December waterlines

Cultivating a Rich and Proud legacy of Boating for Pleasure & Sport

I N S I D E

Upcoming Events Don’t Forget to Check the Club’s

Online

For Up-to-date

Information

WATERLINES STAFF

Cruiser’s Fleet

December 12, 2013

Board Meeting

December 17, 2013

Meeting begins at

6:00 PM in the main

room.

Members Welcome

New Year’s

Eve! December 31, 2013

Watch your email

for further

information.

• Toys for Tots

• Kids Christmas Party

• Cruiser’s Corner

• From the Helm

• Weather Seminars

• 2013 Babel Cup

Cruiser’s Holiday

Party. Bring an

appetizer to pass.

Members Welcome

The Waterlines is coming to you late this month. For that I sincerely

apologize. We have been “trying on” new software for the production of the newsletter and it’s been a slower go than expected. There has been a lot happening at the club, not the least of which was the Children’s Christmas party. It is a great event in its 12th year and put on by Jessica Gerber and club volunteers. It was a great party. There are lots of reasons to get involved with the club and this was one of them (and a fun one at that). As we wind down the year, let’s not forget those less fortunate. Give

generously to the GTYC Toys for Tots campaign. And as always,

Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year!!!

Santa Comes to GTYC!

DECEMBER 2013

Fred Wilmeth Editor

Volunteer TBD Club Reporter

Volunteer TBD Club Photographer

Articles Due to Editor by the 15th

of Month Prior to Publication

[email protected]

EVENTS CALENDAR

FROM THE HELM A Word From the Commodore

JIM SORBIE Commodore

Gregg Diehl Vice Commodore

Jordan Owen

Rear Commodore

Jay Kraft Past Commodore

Board of Directors George Kobernus

Lisa Wilmeth Bill Allgaier Jed Mooney

Steve Hutchens Rob Lovell

Committees

Financial and Admin

Dave Skibowski Treasurer

Dave Terrell

Secretary

George Kobernus Webmaster

Ian Sterling

Club Manager

How time flies!! This is my last Waterlines intro letter as the 2013

Commodore, very shortly I’ll be leaving this responsibility in VC Gregg Diehl’s capable hands. Passages like this makes one pause to think about goals, both achieved and missed.

Regarding one item on the accomplishment side, we’ve made good progress on developing a plan for the dock/launch ramp improvement program. As a reminder, early this year a substantial donation was made with the aim of

improving our dock and launch capabilities. This was a directed donation, i.e. the donation was made for the express purpose of improving the small boat launching capability of the club and as such cannot be used for any other purpose without the express permission of the donor. The committee formed to look at the options has accomplished several things, perhaps the most important of which was to gain a consensus among the members around a solution that is pragmatic, of benefit to the largest segment of the club and is feasible from an engineering standpoint. Currently, the proposal is in the pricing stage to determine if it’s also affordable.

To some, this progress may have been slow. However this process is representative of the decision making process that must keep in mind two things: (1) decisions made and actions taken are done by volunteers and (2) they must reach consensus and be acceptable to a majority of the club members. The latter is often more difficult than one might guess. With 150 voting members of the club you can almost guarantee 149 different opinions. Compromise and accommodation are the order of the day. Solutions to

problems great and small that are obvious to some are onerous to others and take time to develop.

Another such decision that exemplified that decision making was the acquisition and more importantly the placement of the pool table. After much discussion, a small time guerilla war and a few hurt feelings the board reached a compromise that placed the pool table near the bar in the winter months and

next to the Commodore’s Room in the summer months. I’m of the opinion this was a most reasonable compromise and I value the result. However members continue to struggle with this issue and it is often the subject of comments to yours truly. We continue to try to deftly accommodate all the members’ desires on this issue and your constructive comments on this or any other subject are always welcome.

One last request and that’s to the parents of our youngest members. I’ve watched children playing on the steps and in the mezzanine lately and I worry about their safety (falling on the steps and dropping things or worse, themselves, over the railing). I had to remove a cue ball from a three year olds’ hand just before he about to give it a good heave ho. Not sure where it was going to land but I’m pretty sure it was going impact something or somebody. Please watch the little ones at the club! GTYC is and always will be welcoming of the whole family, but we must be careful!!

In closing, I have been honored to serve you this year and thank you for the opportunity. Much has been accomplished, much more has been learned. I have been blessed to work with an excellent board and flag officers, all of whom are intent on serving you, the members, in the best way possible.

See you at our Club!

Jim Sorbie

Jess Gerber and her team put on a great Christmas celebration capped off by a visit from Santa.

This was the 12th consecutive visit to

GTYC by Santa!

Many thanks to volunteers and particularly to Santa and the

boat elves who worked to provide these great events for

the rest of us. If you haven't had the pleasure of working on one

these events for your fellow club members, drop me a line and we'll hook you up with the next

committee needing help!

BABEL CUP - AWARDS NIGHT -2013

By: T. Babel

Grand Traverse Yacht Club – Waterlines – December 2013 Issue

The BABEL CUP is a two regatta series consisting of the Laser Spring Regatta and the Laser Fall

Regatta. People often ask me the history of the spring and fall Laser Regattas.

Sometime in the early 1970’s the Lockwoods’ got a Laser and we called it “Old Blue”. The Babels had

Sunfish sailboats at that time. You may remember Enid Babel sailing Sunfish 21293 in the Park Place

Race. Back then, Ned Lockwood proclaimed that the Laser was the best boat going, so Bill Babel got out

of the Sunfish class and bought a new Laser we named “Old Maple” and the challenge was on.

We started sailing the “Bunny Day Regatta” and the “Turkey Day Regatta” at Dick Babel’s cottage

located on Long Lake. Both events seemed to have cold conditions, but somebody would always show up. No rules! You sail-you win. Snow, ice, Ned with mittens!? Bill won one year by simply sailing his Finn

from one side of Elmwood Park to the other in a blizzard with a frozen main sheet.

Dick would support all these events and host summertime Laser Races on Long Lake when the water

was warmer. Dick made the trophies, and provided a picnic and other fun stuff.

At some point in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s more Laser enthusiasts got involved and the event

became more organized with more racers and more people. It became one of the biggest events on

the GTYC yearly calendar. Dick would always show up in the later years and provide true support. I

think that is why (because of Dick’s support) that the fleet labeled it the Babel Cup.

Now, that we are all getting a little bit older and softer the Bunny Day & Turkey Day Regattas have

transformed into the Spring/Fall Laser Regattas. We are seeing the next generation hiking, laughing, and

getting out on the water, which is what Dick and Ned are all about.

And in recent years the next generation has been well represented. The high school sailing teams have been sailing and showing off their talents in boat handling skills and tactics. Leading the way for the

juniors in this year’s Babel Cup Spring Regatta were Colton Gerber in the standard rig (3rd Overall) and

Dirk Phelps in the radial rig (4th Overall).

This year’s overall winner for the Babel Cup is Jamie Stuursma, a three-pete performance. He has won the cup in 2011, 2012, and now 2013. His boat speed and solid tactics have proved to be unstoppable. In fact,

out of six events sailed over the past three years, only twice has our champion not taken the Gold. He

placed second in this past Spring Regatta and then turned the clock back to 2011’s Spring Regatta when

Than Dykstra prevailed. And not only that, Jamie is one of the nicest guys on the race course you will ever cross tacks with. Congratulations Jamie.

So, to recognize Jamie not only for his performance in the Babel Cup over the past three years and also for

his support in being co-chair of the events, and support of sailing at the GTYC, Jamie was presented with

a new LASER Standard Rig sail signed by The Commodore.

Many Thanks To: Sailsport Marine for support with Laser Sail; Bluewater Sail and Canvas; for on the

water support from Bob Clark and Bill Buchbinder; Wares Frosty Treat, Post Race Hot Dogs; and Jordon

Owen, Commodore Sorbie , David Phelps, the high school sailing teams, and all who have supported local

Laser Racing at the GTYC.

Thank you.

Miscellaneous Ramblings PC 40 – Eric Lind

Grand Traverse Yacht Club – Waterlines – December 2013 Issue

Ice sailing & ice safety

Some of you have indicated some interest in sailing on ice and if we do get some good ice near town it will attract a pretty good sized group of spectators. If you do venture on the ice, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

1. Check the ice conditions before you venture out and know the areas to stay away from. The localsailors and/or local residents should have a good handle on conditions.

2. Wear warm clothes, obviously, but keep in mind that you are going to be more exposed on the icethan on land. Feet are vulnerable because you are standing on ice and, of course, your face will be

exposed unless you have a balaclava or some other form of protection. Eyes are also vulnerable toextreme glare so have your shades and/or goggles on. Speaking of glare, use sunscreen liberally onany exposed skin, especially late season. Bright colors are a good idea as well for visibility.

3. Wear some form of flotation, especially on new ice or late season ice and ALWAYS wear ice picks.Ice picks generally nest together and are worn around your neck for easy access should you find thatweak spot you were told to avoid.

4. Don’t venture out alone and always file a plan with someone ashore with an expected return time. I’s also not a bad idea to carry some form of waterproof communication device (VHF radio). Leelanau County dispatch has one and monitors it 24/7. EPIRB, SPOT, or even a cell phone will work but keep in mind that touchscreens don’t respond to cold, icy fingers.

5. I generally carry a GPS in case the weather closes in and visibility is a problem but most smartphoneshave this capability now. Keep in mind though that map and gps functions eat up your batteryquickly and cold doesn’t help, either.

Enough about safety for now. There is always more to learn and it’s usually one of the primary topics at our ice boat club meetings. Speaking of which, we meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM. The meetings are at GTYC, but occasionally we go to a members shop. Check the GYIYC website (www.gtiyc.org) for more information or just check with one of us. Everyone is welcome.

NOAA charts for US coastal waters: NOAA’s Offie of Coastal Survey, which creates and

maintains the nation’s suite of over a thousand nautical charts of US coastal waters, will no longer print traditional lithographic (paper) nautical charts starting April, 2014. Options for access are:

NOAA nautical charts now available as free PDFs – The latest addition to the nautical charting

portfolio is the new PDF nautical chart, which provides u-to-date navigation information in thisuniversally available file type. Initially, the PDF nautical charts will be available for a 3-month trialrunning from October 22, 2013 to January 22, 2014.

Coast Survey unveils NOAA ENC Online viewer – For more than ten years, since NOAA introducedits electronic navigational charts, you have needed to purchase a specialized chart display system to

view the NOAA ENC as a seamless chart database. Starting November 6, 2013, you don’t need asystem to view the ENC depictions; you can use Coast Survey’s new web-based viewer called NOAAENC Online.

High Tech Resources for High Performance Ropes – Samson Goes Mobile! Their new

app for the iPhone and iPad provides easy access to splice instructions and rope inspection guidelines while you’re out on the water and on the job. Whether it’s to view a splice instruction video or need help checking your rope for internal and external abrasion, it’s all on the app. Download it at the Apple app store or go to www.samsonrope.com.

New Year’s Schedule Full

There are a number of activities that will interest club members

coming up. They include:

The Cruisers’ Holiday Party – December 12, 2013. Come

join in the Bingo Gift Exchange. Just wrap and bring a boat

related item that you never thought you’d be able to get rid

of. We will gift and re-gift them till they find other homes!No

entrée so bring a snack to pass and join the fun.

January Cruiser’s Meeting – January 14, 2014.

We will be showing a new film created by Thorsten Bohnke titled “Hitchhiking across the Atlantic”. The film documents a sailing “hitchhiker’s” travels from Germany to Barbados. We will be skyping with the authors after the film.

Simply Sail Bus Trip – January 23rd through 26th.

Enjoy a great trip to a great sailboat show in Chicago.

You must sign up before December 15th, however, to

make it work. Contact Jim Dye or Ian for more details.

Weather Seminars – February 22nd and 23rd.

Presented by Mark Thornton, the two one-day seminars will cover Basic Weather Forecasting and Advanced Wind Forecasting. Registration is limited and spots are being held for club members until January 15th. For more information see the synopsis posted in this Waterlines. Registration is available on the GTYC website.

Our Cruisers

Have Tales

to Tell

of Far Off

Boating

Destinations

All Boaters

Welcome…

GTYC Cruising Club

meets the 2nd Thursday

of each month

fall through spring.

All sailing and powerboat

cruisers are welcome. A potluck dinner is followed

by cruising stories, seminars,

and planning for cruising destinations.

For more information

contact: Lisa Wilmeth

CRUISER BLOGS

Verkennen

Calliope

Kismet

Wind and Weather

Forecasting Seminars By Mark Thornton

Mark Thornton began sailing on Lake Erie in 1994 and he and his wife Susan currently own Osprey, a 1985 C&C 35. His interest in weather forecasting grew from his experiences cruising and racing on the lake. In addition to sailing and forecasting, Mark enjoys publishing summaries of interesting weather events and teaching Great Lakes sailors basic weather forecasting skills.

Grand Traverse Yacht Club – Waterlines – December 2013 Issue

Seminar Outline Section One: Introduction

Section Two: A Solid Foundation (Basic Meteorological Principles)

Section Three: Interpreting Weather Graphics

Section Four: The Invisible Forces Controlling the Wind

Section Five: Clouds and Precipitation

Section Six: Dissecting a Low Pressure System

Section Seven: Observational Tools (Radar & Satellite Imagery)

Section Eight: Thunderstorms

Section Nine: Waves

Section Ten: A Daily Forecast Rou�ne

Section Eleven: On-board Resources

(Monitoring the Weather After You Leave the Dock)

Overview

Learn a little meteorology and reduce some of the uncertainty of boating on the Great Lakes. An enhanced understanding of basic weather principles and a few simple forecasting skills can improve cruise planning, racing performance and reduce the likelihood of being exposed to uncomfortable or hazardous weather conditions.

The Basic Marine Weather Seminar will provide attendees with an understanding of basic meteorological principles and explore the conditions favoring the development of severe weather. Graphics and case studies of actual weather events will be used to focus on the interesting and unique forecasting challenges associated with the Great Lakes. Attendees will also develop a basic daily forecasting resource kit based upon readily available government and university websites.

Basic Weather Seminar – Day One

Wind and Weather

Forecasting Seminars By Mark Thornton

Seminars are offered as:

Day One – Basic Weather - $30

Day Two – Advanced Wind - $30

(Registration for both Seminars - $50)

Seminar costs include morning and afternoon coffee and snacks, admittance to the Saturday evening social, and all materials distributed at the workshops.

Grand Traverse Yacht Club – Waterlines – December 2013 Issue

What you can expect to learn at the workshop:

• Why the wind behaves the way it does

• How to translate the confusing symbols and meteorological short- hand on forecast graphics

• The basics of lake breezes, land breezes, thunderstorms, clouds and other dynamics that produce localized and short-term changes in the wind

• Ways to judge the likelihood, strength and duration of headers/lifts

• A methodology for observing the wind and using on-line resources to develop your own forecast

• Strategies for using your wind-forecasting knowledge to your advantage, whether you are a day sailor, cruiser or serious racer

The workshop combines traditional classroom instruction, case studies and several hands-on forecasting exercises to create an engaging learning experience.

Overview

No aspect of weather is more important to sailors than the wind. It dictates when it is safe to leave port and whether your journey will be fast or comfortable. On the race course, properly predicting the wind separates the winners from the losers.

This workshop is designed for sailors of all experience levels and interests. Accurately forecasting the wind promotes safer, more enjoyable outings and improves performance on the race course. Whether you are a day sailor, beer-can racer, long-distance cruiser or serious competitor, the skills learned during this workshop will enhance your understanding of the wind and improve your sailing experience.

Advanced Wind Seminar – Day Two