Annual ASI Picnic Reminder - - Marilyn Alimpich

It's this Saturday !!

The annual ASI Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, August 6th (rain date is Sunday, August 7th) at the East Boat Launch at Kensington.  The meeting and picnic are scheduled 12-1.  

ASI will provide burgers, hot dogs and beverages.  Members should please bring a dish to share.  

How's this for getting our picnic this Saturday off to a great start? You know from past picnics, how great the lunches have been. Well, Blaise Molitoris is planning on being at the East Boat Launch to serve BREAKFAST to everybody that shows up early!

He'll be there at nine, flipping pancakes on the grill! So come early for breakfast with Blaise! Or better yet, come a little earlier to help move the tables around and give him a hand with serving the breakfasts.

Thanks, Blaise, for this terrific 'head-start' to the picnic!

Please note, if the weather is poor and the rain date is necessary, we will TRY to put a notice on the homepage of the ASI website.  Please be sure to check before coming out to the lake!

ASI Office summer hiatus

Hello All,

The ASI office will be closed for my vacation beginning at 10am on Friday, July 29. I'll be back in the office at 8am on Monday, August 15. I look forward to assisting you upon my return!

Thank you, Lisa

ASI to host University of Michigan Sailing Club! - - David Barbour

In the spirit of sailing camaraderie, ASI is inviting the UMSC to join us for a picnic and sail at Kent Lake on August 20th from 11-3. Please join us to welcome this great group and to take them out for sails to show off our Interlakes. If you are interested in volunteering to take UMSC members out on the water or can bring in salads or deserts, please contact me at davidbarbour@yahoo.com.

Stay tuned for UMSC's invite for ASI to join them at Baseline Lake. The date will be posted shortly.

Thanks, David Barbour

Kent Lake scuttlebutt - - Joan Swain

Lost and found, found, found

Having done a mid-season checking, and reshifting, of all dockbox inventory this past Saturday at Kent Lake, we came upon numerous items that most likely belong to some of you. These include clothing & equipment items - ranging from so-so condition to "hey, I'd claim this if my conscience would let me." Only one has a name on it and direct contact has been made for that.

All 15 items - including caps, gloves, jackets, fleece, raingear, PFD, bottle, knife, camera, towel and 1 lonely sock - are now neatly placed in the Dockmaster dockbox. Since the dockboxes are not meant to be your personal on-site lockers, please claim whatever items you've left behind.

Depending on how valuable your item is - either make a special trip to the Lake,  get it during a mid-week sail, or hopefully at least during this weekend's picnic - please claim what's been left behind so the Maintenance Team and Dockmaster can have their box back.

Appeciation from afar 

Last week was the first time in this sailing season that I've observed 1 of the 2 newer, scheduled opportunities for Interlake practice sails at Kensington. My absence has not been due to disinterest. In fact, via the Burgee, I've been applauding the added time slots organized by David Pardy and Dave Amsdill, expanding on what Bob Dallos and John Johnston have done for a few seasons: bringing more options to all of us who want a guaranteed time to practice emerging or rusty skills - or just sail for the pleasure it gives. No, I haven't been disinterested. Rather I've been much impressed with what all four members offer to the rest of us each week. I know I speak for many in expressing that.

Additionally, I was reminded what energy our newest members bring to the Club, and what I'd be missing out if I didn't make the time to meet as many of them as I can. Don't you love a win-win? So whether you're a new or more seasoned member still debating whether to join in on one of those three options at Kensington, know you are most welcome to check any of them out. And if you cannot make the designated days or times, put a request in the Burgee for a practice sail at either lake. Likewise for a rated member who cannot attend the group sails, yet wants to assist another hone their skills, and receive their appreciation for your offer, the Burgee awaits your name/contact info.

Bottom line: Thank you Bob, John, David and Dave.

MUSHROOMS PLEASE 

One never knows what they'll learn on a Maintenance Saturday @ Kent Lake. Wondering why new anchors were being put on some of the boats (more to come?), I was advised that the faithful Danforths are being replaced. Because they're rusty? No. Too old? No. Outdated? No. Ineffective? No. Then why are they being replaced? Because it has been determined that the 2 large flukes meant to be buried into the lake bottom have sometimes mysteriously been buried into the boat's sole (OOPS!), causing otherwise unneeded repairs.

Since repairs cost money, It is expected that the cost of the new, rounded mushroom anchors, more friendly to our boat's soles,  while an expense not thought to be needed for decades, will be a preventative advantage.  Thank you Maintenance Team for thinking ahead on how to save our money down the road.....and for all that you do to keep our boats ship-shape.  Our Oopses can cost, can't they?

Ahoy ASI Members, Friends and Guests! - - Party hearty !

You are cordially invited to a “Home Made Sangria” party in celebration of the Level 3-4 transfer trip 2011

What’s the occasion? Avast me hearties!

A group of Sea Dogs from A.S.I. (American Sailing Institute) are returning from a cruise of the “North Channel”. They will be heavily laden with tall tales and rich pictures of their adventure. What better excuse for throwing a party?!

Where?

• N 42’25.813
• W 83’40.157

For you Landlubbers the address is:

• 63345 W. 8 mile road
• South Lyon, MI 48178

When?

• Saturday, September 17th. 8:00 PM

What to bring? A dish to pass and a bottle of red wine (The wine is for the Sangria so it doesn’t need to be the good stuff) and lots of sailing pictures and stories.

What say you! A cat on board!?

There is a cat that insists on living here. Arrrg! If you have allergies to a cat please take any precautions necessary to enjoy the party.

Join us in the annual celebration for the 2011 ASI students earning their “Level 4”. This is ASI’s highest Level of achievement. Truly worthy of an evening of merry making, cheer and congratulations!

Your host, Loren McFadden

Cell, (248) 568-5960

Please RSVP at: loren.j.mcfadden@gmail.com

KENT CUP REGATTA Saturday August 6, 2011 - - Michael Golden

The scavenger hunt postponed! 

• 0900 Kent Cup Race
• 1200 Annual ASI Potluck Picnic
• 1330 Meeting and Awards presentation
• 1400 Open sailing, around Labadie Island
• The scavenger hunt is postponed until next year.

Teams are being assembled for the Kent Cup race. The teams will choose to represent countries, colleges, or condiments in this 3 race competition for the silver and crystal Kent Cup trophy. The teams are preparing their boat and practicing together to be the fastest around the course.

A motor boat operator is needed for the morning. Call Don Sharpe if you would like to be checked out as an operator. Two volunteer hours can be earned in a fun event. An assistant will be be provided for race committee.

Gary Crosbie is our new race chairman and will strive to do the same fine job that Joe Jaeger has done for the past 2 years.

Lacey Ramsay had to bail on the scavenger hunt. If you have a game plan that would be good for our members in the afternoon at the picnic reply to mgolden6@mac.com. How about chalk art on the concrete?

Bring yourselves and a dish to pass for a great regatta.

Race team

Steve Poulos, CEO

Gary Crosbie, Sailmaster and race chairman

Michael Golden, Interlake racing bookie

the thousandth caller on channel 71!

Manitou was the 1000th caller to Roy at channel 71 in the North Channel. Barb Hayes called and mentioned the American Sailing Institute. We are pictured with Roy at his office at the Anchor Inn in Little Current.

clockwise:Chris Lamb, Diana Jaeger, Barb Hayes and Sherri Gregory  

Weed problem at Kent Lake - - Richard Jagers

Weeds at Kent Lake are growing like crazy, so here is the warning. Too much center board between the slips and the dock won’t allow you to paddle as the center board will get caught on the weeds. Too little and you get blown into the dock, boats, barrels, or other hard objects.

The same is true for the second entrance/exit to the slip area. Just outside the barrels are a bunch of weeds, so you have to judge the amount of center board.

So what’s the answer? I wish I could just tell you how much center board you need, but I can’t. What I can tell you is that you will have at least 6 inches of center board showing above the trunk, maybe more. It all depends on wind, wind direction and lake water level. So you have to experiment a little, but if you find it hard paddling to the dock, most likely you are slicing up the weeds!

Attention all keelboat captains! - - Marilyn Leece

Thanks to everyone that braved the heat to make the 2011 Level 2 Maintenance Marathon a huge success! The boats were checked from bow to stern. Oil was changed, batteries were filled, decks were scrubbed, and many other tasks completed!

Many thanks to;

• Jack Townsend, Asst. Maintenance Director
• Mike Perrin, Overture Boat Captain
• Dave Barbour, Overture Asst. Boat Captain
• Claire Zepeda, Overture Asst. Boat Captain
• Kate McCrae, Interlude Asst. Boat Captain 

Suzanne Benloucif, assisting with lunch & maintenance.

Judy Marten, assisting with lunch & maintenance.

• Patrick MacArthur
• Joy Hassebrock
• Kevin Chow
• Joe Roskoski
• Dan O'Connell
• Vic Macks
• Richard Grady
• Steve Wyborksi
• Carolyn Gorski
• Casilda de Benito
• Dave Clark
• Jim Bills
• Loren McFadden

We appreciate your time and effort!

Marilyn Leece Level 2 Co-Manager

Jessica Hogg Level 2 Co-Manager

Maintenance workshops - - Don Sharpe

The Interlake Maintenance workshops are scheduled for the first and third Saturday of the summer months, except for holiday weekends. This class is a requirement for level 1 certification. If you're taking the level 1 classes this year, be sure not to miss it!

But because of the picnic this Saturday, there will be no Maintenance workshop. And I will be sailing Lake Erie on the 20th, so there will be NO August workshops. Next one will be Saturday, September 3. 

Already rated? Even if you've had the class before, you might want to take it again to refresh your knowledge of centerboard nomenclature, rigging, history and trivia. 

NEW flexible options for Dockmasters at Kent Lake - - Anne Ostroth and Joan Swain

DOCKMASTERS are needed at Kent Lake for all Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays throughout the sailing season.  The dock master helps keep things running smoothly at the dock when there are a lot of boats coming and going,  Also, it is helpful to club members who want to take children and non-sailors sailing to have someone to catch a line or give a timely shove. This is especially important on class days. 

Due to the mysteriously low turnout for members to volunteer for the Dockmaster slot at Kent Lake, at the Operations Team Meeting we agreed with Anne Ostroth's suggestion (Anne being the one who is your dockmaster connection) that you now have the option of committing to 2 hour shifts vs the long standing 4 hour shifts.

The shifts will now be from 9-11, 11-1, 1-3, 3-5 for weekends and holidays.  For those of you who want the more traditional 4 hours, all you need do is take two shifts - or three, or all four.   And if you're planning on being at the Lake for another reason - i.e. Maintenance or sailing or just taking a breather from other obligations, you may be more inclined to slip in 2 hours before or after to help others leave and approach the dock. 

Still keep Anne informed of your taking advantage of dockmastering.  Remember, all the information is in the Dockmaster notebook in the Dockmaster Box, but basically you'll be helping out those heading out or finishing a sail - on occasion making sea-worthy suggestions or being a PR person for those showing interest.  And in any down time, you can check in with whatever latest electronic gadget you have, relax, read, or just enjoy the fact that you're helping the Club serve one of its functions.  All details for contacting Anne are in her weekly article below. 

Instructors should not have to conscript friends and family to serve as dock masters for when they are teaching.  Best of all serving as dock master is a good way to earn work hours. If you are interested please email Anne at aostr2@yahoo.com.

Practice Sails - - JoAnne McClure

Ahoy Practice Sail Skippers!

I've had some feedback from students now that they are out there sailing with you and I'd like to pass along some things tthat I have heard in the form of suggestions.

First, a big thank you for taking our students out so they can practice their skills. It is extra important now, when the wind can be somewhat flaky. In fact, our class on Saturday had almost no wind, so students need make-up help from you.

Second, I would like to suggest that you remember that these people are very new to sailing and don't know everything yet. That's why they are sailing with you. So when you ask them to perform a maneuver, you may have to explain what you want them to do, or even to demonstrate it for them. At any rate, harken back to when you were new to sailing and didn't know all ther terminology. Try to help them learn and remember terms, but don't expect them to be perfect. If hey don't respond right away, try to reword your request, or provide a hand gesture along with it so they have a clue what you are asking them to do. It will help them, and that's what it's all about.

Finally, here's a reprise of a note I've sent out before about having a great practice sail.

Skippers:

· Be sure that the student does all the sailing and rigging. You act as a resource for the student. Be a coach. Watch what they do and offer encouragement and positive suggestions.

· Find something positive about any maneuver that the student executes, and then shape their behavior toward the goal.

· Be aware of the skills on the water test. Push the student to try everything, but ask them what skills they want to work on that day.

· Don’t forget to practice docking. It may be that on an evening practice sail docking needs to be practiced early, while the wind is still up.

· Have Fun!!

Students:

· Take charge of your experience. Tell your skipper what you want to work on and then do it.

· Remember that all rated members skipper practice sails. Their skills may vary. If you need instruction (not just practice), request a practice sail with an instructor.

· Take criticism with a grain of salt. We try for consistency, but everyone has his/her own idiosyncratic ways of doing things. Take what you need from the experience. You will find that there is something to learn from everyone with whom you sail.

· Be sure that you learn something every time that you sail. Each time is a new experience. We all learn something every time we go out on the water. You should too.

· Have Fun!!

Thanks again for all you do!

Here's information you need to get your rating - - JoAnne McClure

1. You have 2 seasons to do it, so if you took your class in 2010, you must get rated this year. The one exception to this is people who took the class in September. They must be rated by 2012. If you do not, you will have to re-enroll in the Level 1 class.

2. After you have completed all your classes (including the Maintenance Class), and can perform all the maneuvers on the water test form (practice, practice, practice), contact one of the Water Test Instructors:

• Yasuo Fujita
• Don Anderson
• Sam Olive
• Bob Frank
• Bill Lane
• Tom Sand

and make an appointment to take your test. Bring your water test form and get it signed when you have completed the test successfully.

3. Next, study your book and handouts for the written test. When you're ready to take it, contact one of the Written Test Instructors and make an appointment to take the test. BRING YOUR WATER TEST AND SAIL PASS WITH YOU TO THE WRITTEN TEST. Written Test Instructors are: 

• David Pardy
• Chris Lamb
• Nancy Weiss
• MaryJane Bacinski
• JoAnne McCLure
• Sam Olive
• Trudy Morse 

If you don't pass you must wait 2 weeks before retaking the test and you should study this time.

4. Sail as much as you can so you can mentor another sailor! Good luck!

IMPORTANT: Draft Amendment to ASI Bylaws for Review

The following is a proposed amendment to ASI’s Bylaws.  This amendment will be voted upon by the general membership at this summer’s Club Picnic on August 6, 2011.  As an proposed amendment to our Bylaws, a 2/3 vote of approval of the membership at the Picnic is required for acceptance.

Please submit comments regarding changes/concerns to any the Board Trustees.

ARTICLE XIII

ASSET ACQUISITION

A. Asset acquisition refers to the purchasing of any vessel, real estate or other asset of $10,000 in value or greater.

B. All asset acquisition decisions can only be made at a formal board meeting.

C. The general membership must be informed of the intent to bring an asset acquisition motion at an upcoming board meeting at least two weeks prior to said meeting.

D. All board trustees must be personally notified of the intent to bring an asset acquisition motion at an upcoming board meeting.

Sailing opportunities galore!

There are more organized opportunities for us all to sail our Interlakes and keelboats than ever before! Thanks to Dave Amsdill, Bob Dallos, Heidi Dzendzel, Vic Macks, David Ei, Michael Golden, Harry Vanicelli and Dave Pardy, you'll have an easy time putting together a crew, whether you want to sail at Kensington, Stony Creek, or Lake St Clair.

The articles below fill in the details. Now, no excuses - let's GO SAILING!

Thundering Thursdays at Kent Lake - - Dave Amsdill

Please join us for open sailing, practice sails and guest sails on Thundering Thursdays 6 PM till dark. I will be keeping an email distribution list and will email a reminder and update of weather projections on Tuesday each week and will be accepting reservations via cell phone. Please email me (amsdill@comcast.net) to get on our distribution list and call me, Dave Amsdill, at 734-645-3806 to let me know your plans in order that we may do our best to get everyone out and sailing.

If you are a rated sailor and could be available for most or at least some Thursday nights please volunteer to join the Thundering Thursday team to provide practice sails to students, guest sails to prospective members and just get some sailing in. Please don’t worry that you’re not experienced or knowledgeable enough, we’ll learn together. It’s a great way to earn hours, empower new students, improve your skills and knowledge and give back to the club.

See you there, Dave Amsdill

Tuesday Day Sails - - Dave Pardy

For those interested, David Pardy will be coordinating day sails at Kensington on Tuesdays. This is not meant to replace any other sails but meets the philosophy of 'the more sailing the better'.

Here is how it works: Send David a quick note saying you're interested at dspardy@pardysell.com so he can add you to the email list. David will check the weather and send out a note to those interested probably by the Sunday before the Tuesday sail confirming the sail.

Those who can make it on the Tuesday, reply back to David that they will make it and whether they are rated or not. This should allow David to make sure that we have enough rated sailors for the number of students/guests.

We all meet at the lake at 10:30 and sail until about 1:00 or until people wear out. If weather looks good other days, David might add sails now and then and he'll email those on his list. We also need a few more rated sailors who can commit to be there most Tuesdays since David won't be able to make all of them. He'll also need help if we have a surplus of students/guests. If you can make most Tuesday, please let David know so he can plan.

Wet n' Wild Wednesdays at mid-season! - - Bob Dallos and John Johnston

What are Wet and Wild Wednesdays? It’s time for the old salts, new students and those in between, to get in some practice with our fleet of Interlake’s. No need for setting up appointments, checking the web or trading voice messages, simply show up at the East boat launch at Kent Lake about 18:00 (6pm for the newbie’s). What could be easier?

There is one important rule: You must be ready for fun, skill sharpening, practice sailing, and of course meeting with other club members that also have a passion for sailing. We will be around to help ensure that all new sailors are teamed up with rated and experienced sailors. We will even help with the Dock Master and launch chores, if you’re nice to us. Then we all have fun and sail until dusk chases us off the lake. If by chance, we have more unrated or new members than we can pair with rated members,( yes, it has happened a few time in the last few years) bear with us and we will make every attempt to get everyone some tiller time.

For the rated and experienced members of the club, this is not only a great way to meet and welcome new member (and show off a bit) but also to help them gain confidence in their skills so they too can become rated and play it forward. Not only will you have a great time, you get a bonus in that you even earn some volunteer hours, and without you, there would not be WWW!

Looking forward to another great summer of sailing,

See you at the dock, 

John Johnston and Bob Dallos

still more sailing opportunities! - - Vic  Macks

I've put together a list of rated sailors sailing daytime weekdays. You can initiate a sail by email/phone call to anyone on the list. For example, you can look ahead one to three days, check the weather, decide on a day, and call/email those on the list for crew. This could be on Interlakes or keelboats, depending on your rating and interest and the interests of those on the list. It's that simple. The list contains rated sailors interested in Kent, Stony Creek, or Lake St. Clair. The time share fee for keelboats would be split among the number aboard.

This will not conflict with what Dave Pardy is doing on Tuesdays at Kent (see above). It may compliment his efforts with sailing on Kent on other weekdays.

Send me an email (vicmacks3@gmail.com) with the following:

• Name and rating
• email address and phone number(s)
• likely days available
• preferences (Kent, Stony Creek, Lake St. Clair)

I will email an updated list as often as there are changes, additions, etc. Remember, sails will be initiated by anyone on the list. All that's needed is you on the list.

Questions? Send an email or call me at 586-779-1782

And still another connection for sailing! - - David Ei

I am now available for practice sails on every weekday evening except Tuesday.I’m available for practice sails at Kent lake most Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. I can be reached at (734) 205-9151 (days) and (734-449-2404 (evenings)

David Ei

A few more things...       

Words to live by: We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.. 

Something to remember about submissions to the Burgee - if you've got pictures, I can add them easily, but NOT if they're part of a Word document. I'm not smart enough to know how to separate them from the text, and reformat as JPG's. So send your pictures separately, ok?  

The ASI Burgee is on a weekly schedule. The next one will be Tuesday, August 16. Please send your Burgee input to asidon@comcast.net by Sunday for inclusion in that Burgee. But send pictures as attachments, please!