The Tell Tale

New events have been occurring at Iron Mountain Yacht Club. Boats have been selling left and right. In the past three weeks, three boats have changed hands. Mike and Sharon Burdine bought the Catalina 32 “Harmony”.  Artie and Donna Shinn have an almost done deal on Steve Hester’s “Sunday Silence”.  Then, to top it all off, Bob Rhodey bought the Newport 33!!
Wow!!! Congratulations to everyone for their new purchases. Great excitement to have a new boat to sail and I am sure it feels good.   There are also their old boats for sale. If we can only get more folks down to the docks to buy and become members!!!

Speaking of new purchases, “Gecko” and “Matsya” got new jibs the Friday before the first race on the 26th of March. Both were put together by Dave Sample in Little Rock. Matsya’s jib was a standard Dacron, but cut with a much lower foot to close the deck off. Matsya performed well in the race on Saturday, finishing first in two of the four races on corrected time.  
Gecko got an awesome D4 membrane laminate with aramid fibers. (www2.odn.ne.jp/map/D4.htm). It even looks fast. I have only sailed her once (the race) with the new sail, but Gecko seemed to perform well. The most incredible difference is the sensitivity of the sail to wind and boat direction changes when hard to the wind. With the old, stretched, $125.00 used sail she got last year, one did not move the tiller a lot as you watch the tell tales to windward. With the new laminate sail, the changes are constant, having to adjust almost continuously for how the tell tales are set. There is a window of angle sensitivity much tighter with the new sail. One would assume you can point to wind with better consistency. Now, is the sail really that much better and faster? Just because it is more expensive doesn’t necessarily make it so; time on the water will hopefully satisfy that question.  Why the zoomy, trick, laminate sail versus the bit cheaper Dacron?? I have never had one; I am not getting much younger; it made me feel good!!!!
See you on the lake
Ron Nash, Commodore

The Tell Tale
February 23, 2011
Our annual meeting went well last Saturday; most everyone enjoyed the fact it ended in short order. Hey, as they say, “Get ‘er done”! We did have a bit of fun and of course, tried to get everyone on the same page (or even reading the same book).  I am really happy with the new officers, Bill Tull, Vice Commodore,  Kathy Hudson, Secretary/Treasurer, and Mick Johnson the web master.  I hope, and fully expect, we can make a good team to lead the IMYC for the next 2 years.  We are following the steady hand of our Rear Commodore, Jay Schafer, who deserves all our thanks for his efforts the past 2 years.
The meeting left one item blank; we need a sponsor (s) for the July 4th cook out. Please dig through your conscience, emotions, and guilt and consider  volunteering  for the event. Last year, Barb and Keith Suggs graciously sponsored the event; and even paid for it themselves!!! Does that make your guilt strings vibrate just a little?
The question of our pavilion’s structural status was discussed. At the present time, the consensus is that it is in fair shape. However, everyone is aware that someday, it will need major work. A fund has been started (thanks to Bill and Roxanne Tull’s generous first contribution) in order to build up enough money for when the time comes. Any donations to the fund will be most appreciated. (Also, Craig Benton donated his sponsorship of one of the parties last year to the fund, a big C note!!)
We twisted some arms asking for volunteers for Race Committee Boat for the racing season. Thanks so much for the commitment of Rick and Lucy Moore, Craig Benton, and Jay and Susan Schafer. The job requires anchoring at the start finish line, blowing a horn to start the race, and timing the entrants. Pretty simple. All that is required is a lot of beer, margaritas, or a good book. I would like to encourage anyone interested to volunteer. Having committee boats and timing would make our racing program fantastic.
Speaking of which, Bob Rhodey is the 2011 Race Committee Chairman.  I know he will do a great job for us. Please put any racing questions to Bob. Any volunteers for Race Committee Boat also.
I would like to encourage more of our members to participate in the racing. You will learn more about sailing if you race. Any screw up, failing to follow the wind, not trimming correctly, etc, shows up really fast. Anyone, at any level, is welcome. We will give you support.  And hey, we are really low key about this; we are all competitive, but I have yet to see anyone get their shorts in a knot over racing (meaning, no petty bitching about each other, etc).  We have fun!!!
Speaking of another which, let us not forget our goals, as in our Constitution; “promote competitive racing, pleasure sailing among yachtsmen, and water safety” , and HAVE FUN with our fellow members and friends.

Good sailing to all. See you on the lake.

Your Commodore, Ron Nash.

Commodore's Corner

Commodore Scott O'Hara