No Interlake Maintenance Workshop on the 20th - - 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!

However, I will be sailing Lake Erie on the 20th, so there will be NO August 20th workshop. 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.

See you in September!

Test Instructors needed - - JoAnne McClure

It has come to my attention that we may need additional test instructors to accommodate students' need for getting rated. If you have 3 years experience teaching and would like to become a test instructor, please contact me. The more people available for testing, the more opportunities students have to get that all-important rating.

Your Operations team has decided... - - Joan Swain

Docking and capsize workshops - - JoAnne McClure

August 27 is this summer's docking and capsize workshop date. The docking workshop is from 9 am until noon. The capsize demo/workshop begins at noon.

All are welcome for both events. The docking workshop porvides practice in good docking proceures and works on "dock phobia" for new sailors and old salts alike. The capsize demo explains and then demonstrates capsize procedures on an Interlake. If you would like to participate in the capsize, bring a change of clothes (skin out), and a towel and plan on getting wet. This event qualifies for the US Sailing Small Boat Certification requirement. No sign up is required for either event.

Need more information? Contact JoAnne McClure (je-mcclure@earthlink.net).

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

You are tempting me...  - - Joan Swain

The good news is, 9 of the lost items previously noted have been claimed from the Kensington Dockmaster box. However, as of picnic day, 7 remained. Instead of listing what the items are, perhaps this new list will jangle your recollection that "yes, I'm missing my... Sterns, Lands End, Warmers, GoFit, Export, no name, or no name....item."

You do realize that the longer these (or newly acquired) items stay in the Dockmaster box, the less likely they'll be safe from being soiled or damaged or........     OK, since that's clear, this will be the last Burgee alert before boat take out. 

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

Attention, Interlude skippers! - - Jerry Brady

These items were pulled from Interlude this season. They were left there by those sailors that chartered Interlude, or their crewmembers. Are any of these yours?  

1. Submersible handheld VHF radio.
2. Black windbreaker
3. Inflatable West Marine Type V PFD
4. One pair black, plastic sunglasses, Italy Design.
5. A shorty wet suit, the kind you use for boogie boarding.

Contact me for more information!

Recent Dockmaster options - - Anne Ostroth

Due to the mysteriously low turnout for members to volunteer for the Dockmaster slot at Kent Lake, the Operations Team Meeting has confirmed more flexibility.  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, 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 - reminding sailors to sign in & lock dockboxes or, as importantly,  being a PR person for those showing interest.  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.  You may contact Anne @ aostr2@yahoo.com.

Thank you to those who have stepped forward this season, and an early thank you to those who now will. 

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
• Mike Perrin
• Marlin Ristenbatt

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 more, this time.

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

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!

Sail the Interlakes with Marlin Ristenbatt!

Marlin Ristenbatt is available for Practice Sails at Kent Lake on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Marlin at 734-971-0687

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

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

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 Interlakes before the end of the season. 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 newbies). 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 autumn 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 complement 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

A few more things...       

Some things you really need to know: Astronauts can't belch -  there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their  stomachs.

And long before there was an internet, there was a google. What's a google? A very big number; 1 followed by one hundred zeros. Then there's the googleplex, which is 1 followed by a GOOGLE zeros. These are numbers too big for even Washington - yet!

The ASI Burgee is on a weekly schedule, usually. But the next one will be in TWO weeks, on Tuesday, August 30. Your editor will be sailing the Great Lakes next week!

Please send your Burgee input to asidon@comcast.net by Sunday for inclusion in that Burgee. But send pictures as attachments, please!