new ARAC committee formed - - Jack Townsend

A new ASI Regulatory Advisory Committee (ARAC) been approved by the board, and consists of three members: Jack Townsend, John Johnston, and Claire Zepeda. The committee will keep ASI up-to-date on all federal and Canadian boating laws and regulations.  

Scope:             

-To provide a single source within the club to communicate to the general membership and the instructional group the current boating laws and regulations.
-To provide the means for each member to have access to the current laws and regulations so that they have the necessary information to stay informed and compliant through self-education.
-To give the membership a forum where they can direct questions and concerns regarding the current boating regulations and laws.
-To respond and communicate to all of the membership regarding a member’s question and/or concern.
-To advise the membership what they must do to stay compliant with the International Border Crossing laws and regulations.

Tasks:

-The committee shall seek all relevant boating laws and regulatory information and provide a means, whether electronic or hard copy, to convey this information to the membership.
-The committee will not interpret the laws or regulations; they will only provide a means for which the membership can access the most up to date information.
-The committee will inspect all ASI boats at the beginning of the season to ensure that the relevant equipment onboard meets the latest laws and regulations.
-The committee is not tasked to change or provide the necessary equipment, but only to inform those tasked to maintain the boats of necessary information or changes to stay in compliance.
-One or two members of the committee will seek the necessary training for the Coast Guard approved Vessel Safety Check process and provide this service to all keelboats prior to spring launch.
-The committee will provide the above services for all L1, L2, and L3~4 boats

ASI Seminar for new and returning Level 1 Instructors - -  JoAnne McClure

 Do you think you've got what it takes? If so, your skills are needed!

ASI is looking for a few new instructors, anticipating that our spring classes are going to be filled up. Instructor training is free to all ASI Sail Pass holders who volunteer as Level 1 Instructors.

New and experienced instructors are encouraged to attend in order to keep their instruction in line with the curriculum. Prerequisite: Level 1 rating for one year.

Questions about being an instructor should be directed to JoAnne McClure,  

248-345-2403 or 248-348-3603.

 -Shore School @ Oakland Center * On Water Class @ Kent Lake

-Wed. 04/21/10 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Sat. 05/15/10 9 am – noon
-Wed. 04/28/10 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm or as arranged at shore class.

*room number will be posted at the door.

ASI to offer two North Channel Cruising Workshops in 2010

What's a cruising workshop?

A week of cruising Lake Huron's North Channel in one of ASI's 30 foot keelboats, Manitou or Voyager III.

Who can sign up as crew? 

 Almost any adult member of ASI. No, it's not necessary to be 'rated', even for level 1.

What will I be expected to do as one of the crew? 

 As much - or as little - as you wish. The cruising workshops offer an opportunity to members to inexpensively experience the North Channel. You'll get a taste of what it's like to live aboard a cruising sailboat, and to learn some of the skills necessary for sailing and 'gunkholing' there. You'll have a chance to help out navigating and trimming the sails. Yes, you'll be on the helm, too.   

Who's in charge?

 One of ASI's Level 4 sailors will skipper the boat, with another keelboat sailor as first mate.

Where will the workshop start and end?

 Your crew will drive from here to Little Current (on Manitoulin Island). There you will board the boat, and live aboard for a week. Then you and your crew will return to Little Current and drive home. 

What are the dates?

two one-week workshops are scheduled, starting July 17 and August 21

What is included in the workshop cost?  

 The workshop cost is your share of the cost of chartering for one week. The crew generally shares all other costs; transportation to and from Little Current, provisions, dockage, fuel, pumpouts, etc. 

What's the North Channel like?

Because it is very remote, it is relatively uncrowded. The water is clear and you'll be able to swim (but it is chilly!). Hundreds of small islands provide numerous quiet, secluded anchorages. Once you've been to the North Channel, you'll want to come back!

If you are interested in participating in a North Channel workshop please email or call the ASI Sail Secretary. 

To participate you must have a current ASI membership.  The cost for the workshop is $300 per person, and a crew of 3 workshop participants is expected.  Traditionally the Captain of the workshop will review the list to select a crew.  Space is limited so participation is not a sure thing.

Only 39 days to boat put-in! Think spring! 

..and only a week and a half to the first day of Interlake prep at Crawford Farm! Be sure to put Saturday, April 3 on your calendar. Weather permitting, we'll start removing the shrink-wrap from the Interlakes at 9 am. 

Prepping will continue on Saturday April 17 and Saturday 24 at Crawford Farm, with launch scheduled for Saturday 1. Note that there is NO prep work scheduled for May 10.   

It's also time to start getting ready for some big spring sailing classes! You can help by printing out some of the flyers, schedules and pamphlets now available on the ASI website, www.sailasi.org, like the ones shown here.

Thanks, Heidi Dzendzel (for the designs} and Craig Smith for posting on the website.    

Interlake Racing - - Michael Golden

NEWLY RATED L1 grads get into the racing program at no charge for 2010.

The racing program is open to all rated members. First time racers, previously rated, are $15 for the first year. The season opens with a workshop on right-of-way rules, safety, and go-fast techniques. Guided practice on the water with drills and exercises gives you a chance to brush up and learn new boat handling techniques.

We rotate crews with an experienced person on board to assist you. The Saturday or Sunday races are scheduled in the morning or late afternoon. Each crewmember gets to skipper when they are ready. You may learn how to rig and put up the chute at a dockside spinnaker workshop. You will have the opportunity to join a team and sail with the same crew sometimes.

We gather at the dock or a cafe after on the water events to exchange ideas & make excuses! Fees: The racing program is open to returning rated sailors at a fee of $25 for the season + two additional volunteer hours on Interlake maintenance. No charge to new L1 rated 2009 graduates for their first year in racing. Sign up on the sail pass form and come to the Thursday, April 22 seminar. We don’t take new novice racers after that April seminar date. 

ON THE WATER EVENTS: Check the web site or the Burgee for the race schedule soon.

The Racing Program                     Stephen Poulos, Joe Jaeger, and Michael Golden

Keelboat maintenance captains are looking for volunteers - - Craig Smith

Voyager  III, Manitou, Interlude, and Overture need your attention. We are looking to have two members assigned to each of our keelboats to assist the maintenance captains in task scheduling.  That means 8 members total needed.

The job would entail seeing that maintenance tasks get assigned to members to perform the work.  They would keep tabs on the progress of the assignments and report to the captain.  

This is a good way to get to know your keelboats and your club members – and get your work hours.  Please respond soon, as the maintenance is already underway and launch time April 20^th is approaching fast – Thanks.

Contact: Craig Smith or phone 248-767-8871 (cell).

Anatomy of a North Channel Cruise - Part 4 - -  Don Caley

 PART 4 - HOW DID THE NORTH CHANNEL GET THAT WAY?

What do Niagara Falls, the Bruce Peninsula, Manitoulin Island, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin's Door Peninsula have in common? They're all part of the Niagara Escarpment. It's a huge rocky semicircle centered on Michigan's lower peninsula. The Niagara escarpment is shown here in red. 

All of Michigan was covered by a mile-high glacier during the last ice age. For about 90,000 years, the weight of the glacier created a saucer-like depression centered on Michigan's lower peninsula. When the ice retreated about 13,000 years ago, that 'saucer' bounced back from the stresses of the glacier, leaving the rocky Niagara Escarpment to delineate the 'rim' of the saucer. 

This helps to explain the awesome beauty of the area; the high cliffs along the northern shore of Manitoulin Island and the craggy, pink granite outcroppings that dot the channel and the southern shore of the Canadian mainland. These cliffs along the southern shore of the North Channel are among the earth's newest; the myriad islands of pink granite 'pillows' in the channel are among the earth's oldest.  

The best examples of these 'young' rocks are along the Georgian Bay side of the Bruce Peninsula, and the cliffs on the north shore of Manitoulin Island, notably the entrance to Gore Bay and Kagawong. The 'old' rocks, of course, form the myriad North Channel islands such as the Benjamins, Croker, and Covered Portage, to name a few.

NEXT WEEK - PART 5 - THE FIVE BEST ANCHORAGES EAST OF LITTLE CURRENT

the new Level 1 Manager, Joan Kasabach Swain

Let’s see, what do you want to know about the new L1 manager?  First of all, I welcome any input as to how I can better serve my fellow L1 sailors, so don’t hesitate to let me know.  Fortunately, there are already so many others serving your needs, that I’m still figuring out where my niche will be.  I expect by October I’ll know, so hang in there, and I’ve been assured it will all work out.  Secondly, if you want to really know what’s going on in this Club, don’t wait 20+ years to ‘raise your hand’ when a position opens.  I’m  discovering the depth & breadth of how many folks make this Club the success that it is.  

I found AYH, the forerunner to ASI, years ago when I biked around Kent Lake.   I noticed the mini catamarans that they use to rent.   When I saw the assorted folks who dared to rent those craft, figuring that at least ½ of them didn’t know what they were doing, I figured I ‘qualified’ to rent one too.  It was all fine going downwind, but I vaguely recall needing to be rescued to get back to the concession.  I knew there was such a term as ‘tack’ but didn’t quite know how to implement it.  But I had always wanted to sail, so shortly thereafter, when I was informed about the AYH sailing program, I came on board.  The following 20+ years have brought me many pleasing sailing days & sail mates, including some on Lk St. Clair and Georgian Bay with the Club‘s L2 & L4 members.

I’ve done a few things in my former life.  The one I’m most proud of is being an expert in preschool stuttering.  I was the head of the Stuttering Services at Beaumont/Royal Oak for 17 years, working with that age up through adults.  These days, my passion includes animal abuse issues, conservation and the environment; and I enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, dancing, travel, etc.  I’m somewhat a Jill-of-all-trades but hope to get this L1 Manager thing down pat.  And I hope to know who my fellow L1s are so come say 'Hi' when you see me at the Lake.

One more thing... 

The Burgee is back on a weekly schedule. It will be going out every Tuesday, now that spring is almost here... well, at least it's coming! Get your stuff to me by Sunday, and I can put it in the next Tuesday's edition. Or send your Burgee input, NOW, to asidon@comcast.net