March - South Sound Sailing Society

Ship-to-Shore
The South Sound Sailing Society’s Newsletter
Volume 34 Issue 7
March 2005
March Meeting: Joe and Mickey Raudebaugh
O Happy March Members!!! Let the daydreaming begin! Opening Day here we come!!!
YEAH J!! We are down to our last three speakers of the year. You guys know that old saying
that good things come in threes. With that said I would like to introduce my fellow Members to
the first of the final three. It is our very own Joe and Mickey Raudebaugh. The Raudebaughs
have been sailing for 25 years and are in the final phases of completing their first book. Joe and
Mickey will take us along
a wonderful cruising
experience through the
Panama Canal and the
San Fanblas Islands. I’m
sure we will hear a His
and Hers version of this
incredible adventure and
the lessons learned from
such a long cruise.
In speaking with Joe in
preparation for this article
I feel it is my duty to tell
you all that this is a
fascinating man, Joe has a
wit about him that is
unmatched by no other. A
25 year Member of SSSS
Joe And Mickey have
attended and supported
Aboard Balder, McAllister Creek Race
photo: Dwayne Young
Sailing events and
More McAllister photos by Dwayne are on line.
Seminars in and outside
of the SSSS. The most memorable for him could be one hosted by George Hansen where
George shared the three rules of cruising. They go as follows: 1) Keep your boat in the water.
2) Keep water out of the boat. 3) Keep your people in the boat. They failed two of them! Later
George and Mickey realized there are actually five rules of cruising. This is their version of an
amendment to the Hanson seminar first taken 25 years ago. 4) Know where you are in the
North Atlantic when your GPS has failed. 5) Have enough supplies to support a crew of four
instead of two. Joe and Mickey will elaborate on these rules and their lessons learned during
their one year cruising experience through the Panama Canal aboard their 37' Pacific Craft.
This is a speaker not to be missed. Come on out to the club, enjoy a beverage or two and a
couple of laughs with your fellow Members.
Remember there are only three Meetings with speakers left before our summer break. I hope
to see you all there.
Cheers,
The Deedster, Beagle
Commodore’s Corner: Volunteers
South Sound Sailing Society is all about volunteers. Each year we are reminded of this as we
prepare to host the Toliva Shoal Race. This year we owe a big thank you to Suzie Shafer for
agreeing to become the Committee Chair. Suzie, in turn, gathered together an enthusiastic
group of folks who dedicated time and energy to making this another great event. As usual, Jan
and crew set out a delicious dinner. And where would be without the help of the clean up crew.
Great job! Dan Decker deserves a big pat on the back for going the extra mile. Dan took time to
visit other clubs in the area to extend a personal invitation to the event. Additionally, he worked
to create the second party held at Westbay Marina. A round of applause for all of the tireless
Toliva Shoal volunteers.
REMEMBERING A SAILOR : PHRF : TOLIVA REPORT : POLAR BEARS
http://www.ssssclub.com
Performance Sailing Seminar
March 1
Toliva Review / 1900 at Rod Tharp’s
Star Fleet Meeting
March 2
1830 Westbay
Dick Rose on the RRS
March 5
0900 Westbay
Hope Island Cruise
March 5-6
General Meeting
Joe and Mickey Raudebaugh
March 8
Visitors Welcome
Doors open at 1900, Meeting starts 1930
Skookum Inlet Race
March 12
first start 1000
Pre Race Breakfast Westbay 0800
board meeting
March 15
Appollos 1830
Thursday Night Race Meeting
March 16
1830 Westbay
Islands Race, GHYC
March 19
fourth Southern Sound Series race
Maclean Memorial Race
April 2
first start 1000
Pre Race Breakfast Westbay 0800
Performance Sailing Seminar
April 5
Racing Rules /1900 at Rod Tharp’s
Spring Regatta
April 8
first start 1830
April 9
first start 1000
General Meeting
April 12
Visitors Welcome
Doors open at 1900, Meeting starts 1930
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
If you’d like to be part of the Toliva crew, let Suzie know. She
can pass the word to Derek Hardy who has agreed to be next
year’s Chairperson. There are other ways to help also. Offer to
host a Cruise. Volunteer for committee boat duty, even if you
don’t race. Stick around after the Meetings and assist with the
clean up.
While we are on the subject of volunteers, I want to remind
everyone that there are plenty of opportunities to participate. We
are always looking for capable people willing to serve on board
positions. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the
Club and influence its direction in the future. Personally, I have
found the experience enlightening, tiring, energizing, and
interesting, but never boring.
If you are interested in a
position, please let Ian
Christopher know now. If this
isn’t the year for you, I will
be making the rounds next
year.
Susan Bishop, Destiny II
grateful when after enjoying a forum thread, guests slip away for
a time to drop anchor for the evening. By using the e-mail address
listed in the roster, you identify yourself as local. The locals are
crazy this time of year. That is the reality of living at latitude 48
north. But in time, and the more locals feel free to contribute, the
show will be worth waiting for.
For example, it seams like every year one of our cruising
couples carries the SSSS burgee to a location south of the equator
or north beyond latitude 58. We also have serious racers who
crew on race boats all over the US. There are even Members
planning on being in Spain for the Americas Cup. The Club BB is
accessible to our Members who are out of country. In the near
future it will be
available while cruising
and while racing, via
satellite cell phone and
Wi-Fi. Yes even while
racing.
Rule changes starting
next race season will
allow Internet access of
sites that are readily
available to all, even
during a race, just as
Contrary to the opinion of
VHS weather reports
some in our Club, there are
are accessible. Changes
Members who cruise during
in the 2005 rule book to
the winter months. The
Rule 41 involving
cruising etiquette is a bit
Outside Help make it
different, however. Locals
clear that it is always
enjoy tourist free times and
OK to get help in the
they cherish these months.
form of information
They are likely to be grateful
freely available to all
Flying Circus from Edgewalker, Eld Inlet Race
photo: Steve Jones
when, after enjoying the day
boats. Help provided by
More Eld Inlet Race photos on line.
at a dock, you slip away to
a free, publicly
drop anchor for the evening.
accessible web site that
You are also more likely to spot wildlife such as the pod of Orcas does not restrict access is permitted. Hence it is in our interests to
that treated the SSSS fleet for New Years at Boston Harbor, as
keep the BB open, and not close portions of it to those who are
did polar bears. What is with those guys? The locals are crazy this not club members, as other clubs have done.
time of year with men and woman calling themselves polar bears
The standards of behavior applicable dockside likely apply to
and cold cold January water. It was a show worth waiting for
the BB because of this in regards to racing rules defining
[Read “Kiki takes the Plunge!” in this S-t-S, Ed.].
sportsmanship. These standards may keep calm those who would
SSSS has a large number of reciprocal moorage arrangements
like others to believe that a free exchange of ideas is wrong when
that can be expected to be open for use, even on the weekends,
they are offended. I suspect in time our BB will be used to keep
during this time of year. So a cruise to take care of a maintenance shore crew appraised of race and cruising progress as well as
chore, such as engine work, heater upgrades, sail work, new
changes in the racecourse, owing to markers being lost and other
electronics, or a cruise to the fresh water in lake Washington to
unforeseen events. The BB will appear more global than local,
kill salt-water marine growth, becomes attractive. There are many because our Membership cruises and races globally. It is great to
who cruise to the Seattle and Tacoma Boat Shows, and boat
sail in modern times.
swaps. South Sound sailors need not spend these months armchair
Frank L. Mighetto, Murrelet
sailing and dreaming of the South Pacific or cruising the internet
just because they are not racing during the winter.
Regarding the internet, I am encouraging all Members to
After the Eld Inlet Race, Courageous requested redress as the
register with the club bulletin board, accessible from the Bar.
turning mark was not as described in the sailing instructions. She
Please use the same e-mail address that you had listed in the
asked that the race be abandoned. The protest committee decided
Roster. Your Board views the BB as a club resource.
that she had dropped out because of the mark. However they did
Unfortunately during these cold winter months there has been
not feel it fair to the other racers to toss the race. Instead, for the
some anarchy. Members who frequent the BB are as the locals.
race she was granted series points equal to the average of her
We welcome guests, and always will, but we are likely to be
scores in the other series races.
Secretary's
Report
Redress Hearing
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
accommodate the slower boats as well as the fast ones. I can also
do more then one start, if needed to make sure the slower smaller
There was something about the Eld Inlet race that I particularly dinghies are not intimidated by the bigger and faster boats.
liked. It was not the fact that I neglected to check whether the
However, if you are interested in getting a sailing dinghy to race
buoy at Frye Cove was in place after the early winter storms. I
this season, consider the Thistle. They are great boats with an
regret that, and I regret that the racers who sailed up the cove did active fleet in Seattle, among other places. More to the point, we
not find a SSSS mark to round. What I liked was that practically
have three in the program now and want to develop a one design
everyone found that the absence of the mark did not ruin the race. dinghy fleet. All of this will be discussed at the meeting in March.
Finding no official mark, the lead boats chose a distinctive float I want to do whatever is needed to help promote small boat racing
among the many close to the expected mark position, rounded
in Olympia.
that, and carried on with the race. That’s the jazz approach. It’s
There will be docks to store sailing dinghies on at Westbay
spontaneous, and it serves those who can use it at least as well as Marina. We need to know well in advance so we can make sure
playing what’s written
enough space
down.
is available.
If that seems like only
You don’t have
common sense to you, I
to be a racer to
think that speaks well for
store your boat
your sense of balance. I am
on the dock.
not sure that every sailing
The cost will
fleet would be so
be $15 month.
adaptable. I count myself
I will collect
lucky to be sailing with
the money and
people who are prepared to
turn into the
go out and enjoy
Marina each
themselves, and who are
month as a
not easily put off from that
lump sum,
goal.
which means
The McAllister Creek
prompt
race was easier to enjoy,
payment each
with enough wind for
month to me or
everyone and some
a one time
incredibly close finishes
seasonal
within the classes. Sean
payment at the
Trew did a heroic job of
beginning to
Havin’ Sun Fun, McAllister Creek Race, photo: Sean Trew
photographing that race
make my book
more McAllister Creek photos on line; Sean has more on his site
from his runabout. Be sure
keeping easier.
to check out the link to
I am still
Sean’s web site from the race results page.
working up the crew list which will be given to all the skippers at
By the time this is mailed, the Henderson Inlet Race will be
the meetings. If you wish to be put on the list, call or e-mail me
happening. The Skookum Inlet will be coming up fast. Please do with the information on how to reach you . I can’t guaranty you
take the opportunity to get out on this last out and back race
will race each time, but I will make sure you get out with me, at
before we move back into buoy racing mode. See you out there!
least for a day sail if not a race.
Stephen Wade, Adagio
As I have said before, if your boat needs work and you need
some place out of the rain to do it, let me know. When space is
available in my shop, you will be notified early enough to bring
the boat over and get the work done. Any boats put in the shop
will need to be turned around as quickly as possible, so others can
Stars March 2 : Dinghies March 16 : both at 1830
get in and get their work done. I expect the two woodies to be out
When this news hits you, we will be just a month away from
of the shop by the first of March. My glass boat and the race
launching the Stars. Thursday Night Racing starts soon after. I
committee boat should be done soon after and I will have room.
hope you are getting your boat ready. To get the program ready,
Put the meeting dates on your calendar. Let’s have a great
we have scheduled two meetings.
season this year, and may we have fair winds all season.
The first meeting is for those who are interested in the Star
Bill Brosius, Starseeker
program. It is happening soon, on March second at Westbay
Marina. As I mentioned before, we now have 16 Stars for sure
this season and possibly two more will join us later in the season.
Coming up on March 16th, at Westbay will be a meeting of
Time Warp, made the 48 North Top 20. She had a perfect score,
those interested in the sailing dinghy program. We want all kinds
which
was good enough to tie for first. Congratulations to Peter.
of sailing dinghies to participate. I will set courses to
RC Report: Inlet Series
Thursday Night Race Race Meetings
SSSS Boats Down Sound
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
Rules with Dick Rose
Southern Sound Series Rep Report
Island Race
Hello racers. I have just set up another great seminar for the
racing contingent of the SSSS. Dick Rose will speak on the
The final event of the four-race Southern Sound Series is the
Racing Rules of Sailing. Dick was one of the authors of the
Islands Race hosted by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club. It is
simplified rules and is an internationally recognized rules expert. scheduled for Saturday, March 19th. This has always been one of
He is a member of the ISAF and USSA rules committees and
the more interesting races of the series.
Sailing World’s rules columnist. Not only is he an authority, he is
The course starts outside the mouth of Gig Harbor and then
also a great speaker. When he last
heads north along Colvos
spoke at SSSS, 10 years ago, he
Passage, round a mark on
packed the house. You will not want
the north side of Blake
to miss it.
Island and return to the
Saturday March 5th at the
starting line. The distance is
Viewpoint Room at Westbay Marina
approximately 30 miles and
Doors will open at 0900 am for
must be completed within
coffee and donuts, the seminar will
12 hours.
start at 0930.
About a dozen years ago
Hour 1: The new changes to the
the course started at the
rules.
mouth of Gig Harbor, went
Hour 2: Strategies for using the
under the Narrows Bridge,
rule book to solve a problem.
round a mark near Green
Hour 3 : Questions from the
Point in Carr Inlet, then
audience and your chance to show
back to Toliva Shoal, keep
just how much smarter you are than
it to port, and finish in
the rest of us!
Wollochet Bay. This was a
The cost is $25 per person. This
most difficult race! The
seminar is being presented by the
currents in the Narrows
Olympia Sailing Foundation. It will
Kiki takes the Plunge!
photo Carl Applebaum
always seemed foul. If they
be raising funds to assist and their
I suspect that most of you have heard of the Olympia Polar Bear were favorable you usually
efforts to bring permanent small boat
swim that occurs at Capital Lake on New Year’s Day. But do you faced unfavorable currents
dry moorage and crane lifts to
know that a similar event takes place at Boston Harbor? The 2005 on the way back.
Olympia.
SSSS New Year’s celebration occurred at Boston Harbor.
One year Koosah was
You can register by contacting me, Fourteen boats were there.
anchored close against the
Dan Decker,
This year Kiki Carter, granddaughter of Emily Ray and Jim
shore near Point Evans,
Lengenfelder, made the plunge with seven local Boston Harbor
vicecommodore@ssssclub.com or
along with most of the fleet,
357-7075. Checks can be made out residents. Her grandparents were amazed at Kiki’s feat and gave waiting for the current to
to the Olympia Sailing Foundation. credit to Member Carl Applebaum. He dared her to do it and
change. Bill Maclean with
promised a treat as reward. To celebrate Kiki enjoyed an ice
Cheers,
his boat Savage refused to
cream bar following the dip. The most startling thing about this
Daniel A Decker, O-My-God
anchor. He attempted to sail
was that Kiki didn’t want to put dry clothes on until well after she
I know there is a Cruise scheduled had finished the ice cream bar.
thru the Narrows and the
SSSS
strongly
encourages
Members’
children
and
th
current sent him back to
for the 5 , but scheduling is tight this
grandchildren to join us on Cruises, but this extreme behavior is
Point Defiance. He headed
time of year. You can go to the
not necessary.
back to the Narrows,
Seminar and still make the Cruise.
Jim Lengenfelder, String Games hugging the shore, only to
The Seminar will be over by 1300.
have the current punish him
The Cruise is close, Hope Island.
again. About the fourth try he made it through! The rest of the
Come by boat and you can leave for the Cruise from Westbay.
fleet pulled up their anchors and essentially followed him around
You will not miss a thing.
the course. Bill taught us never to give up.
Another year the mark was missing at Green Point. Kelly
O’Neil,
our favorite photographer, was there with here inflatable,
HOPE ISLAND CRUISE, MARCH 5-6
camera, dog and GPS. She recognized that the mark was missing
Come join us for the Hope Island Cruise, March 5th. We usually and volunteered to serve as the mark boat. She was on station for
form rafts on the state park buoys on the west side of the island.
at least three hours as the fleet said “Thanks Kelly!” during the
And there is easy anchorage on the north side of the island as well rounding. She was on station so long she had to put out a call on
as a couple buoys on the south side. Bring your favorite dish for
the VHF for extra gas! She gave up a lot of good photo
the pot luck will be at 1800 hours ether on the beach on the west
opportunities as she fulfilled the key role of making the race a
side of the island or on Murphy, depending on the weather or the success. Kelly taught us flexibility and charity.
number in the crowd.
The new course has contributed some exciting experiences.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer This is the only race I know of in South Sound where the slower
Cruise News
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
boats come real close to the faster boats during the race. Since all who was at the helm asked for some ski goggles. We gave her a
are going up and back they all get to meet somewhere on the
swim mask that worked just as well.
course! You really pay attention when Neptune’s Car, a Santa
In 2003 Koosah was first in class. We beat the well-sailed Cal
Cruz 72, is bearing down on you! We always wave and
33-2, Aja, owned by Ken Slattery and Gerry Gilbert of Tacoma
sometimes yell, “Looking good!” As our sail maker says:
Yacht Club by one second! That confirmed that every little bit
“Nothing goes to windward as fast as money.”
counts and never give up!
The 1997 race was shortened at Blake Island. It was getting
Well, the point of all this rambling is, as you can see, sailing
dark and there had been little wind the entire day. Gary Martin
can be a lot of fun. Memories can last a lifetime, but you have to
transferred his crew from Gadzooks to Koosah. Gary headed
make them first. So grab your crew and head up to Gig Harbor on
north to Shilshole for a race the next weekend. I can remember
Friday the 18th of March. Take
Eric Egge and his crew mates look of
them out to the Tides Tavern or
surprise as they entered Koosah’s
one of the other fine eateries in
cabin. “Wow, you have heat down
Gig Harbor. Then be prepared on
here! And a lot of food!” We learned
Saturday to have some fun going
from the Gadzooks crew that a great
up and down the passage ... and
place to stay in Victoria for Swiftsure
create your own memories
is the Helm’s Inn. And, they saw that
Dave Knowlton, Koosah
you can take comforts aboard when
you race.
About thirty minutes after they
came aboard the wind began to roar
meets the First Tuesday of the
down the passage! The front that we
month
thought would be with us during the
race had arrived! Our wind instrument
At the March meeting of
was reading in the high twenties,
Performance Sailing we will
gusting into the high thirties. We put
review the Toliva Shoals Race.
three in the cockpit and the rest stayed
Hopefully, every one that
below. We rotated every half hour. It
participated in the race had an
was a slow slog back to Gig Harbor.
enjoyable time and some
We later learned that the waves were
experiences that they are willing
so high and the wind so strong that
to share with others.
John DeMeyer on Balder had to tow
At the April meeting we will
Ian Christopher’s Uproar back to the
discuss the racing rules, with
Harbor. Uproar’s outboard engine
particular emphasis on starting.
was coming out of the water often and
This will be a good opportunity
all of the mainsail slugs were torn out
for the Star Racers to bone up on
of the mast! John stated he got Ian
the rules.
back in time for the pasta feed. We
March 1: Toliva Review
also learned that Graffiti, a J-24, had
April 5: Rules at the start
Miss Conduct, Eld Inlet Race
photo: by Bill Sheldon
the sail of their life going down wind
more Eld Inlet Race photos on line
We meet the first Tuesday of
to Shilshole! They surfed almost the
each month at seven o’clock 1900
entire way doing over 14 knots. Maybe that is why skipper Joe
hrs at 1231 Miller Ave. Northeast in Olympia. Anyone interested
Neel sells insurance!
in joining the camaraderie and learning more about sailing is
One race everyone made it around the mark at Blake Island and invited to attend. Please join us.
headed for the Harbor. Alas, darkness fell and so did the wind
Rod Tharp, Strider
and fog. We were slowly drifting down Colvos Passage when we
noticed on radar a bunch of boats over near Olalla. They might be
finishing the race there! We headed towards the bunch of boats
Last month I offered this short quiz to help teach people how to
and sure enough, that is where the race was shortened! We never
compare handicaps between PHRF regions. First I pointed out
would have known about it if our radar had been off. Turns out,
most of the other boats didn’t know about it, couldn’t see it, and that just because an other region has a different handicap for your
boat does not mean that region got it wrong. There should be
the race was a throw out.
differences between regions, as one strength of the system is that
Another year, one of Dan Decker’s NOAA boats was
conducting some sort of under water survey. The huge behemoth it is local and adapts to local conditions. The locals think
would travel rather slowly and then set off a loud explosion under conditions are different there.
So I gave you three handicaps for each of three hypothetical
water. I think it was air pressure, but explosion sounds more
exciting. Our boat would shutter whenever the explosion went off boats; the handicaps are from three different hypothetical PHRF
Fleets, shown below. I asked which set of handicaps is fairest in
and our crew would yell “Torpedo, torpedo!” I can’t remember
several different places?
but that could have been the race that it snowed. Carol Johnston
Performance
Sailing Seminar
PHRF Quiz
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
Moe
119 PHRF A
131 PHRF B
122 PHRF C
Larry 126 PHRF A
138 PHRF B
129 PHRF C
Curly 110 PHRF A
122 PHRF B
113 PHRF C
Answer: the different regions’ handicaps are all equally fair in
any and all locations, as they are the same. Boats will be scored
in the exact same order in all. Corrected time differences between
boats will be identical in all.
The absolute number is irrelevant. When comparing scores,
and handicaps, what matters is the difference between boats. In
all three regions, Larry owes Moe seven seconds per mile and he
owes Curly sixteen seconds. That’s what counts and is what you
need to know to compare handicaps between fleets.
Ed.
Ken was one of the first sailors to campaign a boat in Olympia,
Tacoma, and parts north. He raced in numerous Swiftsure, Straits
of Georgia, Great Equalizer, Tri-Island, and other regional and
local races. He was a member of Olympia Yacht Club for over
forty years, and a member of the South Sound Sailing Society
from its inception. Dozens of people he introduced to sailing
went on to race boats of their own. Fore decking on
Counterpoint, changing spinnakers in a raging snowstorm in
Dana Pass during one Toliva Shoal Race, helped me realize that
life might be more fun in the back of the boat.
Ken first sailed across the Pacific as crew for Taffy Sceva in
1958, on Westward Ho. It is said that while in mid-Pacific they
realized that they had forgotten the chart of the Hawaiian Islands,
and navigated to their destination using a Texaco road map.
Similar navigational triumphs were to follow, including on-thejob learning of celestial
navigation from the deck
Dr. Kenneth L. Partlow II
of Liza K during the Vicdied January 23, 2005 in
Maui Race, and
Olympia, on a foggy evening
culminating in a recent
with a nearly full moon,
Puget Sound voyage to
while taking a walk within
Port Ludlow, in no
sight and smell of Puget
breeze, completed with
Sound. He was born in
no chart, no fuel, and no
Olympia on July 14, 1917.
anchor. He also crossed
He graduated from Olympia
the Atlantic with George
High School in 1935,
Bray in 1986, bringing
attended the University of
George’s Swan 38 from
Washington and received his
the Canary Islands to
MD from George
Antigua.
Washington University
Ken gave the first
Medical School in 1943. He
opportunity to crew in an
married Katherine Y.
ocean race to a number
Phillips in 1944, and they
of local sailors, including
remained happily married
the late Stew Bledsoe,
until her death in 2000. He
the late Gene Sibold,
was the first full time boardParks Weaver, Skip
certified pathologist to make
Olympia his home base, and was the founder of Olympia Medical Steffen, Tom McPhee, his sons Kenneth, Keith, and Kevin, and
myself. Needless to say, this blue water experience changed our
Laboratory and Black Hills Pathology.
lives forever, and we remain grateful to him for introducing us to
He enjoyed skiing, golf, and tennis, but his lifelong avocation
this aspect of sailing. I will never forget the experience of surfing
was sailing. He and his cousin, Verne “Bud” Partlow, built a
down the trades for days on end, sprawled in the cockpit, while
sailing canoe as boys, and spent many summers sailing southern
Puget Sound. While in high school, he sailed his canoe to Seattle, one or another of the crew read aloud from William F. Buckley’s
“Airborne”, or being rudely awakened from a sound sleep by a
provisioned with a five pound ham and a case of beer. He never
liked ham quite as much again. Oddly enough, the experience did wet, torn spinnaker being thrown in my face, accompanied by the
invocation: “Wake up, Betsy Ross, I have a flag for you to sew!”
not put him off beer. While at the University of Washington, he
kept a sailboat moored on Lake Washington. After owning a
By way of thanks, we threw a 60th birthday party for him in
series of small boats, he gave his family the choice of building a
mid-Pacific, during the 1977 Transpac. We repeated the
new, larger boat, or a skiing vacation. The result was a Seafair 32, celebration on his 70th and 80th, on dry land, but with more wine.
Sun Valley.
Ken appeared in his usual sartorial splendor, wearing a tie and
By the time I arrived in Olympia in 1972, He was racing Kate,
jacket, docksiders, and no socks! We had hoped to have done a
his Cal 34. I walked into the Pathology lab to see about some test
90th.
results, and we started talking about sailboats and racing. ThirtyStew and Gene predeceased him. Parks, Tom, and I, at least,
three years later, we had not finished the conversation. He
have tried to emulate him in our nautical careers, but we have not
subsequently raced a Cal 33, Counterpoint, a J-24, and then Liza
matched him.
K, a Valiant 40, which he raced in the 1976 Vic-Maui Race, and
We miss him dearly.
the 1977 Transpac. He later owned a Cape George 31, Kate, and
Sherwood Smith
finally an S-2, Little Thunder, which he moored within sight of
with thanks to Keith Partlow for biographical data
his condo on East Bay Drive.
Remembering a Sailor:
Kenneth L. Partlow II 1917-2005
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
Clubhouse Remodel / Your Privacy
You will note that our Virtual Clubhouse is being remodeled.
People complained about getting lost with all the interconnecting
little passageways. So I took a lot of them out. Hopefully this will
make it easier to find your way around. There still are more
changes coming, but slowly.
One of them is a listing of Members boats: boat name, type and
size, and sail number. If it is OK. with the Membership, I would
also like to include the owners names, and only their names. No
contact information. No addresses. No e-mail addresses. No
phone numbers. Just owner’s names with boat data; actually it
would be boat data with owner’s names.
If you are a member of PHRF, this information is already
posted on the web. It is on their site. I know of no one who has
received any unwanted advertising as a result of this, or had any
other privacy related problem. And their’s is a much larger, and
there for more tempting, data base.
If you have a problem with this, let me or a board member
know. This will not happen if people do not want it. If Members
complain, we will post only boat data with no human names.
Steve Worcester, Star 6932
Crew Sheet
Crew Wants Ride
Zoe Froyland, 786-5258, zfroyland@yahoo.comLindarose
Douglas, 357-4236, appletree46@msn.com
Skipper Wants Crew
Muphy’s Lawyer needs crew for SSSS Cruies, any skill level.
Contact Pete @ Kd7lmq@yahoo.com 482-3384
Want a ride? You could be listed here for free:
Ads run three months and can be renewed. Contact me by the
Meeting to be listed in the next S-t-S.
Ditty Bag
27 Catalina Sybarite 1974 Dinette model New standing
rigging and mainsail 2 years ago. Mercury outboard, lots of
other stuff. $7900. contact Dan Miller, 236-9687
North American 40, Spirit, built by Morgan 1979. Lots of
equipment, offshore ready, cruise, race or liveaboard. $39,000.
Rafe Beswick, 888-9844.1979
Bayliner Conquest, 32ft twin T140 Volvo diesels aprox. 1725
hrs. full electronics. Also boathouse Shelton Marina. Both for
$28,000, will take motor home and/or property
8ft Zodiac 4hpr engine, $1400 will consider reasonable offers
Gil Palmer 426-5326, home 280-5934
Several Stars, $1,000 to $3,000, Bill Brosius 357-6932
WANTED
Used Ray Marine 2 kw radar dome. 491-3217
Trailer for a 16 foot boat. Any condition considered.
Spars and rigging parts for a Laser 16, but does not have to
be exact specs. Mike 352-0885
Livingston dinghy, 10 foot, no motor needed. Call Stephen
Wade, 867-9984 eves or 664-7272 work.
Stars Wanted, Contact Bill Brosius, 357-6932
Ads are free for Members, run three months, and can be
renewed. Contact me by the next Meeting for an ad in
the next S-t-S.
Catalina 27 Sails Wanted
The Olympia Sea Scouts have refitted and are sailing their
Catalina 27, the Sea Dog. If there are Catalina 27 owners with
used sails willing to donate them to the scouts they will be very
much appreciated. The jibs are hanked on with a 32’ luff. The
main has a luff of 27.5’. Please contact Tom Fell at 459-2404.
Thank you.
The Ship-to-Shore is published monthly, except July and August,
by the South Sound Sailing Society, PO. Box 1102, Olympia WA 98507.
The S-t-S is printed by Precision Printing of Centralia.
Opinions expressed and products or services advertised do not necessarily
reflect the policies of SSSS. Mention of products or trade names shall not
constitute an endorsement by the S-t-S or SSSS of their use.
If you are having a problem receiving the Ship-to-Shore, would like to submit
(a letter, article, or photo), run an advertisement, or have other questions or
concerns contact the Editor : Steve Worcester
2425 Otis Olympia WA 98501 (360) 352-9283 e-mail: sts@ssssclub.com
Deadline for submissions is the second Tuesday of the month.
2004-5 SSSS Board Members
phone numbers are local, area code 360
Commodore
Sue Bishop
786-8023
Vice-Commodore
Dan Decker
402-3896
Secretary
Frank Mighetto
664-4015
Treasurer
Dwayne Young
458-1177
Member-at-Large
Dee Dee Helgeson
807-9139
Race Chair
Stephen Wade
867-9984
Cruise Chair
Pete Judd
482-3384
Past Commodore
Ian Christopher
754-1684
Our Handicapper is John Martens, 427-8629
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
OLYMPIA WA
PERMIT #480
Sheer hulk in Portsmouth harbor.
Edward William Cooke
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
Cruising Class start. Gary Larson, on his new boat Day Break,
was our Committee boat captain. I met Gary last year as I served
on the committee boat and you could not find a nicer person to
What a great day for sailing, clear skies, lots of boats and
spend a day with. I really appreciated his help this year and
finally wind as the boaters rounded Johnson Point, a wonderful
realize he is quickly becoming a permanent
way to pay off all the volunteers who spent
part of the Toliva Shoal Race, maybe he was
hours helping to make this years Toliva Shoal
SSSS Boats in the
a sailor in another life. Mort James and Tom
Race a successful event. I can not thank the
Abbot headed off in the in the mark boat
volunteers and members of the SSSS and OYC
Toliva Shoal Race
enough; you might have slaved over a hot
Southern Sound Series Race 3 Journey II, little did they know what an
important part they would have to play later
kitchen stove, helped at registration, manned
Gadzooks
1 H Class
2 OA
in the race. The chase boats, headed by
the beer spigots Friday night, sat for hours
Time Warp
1 G Class
7 OA
Courageous
1 D Class
13 OA
George Smith and Gayland Wilmovsky,
tabulating numbers and checking for errors so
Strider
1 A Class
na
filled in the rest of the boating fleet. Eric
preliminary race results could be released
Balder
2 G Class
11 OA
coordinated all the boats and managed to let
Saturday night, maybe you came for dinner or
Sydney Anna
2 C Class
36 OA
all of us know what was happening. After the
purchased a T-shirt, what ever you did, your
Sugar Magnolia 3 I Class
4 OA
3 H Class
8 OA
skippers meeting, my first, I gazed at the
support and time was greatly appreciated by the Perfect 10
Charlemagne
3 D Class
20 OA
floppy flags hoping there was just a little
committee members and me.
Silverheels
3 C Class
37 OA
more wind somewhere, hopefully in Budd
Friday night’s party was a barn burner. Jan
Kaitlin
4 I Class
10 OA
Inlet and through Dana Passage. Another
Visser and her crew fed all the sailors and
He Lives
4 F Class
21 OA
Uproar
4 G Class
22 OA
quarter dropped into the magic wind
guests who attended the fund raising dinner.
Singularity
5 I Class
15 OA
machine. I shuddered as I watched the fog
The food was great and I heard that Jan sent
Liberty
5 G Class
25 OA
begin to roll in. Fog, no wind, what was to
some of her crew out to gather more provisions
Miss Conduct
5 F Class
30 OA
happen to our race?
as they served 181 dinners. The dinner
Spirit
5 E Class
32 OA
Sparrowhawk
5 H Class
38 OA
Instead of cleaning tables or sweeping
proceeds will support the OYC Jr. Sailing
Bodacious
6 G Class
26 OA
floors after everyone headed out to start the
program. The bar hosts also were kept busy as
Jody V
6 I Class
27 OA
race, I was standing around with a cell phone
the sailors whetted their whistles. Our decision
Something Special 6 D Class
33 OA
glued to my ear. I was trying to get my lost
to split the group seemed to work well. The
Koosah
6 H Class
39 OA
Maranatha
7 H Class
32 OA
sister-in-law to the OYC. She had turned the
party hearty folks, about 30 of you, headed off
Helicity
7 I Class
47 OA
wrong way and was lost among the tall pine
to Tug Boat Annie’s to hear the band, while
Radiant
7 F Class
49 OA
trees, heading towards Mt. Rainier. Oops, I
many of the other sailors lingered around the
O-My-God
7 E Class
64 OA
couldn’t leave the OYC until she showed up.
tables talking race strategies and sharing
Pandora
8 I Class
51 OA
String Games
8 G Class
55 OA
Then the Olympian called, my sister-in-law
stories. Next year we will post the local taxi
Rushwind
8 H Class
58 OA
again, then Eric, my sister-in-law, a chase
company’s phone number. My family and I left
Outatime
9 I Class
66 OA
boat, then my sister-in-law. The phone was
about 2200 and people were still lingering
Flying Circus
10 D Class
53 OA
ringing off the hook. When Laurie finally
around the tables.
Adagio
1 Cruise Class
na
Osa
2 Cruise Class
na
arrived, with my mother, we raced off to
The first place I headed Saturday morning
Odyssea
4 Cruise Class
na
Boston Harbor to watch the boats float by.
after I woke up at 0500 was to the computer to
Sea Dod
5 Cruise Class
na
Sean Trew was out taking pictures, along
check the weather report ... wind in the
Releaf
6 Cruise Class
na
with a photographer from the Olympian,
afternoon, little wind in the morning. Maybe I
Aeolian
7 Cruise Class
na
Rhapsody
8 Cruise Class
na
several professional photographers from
should stick an extra quarter in the wind
Twilight Zone
10 Cruise Class
na
Seattle and one teacher from Olympia who
machine can. As I stopped to get the
Havin' Sun Fun
11 Cruise Class
na
will send us pictures to post on the web site.
sandwiches to feed the crews on all the boats
Boru
12 Cruise Class
na
A few brave souls hoisted their spinnakers,
we were using to coordinate the race, I could
Hiromi
13 Cruise Class
na
Exact
14 Cruise Class
na
but the majority of the fleet sailed by in a
not see a single bough bending on the trees.
Mystic
15 Cruise Class
na
grand procession. The crews were trimming
Maybe that was because it was about 0600 and
Dyno
DNS E Class
their sails to catch every bit of the limited
the skies were dark, but the flags were also
breeze. I was sorry to be standing on the
hanging limp. So I really think there was just
SSSS Teams
place points race/series
shore, no worry about heeling too much; I
not much wind. We sold all the shirts Saturday
wondered how late they would be, would the
morning before the race started and with the
SSSS-4 1 / 11 58 / 440 points
Charlemagne 20, Balder 11, Judy V 27
race continue until after midnight like last
lack of a brisk wind I was afraid that would be
year?
the only souvenir the sailors would have. No
SSSS-1 2 / 3 61/251 points
Gadzooks 2, Something Special 33, Bodacious 26
After Boston Harbor we rushed off to
memories of a great sail, just a shirt to wear
Johnson Point to stand on the beach and
home. Saturday morning Jan did her magic
SSSS-3 3 / 7 71 / 349 points
Time Warp 7, Pandora 51, Courageous 13
cheer the boaters on as they caught their first
again with eggs, ham, cinnamon rolls and lots
SSSS-2 5 / 5 80 / 305points
rush of real wind. You could see the smiles
of hot coffee; maybe a full belly would make
Silverheels 37, Koosah 39, Sugar Magnolia 4 on the faces as captains urged their crews to
the lack of wind sit easier on the racers mind.
SSSS-5 11 / 12 160 / 478 points
tack and catch every bit of the new rising
Eric Bishop did an outstanding job on the
Pazzo 69, Outatime 66, Liberty 25
winds. The wind god had finally decided to
race committee boat. He and his troops left a
come out and play and the sailors were ready
little early so they could be anchored before the
Toliva Shoal RC’s Report
st
th
nd
rd
rd
th
th
th
th
th
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
to get going. There were great winds all the way to Toliva Shoal
where Eric had decided to shorten the race. The Mark boat
A couple of people have asked if the Club could save money if
suddenly was writing down all the times and shooting off the
we
did not mail them a S-t-S. They are getting the info off the
black powder blanks. Hopefully you were able to get one of those
web
site and could do without the paper. Counter intuitively the
shots. The first sailors who arrived at the OYC said they couldn’t
answer is no. We could save a little, but the marginal cost of a
understand why Eric had shortened the race at Toliva. But once
they turned to corner around Anderson Island into Balch Passage, S-t-S is pennies. One or two less is not worth talking about. Now
where there was no wind, they decided Eric definitely knew what if we get dramatic and stop mailing more like half of them, we
might save some, or not,
he was doing. Again, thank you Eric
or the total cost might
for a great job. The Cruising Class
finished and was able to return home
Inlet Series Race 2 February 5 Sparrowhawk was the RC Boat. Thank even go up. It depends on
the exact numbers.
before their decks turned into a sheet
you.
We would save a little
of ice from the water and the icy cold
Kaitlin was First OA
Corrected Course on the cost of the
weather.
Yacht Type RatingFinish Time
Time printing. However a good
Almost everyone finished the race points Sail No. Yacht Name
piece of that bill is to
this year. A couple of boats did not
H-CLASS Start Time 10:00 Distance 23.5 nm
start, but we had 89 boats registered
1.38 8122 GADZOOKS
JBOA 30
139 13:29:02 4:23:28 print the first one.
1.38 73392 BODACIOUS
BENE 35 S5
129 13:29:02 4:19:33 Printing half as many
to sail. Dan Decker has been telling
3.00
69880
UPROAR
JBOA
80
129
13:29:12 4:19:43 would not begin to cut the
everyone he knows in all the different
4.00 28415 EDGEWALKER
OLSN 34
121 13:37:04 4:24:27
bill in half. Mailing is a
series that “Toliva Shoal is The Race 5.00 42884 STRING GAMES
BENE35S5WK 141 13:47:40 4:42:53
wild card. If we did not
to attend. We throw a good party and
Start Time 10:00 Distance 23.5 nm
mail enough to qualify for
run a great race.” Thanks Dan, I think S-CLASS
79 STRIDER
F9A
27 13:27:30 3:38:04 bulk rates, the cost per
you helped make a difference in our
0.75 67985 SPIRIT
NORM 40
99 13:31:38 4:10:24
attendance.
2.00 69399 FLYING CIRCUS
EXPR 37
73 13:35:32 4:04:07 piece would almost
3.00 36528 CHARLEMAGNE
JBOA 36
79 13:38:22 4:09:18 double. That quickly eats
Susan McRae did a great job with
4.00
82 MCSWOOSH
11M
78 13:42:27 4:13:00 up the savings on the
scoring and there were smiles and
5.00 31396 O-MY-GOD
BSNSA 40
89 14:09:42 4:44:33 printing. Our total cost of
frowns by the sailors as they read
6.00 10051 SYDNEY ANNA
SYN
54
DNF
could easily go up.
their preliminary results. The nice
A-CLASS Start Time 10:00 Distance 23.5 nm
There are reduced
part is that we were able to get the
0.75 47914 KAITLIN
RANC 32
175 13:25:31 4:34:03 circulations that would
results to the Olympian so they could 2.00
39110 KOOSAH
PEAR 36-1
155 13:29:33 4:30:15
save us money. If no one
give us front page coverage on
3.00 69927 BALDER
ERIC 38
131 13:31:46 4:23:04
Sunday morning.
4.00 51496 PANDORA
CAL 36
165 13:32:35 4:37:12 wanted paper savings are
5.00 64985 LIBERTY
C&C 35
122 13:43:14 4:31:01 obvious. But there are
The Sunday crew met to clean up
6.00 3285 POWER SURGE
FARR 36
120 13:46:34 4:33:34 reduced circulations that
while I finally got to see my family
7.00
40 RUSHWIND
FP 39
157 13:54:25 4:55:54
would cost us more. The
who had flown in to participate in the
B
-CLASS
Start
Time
10:05
Distance
17
nm
later seems the more
race. I want to thank Susan Bishop
0.75 39582 WIZARD
CAL 27T
205 12:51:00 3:44:05 likely. That is assuming
for filling in for me on Sunday
2.00 39476 SINGULARITY
MORG 27
204 12:56:27 3:49:15
enough people opt out to
morning. The OYC was outstanding
3.00 260 SPIFF
RANC 26
217 12:58:16 3:54:45
as always. Every time we asked for
4.00 69141 JODY V
C&C 29
188 12:58:19 3:46:35 make a significant
5.00 69358 SUGAR MAGNOLIA STWO 7.9
182 13:10:05 3:56:39 difference. I believe the
help they were there providing boats
majority of our Members
for the race, meals for the racers,
D-CLASS Start Time 10:05 Distance 17 nm
moorage for the vessels and a great
0.75 69172 SEGUNDO VIENTO CATA 27
242 13:09:00 4:12:34 still see a value in
2.00 47727 ADAGIO
RANC 28
215 13:11:50 4:07:45 something coming in the
place to launch the race. Thank you
3.00
39458
RELEAF
PEAR
30
247 13:13:21 4:18:20 US mail and/or
very much.
4.00 37079 OSA
RANC 33
182 13:15:47 4:02:21 something you can read
I could not have accomplished all
5.00 39173 BORU
CROW 34
162 13:19:58 4:00:52
that was done without the help of the 6.00 69212 HAVIN' SUN FUN USY 27
223 13:27:00 4:25:11 in the head.
7.00 1444 PLATYPUS
CATA 30
198 13:37:26 4:28:32
Toliva Shoal Race Committee. They
While talking about
reminded me of what I needed to
delivering the S-t-S, do
accomplish; they guided me through forms and pointed out
not forget we need something to put in it, content. Your
pitfalls before they happened. I owe a very special thanks to Steve experiences are what make it interesting to read. Please write us.
Worcester who was able to answer every question I had, no
And we need more photos. As I write I am getting some good
matter how complicated or simple it was. He would remind me of Toliva photos and am glad to have them. But life moves on and
what was due, including this article, and when. Steve is truly a
we need photos from this month. Take your camera sailing, and
SSSS Treasure and I appreciated all his help.
send us copies.
Ed.
Lastly to my husband who hauled boxes, ordered black powder
TOLIVA SHOAL PHOTOS
blanks, fixed computers, got printers printing and generally
We have been getting Toliva photos. It was a good day for
offered me encouragement and a hug when it seemed like there
photos and there are some good ones. Links to them are in the
was just too much to get done. Thank you Honey!
Suzie Shaffer, Boru Toliva Office.
S-t-S Report
McAllister Creek Race
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
South Sound Series Rep Report
Toliva Shoal = Success!
Close to ninety boats participated in the Toliva Shoal Race on
19 February. Prior to the start, most of the sailors could be heard
talking about the great time they had the night before celebrating
the festivities at the OYC and/or at Westbay Marina.
The Cruising Class started at 0930. Within minutes a fog,
clawing its way south, accompanied by a north wind, enveloped
the racecourse. A Class had to start in the fog, as did the next few
classes. Within 30 minutes the fog lifted enough for all to see that
half of the fleet went to the west of Budd Inlet and the other half
went east towards Gull Harbor. It really didn’t matter. Everyone
arrived at Boston Harbor to participate in a parking lot and a
restart.
The wind slowly filled in from the north. The fleet tacked
through Dana Passage on a dying flood. One of the more
interesting sights was the small Moore 24 Morphine just a few
feet leeward of the huge J-160 Jam as they both beat to windward
on the same tack. Morphine’s mast was just a little higher than
the deck level of Jam! As the fleet approached Johnson Point the
wind continued to build and those in the front gained the
advantage as they caught the new breeze before those who trailed.
A broad reach to Lyle Point allowed some of the fleet to carry a
spinnaker but most were content flying their number one.
Positions did not change much, if any, on this leg.
Rounding Lyle Point on Anderson Island, the wind increased to
over ten knots. Some changed down to a smaller headsail, some
continued to carry all they had. The fleet beat to windward. The
current was ebbing and this helped the velocity made good to the
Toliva Shoal buoy.
The race committee wisely ended the race at the buoy! The
wind was still blowing, but an adverse current was soon to occur,
and there was no guarantee the wind would hold. Years of
experience with past Toliva Shoal Races were recalled and the
committee made the decision at the buoy. The committee boat
could hear the sighs of relief and the "Thank You" from all the
competitors, especially from the boats who moor north of Toliva.
The only problem they now had to overcome was how to retrieve
their cars from Olympia!
The first boat to finish was Dragonfly at 1615. The final boat
finished around 1942. Over forty boats were from SSSS. Great
turnout, and more impressive were the 15 boats in the Cruising
Class.
Kudos go to Strider, Courageous, Time Warp, Gadzooks and
Adagio who finished first in class. Other SSSS boats collecting
silverware include Sydney Anna, Silverheels, Charlemagne,
Balder, Perfect Ten, Sugar Magnolia, and Osa. Gadzooks also
placed 2nd overall and Sugar Magnolia placed 4th overall.
Beautiful weather, fair winds, and lots of sunshine, after the fog
lifted, and a shortened race at Toliva made this a memorable day
to be out on the water.
Next report will include the Islands Race and a Series wrap-up.
Dave Knowlton, Koosah
It is not too late to register for the upcoming Islands Race. You
can do so as late as March 18th, but then it will have to be in
person and cost $5 more. For more about the race see Dave’s
report in this S-t-S. It should be fun.
Toliva From the Water
The thirty-fifth annual Toliva Shoal Race is behind us. It was a
beautiful sunny day. Just about everyone finished the shortened
course, most by dark, because there was wind! Members did well,
as you can see from the SSSS boats results in this S-t-S. Most
importantly, everyone I talked to had fun.
The race really begins Friday night with the registration
party/dinner. Beer from the local micro brewery, Fishtale Ales. A
great Baron of Beef dinner, by Jan Visser, that supports youth
sailing. And lots of sailors to talk to. People sat around talking till
after 2230.
Race day dawned clear, calm, and cold. There was not much
wind, but enough to start the Cruising Class on time. We watched
from the dock as we readied the boat. She was covered with frost
and the marina was iced in. Did I say it was cold? We had to go
into icebreaker mode to get out. But once clear of the docks we
were clear of the ice.
As we powered out the wind was filling from the north, at
Force 2. Fog came with it. By the time we were half way there,
the starting line we could see from the dock had disappeared, as
had the dock. Boats appeared and disappeared like ghosts.
However we knew the RC could see at least the length of the line,
as we heard the first gun.
The fog lightened through out the starting sequence. Ours was
the last start. By the time it was our turn, the sun was shining
brightly again. The fog was retreating north and we were starting
to warm up. We started under a cloudless blue sky on light
northerly. The wind was a little patchy. At least for our start, the place
to go was the west shore and the boats going that way made out.
However you got there, everyone came together around Boston
Harbor. It was warming up. But the wind there dropped to almost
nothing. The current was weak against us. The fleet compressed.
Spinnakers came out for a short time as the fleet entered Danna
Passage. The fleet leaders were not far away.
Then the current changed and the wind picked up. It came back
from the north. Jibs went up. Those of us on the mainland shore
got it first and that made a big difference. There was more wind
around Johnson Point.
From Johnson Point to the south end of Anderson Island was a
jib reach. That was a fun sail. Blue skies and bright sunshine.
Force 3 to 4 wind. Charging along under jib. The Olympics were
visible looking back with Mount Rainer standing tall in front.
It was a beat from Nisqually Reach to the Toliva Shoal, where
the race was shortened. The wind stayed with us to the finish,
giving us a good sail on this leg too. The sun was setting behind
us as we made our last tack to the Shoal. The west glowed red.
We rounded tight on the buoy, causing the sea lion sitting there to
talk to us. He did not sound welcoming. And the race was over.
After finishing we powered back, though several boats sailed at
least part way. It was a clear night with a bright moon. There was
frost on the dock when we got back.
When the boat was put away we headed to OYC. Jan had hot
soup waiting and it tasted good. There was beer. Susan had race
results ready to print. A projector was set up showing photos of
the race, taken by the three photographers that were out on the
course: Sean Trew, Rumbline, and Borrowed Light. And the
people there told their race stories. It was all over but the clean
up. Yours truly had a good time. I hope you did too.
Steve Worcester
Ship-to-Shore March 2005
PHRF Annual Meeting
PHRF DUES DUE
The annual joint meeting of the Pacific Handicap Racing Fleet
of the NW Directors and Handicappers was held Sunday, 23
January, at the Seattle Yacht Club. PHRF is the organization that
handicaps our keel boat races. It is a volunteer organization made
up of the racers. The Directors met upstairs; the Handicappers met
downstairs. The report on the Handicappers meeting was printed
last month and can be read on line.
I want to thank all the Members who raced in the Toliva Shoal
Race. You paid your PHRF dues before the race. Every single
one of you. That makes it easier to register and score the race. We
simply confirm the handicap and get on with it. No calls, e-mails,
or letters. Thank you.
I hope the rest of you will be so good to us. You had a grace
period. It is time to start checking to make sure the boats racing
locally have paid, D Class excepted of course. So please check
and make sure your PHRF dues are paid. It really does help us
score the races. Thank you.
Steve Worcester
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Progress may be slow, but we seem to be progressing. PHRF is
in much better shape now than when I first joined the board.
Membership has turned around and has been going up. We have
been progressing toward solving the problems we identified last
year, even if we have not accomplished as much yet as we hoped.
So we reelected all the officers and are continuing on. We
discussed many topics. Only one resulted in a change that the
racers will see. We hopefully sped up the process of appealing a
rating. Details below.
First I should say that PHRF is in good condition fiscally.
Membership last year was up some 30% since 1999. There is no
need to increase the PHRF dues. Last year we brought in enough
money to be able to bank a little and plan to do so again this year.
We may need that money soon to update an aging database, but
that is on hold till the Handicappers decide on the new protocol
and we are sure what we will ask it to do.
The board felt that it has taken too long to deal with rating
appeals. We made a by laws change to make it easier for the
Handicappers to hold a hearing: notice of a hearing can be given
by simply posting it on the PHRF web site. The Directors then
challenged the Handicappers to hear all appeals in 90 days. The
Handicappers agreed some have had to wait too long for a
hearing. They did not know if they could meet often enough to
hear everyone that fast. They have put a lot of time into the new
protocol, meeting three times in the last three months. They are
not finished working on it. However they did agree to try, and
promise to hear appeals much more often than once a year.
To make that time line the sub-regional councils will need to be
active. The entire Council can not meet often enough to hear
appeals that quickly. So the Handicappers in the sub-regions will
need to get together and hear those from their sub-region. It is
easier to get together: fewer people to coordinate and less travel.
Less travel for the appellant too. This has been working well for
the Vancouver Island and Portland sub-regions. Hopefully it will
work as well for all of us.
However, the sub-regions do not have all the power of the
whole Council. So everything may not be resolved that fast. Still
we do want to resolve those we can. They will be able to solve
individual boat rating problems, T rating questions, one ofs, and
the like. They will not be able to change the base rating of a well
established group of boats. That will have to go on to the whole
Council. Major changes will have a better chance before the
whole Council, if you can convince the sub-region to support you.
And if you can not convince them, well maybe it really is decided
that fast. However any decision of the sub-region can be appealed
to the whole.
We will see how this works and take it from there. Changes are
coming, but gradually.
Welcome Aboard New Members
Please join us in welcoming the following new Members to
South Sound Sailing Society. Look for an opportunity to catch up
with some of these new Members and welcome them to South
Sound’s best sailing community.
The Members listed below are not in your 2004-5 Roster, that
came out in January 2005. If you need a Roster, or update, see our
Secretary, Frank Mighetto.
Alexander W. & Cindy Black, Helicity, Cal 2-29, 4929 186th Ave
KPS, Longbranch WA 98351, (253) 884-1309, sewblack@juno.com
Maria C Chiechi & Byron Dahl, 820 Hays St., Tumwater WA
98512, 705-2817, Btyon.dahl@warmu.net
Chuch & Cree Ann Henderson, White Horses, C&C29, 4 Cedar
Gates, Longview WA 98632, (360) 501-5049, henderscw@aol.com
Jack Roberts, 2511 NW Mildred St., Phd OR 97210,
(503) 827-6160, jroberts@easystreet.com
John Behike & Norman Smit, Star, 3814 Giles Rd NE, Olympia
WA 98506, 705-3186, nsmit@thurston.com
Rob Cambell & Leann Amstutz, Saorsa, Tayana 37, 3019
Friendly Grove Rd NE, Olympia WA 98506, 570-1014
Jeffrey & Terry Hogan, Mystic, Columbia 36, 2614 Kempton St SE,
Olympia WA 98501, 943-4358, JANATHOGAN@comcast.net
Jim & Heidi Weber, Dory 16, 6708 Goldcreek Dr. SW, Tumwater
WA 98512, 357-5909, webjstickleback@msn.com
Glen & Jyne Patrick, Compac 23, 16224 Dodge Dr. SW, Olympia
WA 98512, 273-9545, brboatworks@yahoo.com
Returning Members & Roster Updates:
John A. Daniels, Helga, Fisher 30, 325 Washington St #442,
Olympia WA 98501, 789-2394, danieja@dshs.wa.gov
Michael Wilson & Jan Leonard, Touch Rain, Ericson 38, 5509 40th
Ave SW, Olympia WA 98512 753-1901, janleonard@comcast.net
Tina Norberg, PO Box 7506, Olympia WA 98507, 786-6039,
tkn121@comcast.net
Stephen Knutson, First Mate, Catalina 22 6335 111th St SW,
Lakewood WA 98499, (253) 984-7401, knutson@drizzle.net
Mel & Deb Low, 9112 Old Hwy 99 SE, Olympia WA 98501,
357-4773, lowferII@aol.com
Reed Palmer, Dance, J-35, 2300 Emerald Down Dr, Auburn WA
98001, (253) 670-4550, SoundSail2@msn.com
Franklin K. Thorp, Finale, Catalina 28, 908 Brawne Ave NW,
Olympia WA 98502, 360-5259
Martin and Molly Larsen, Woodstock, Catalina 27, 6107 47th Ave
St Ct. W, Tacoma WA 98466, (253) 565-5066, flysbynight@hotmail.com
Michael & Stella Jameson, Odyssea, Catalina 36, 3241 Jeri Dr.