 Docklines from the Passport Sailing Club
Windy, Sunny, 80 Degrees .... Where Are You ? |
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| Cultivate new crew by sending this to a friend. |
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Events to Improve your life |
Capri 22 Regatta Spring Series
Sat, May 15, 2:30-7pm
Sun, May 23, 2:30-7pm
Big Boat Cruising Sat, May 15, 3pm til 6pm
Full Moon Night Sail
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 ??
A new season of fun!
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Hours & NumBers | |
May
Dock Hours
Weekdays
10am - 5 pm
You can sail until sunset
8:30am - 2:30pm
Afternoon
2:30pm - 8:30pm
To reserve
a boat, please call the Dock at
770-614-5724
To contact the LSA office:
770-945-8810 |
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Quick Links |
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Weather: NOAA for Flowery Branch
Weather Underground: Buford
Lake Lanier Lake Levels, Water Inflows & Outflows
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| Volume 41 Issue 5 | May, 2010 | |
| Letter From Matt | | |
After twelve years of managing The Passport Sailing Club it still amazes me the friendships, romances and yes, even marriages that have been made onboard the sailboats and our houseboat.
The new smiling faces that come to us just after taking their BKB-101 course looking for "some sailing time" and end up participating in club events and sharing their unique and fun personalities with all.
Let's not forget the veteran members that stop by the dock with some new tales of sailing and yes, a review of some of the funniest old sailing stories for all to laugh at again and again and yes again.
And let's not forget the life long "off the lake relationships" that carry from the dock to our member's home/personal lives. Priceless stuff is happening at The Passport Sailing Club.
Hope to see you on the dock soon. |
| Feed your stomach as well as soul | | |
For the past several years, the club regattas have been followed by fun dinners -- time to relax, eat, drink and share sailing stories and sailing planning. Now we're finding that people want to chill, relax and hang-out instead of going from boat to car. They'd rather share stories, ask questions, plan for a trip to the islands!
Now you're invited. If you are in the regatta, on the race committee boat, doing the 'big boat cruising' (see Club Activities below) or you are otherwise at the club, so long as you RSVP, we'll have enough food and be happy to have you join us.
 Check out the menus:
Sat, May 15:Lobsta (Maine lobster)
Menu includes freshly steamed Maine lobster along with sides and dessert.
Sun,May 23: Maryland Crab Cakes
 Menu includes Matt's mom's recipe, direct from Bal-mor, Merlin (aka Baltimore, MD), along with chicken, cucumber summer salad, sides and rum cake.
A $20 fee will be charged to cover dinner and soft drinks. Please call the dock sooner than later (really) to make your reservations (770) 614-5724. During the 2 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.
Call the dock for more info or to RSVP.
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Results: Spring Regatta results |
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 Our 4th of 6 Spring regattas was another great time with all 6 boats racing. Thanks to a keen race committee lead by Kurt H, we were able to complete 4 races, followed by the much talked about Crawfish Boil.
Compliments and congrats to Ann K, Bruce M and Chris S, sailing on George Dog, who took 1st* for the day (2nd, 2nd, 3rd and 1st for the 4 races). Alan B skipped West Dog to a 2nd for the, supported by Andres, Julie C and Mirza B. Ted H, Linda P and Ernie took 3rd* for the day with finishes of 5, 4 , 1 and 2. There was loads of wind throughout the day, allowing for more legs of the race, and more competitive mark roundings. As if the 10+ knots of wind and 6 competitive crews weren't enough, Mike B made the day outstanding. His crawfish boil, with anduee sausage, corn and onions -- and spices -- was 1st class. Some times referred to as mudbugs, the crawfish were a hit as Mike B explained how to pinch tail and suck head. Literally, there was nothing left by the end of the evening. Overall Spring Series results
After 4 race days, Anita S and Scott C are tied for 1st with a score of 1.33. Oliver R and Deanna H are tied for 3rd with a score of 1.67 and
Bruce Miller and Chris Sheets are tied with 5th with an average core of 2.00. Rounding out the top 10 are Kurt H, Phil K, Ann K,and Alan B. with Ted H, Linda P and Julie close behind.
Keep in mind that you need 6 races to be considered for the final standings; this can typically be accomplished with just 2 race dates.
Thanks to our race committee:
Mar 30: Ann K, Linda P, Ed U
Apr 17: Hans and Marina V
Apr 25: Kurt H
May 15: Dick H and Alan B
May 23: Bud B |
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| Wind Walker | |
In an effort to prove that I am not merely a one-dimensional character who spends all of his time eating, drinking and dreaming of sailing, I would like to devote a few lines discussing one of my other loves, hiking. I love walking the cities that I visit when I travel for work. I get a real kick out of the different architecture and watching the natives at work and play in their native habitat. When I am not discovering the ins and outs of a new city on foot, I enjoy nothing better than getting out in the woods to experience the scenic vistas and wild life of the great outdoors.
No matter how far I get from the water though, I can never completely escape thoughts of sailing. A lot of times the sailing thoughts come in the form of the rules of the road. Keep to the starboard side of the path (channel). A biker (power boat) must keep clear of the hiker (sail boat) and both must keep clear of horses (big old hay eating, manure spouting ships that carry freight (riders), are constrained by their draft (size), would just as soon run over you as look at you and are too big to get off the path (out of the channel).
Other times I equate certain aspects of hiking to points of sail. Heading up hill is the same as heading up wind. It is not possible to go straight up a hill. To get to the top, you must take switchbacks left and right to reach your goal. It is just like tacking back and forth to get to an up wind destination. Going down hill is the same as going down wind. You can go straight down hill, but like going straight down wind, it is not recommended. If you get going too fast going down wind you could broach. Get going too fast down hill could result in a maneuver that hikers refer to as the Jack and Jill. When the trail is flat and smooth, it is just like being on a beam reach with no worries.
Finally, keep a good lookout. You never know what you will see. The sailor and the hiker move at a pace that makes them a part of their environment. You get a chance to see, hear and feel things that the passenger flying at 30,000 feet or the driver speeding along at 60 miles an hour will never experience. The wind in the treetops or the wind in the rigging, the deer bounding through the woods or the dolphin darting in the bow wave, the hawk circling in search of prey or the pelican hovering motionless just before it dives on a fish. The crystal clear green limestone filtered waters of stream in the Texas Hill Country or the clear blue waters of a CaribbeanIsland. It's all beautiful.
So come on down to the LSA and let's go for a sail. Maybe we'll put in somewhere remote and take a walk on the shore, just to see what's there. I won't be hard to spot, I'll be the one soaking my feet.
Honez _/) |
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Green mean go; Red means No |
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 Dear Capt. Noah T'all,
I am very clear on my sailing rules of the road, a powerboat must give way to a sailboat under sail, starboard tack boat is the stand on vessel when two sailboats meet on opposite tacks, the leeward sailboat is the stand on vessel when sailboats are on the same tack, and so on. However, I am a little fuzzy on who is the stand on and give way vessel when my sailboat under auxiliary power crosses another powerboat. Can you give me some insight?
Lefty Looward
Lefty,
The answer to this one is very straightforward and the answer coincidentally, is found forward at the bow of your boat. This is where your stop and go lights are located. What are the stop and go lights you ask? You may know them as your port (red) and starboard (green) navigation lights.
The rule for two powerboats crossing states that the vessel with the other vessel on its starboard side is the give way vessel. This is one of the easier rules to remember. Just think of your navigation lights as a traffic light. When a boat is approaching you from your starboard side, you see her red navigation light and they see your green navigation light. Green means go, so the approaching boat becomes the stand on vessel (hold its course and speed) and you become the give way vessel. When a boat approaches you from your port side, you see her green navigation light and they see your red navigation light. Red means no, so the approaching boat becomes the give way vessel and must take early and effective action to avoid you.
And no, if you see a yellow light that does not mean go faster. Yellow could mean something to do with towing, maybe a hovercraft or possibly a submarine. Just had an epiphany, were the Beatles sailors? Anyway that is a subject for another time.
Sail Safe
Capt. Noah T'all |
| 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 2 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. |
| New for 2010: Flotilla Cruise to The Virgin Islands | |  Make the Dream of Sailing in Paradise Come True !
New Sailing Dates ......... Nov. 20th through Nov. 27th
Spend The Thanksgiving Holidays in the Island Mon !
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 4/30/10: 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 five (5) 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.
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| Clinics and Events to meet new friends | |
Get the most from your PSC Membership
 Capri 22 Regatta Spring Series
Saturday, May 15th, 2:30pm til 7pm (Lobsta Bash to follow!)
Sunday, May 23rd, 2:30pm til 7pm (MD crab cakes to follow!)
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 :-)
Big Boat Cruising
Saturday, May 15th, 3pm til 6pm
Saturday, June 19th, 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, May 22nd, 8pm til 11pm
Saturday, June 26th, 8pm til 11pm
Saturday, July 24th, 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 truly 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 Hawiian shirt.
You gotta participate in "Captain John's Stuck on a Reef Raffle" 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 soft drinks.
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 in depth study of The Dynamic Pressure System and how it affects the boat during docking drills. A little 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 on the mainsail
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Some sailing fun and a bunch of fun at the dock 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, courtesy of University yacht Club. Bring your lawn chairs, cooler and side dishes to share and we'll provide the hamburgers & hot dogs.
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, a little bit of theory, some new sailing gear/terms and a blessing from the club chaplain. 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
Understanding the Weather for Salty Sailors Clinic
Saturday, August 14th, 10am til 1pm
Mark your calendars for this video presentation about offshore weather. More scurvy details to follow soon.
The price is FREE to our club members.
Please call the dock to make reservations (770) 614-5724
Look for These Future Events
Pirate Dock Party, September 19th
Heavy Weather Clinic, November 13th
Capri 22 Fall Regatta Series, September & Beyond
Penguin Regatta, January 8th |
| Basic Coastal Cruising & Bareboat Certification Courses in Pensacola Florida |
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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:
Now I see the sticker that says "Insert this end first"
What did you expect with power boaters?
Send your caption for the photo to the right and we'll include them in next month's Docklines.
Deadline is the 20th of this month.
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| Contact The Passport Sailing Club |
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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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