| National Class E-Scow Association
Digital Reaches |
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| Volumn 6, Issue 1
| Jan 16, 2008 |
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Greetings!
I'm sitting here on the coldest day of the year so far - it was 20 degrees below zero last night and is still below zero this afternoon. A good day to be inside by the fireplace working on a Digital Reaches, while listening to some favorites on Pandora radio (Coldplay at the moment).
Please take a moment to look through what is in this first issue for 2009. I will include some Web links in the articles so that this email doesn't get too long. I encourage you to read about the scantling rule ballot issues before the members, so that you are well informed on the topics.
I am looking forward to another great year of E-Scow racing. I hope that you will have good fortune follow you around the race course this new year.
Sincerely,
Lon Schoor
608-347-1480 | |
2009 Sailing Season Approaches
As the 2009 sailing season approaches, there are a few issues on your winter checklist you all need to take care of. Take a moment to renew your NCESA membership. Make sure your crew memberships are updated as well. Please take some time to review the ballot issues presented by the Board of Directors. There are 7 different scantling initiatives for your consideration.
Lastly, don't forget to circle your calendar for the 51st NCESA championship regatta to be held September 9-12 at Oshkosh. We are hoping for a large turnout. It promises to be a wonderful venue with their new Club House and lots of great sailing.
Rick Turner
Commodore
CH-6
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 Two VERY Special 2009 Memberships
Two of the very first memberships that were received for 2009 were very special indeed. I suspect they wouldn't mind if I gave their age but lets just say they were already in their forties when the association was formed 51 years ago.
It is an honor for this organization to have Mary (Dede) Meyer Foote of Pewaukee, and Dick Casper of Pine Lake as current NCESA 'Regular' members.
Both Dede and Dick were active Class E sailors when the E-scow looked similar to the one shown on an old REPORTER cover of Sam Merrick on Barnegat Bay in the 1930s. |
| Scantling Rule Ballot Issues
At the November Board of Directors meeting a number of motions were passed, and those related to the scantling rules which need a two thirds majority membership vote of approval to take effect for the 2009 season.
Before you vote, I would encourage you to read an overview of the Issues on the ballot. The overview is also on the association Website at
The seven items on the ballot are:
- Prohibit the use of electronic equipment which displays or computes mark positions or course thereto, true or relative boat speed, or other GPS or computed parameters.
- Allow aluminum alloy with strength properties equal to or better than 6061-T6.
- Allow rules interpretations to go to the Rules Committee first.
- Remove reference to natural sail material and jib luff wire.
- Changes to permitted spars and standing rigging specifications.
- Allow a second spinnaker to be carried and used if the primary spinnaker is destroyed.
- Remove wood boat and mast references and cleanup some scantling language.
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Opposing View to Prohibiting Electronics
Chris Fretz (LE-55) gives his comment's on the ballot issue of prohibiting the use of electronic devices that indicate real-time speed, position and vectoring. Chris asked me to publish his opposing opinion to item#1 on the ballot. He says:
Don't ban GPS
"On the next ballot we will be asked to vote for a change in the scantlings that will dis-allow GPS based compasses. The board recommended this for two reasons. Reason one is that a GPS compass is able to compute other factors such as speed, VMG and lifts and headers. It is felt that this is outside assistance under rule 41. I disagree because GPS has been publicly available at no cost for over 13 years. With GPS a satellite signal is used like the magnetic pole to find direction. The second reason is cost. With these additional features we may feel that we have to get a GPS compass to compete. A GPS compass runs from $340 to $600 while a digital magnetic compass runs from $500 to $1100. We know that current digital compasses don't last forever. A $340 GPS compass has almost all the features of the $1100 Tacktick Race Master plus a built-in speedometer.
Currently the class does not have a rule relating to electronics. With GPS, companies creating cheap innovative products that will make all of us better sailors. We can individually decide if we want our eyes in or out of the boat. In the future we may elect to restrict what information can be used but if we ban GPS compasses we are limiting our options to one vendor today."
Chris Fretz
LE55
chrisfretz@yahoo.com
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I will add that since I received Chris' email, a thread has been started on Sailing Anarchy on this E-scow ballot item. If you'd like to read more information about the pros and cons, check it out. Sailing Anarchy isn't for everyone I know, but I love it.
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 2009 Nationals at Oshkosh Yacht Club
The Oshkosh Yacht Club is very excited to host the 51st E National Regatta on beautiful Lake Winnebago. This will be the first E National Regatta in Oshkosh in over 20 years. The OYC is preparing to put on a show the fleet will not soon forget.
The 2009 E National Regatta is scheduled Wednesday, September 9th through the 12th. Registration will be the Wednesday after Labor Day, with sailing Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Regatta Chair, Diana Isom
Fleet Chair, David Sitter
NCESA Regatta Committee Member, Bill Wyman
OYC Commodore, Adam Cummings
I have to say that the Oshkosh Yacht Club has a fantastic group of volunteer members that I know will make this a fabulous event. See the following link for more information.
We don't have a National 2009 'tab' ready on the NCESA Website. When ready, it will have the full blown details about the city, events, merchandise, and racing. It will be coming this Spring. |
Clear Lake Yacht Club - US Sailing One-Design Club of the Year
Clear Lake Yacht Club in Clear Lake, Iowa, has received the One-Design Club of the Year award. The Club is run entirely by volunteers and offers a variety of racing events for numerous one-design classes including Hobie 16, Optimist, E, C, MC and X classes as well as a sailing school, with US SAILING certified programs for both youth and adults. The Club consistently operates with a positive cash flow enabling them to fund regattas, youth programs and scholarships as well as make charitable donations. Each year, the Club has seen increases in every class due to the visibility of the club in the community and the success of the sailing school converting students to lifelong sailors. Clear Lake Yacht Club has become a centerpiece of the Iowa community, not typically thought to be a sailing region, by creating a fun, successful, social, one-design sailing organization run solely by dedicated volunteers for the past 75 years.
The above is from the US Sailing website. Congratulations to the Clear Lake Yacht Club. The following NCESA 'Regular' members surely played a role that allowed Clear Lake to be recognized as the club of the year.
Edward Quinn
Daniel Allen
Charlie Mac Nider
Robert Swanson
Steve Paulsen
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 Needs a Bailout
Where is the Federal government when you really need a bailout!
Rob Churchill and crew came down to their boat at last years Nationals to find it swamped. My guess is the bailers were left open. The crew were: Chase Churchill, Matthew Churchill, and Nick Evans. Sorry - I'm not sure which ones were in the picture, but I bet I get an email about who they are. This picture was taken after they had been bailing for some time. But they are still smiling - embarrassment will do that!
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