...a little dinghy. Inside this issue: Gold Country Yacht Club. Soundings from the Poop-deck

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1 Volume 22, Issue 10 October a little dinghy Gold Country Yacht Club Special points of interest: Don t forget to return the perpetual trophies at the November meeting. Fleet week is close at hand. Plan to join the cruise Oct. 11th & 12th Reviewing basic Anchoring. Commodore Tish requests your presence at the end of the year clubhouse work party (TBA). Inside this issue: Soundings form the Poop-deck Useful Ideas 2 Reviewing the Steps to Smooth Anchoring September Minutes 4 On the Lighter Side 5 Membership Application Soundings from the Poop-deck Well, as you read this, I ll be sailing on the ballroom seas of the British Virgin Islands. I will not be at the meeting this month because Wayne & I, Hugh and Nicki will be on a two week sail about the Caribbean Islands of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Cooper, Norman and maybe even a venture into the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ah I can t wait! There is actually a lot to cover at this month s meeting, so please try and attend. There will be signups for the Christmas Party, a slate of Officers for next year will be presented as well as a bunch of announcements for events coming up. I hope you can make it. Our Vice-Commodore, Frank Nin, will take the helm for the evening. A couple of reminders, just in case - all of you who have perpetual trophies, please bring them to the November meeting or drop them off at my office at Litton Engineering Labs sometime before mid-november. Don t forget to button-up all those boats for the winter! It s really amazing at how much water can accumulate in a boat. We made the mistake one year of leaving a towel and some cushions in the boat what a nasty surprise we got in the spring! Mold everywhere. Tarps are cheap and they usually do a pretty good job. Speaking of buttoning up I would like to have one short work party day to get things squared away for the winter at the Clubhouse. I will ask our Port Captain, Doug Epperson, to pick a day and announce it at the meeting. Fleet Week weekend will be October 11th & 12th on San Francisco Bay. If you have never attended, it is well worth the trip down the hill to see the talented Blue Angels do their thing. If you are lucky enough to be on the water when they are performing, you get a real up-close and personal look at the planes, pilots and cockpits as they make their high speed passes over the Bay. It s incredible! More details at That same weekend is the Island Yacht Club s Women s Sailing Seminar. For all those ladies out there that would like to learn more about being at the helm or just to sharpen those sailing skills, this is the event to attend. They do great classroom and on-the-water workshops on just about every subject on the water. Plus they have a great raffle with tons of goodies. You can visit their website at for more information. Although our racing season has now officially come to an end and fall is upon us, there are still plenty of lovely days ahead to spend on the water. Our foothills are absolutely breathtaking when the green leaves of summer turn gold and red. Our days stay comfortable well into October and sometimes even November before we have to call it quits for the boating season. For those of us on the Bay, the really

2 Page 2...a little dinghy At Our Helm Commodore Tish Buti Vice Commodore G. Frank Nin Secretary Lynn Buchanan Treasurer Nicki Talman Cruise Chairman Don Wight Publicity/ Membership Beth Buti Port Captain Doug Epperson Race Chairman Jerry Lewis Newsletter Editor Jeff Lund Place a Business card ad In this publication Call Jeff Lund your wish is my command! All you really need is a business card and the desire. nice sailing season is just starting. I wish you all a pleasant Fall and hope to see you at the November meeting. Fair winds. Useful Ideas From the Web Surviving Man Overboard: Always wear oversize sea boots. Boots that are just the right size will be very difficult to take off in the water if you go overboard. For man overboard at night, every on-deck crew-member should keep a small waterproof flashlight in a pocket. This is handy for deck work at night and gives those on the boat a good visual reference if you go overboard. Better yet is a strobe light attached to your life vest. Carry a knife. If your boat goes over with you on deck and you get tangled in rigging this might save your life. Rough Weather: In rough conditions it's even more important than usual to keep eating and drinking. If it all turns bad you don't want to start out being thirsty or hungry. Long Live 5200: A tube of 3M 5200 sealant is probably one of the most useful items you can have on a boat. You can do thousands of things with it, except open the tube a second time. To prevent the cap from sticking, I wipe a small dab of zipper lubricant on the tube threads before putting the cap back on. This ensures that the cap can be removed easily, and it also provides an airtight seal so the sealant won t harden in the tube. Classy Chart Containers Inexpensive and functional chart tubes can be made from 3" or 4" diameter PVC pipe. Cut the pipe to a desired length to fit large or small charts, smooth the rough edges with sandpaper, and remove the purple print from the side of the tube with acetone. Then glue on one end cap. On the other end cap, write the chart numbers with a black permanent marker.

3 Volume 22, Issue 10 Page 3 Reviewing the Steps to Smooth Anchoring From the Web Select an area that offers maximum shelter from wind, current, boat traffic etc. Pick a spot with swinging room in all directions. Should the wind change, your boat will swing bow to the wind or current, whichever is stronger. Determine depth and bottom conditions and calculate the amount of rode you will put out. If other boats are anchored in the area you select, ask the boat adjacent to the spot you select what scope they have out so that you can anchor in such a manner that you will not bump into the neighboring vessel. Anchor with the same method used by nearby boats. If they are anchored bow and stern, you should too. If they are anchored with a single anchor from the bow, do not anchor bow and stern. Rig the anchor and rode. Check shackles to make sure they are secured with wire tied to prevent the screw shaft from opening. Lay out the amount of rode you will need on deck in such a manner it will follow the anchor into the water smoothly without tangling. Cleat off the anchor line at the point you want it to stop. (Don t forget or you ll be diving for your anchor.) With the bow to the wind or current in the spot you have selected, stop the boat and slowly start to motor back. Lower the anchor until it lies on the bottom then slowly let out the rode as the boat drifts back. Backing down slowly will assure that the chain will not foul the anchor and prevent it from digging into the bottom. When all the anchor line has been let out, back down on the anchor with engine in idle reverse to help set the anchor. (Be careful not to get the anchor line caught in your prop) While reversing on a set anchor, keep a hand on the anchor line, a dragging anchor will telegraph itself as it bumps along the bottom. An anchor that is set will not shake the line. When the anchor is firmly set look around for reference points in relation to the boat. You can sight over your compass to get the bearing of two different fixed points (house, rock, tower, etc. ) Over the next hour or so, make sure those reference points are in the same place. If not you re probably dragging anchor. Begin anchor watch. Everyone should check occasionally to make sure you re not drifting. Retrieve the anchor by pulling or powering forward slowly until the anchor rode hangs vertically How To Reach Us: We welcome letters form our readers. The writer should include his/her name, address and phone number....a little dinghy reserves the right to select letters for publication and edit all submissions for length. Letters to the editor: Jeff Lund Sontag Hill Rd. Grass Valley, CA Or send by to: Jeff@sierranetworks.com To Subscribe: This newsletter is published monthly by the GCYC. For membership information, please access our web site at:

4 Page 4...a little dinghy at the bow. Cleat the line as the boat moves slowly past the vertical. This will use the weight of the boat to free the anchor and protect you from being dragged over the bow. Once free, raise the anchor to the waterline. Clean if necessary and let the rode dry before stowing away. GCYC Minutes September 10, 2003 Commodore Tish Buti called the meeting together at 7:05 p.m. Tish reported the Flea Market was cancelled by the organizer. Received reciprocating card from Tahoe Yacht Club. The Christmas party will be December 6 th and Kevin and Pam Soch have volunteered to head the party committee. Vice Commodore: Started BBQ Secretary Lynn Buchanan was absent and Beth Buti volunteered to take notes. Treasurer Nicolette Talman reported that GCYC burgees are still available for purchase for $20.00 to members. Announced our current budget status. Race Chairman Jerry Lewis reported three more races left, September 20 th, 27 th and Oct. 5 th. Most races have been run without a race committee on the barge and we are always looking for volunteers. Lynn loaned Wayne her C Genoa and Wayne and Dale beat Lynn and Tish in the first race on the 7 th. Lake Yosemite Sailing Assn. has a regatta in April and a C22 regatta in late August and four people per boat are required at the C22 Regatta. The Buchanan s and Buti s attended this year C22 event in August and placed 3 rd. The LYSA has a clubhouse and parking with an area for tent camping and showers. They would love to see our club participate in their regattas and have offered to attend our regatta in June. Cruise Chairman Don Wight reported that two Catalina 22's skippered by Frank Nin and Joe Day and his Catalina 25 and the Lund s San Juan 26 participated in the cruise to Lake Tahoe. Labor Day plans for a cruise to the Delta were changed to a bay cruise. The Talman s, Buti s, Buchanan and Ron Kent did a day cruise on the SF Bay. Future cruise is for Fleet Week activities on Sat. Oct. 11 th and 12 th with the Blue Angels Air show and a parade with 11 military ships and other auxiliary boats. Contact Don Wight if you are interested in the Fleet Week Cruise. The Talman s and Buti s will be long distance cruising in the BVI for two weeks starting October 2 nd. Port Captain: Barge will need to be pulled soon as the water is getting very low at the launch ramp. Dale Buchanan and Gordon Fellows have been building the keel for the Venture 21, which was donated to the club and will be used as a club charter boat. Lots of fiber glassing, sanding and painting going on at Gordon and Karen Fellows house for the Venture. Newsletter Editor: No Report Publicity/Membership Beth Buti reports new member Melissa & David Kraus and April Wicke have joined since last month. Beth has completed scrap books on the club from 1997 to 2003 and still needs pictures of Friendship Club events and the Jr. Sailors. Committee Reports: None Old Business: None Announcement: Save box in storage shed for the BBQ tools. Lynn Buchanan

5 Volume 22, Issue 10 Page 5 New Business: Venture 21 boat will be finished by next season and be ready for chartering on a daily basis. Raffle Prize: Brought by the Talman s and won by Wayne Buti. Buti s will donate BBQ Tools to clubhouse shed. Meeting Adjourned at 7:35 p.m.. On the Lighter Side Below are some sailing terms I would like everyone to become familiar with so we can better communicate this year. Leech- A crewmember that never seems to have a dime when its time to pay for drinks or meals. Luff- The Front part of a sail that everyone but the helmsman seems to pay attention to (see also Telltales) Luff up- Something racers do to each other to catch the back of the fleet Head -(See Stern Pulpit) Halyard- Something that only breaks or jams when you're winning Sheet- A line made to rip gloves or hands part. Has ability to tangle on anything. Bow- The part of the boat that no one should have to work on. Temporary section of an offshore Catamaran Backstay- The last thing to grab as your falling overboard Stem Fitting- The hole made in a competitors boat when your helmsman misjudges a Port /Starboard crossing Snatch Block-Men use to spend a lot of time at sea. They must have been shaped very differently in those days Hatch- A hole to fall into Companionway- Another name for a hole to fall into Heave to-newcomers quite often find themselves heaving too Anchor- The thing rotting in the bilge of every racing yacht (unseen) Sewerman- A sailor that has a fetish for wet soggy nylon Foreguy-First guy to the bar Afterguy-Last guy out of the bar Lazy Guy-Most Yacht Racers when they're not Racing (if this one offends you, please leave) Winch- A thing you grind till it squeals Wench- A thing you grind till it squeals Keel- A very heavy depth sounder only used on Unamarans (monohulls) Interior-A term not used in conjunction with racing yachts Comfort- Another term not used in conjunction with racing yachts Bunk- A small uncomfortable area for wet sailors to attempt sleep Inside Overlap-The part of a race that resembles a political debate Round Up-Easiest way to get the oncoming watch on deck Round Down- A bad, bad thing for a bowman out on the spinnaker pole Gybe Set- A great way to end up on Port Tack right in front of the whole Fleet that's approaching the mark on Starboard Pop the Chute-The sound a Poly Chute makes just as it blows apart (see America One) Cunningham- A Sly Pig or a complicated term for a downhaul Tactician-A kind term for a Smart Ass or Arrogant SOB or Dumb Ass or Lucky SOB

6 Page 6...a little dinghy A group of Match Cup Skippers are on Crew Scouting trip, when they see a five-story building with a sign that read, "Match Racer Crew Association" Since they are without their crews, they decide to go in. The Guard, a very salty type, explains to them how it works. "We have five floors. Go up floor by floor and once you find what you are looking for, for crew, you can go there and make a selection. It's easy to decide since each floor has a sign telling you who's inside." So they start going up and on the first floor the sign reads, "All the crew on this floor are stupid and weak." The skippers laugh, and without hesitation move on to the next floor. The sign on the second floor reads, "All the crew here are stupid and strong." Still, this isn't good enough, so the Skippers continue on up. They reach the third floor and the sign reads, "All the crew here are smart and strong." They still want to do better, and so, knowing there are still two floors left, they kept going. On the fourth floor, the sign is perfect, "All the crew here are smart, strong and Former Americas Cup Champions." The Skippers get excited and are about to go in when they realize that there is still one floor left. Wondering what they are missing, they head up to the fifth floor. There they find a sign that reads, "There are no crew here. This floor was built only to prove that there is no way to please a Skipper!" Joys of Sailing! How to get ready for a sailing cruise! 1. Sleep on the shelf in your closet. 2. Replace the closet door with a curtain. 3. Four hours after you go to sleep, have your mate whip open the curtain, shine a flashlight in your eyes, and mumble, "Your watch!". 4. Put a wall across the middle of you bathtub and move the shower head down to chest level. 5. When taking showers, shut off the water while soaping. 6. Put lube oil in your humidifier instead of water and set it to high. 7. If your basement floods, during a sudden thaw, go down and start bailing. 8. Bring inside some type of gas motor (lawn mower, garden tiller, etc.), start, and leave running while trying to listen to favorite CD, or having an in depth conversation. 9. If the wind outside is howling, race around the house to make sure all windows and doors are secure (at night, everyone takes a turn on 'watch'). 10. Place all non edible garbage in small plastic bags, and store in other half of tub (edible garbage to be thrown out the window). 11. Wake up at midnight and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stale bread. Cold canned ravioli or soup, is optional. 12. Make up your family menu a week ahead of time without looking in the pantry, fridge, or freezer. 13. Once a month, pick a major appliance, take it completely apart, and put it back together. 14. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot, and allow it to sit for 5 to 6 hours before drinking. 15. Put a fluorescent light under the coffee table, and lay there to read a book. 16. Every so often, throw the cat in the tub (hot tub, large sink, etc.) and shout, "Man overboard!". C L U B S I E R R A CS SPORTS & FITNESS CENTER (916) W. Berryhill Dr. Grass Valley, CA Fax (916)

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8 Gold Country Yacht Club P.O. Box 813 Grass Valley, CA Phone: (530) WE RE ON THE WEB! Look for us at - October Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat November Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat October 5 GCYC Race # SFL November 3 PICYA Meeting Delta Marina YC October 6 PICYA Meeting November 6 BOD Meeting October 8 Club SFL Club House November 12 Club Larry & Lenna s Pizza October GCYC Race # SFL November 28=29 Cold Turkey Cruise LARRY & LENNA S PIZZA Johnson Place, Grass Valley CA. - Phone: (530) Remember, there is a 20% discount on your food if ordered before 4:00PM. 6:00 and 7:00