going…

Going…

GONE!

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation
1st Annual Survey Results

LMSRF has compiled the results of the 1st Annual Survey including all of the essay answers (minus the ones that weren’t “G” rated) and has them available for all Lake Michigan Sailors to review. We especially encourage all Organizing Authorities to listen to what the Sailors want. By responding to the needs of your customers, your events may grow and provide better satisfaction for all concerned.

Read the full results at:
http://www.lmsrf.org/survey_2009/survey_2009.htm

As a reward for completing the survey, 2 sailors out of 133 who provided their names in a random drawing have won free memberships in LMSRF for the 2009 season. Congratulations Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation Members:
Jon Fischer
Paul Murray

Sincerely,
Donald Thinschmidt
LMSRF Commodore

LMSRF has put together a survey to learn what racing boat owners and
crews want in racing from organizing authorities, ideas on how we can
grow participation and how we are doing overall. >>>The most important
message we wish to send is to forward this link to all of your crew
members, your fleets, and get input from as far and wide across Lake
Michigan as possible. We can’t emphasize this enough.<<< Results will
be tabulated and shared on the LMSRF website for all of us to learn
from (G-rated responses only!). We expect to incorporate your
thoughts in the 2009 season plans.

Thank you, now here's the link and please respond fully.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oVlcxmEdZjcg16hfO70Kzg_3d_3d

Sincerely,
Donald Thinschmidt
LMSRF Commodore

Area III’s Section Break Committee is looking for input from boat
owners to improve racing in the PHRF sections.

We have sent 130 boat owners email inviting them to participate in our
survey on section breaks, rating rules, etc. You can see the results of
the current 41 responses at http://www.drapers.us/Multi-Design .

If we missed you because we didn’t have the correct email
information or if you didn’t race last year but plan to this year,
please contact Don Draper to get your survey invitation.

another great day

long courses well-chosen to provide more racing, amidst rapidly changing conditions

spectacular views, interesting weather challenges

more later

The Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation (LMSRF) Area 3 2008 Preliminary Schedule is now online, download PDF here.

(Note: as of now, the 2008 Race Schedule/Results link on the LMSRF Area 3 website has not been updated.)

2008 Proposed Area III Schedule

5-17 Jacobs Day 1 / BPYC
5-18 Jacobs Day 2 / BPYC

5/24 Reinholtzen / CCYC
5/25 Olympic Cup / CCYC

5-31 Chicago – MC (or distance substitute) / ColYC
6-1 MC – Chicago (or distance substitute) / BPYC

6-7 Colors Regatta / ColYC (non Area III)
6-8 Colors Regatta / ColYC (non Area III)

6/13 NOOD / CYC (non Area III)
6/14 NOOD / CYC (non Area III)
6/15 NOOS / CYC (non Area III)

6-21 Chicago – Waukegan / WYC
6-22 Waukegan – Chicago / GLYC

6-28 Hobelman / CCYC
6-29

7-5 Kaczmarek – CCYC
7-6 Mayor Daley / ColYC

7-12 Lutz / JPYC
7-13

7-19 Mac / CYC (non Area III)
7-20

7-26
7-27

8-2 Commodore’s / ColYC
8-3 Fran Byrne / ColYC

8-9 Zukasky / BPYC
8-10 Horton / BPYC

8-15 Verve / CYC (non Area III)
8-16 Verve / CYC (non Area III)
8-17 Verve / CYC (non Area III)

8-23 Lukemia Cup / ColYC (non Area III)
8-24

8-29 Chicago – St Joe / ColYC
8-31 St Joe – MC / MCYC
9-1 MC – Chicago / JPYC

9-6
9-7 Commodore’s / CYC

9-13 Clark / CYC
9-14

9/20 MORF Open / MORF
9/21 MORF Open / MORF

Reportedly, the J105 and T10 fleets have decided NOT to sail to Michigan City in the 2008 Tri-State Regatta, opting instead to sail home to Chicago on Sunday.

Just a few years ago, the Big Kahuna party was a fun event marking the middle of September, to be followed with a few more weeks of racing, including Area III followed by two weekends of MORF Open. A good number of boats would stay in the water until October or November, soaking up what was left of the full season before cold weather.

These days, Area III racing ends quickly- Saturday is the last Area III race- and MORF Open has been reduced to only one-and-a-half race days. The weather has been milder and warmer, but boats seem more eager to get put away before crew assistance vanishes.

Crowley’s move to the south makes the end-of-the-season boat delivery more exposed to the weather, and less interesting than the former traditional river trip to the old location.

Oh well, boats still have the option to stay in until October or later, the MORF Open is still a great way to extend your racing season, and the Big Kahuna is still a fun way to celebrate and socialize after the final Area III race this season!

Hungry finches visited many boats returning to Chicago on the third leg of the Tri-State Regatta this year. The animated birds seemed very friendly, sometimes landing on or near racing crewmembers. Hopping around the boat, the little birds brought good cheer and happily ate tiny insects and pesky flies.

The finches were occasionally joined by bats. Our boat had several bats swoop by. One took a break by clinging upside down on the jib, while another one flew to the boom gooseneck and disappeared into the boom. He could not be seen anywhere inside, but outhaul adjustments or tapping the boom did not seem to disturb the heavy sleeper. After docking the boat in the harbor and night fell, the furry stowaway decided to come out and flew away.

Recognizing the nimble agility, light weight, and insect-eating abilities of the little finches, we decided to recruit them as alternate crew. The slow race gave us time to train them with the necessary basic skills to fill all crew positions on the boat. Take a look at the finch crew pictures here.

More fun this weekend…

Sunday’s race will be the first Boat of the Year series race for all Area III fleets, except Beneteau 36.7, who had their first BOY race on May 20.

JOB POSTING
Looking for two scorers to enter in race results. This is a paid position. For more information, contact Stan Bailey at 630-961-3253.

We will assume this is for Area III racing- the notice appears on the LMSRF home page without any additional details.

The current unofficial schedule is posted here on the sailfastchicago.com wiki.

The official schedule (which currently does not indicate Boat of the Year series races) is available at the LMSRF website: http://www.lmsrf.org/area3~07.asp.

The schedule is also mirrored on the sailfastchicago.com calendar, which provides you with automatic calendar updating (for users of Apple iCal, Mozilla Sunbird and other similar calendar software).