Loving the No Wake Lake

Posted by Jun 18, 2019 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I learned to sail on Lake Manawa. Everyone told me you could sail in really light winds, but most of my light wind sailing has been very unpleasant. Stalled out in the wake of motorboats, bobbing like a cork with my sails flapping around is not exactly fun. Then the no wake lake happened and it’s like the clouds parted and the sun shone down. Light wind sailing on Saturday and Sunday was pleasant. Gently ghosting through the nearly glassy water was a novelty that we kept marveling at. It won’t last forever, but we will treasure the no wake lake while we have it.

Saturday, June 15 – Sunset Sail
Sunday, June 16 – Light wind spinnaker practice

Wednesday Racing Update (June 12)

Posted by Jun 14, 2019 Racing Leave a Comment

We had Mark S and Bill B racing on Nacra 5.2 cats, Nathan R on his Hobie Getaway, Jed on a Rebel 16 and Colin on a club laser. We welcome Jim O to his first race with LMSA. Jim sails a sunfish and prefers the challenge of crazy high winds. No disappointment there on Wednesday night with a high, gusty north wind. The RC set a windward/leeward course on east lake. Unfortunately, there were a couple casualties. The outhaul on the laser failed and dropped the boom. Colin had to pull the mast and take a tow in, but the laser was easily repaired. Nathan’s Getaway flipped before the races, but he powered through and ended up taking first place overall. After the last race, Nathan’s forestay failed and his mast came down. Fortunately there were no injuries, but some equipment was lost. Thanks to the RC for towing services! (pictures will be added when available)

Introduction to Sailing

Posted by Jun 12, 2019 Sailing School Leave a Comment

The first session of Introduction to Sailing started on Saturday, June 8th (10 students) and the second session started on Monday, June 10th (11 students). This is the first year we are incorporating the Holder 14s and we are very pleased with them so far. They sail fine with just the main and can comfortably carry 3 adults. Teaching with two different types of boats (Sunfish and Holder) has presented new challenges and some additional work, but we are working out the kinks. Thanks to everyone who has shown up to help with the first two sessions (Bill D, Bill S, Chris P, Eileen R, Laura M, Lisa S, Nathan and Scott R).

Monday night class – Sunfish and two Holders. Laura and Bill D coaching from the Whaler.

Sailing School Ramps-up

Posted by Jun 5, 2019 Sailing School Leave a Comment

The intermediate/advanced sailing class started on June 1st. June 8th is the start of the first Introduction to Sailing class. We planned five sessions this year and the first two are already full!. Two additional morning sessions were added to accommodate a Boy Scout troop. If you would like to volunteer to help with the sailing school, please email Randy.Greer@sailmanawa.com. We usually need a lot of help the first two days of each session. Scheduled class dates and times are below and on the website calendar.

Class 1, Sat. mornings (9am-noon), June 8,15,22,29
Class 3, MTWTh evenings (6-8:30pm), June 10,11,12,13
Class 2, MTWTh evenings (6-8:30pm), June 24,25,26,27
Class 4, Sat. mornings (9am-noon), July 6,13,20,27
Class 5, MTWTh evenings (6-8:30pm), July 8,9,10,11
Boy Scouts, MTWTh mornings (9am-noon), July 22,23,24,25
Boy Scouts, MTWTh mornings (9am-noon), July 29,30,31

This year we are adding 3 Holder 14’s to our fleet of Sunfish.

Kicking June off in Style (June 1st)

Posted by Jun 4, 2019 Racing Leave a Comment

Saturday June 1st was a busy day at the club. We started off with a paint party at 9am with freshly baked cinnamon caramel roles (thanks Eileen!). Thanks to everyone who turned out to paint the shop and two sheds and a special thanks to Martin for heading up the painting effort. The paint party was followed by a lunch of brats.

Painting on the sail loft – Martin and Eileen (on ladders) and Dave
Ke and George painting the sheds

Races were on at 1:30pm. This was the second race of the year, but the first Saturday race. Phil L was on his Finn, Patrick L and crew were sailing a Snipe (first snipe racing this season) and Bill B and Teresa S were at the line on Nacra 5.2 catamarans. The race committee set up the course on west lake, starting with an Olympic for the first two races and going to a one lap windward/leeward for the last race. Winds were higher and a bit shifty. We had a little drama when the Snipe went over. It took a while to get back up. Bill S, who was out with friends and family on a Hobie Wave, stopped to lend assistance (thanks Bill!). Unfortunately, the mast stuck in the mud so Patrick had to retire from the race to go clean the sail and mast.

Phil (on Finn) and Bill (on Nacra 5.2)