New Year’s Day Recap

Happy New Year, One and All!

I’d first like to thank EVERYONE who came out on Tuesday afternoon for our 13th Annual Frostbite Race and After Party!  What a great time we had!  While the weather was not quite ideal, 11 stalwart captains made it out on the lake for the first sail of 2013!

Knot 4 Long deploying that darn spinnaker!

Here’s how Race Captain Dave Gurysh summed up the race:

“Eleven (11) sailboats participated in the staggered start race held under light westerly winds for the first half of the race to the big island and then moderate winds (6-10 knots) on return to the start/finish line.  Cloudy skies, light rain, and ~43F air temp during the race.

SKIPPER                  BOAT MODEL
Elapsed time:  1 hour, 2 minutes, over ~3 mile race course
1st Place:  Skip Greene               J 24
2                Kevin Donovan          Hunter 26.5
3                Bill Murdoch              Tanzer 22
4               Jeff Arnfield               Chrysler 26
5               Mark Galloway          Oday 272
6               Todd Swift                 Hunter 28
7               Bill Smith                    Catalina 30
8               George Brown            Beneteau 31
9               Billy Becker               Venture 24
10             Bill Tingle                   Siren 17
11             Doug Rymer               Cal 27     DNF (did not finish)

Congratulations to Rob Fannon, James Little and Captain Skip Greene, on Knot 4 Long, 2013 Frostbite Race Winners!

Special congratulations to Billy Becker, Bill Tingle and Doug Rymer who raced their boats for the first time in a Frostbite Race. It was also great seeing some of our kids out braving the weather: Joshua Noe, Duncan Arnfield, Jacob Veldman, Sophie Swift and Daniel Deal.

Clarke Lucas, Mark Galloway and Joshua Noe raced Mark’s Oday 272

Todd Swift, Jacob Veldman, Daniel Deal and Sophie Swift raced Well Heeled

We again had excellent media coverage, with stories on the 6:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M. news on the local NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates.  (I’ll publish the links to their web sites once the stories are posted online).   Also, GREAT coverage in the Johnson City Press, with stories both before and after the race, including front and back pages of the Johnson City Press featuring a photo of Bill Smith’s Changes in Attitude front and center!  The online version of the story can be read at:

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=104010

The after party at Lakeshore’s Cabin #17 was lots of fun with tons of food, drink and camaraderie.  Approximately 45 members and their guests dropped in for what turned into a wonderful house party!  Since we couldn’t go out on the deck because of the rain, space was a little tight, but hey, it was warm and dry and had lots of electrical outlets for the numerous crock pots full of dip, soup, chili, chicken and dumplings, apple cider and other delicious New Year’s Day fare!

Hungry sailors dig into Laura Arnfield’s white bean chili!

We all got to visit with good friends we hadn’t seen in awhile and listen as the sailors re-lived the race, (including tales of one yacht who had an unfortunate encounter with the starting pin)!  It was especially good to have Billie Middaugh join the party after her recent hip surgery and recovery.

Billie Middaugh and Sue Lockett enjoy some hot apple cider

Also relieved to see Bill Smith back on the dock after a health scare back in November which included a helicopter “ride” to Holston Valley Medical Center for emergency treatment for pericarditis.  And of course, Bill Tingle, looking healthy and happy to be racing his boat on New Year’s Day!

Bill Tingle single-handed his Siren 17, Jane Ann

Many thanks to all who participated and especially to: Dave Gurysh for doing a great job running his first race as Race Captain

Race Captain Dave tallies the race results

Also, thanks to George Brown, Jeff Arnfield, Ed Lockett and Skip Greene for talking to the media;  Minta Fannon, Patti Gurysh, Sandra Little, Sue Lockett and Adair Murdoch for helping to set up the cabin for the party; Laura Arnfield for leading the cleanup effort; and to EVERYONE who brought food and drink or otherwise contributed to the festivities.

For many more pictures of the race and the party, curtesy of Ed Lockett and Sandra Little, see our Shutterfly page: http://wataugalakesailingclub.shutterfly.com

I’m looking forward to a FABULOUS 2013 for the WLSC…stay tuned as we gather ideas for events and projects for the coming year and put together our calendar.

AND….if you haven’t paid your dues yet…..please send a check for $24 ($34 for brand new members), made out to WLSC, to Betsy Austin, 113 M. Kyker Rd., Telford, TN 37690.  DON’T MISS OUT ON THE FUN by letting your membership lapse!  Clarke Lucas will be putting together a new membership directory in a few weeks and we want your name to be on it!

SEE YOU AT THE BLAHS PARTY!

Commodore Gayle