Memaw's knee, while she shucked oysters in the sunshine and Southwest wind of a glorious Spring day on the gulf many years ago, she told me how being a Spring baby meant that I would carry the smiles of Spring with me all the year round. But, as a first Spring baby, I must lead my non-Spring baby brothers and sisters out of their gloom and despair and into the joy that is the coming of Spring.
So, am I supposed to somehow lead folks to the fun of Spring? Who knows? Memaw drank a bit and was not the first Honez to not let the facts get in the way of a good story nor is she the last. What I do know is that the Vernal Equinox (Spring) occurred on 1:32 PM on March 20th and I will not wear long pants again till at least September. I plan to ride the blustery winds of March and April for as long as they last with smile on my face and a song in my heart. With apologies to e.e. cummings "Who knows if the Moons a Balloon" here are some spring lines to help get you away from winters dock and out into springs sea.
Go sailing away and away
Into a sea that no one has seen
A sea where the water is deep
Where the swell is not too steep
The sun shines bright
The wind is always right
The sailor's laughter is keen
Come sail a sea
Where it's always spring
Welcome to Spring time. It's the best time on the lake. See you there.
Honez _/) |
|
Finding Favor |
|
 Dear Capt. Noah T'all,
I was at the club's latest regatta and I heard a couple of the skippers talking about which was the "favored end of the line". Is that the end of a line without a knot in it? Do you get extra points or something by using this favored end of the line? How can you tell which is the favored end of the line?
Wendy Daze
Dear Wendy,
You don't get any extra points from using the favored end of the line. However, you might get an advantage in the regatta that you are racing in. The "favored end of the line" is that end of the starting line that is farther upwind. In a race with no windshifts and no current disparities anywhere on the course, a boat starting at the favored end will sail less distance to the windward mark than a boat starting at the unfavored end.
The simple way to find the favored end is to luff your boat head-to-wind at the center of the line and determine toward which end of the line your bow points to more closely. The end that your bow points at is the favored end. The important thing to remember about the favored side of the line is that you aren't going to be the only one trying to get to it. Keep in mind that it may be a better strategy to start further away from the crowds at the favored end into the clean air at the not so favored end. The most important thing is try to be at full speed when you hit the starting line, keep your tacks to minimum and sail in a straight line.
And don't worry, if this is all new, be assured that when you participate in the LSA regattas, you'll be put on a boat with an experienced skipper.
Good luck, happy racing and let the fun continue.
Capt. Noah T'all |
| New for 2010: Flotilla Cruise to The Virgin Islands |
|
 Make the Dream of Sailing in Paradise Come True !
WE SOLD OUT the week of Nov. 13th.... soooo we've added another week of sailing in paradise (Nov. 20th through Nov. 27th)
Lanier Sailing Academy is organizing a flotilla sailing course & vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Fall of 2010. Join our seasoned and fun loving skippers for a tropical sailing tour of St. Thomas, St. Johns and St. Croix for the ideal 'live and learn' experience.
Live on and learn to sail a Hunter 46 ft monohaul, completing Basic Coastal Cruising 103, Bareboat Certification 104 and Coastal Navigation 105* while living the Carribean lifestyle.
Live on and learn to sail a Lavezzi 40 ft catamaran, completing Advance Coastal Cruising 106, Multihull/Catamaran 114 and Coastal Navigation 105* while living the Carribean lifestyle.
OR just go for the fun!
Update 3/30/10: We've had an amazing response to our new course offering and have sold out of the Nov. 13 th trip. But don't panic .... we've added another week of sailing fun (Nov. 20 through Nov. 27). We presently have seven (7) bunks available for this course. Don't delay .... space is very limited. Call Cindy or Matt at (770) 945-8810 for more information or to register.
Details Details Details Details
When: Saturday, November 20th through Saturday, November 27th, 2010 (Thanksgiving Holiday Week)
Where: Fly to St. Thomas. We'll be sailing from St. Thomas to the islands of St. Johns and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. *Note: The Coastal Navigation Course CNAV-105 will be taught in our Atlanta classroom over two Saturdays prior to the trip or via our Self Study Option.
Captains: Captains John Leggett & Phil Kline will be your guides and instructors for this funfilled adventure. Our skippers are legendary for the fun we have along the way while maintaining a high quality instructional environment. Our instructors are US Coast Guard Licensed and ASA Instructor Certified for advance courses and have sailed the Virgin Islands on several fun filled outings. John & Phil are local Atlantan's that have interesting/fun personalities and outstanding people/communication skills.
Day 1 Complete boat checkout in the morning and sail from Charlotte Amallie Harbor, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay Harbor, St. Johns. Instruction while underway. Anchor in the harbor and explore the town of Cruz Bay.
Day 2 Conduct morning onboard instruction. Sail from Cruz Bay, St. Johns to Coral Harbor, St. Johns. Instruction while underway. Anchor for evening in the prettiest cove in the islands. Enjoy snorkling and beach combing followed by a tasty grilled dinner onboard.
Day 3 Conduct morning onboard instruction. Sail offshore from Coral Harbor, St. Johns to Christiansted Harbor, St. Croix which includes an open ocean crossing of 45 miles. Instruction while underway. Find mooring in Christiansted's harbor for the evening. Explore treasures ashore with restauranting and shopping of your choice.
Day 4 Remain on the mooring all day and explore the large island of St Croix. Tour the rum factory, jeep the rain forest, visit the beer drinking pig, enjoy vacant crystal white beaches or just shop the treasures intown. We'll remain in Christiansted Harbor on mooring for the evening.
Day 5 Conduct morning onboard instruction. Sail from Christiansted, St. Croix to Buck Island St. Croix with instruction while underway. Anchor for evening and enjoy more snorkling, beach combing and grilling out under the stars.
Day 6 Sail pre-dawn from Buck Island, St. Croix with another offshore crossing to Hawks Nest Bay, St Johns. Anchor for the evening with more island exploring before sunset, grilled dinner onboard followed by a fun visit to a local beach bar after dark.
Day 7 Conduct morning onboard instruction. Sail from Hawks Nest Bay, St. Johns back to Charlotte Amallie Harbor St. Thomas. Dock at the charter company's facility and prepare for re-entry back into the real world . No worries "mon" !
 Cost: $ 1895 per person ..... includes 3 ASA courses (103, 104, 105 or 105, 106, 114), all ASA course materials and tests, charter boat w/ motorized dinghy, captain/instructor, 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, snacks, soft drinks, 3 dinners onboard, mooring fees, fuel and water. Course rates are based on double occupancy per cabin, singles are welcome. Airfare is not included and is estimated at $390 pp roundtrip from Atlanta. A 50% deposit is required to register with the balance required by August 1st, 2010.
Registration & Information: Please feel free to call Cindy Blanchard and Matt Fleming at the Lanier Sailing Academy office with any questions or to register (770) 945-8810.
|
| Clinics and Events to meet new friends |
|
Get the most from your PSC Membership
 Capri 22 Regatta Spring Series
Saturday, April 17th, 2pm til 6pm
Sunday, April 25th, 2pm til 6pm
Saturday, May 15th, 2:30pm til 7pm
Sunday, May 23rd, 2:30pm til 7pm
You're invited to join us for some friendly racing, fantastic grilling and some far-out post race boasting. We'll organize (3) one hour races just off of our dock on Big Creek. We'll select friendly/experienced skippers and blindly assign crew to each Capri 22 for a funtastic and educational sailing experience that is guaranteed to improve your sailing skills. Our regattas include a tasty cookout and a club social.
A $20 fee will be charged to cover race equipment, dinner and soft drinks.
Please call the dock to make your reservations (770) 614-5724 or GOTTA-REGATTA.edu :-)
 Radar Navigation ClinicSaturday, April 10th, 10am til 1pm
Come join us for our first radar navigation clinic. This informative video interactive presentation will give you an understanding of how marine radar is desgned and utilized in the professional boating world. As you can imagine, this clinic will be held in our classroom.
Don't delay ..... this clinic will fill up quickly !! Cool Stuff !!!
The price is FREE to our club members
Please call the dock to make your reservation (770) 614-5724.
Big Boat Cruising
Saturday, April 17th, 3pm til 6pm
Saturday, May 15th, 3pm til 6pm
If you've not had a chance to sail one of our wheeled/diesel boats than this is the club event for you. We'll provide a friendly captain and an afternoon of fun for our club members to experience the "big boat feel". This outing will be followed by a big boat cruise/regatta cookout on the dock.
A $ 20 fee will be charged to cover the captain, dinner and soft drinks.
Please call the dock to make your reservation (770) 614-5724
 Full Moon Night Sail
Saturday, April 24th, 7pm til 10pm
Saturday, May 22nd, 8pm til 11pm
Saturday, June 26th, 8pm til 11pm
Just imagine a cool evening with a hot date, sailing our largest boats looking at the smallest stars, a gentle glass of wine in hand with a satisfied smile on your face ..... all under the comfort of our experienced skippers. This is our most popular club event, don't miss out.
The price is FREE to our club members
Please call the dock to make your reservation (770) 614-5724 or 1-800-ROMANCE :-)
 Sail Trim Clinic
Saturday, May 8th, 10am til 1pm
It's amazing to see the difference a truely fine trimmed sail can do for your boat speed and your sailing morale. Please join us for a detailed understanding of sail trim that will make you sail faster and look "marvelous".
The price is FREE to our club members
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724
Lobster Bash ! Lobster Bash !! Lobster Bash !!!
Saturday, May 15th, 6pm til 10pm
Come and help us kick off the summer of 2010 with a caribbean flavored dock party complete with a feast of grilled lobsters, various seafoods, grilled steaks and all the fixins to help fill out your biggest hiawian shirt.
You gotta particpate in "Captain John's Stuck on a Reef Raffel" to win various door prizes/treasures. And for the smart butt sailors out there, you gotta compete in "The Nautical Trivia Contest" to win additional pirate treasures.
Flip flops and a smile are required. Also, feel free to participate in the afternoon Regatta or Big Boat Cruise events prior to the evening Lobster Bash. A $ 20 fee will be charged to cover dinner and softdrinks.
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724 RSVP is a must.
Docking Clinic
Saturday, June 12th, 10am til 1pm
Are you stressing out when it comes time to dock ? Could you use an injection of "docking confidence" ?? If so, please join us for an indepth study of The Dynamic Preasure System and how it affects the boat during docking drills. Alittle bit of classroom followed by a few hours of "dock crashing" !!
The price is FREE to our club members
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724
Family Day
Saturday, June 26th, 3pm til 11pm
Back by popular demand .... Plan on joining us for a family fun filled day on the lake. We'll start the day off with sailing lessons for spouses only and sailing lessons for kids only, followed by a cookout, swing dancing lessons on the dock and movies of the mainsail. Some sailing fun and a bunch of shananigans for all !!
The price is FREE to our club members
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724
Independence Day Celebration
Friday, July 2nd, 7pm til 11pm
Come join us for a dock cookout/party followed by a professional fireworks display viewed from our dock, couortesy of University yacht Club. Bring your lawn chairs, cooler and side dishes to share and we'll provide the hamburgers & hotdogs.
The price is FREE to our club members
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724
Spinnaker Clinic
Saturday, July 17th, 10am til 1pm
Come and join us for an interesting and heart stopping class on "flying a spinnaker", otherwise know as "managing the beast". We'll provide a few boats with a few spinnaker trained skippers, alittle bit of therory, some new sailing gear/terms and a blessing from the club chaplin. This promises to be a bunch of fun !!
The price is FREE to our club members.
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724
Look for These Future Events
Understanding the Weather Clinic (first time !) August 14th
Heavy Weather Clinic, November 13th
Pirate Dock Party, September 19th
Capri 22 Fall Regatta Series, September & Beyond
Penguin Regatta, January 8th |
| Basic Coastal Cruising & Bareboat Certification Courses in Pensacola Florida |
|
|
Don't miss out on our popular
Advance Courses for 2010
Basic Coastal Cruising BCC-103 & Bareboat Certification BBC-104 Courses
Pensacola Bay & The Gulf of Mexico
After completion of these courses you'll be able to sail/skipper our diesel/wheeled boats on Lake Lanier at no extra cost to our club members ..... and of course you'll be able to sail on vacation in the tropics with you as the skipper and your family as crew ..... gotta love it !
Why Learn in Pensacola ?
* Sail the Emerald Waters of The Gulf of Mexico
* Enjoy the Gulf Islands National Seashore
* Expereince the lowest-teacher-student ratio of 4:1 (103 & 104 courses)
* Sail our beautiful Beneteau 393
* Take On the Challenges of the Intracoastal Waterway
* More docking & anchoring training than the Caribbean
* Pensacola has several "ASA Outstanding Instructor Awardees"
* No airline or hotel expenses * Located only 6 hour drive from Atlanta
2010 Schedule for BCC-103 & BBC-104 Courses (Price $ 1,395)
Sun. March 21 thru Fri. March 26 ** SOLD OUT **
Sun. April 18 thru Fri. April 23 ** SOLD OUT **
Sun, May 2 thru Fri. May 7 ** SOLD OUT **
Sun. June 6 thru Fri. June 11 ** ONLY 3 BUNKS LEFT **
Sun. October 10 thru Fri. October 15
Sun. November 7 thru Fri. November 12
Sun. December 5 thru Fri. December 10
Don't Delay .... These Course Sell Out Early !!
Call Cindy or Matt at (770) 945-8810 to learn more about your sailing dream in Pensacola Florida and to reserve your space.
|
| Humor: Photo Caption |
|
From last month:
<> #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List (non-fiction): "The Incredible Journey of Paddy Red Shorts" (from Randy Johnson)
<> You expect me to crank what?
<> This is what I'm really good at.
<> Crazy glue on the fore arm does work.
Send your caption and we'll include them in next month's Docklines.
Deadline is the 20th of this month
|
| Contact The Passport Sailing Club |
|
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. |
|
