[Editors Note:  During the 2012 Frostbite race, a wind gust whipped Jeff McKamey's O’Day 272 around and ripped the chainplate for the port shroud right through the deck of the boat, dismasting the yacht.]

Hi all,

Sunday, Jeff was working on his repair project and I got a good look at the “Whys” his boat’s port chainplate broke loose.

(A previous owner of Mark’s O’Day 272 must have known something, as his chainplates have had very, very large reinforcements added.)

After Jeff’s experence on the 1st, thought it’d be a good idea to check My LOVE 2, specially since shes almost 40 years old.

I climbed on board her this afternoon (Inside thermometer read over 70*.) and checked my upper shroud’s chain plate’s attachments.

I didn’t like what I saw, so took some measurements and am planning to add much larger additional backing plates behind the bulkheads that the upper shrouds chainplates are attached.

I believe it’ll spread out the load and add lots more strength to the attachment locations.

When the winds up, I sometimes sail ML2 too hard to worry about chainplates coming loose !

CL

Hello Members,

It has indeed been a sad few days for the club. Last week we lost Sue Lockett’s mother and Bobby Linebarger’s father. I received word from Laura Arnfield last night that her older sister, Rev. Karen Stroup, died suddenly Saturday morning.

Karen was a 15+ year cancer survivor, but her death was totally unexpected. Laura’s parents, especially, are devastated by this loss. Laura has asked that we keep her parents, as well as her, Jeff, Duncan, and the rest of their family in our thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time, but Appalachian Funeral Home will be in charge. I will send more information as I get it.

Meantime, for your convenience in sending condolences:

Sue Lockett’s Mother: Lena Griffin

Online Condolences: www.tetrickfuneralhome.com  or faxed to (423) 610-7177

Bobby Linebarger’s Father: Billy Frank Linebarger

The obituary may be found and you may leave condolences at:

www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com

Laura Arnfield’s Sister: Rev. Karen Stroup

When arrangements are made, info and online condolences will be available at :

www.appfh.net  (Appalachian Funeral Home)

Gayle McPherson

Just to let everyone know…

Bobby Linebarger’s father, Billy Frank Linebarger, died on Thursday morning, January 19, 2012 at his home in Greeneville.  Funeral services are this afternoon (Sunday) at 2:00 P.M. at Kiser-Rose Funeral Home in Greeneville.  The Linebargers are long time members of the Watauga Lake Sailing club and Bobby is a former Commodore.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bobby, Kathy, Elizabeth and the rest of their family.

The obituary may be found and you may leave condolences at:

www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Billy+Frank-Linebarger&lc=1067&pid=155556043&mid=4965581&locale=en-US

We have learned of the passing of Sue Lockett’s mother, Lena Haggerty Griffin, this past Thursday. Mrs. Griffin was 94 years old and had been in ill health for some time.

 

Services are as follows:

 

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM in the Sunrise chapel of Tetrick Funeral Services with Dr. Ron Murray officiating. The family will greet friends from 1:00 PM until time of the service. A brief Graveside and Committal service will be held on Monday in Mountain Home National Cemetery at 11:00 AM. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:50 AM.

 

Our thoughts are prayers are with Sue and Ed and their family.

 

Norma Martin

 

Happy New Year to all WLSC Members!

For those of you who couldn’t make it, you missed a memorable day of sailing and dining on Watauga Lake on New Year’s Day!  I believe that all of those who sailed can truly say that they have already accomplished something significant in 2012 after braving the conditions they faced on the lake last Sunday!

 

After a calm morning of light winds and clearing skies, the wild weather rolled in about 10 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. Captain’s Meeting with driving rain and winds of about 20 mph from the west.  The initial gust blew over our portable tables and some of the initial dock feast paraphernalia (napkins and such) and some of the racing paperwork!  Thanks to quick thinking by Jeff Arnfield and Jim Austin (who took a dive across the slippery floating dock!), dinner was saved and we were able to move the crock pots and slow cookers out of harm’s way so that their contents could be enjoyed later.

 

Following the meeting, 9 boats with full crews headed out into the weather.  The staggered start began promptly at 2:00 with winds gusting to at least 40 mph!  All boats got a good start with only a couple of near misses when boat handling became challenging.  Everyone headed towards the island on the downwind leg with heavy following seas (at least by Watauga Lake standards!). Heading back into the wind was a struggle with several boats rounding up and losing steerage.  Both sides of the island proved to be tricky on this leg, as captains and their crews worked valiantly to keep their boats upright, avoid other vessels, and miss the underwater hazards on the east and south sides. 

 

As the fleet emerged from the island and back into open water, it looked as if Windward had the advantage, flying down the south side of the lake.  But, after a couple of tacks, WLSC Fleet Captain Wayne Catoe and his crew on Bad Habit pulled away and crossed the finish line first.  Jeff Arnfield and the crew of Windward was a close second, followed by Kevin Donovan on Virginia, John Middaugh on Watauga Lady, Rob Fannon on Jammin’, and George Brown on Trancendance.  Official results will be posted next week on our website, along with the total season results for 2011.

 

Just when it appeared that everyone would make it to the end of the race without mishap, a huge gust of wind swept across the finish line, where Jeff McKamey and his crew were approaching.  The gust whipped Jeff’s O’Day 272 around and ripped the chainplate for the port shroud right through the deck of the boat, dismasting the yacht!  Captains Jim Austin on Slippery II and Bill Smith on Changes in Attitude, who were in the vicinity of the disabled vessel, came quickly to assist and soon had the mast, boom and rigging lashed to the side and Jeff and crew were able to motor into their slip. There, other club members assisted in getting the rigging back up on deck to await repairs.   Jeff sustained a nasty cut to the forehead in all the commotion, but was quickly treated by our dockside nurses, Bonnie Clevinger and Stephanie Catoe.  Thanks, ladies!!!  A call to Jeff this week revealed that he is fine, had his forehead “glued” together at urgent care on Monday.  He asked that I issue a big THANK YOU to all who helped in any way during the fiasco.  He hopes to have his boat repaired soon so that he can get back out there and race again!

 

After all this excitement, we all settled down for a fabulous dock feast.  We had a wide variety of hot dishes, as well as a few sides and some great desserts.  My personal favorites included Al Shell’s Venison Stew, Bonnie Clevinger’s Oyster Chowder and, of course, Kathy Linebarger’s famous Rum Cake.  Many champagne corks were popped and we celebrated the New Year with many members who came out for the day just to join in the feast and enjoy the fellowship of our great sailing club!  It was especially good to see Bill Tingle, Stephanie Shafer, and Alex and Jean Lindsay (who were in for the holidays from Florida).

 

In addition to lots of spectators in cars parked on 321, we had good media coverage with TV crews from Channels 11 and 5 (which also includes Fox News) riding on Second Wind under power with Russ and me.  Also, great coverage by the Johnson City Press in the article and this video link: 

 

Sailing into 2012: Annual Frostbite race kicks off new year

 

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=97169

 

Race Captain Russ Veldman and race winner Wayne Catoe gave great on-camera interviews, with Russ hinting that we sailors have slightly more good sense than those in the “Polar Bear Club”!  I looked more like a chubby drowned rat, and was, thankfully, in very few shots!!!  As soon as I can get links to TV videos, I will send them out in a separate e-mail.

[Web Editor's note, the two documents below already previously posted on web page]

 

I am attaching two things: 1) a document composed by John Middaugh which gives a technical explanation and some suggestions on how to handle your boat in the kind of winds we had last Sunday and 2) a photo of Wayne and Jeff, battling it out after emerging from the island, courtesy of Clarke Lucas.

 

Also, a reminder that if you haven’t paid your dues for 2012, please send a check for $24 made out to WLSC to: Betsy Austin, 113 M. Kyker Rd., Telford, TN 37690.

 

OUR NEXT EVENT WILL BE THE WINTER BLAHS PARTY TOWARDS THE END OF FEBRUARY!  DETAILS TO FOLLOW!

 

Commodore Gayle McPherson

All and sundry,

Departed Sea Harbour Yacht Club 11:30 EST today; our first hop to Morehead City. Arrived Morehead City Yacht Basin about 1630. Boat and crew performed very well. Next stop: Mile Hammock Bay at Camp Lejeune, NC. We’ll update when we can, and I plan to get our blog up and running soon.

It’s still a long way to the Bahamas, but it’s not as far as it was…

Fair Winds; Happy Times,

Robert & Susan Banks
Aboard “Impetuous III”
Morehead City, NC

Hope all our USPS members and WLSC members had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.  With all that behind us it’s time to get back to the books. The education department will be presenting a course on Marine Communications starting on January 18th.  It’s another must have course for the serious boater. The course will run 9 weeks with a review class and a final exam for those who wish to take it.   The price of the book is $25.00 and you get to use all our wonderful instructors for free.

What we will cover:

January 18th                Chapter 1              Radio history and communications elements

January 25th                 Chapter 2              Radio frequency spectrum elements

February 1st                  Chapter 3              VHF Radio Communications

February 8th                  Chapter 4              Global Maritime Distress and Safety

February 15th                Chapter 5              FCC Rules, Maritime Radio Licenses, and the Radio Frequency Plan

February 22nd                Chapter 6              Radiotelephone Operating Procedures

February 29th                 Chapter 7               Long Range Marine Radio Communications

March 7th                        Chapter 8              Other Marine Communications Systems

March 14th                      Chapter 9              Radio Maintenance

March 21st                                                       REVIEW

March 28th                                                      FINAL EXAM

I am sorry I am giving you such short notice on this, Christmas caught me off guard. It’s a great class and a good way to occupy your mind during those cold winter months. If you would like to sign up for the class, or if you have any questions you may call me at (423) 282-9263 or E-mail me at sailbad31@comcast.net . I need to get an order in for the books ASAP so please reply as soon as you can. Thanks, hope to see you there—-GREG

Picture submitted by Clarke Lucas.  Jeff Arnfield and Wayne Catoe on return leg from island.  Click on picture to enlarge.

Under Standing Center of Lateral Resistance & Center of Effort

On January 1, 2012 we had one of the WILDEST Frostbite races in the history of WLSC racing.  Winds were 15 to 20 knots with gust up to 40 knots.  Most of our sailors and even seasoned sailors had not seen that type of sailing for an entire race in the history of WLSC.  It was a very WILD day.

During this race I saw at least three occasions where boats were put in jeopardy due to closeness of land, & by skippers losing control during a tack or gust of wind.  Fortunately, no harm came to any of the boats.   However, I am sure all of the skippers were highly alarmed at not having control over the situation.

If you will bear with me, I believe under standing the principles of Center of Lateral Resistance & Center of Effort will enable any skipper to handle those situations where you are in IRONS or have lost of Rudder Control.  Both of these conditions can occur at any time, and not really related to high winds.

IN IRONS by definition means a boat pointing directly in to the wind and having no rudder control or control of the boat.  LOST OF RUDDER CONTROL means just that.  Any situation where you turn the rudder and nothing happens.   This can occur with the boat in motion or with no way on.  This is a common occurrence, and varies from boat to boat.  Size of the rudder is a big factor.

The Center of Lateral Resistance is a point on the keel and of the under water profile of the boat that if pushed, would result in the vessel moving side ways with neither the bow or stern preceding the other.

The Center of Effort, theoretically this is the geometric center of the sail plan of the Main and of a 100 % Jib combined.  If you collect all the wind forces acting on the two sails in to a single force, this would be its center of effort.

The designer of your boat has control where these two forces interact.  Normally with no way on, the Center of Lateral Resistance is aft of the Center of Effort.  Thus the bow would be pushed leeward of the wind or down wind.  With some forward steerageway, the Center of Resistance moves forward toward the bow, to a point, where the Center of Effort is aft of the Center of Resistance. This causes the bow to turn in to the wind.  The boat basically PIVOTS about the Center of Lateral Resistance. This is a safety design feature built in to the boat by the designer. Thus a boat hit by a gust or strong wind, will turn automatically in to the wind, spilling most of the wind with no action from the rudder.   This is why most boats have a windward helm.

In application of this knowledge, if when sailing close haul, & you have found that you have no rudder control; if you want to turn into the wind, release the jib sheets so that the jib flies free.  Be sure the main sail boom is amidships.  The boat will turn in to the wind because you have moved the Center of effort further aft of the Center of Resistance.  The boat will in a sense “PIVOT” about the Center of Lateral Resistance depending on which side of it, the Center of Effort is located or pushing.  It works just like a SEESAW.  The board will go down depending on which side of the PIVOT you are standing on.  It is also like a Windsurfer.  Moving the sail forward will turn the Windsurfer down wind, and moving the sail aft will turn the Windsurfer windward or up wind.

If you lose rudder control and wish to turn DOWN wind, releasing the main sheet or moving the traveler to Leeward will move the Center of Effort forward of the Center of Resistance and the bow of the boat will turn down wind.

Knowing these principles will allow a skipper to have complete control of his boat regardless of whether the rudder is in or out of control.

Next time you are out sailing, practice these principles so that you have first hand experience of how this knowledge can help you keep control of your boat in difficult situations.

Have fun sailing

John Middaugh

 01/04/2012

I just confirmed this afternoon that Channel 11 News will be sending out a couple of people to cover the Frostbite Race tomorrow afternoon! Be sure to wear your “Sunday best” sailing attire in case you make it on the air! Not sure which broadcast it will be on, so set your recorder!

See you all tomorrow!

Gayle