November 2021 Ditty Bag - Lake Canyon Yacht Club

November 2021

Commodore’s Report

by Scott Wells, LCYC Commodore

Fall Work Day: Just around the corner on October 30th. Can you believe it has been 6 months since the last work day? We really need a super turn-out again for this work day in preparation for Wurstfest. We are expecting many visitors for this years regatta so lets all chip in and make sure LCYC is all polished up for this annual event. Many hands make light work. Reach out to Pete Prados or Julian Craven to volunteer your time, talents and tools. Remember to bring your gloves, wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing.

Wurstfest: Registration is open and fleets are forming. Race if you can; volunteer to help out if you are not racing. Chuck Begley is coordinating on the water volunteers. Jean Junker is heading up the ramp crew. Mindy Rogers is organizing a small crew to feed our volunteers (and only our volunteers). Due to Covid, there will be no organized social events, food, raffle or camping this year. We are going sailing so come out and enjoy the weekend. Board boats race the first weekend in November and keelboats the 2nd weekend in November.

2022 Budget: The marina is the # 1 revenue generator in the club. Slip fees and member dues fund our operation. Virtually all members use the marina when visiting the club. The Budget Committee has put in a tremendous effort again this year to develop next years budget for the club. The budget is solid, covers our costs and ensures that LCYC is in a financially responsible position. Yes there is an increase planned for next year to address the increase in cost for just about everything. Not 1 single penny is going to waste.

SACE Policy Guidance for Outgrant Management: Did you know that the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has developed a policy manual that addresses what we have to do in our marina? Ask me for a copy if you don’t have one. The BOG stood up a task force, headed up by Phil Crane, to understand the new requirements, identify gaps in our compliance with the new policy and communicate with USACE to address those gaps. Our next lease renewal is in 2028.

Make time to volunteer and make new friends. We need you for every event. Don’t assume someone else will step-up; ask where you can help. Look forward to seeing you at the club.

Just Go Sailing!

Welcome New Members

Russell and Kristen Harder, New Braunfels, TX
Ed “Skip” Morrison, Houston, TX
Ashley Specia, San Antonio, TX

Welcome Carlos Rosende to LCYC BOG

by Jim Kizziar, Nomination Committee

Carlos Rosende was approved as a member of the LCYC Board of Governors at a Special Board Meeting held on November 1, 2021. Carlos, who also serves as a Club Officer (Secretary), will fill the unexpired term of resigning Board Member John Ruiz, who has accepted employment with the Club as the Interim Property Supervisor. The vacancy was filled by the Board in accordance with Article II, Section VI of the Club Bylaws.

Carlos first sailed as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1973. Sailing took a hiatus after graduating from the Academy as Carlos went through medical school, internship and residency. Carlos resumed sailing after moving to Norfolk, Virginia, and introduced his wife Karen to the pastime. They have sailed in Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay, the Virgin Islands and on Canyon Lake. After retiring from the Navy in 1999 and relocating to San Antonio. Carlos joined the faculty of the University of Texas Long School of Medicine. Carlos served as a Professor of Ophthalmology, the Executive Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs and as the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology. He also serves as the Executive Director of UT Health Physicians 850-physician multi-specialty medical practice.

Carlos has been an active participant and volunteer in many LCYC activities since joining the Club in 2009. Although he is a “cruiser”, Carlos also enjoys crewing in LCYC races. Welcome Aboard, Carlos!

Nominees for 2022 Vice-Commodore and BOG Positions

by Jim Kizziar, Nomination Committee

The LCYC Nominations Committee considered many qualified members for the 2022 Vice-Commodore and Board of Governors positions. The nominations submitted by the Committee were unanimously approved by the LCYC Board of Governors and are recommended to the membership for election at the December 4, 2021, Annual Meeting.

Nominee for LCYC Vice-Commodore

ANU DAY

Anu spent her career as a physical therapist for 30 years. Now retired, Anu lives at Canyon Lake and has traveled extensively throughout the world. A Club member since 2005, Anu has volunteered in many capacities. She served a Co-Port Captain in 2016, where she was responsible for organizing social events, soliciting volunteers, purchasing and attending Board meetings. Anu has actively volunteered at Wurstfest Regattas and has hosted/assisted with other club events (Commodores’ breakfasts, Jimmy Buffet/Summer Breeze, July 4th picnics, Leukemia Cup Regatta, Adaptive Sailing, and SEW-MAD). Volunteering is a family affair. Anu’s daughter, Meera, grew up as an active participant in the Youth Sailing Program and her husband, Fred Day, volunteers on the water and in the LCYC Galley. Anu served on the LCYC Board of Governors in 2017 and 2018. During that time, she was Co-Chair of the Personnel Committee and coordinated the process and interviewed candidates for Property Manager. After she rotated off the Board, Anu continued to serve on the committee for interviewing and hiring additional LCYC administrative staff. If elected, Anu looks to continuing to serve LCYC and working with staff and members.

Nominees for LCYC Board of Governors

FRED LINDSEY

Fred began sailing with his father and longtime LCYC member Lloyd Lindsey in Hickam Harbor, Hawaii. After returning to Texas, Fred and his wife Sandra joined LCYC in 1988 and have been active volunteers and Club leaders ever since. Fred is a winning Club racer on J22’s and J27’s, has served as Race Chairman and also served on the Protest Committee. Fred set up and maintained the Club’s weather system, lighthouse camera and Wi-Fi for many years. He has previously served on the Board of Directors, and in 2014 received (along with Sandra) the LCYC Lifetime Service Award.

JOSEPH MCDONOUGH, Ph.D.

Joe began racing Prindles during college and competed in the Prindle fleet’s nationals in 1983. His chartering of boats around the U.S. has resulted in some exciting storm experiences. An experienced racer on smaller boats – laser 16, Raider 16 and Hobie 16 – he races his Hunter at LCYC. When not racing, Joe volunteers with our Club’s TSA regatta and other regattas. Joe has hosted Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops at LCYC and assisted scouts working toward their sailing merit badges.

Professionally, Joe uses his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Texas Tech to develop chemical agents and related antidotes for commercial clients and for the U.S. Department of Defense and Health and Human Services. He currently also serves with the military and Defense Intelligence Agency in defense of the USA and our allies.

Joe’s prior Board of Governors service during 2020 was cut short because of an overseas deployment. Before being deployed, Joe also served on the LCYC COVID-19 Task Force and as the Club representative to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

CHRIS PICKETT, MD, PE

LTC Christopher Pickett, MD, PE is a U.S. Army Interventional Cardiologist at Fort Sam Houston Texas. Following his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he was commissioned as an Engineer Officer and assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington where he met and married his wife of 18 years, Joannah. Chris began medical school in 2003 at Georgetown University and completed his post-graduate medical training at Walter Reed and Johns Hopkins. He has been assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) since 2015 where he serves as the Director of BAMC’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Structural Heart Disease Program, as well as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.

Chris learned to sail in middle school from his father on Lake Erie in a wooden Penguin dinghy which he restored for a high school senior project. He has tinkered with other recreational sailboats (Rainbows, Flying Scots, Sunfish, Hobie Cats) until he purchased his own dinghy and more recently a keelboat.

Chris, Joannah, and their two children joined Lake Canyon Yacht Club in 2017 and have been active members since that time, assisting with TSA Youth Regattas and Wurstfest Regattas. Chris and his children, Jack and Lucy, have been heavily involved with LCYC’s youth sailing program. Chris’ family has also enjoyed the club’s series racing in both Portsmouth and PHRF Non-Spinnaker classes. The Club will benefit from having Chris’ youth sailing interest and experience part of its Board of Governors.

MINDY ROGERS

Mindy’s earliest memories of sailing began at age 10 with her father and twin brother on a small Hobie Cat in Galveston Bay. It wasn’t a pleasant experience due to a sudden thunderstorm that requied all three to be rescued. Mindy’s sailing days resumed when she and husband, Don Rogers, bought their Canyon Lake home overlooking LCYC in 2012. They admired all the sailing activities of the club from their deck for the first few years until Mindy retired from her 20 year career as Senior Accounting Analyst with INEOS Olefins & Polymers (formerly Amoco, BP Chemicals) in 2016. Mindy helped with the 2016 Wurstfest regatta while still a guest at the Club. It was her first encounter in the galley making pounds and pounds of German potato salad. Mindy joined LCYC in 2017 and has been an active volunteer throughout her membership, serving as Wurstfest Galley Chair since 2018, in two club officer positions (Secretary, 2019; Port Captain, 2020-2021) and as the current Budget Committee Chair. She also learned to sail in the Women’s Sailing class in 2018. She crewed in the SEW-MAD regatta that year and her boat won first place. In addition to her very active service with LCYC, Mindy has served in community volunteer positions with the Mt Lookout POA, including the Welcoming Committee and as Treasurer during 2018-2021.

The Board of Governors appreciates the service of the 2021 Nominations Committee, including Lynn Simpson, Elizabeth Bentzen, Chris Powers, Scott Wells and Jim Kizziar. Vice Commodore Bill Clark served as a non-voting participant in Committee meetings.

Gayle Rocky Hill, Write-In Candidate for BOG

by Rocky Hill, LCYC Member

Gayle Rocky Hill has been a member of LCYC since 1998.

Served as Director of Airport Operations and Chief Pilot for Virginia Tech Air Transportation Services 1989- 1997.

Acquired FAA funding for AIP (Airport Improvement Projects) 3.5M from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the current Airport terminal at the Virginia Tech Airport. His annual budget of 12.6 million included Primary Flight Training, Fixed Base Operations, and Air Transportation Services… Rock taught classes for Cockpit Resource Management, Airborne weather radar, and weather flight planning.

Rock was a Captain for Continental Airlines. His certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration include Airline Transport Pilot Boeing 727-200, Boeing 727-100-200, Boeing 747-400, Flight Engineer Turbo-Jet. Rock served as a Captain on International flights worldwide. He also has FAA-type ratings for the Westwind corporate Jet, Lear Jet, Hawker Jet, and Challenger wide body 602 and 604.

He held the position of Chief Pilot for SedCo International, the largest offshore drilling company in the world. Captain on an F-227 for the Clements for Governor campaign 1973-1974. Chief Pilot for Governor Clements 1974 –1978. Rock’s career in aviation for 44 years included a few interesting missions and passengers, to say the least. To mention a few, Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford, The Shaw of Iran, The State Department, and not my favorite guy, John Connally.

Sailing: Rock started with an SOL Cat 18 in 1970. Later went to a Prindle 18. He resided on North Padre Island and was a crazy cat for many years. He has owned several boats over the years… A Morgan Out Island 41, A Hunter 33, and several in-between thanks to Lloyd Lindsey. Lloyd and Bubba Horner sponsored his application to join LCYC in 1998. He misses them both dearly. Rock is currently active in Adaptive and Adult Sailing. He organized a Cruising Crowd, Interfaces with new members socially and on the water

Rock is also an accomplished musician. His band provided the entertainment for many events over the years for LCYC, including Wurstfest, The Leukemia Annual Fundraiser, and for some private events at LCYC.

He is a USMC Viet Nam era vet

Rock is at the club at least five days a week with his wife ( Brigitte ) she loves meeting new members and making them feel welcome to our wonderful club

Docks and Grounds

by Pete Prados, Docks and Grounds Chair

At this writing, D&G is preparing for another work day for the members and the response is very good. Several needed improvements will be made before the WF regatta. Plans are to make repairs to the pavilion on the super dock pavilion, repair/replace damaged deck timbers, clean up the grounds in the boat ramp area, clean up the clubhouse facilities and pool area, and open up the area by the lighthouse. Thanks to all of the member volunteers who participated in the spring and fall work days. You have made a huge difference this year to the club facilities.

Phase II of the marina repair project and the annual marina inspection (required by the CORP) will be completed by the end of October.

The black water pump out project is near completion and the goal is to get the CORP to inspect soon. The CORP guidelines require that marina’s provide facilities for large boats with septic systems..

Please be aware that the safety rail is being manufactured for the boat ramp walkway and will be installed soon, but not before the upcoming regattas. Also, the new A frame hoist is in the design stage and construction could begin before the end of the year. These are budgeted projects that fall in the safety category.

Work is also being done in the design and development of a new E Dock. This budgeted project will advance the ball toward the LCYC goal of replacing the old styrofoam flotation throughout the marina by the year 2026 to meet the CORP mandate.

Women’s Sailing Honors Lynn Simpson

by Debbie Fogle

Women sailors of LCYC recently took the opportunity to thank and honor their fellow sailor and past Commodore Lynn Simpson for her years of service promoting women’s sailing at LCYC.
Under Lynn’s leadership of the Women’s Sailing Program, countless women have been encouraged to take the helm and gain confidence on the water. The hallmark of her programs has been the numerous keelboat classes which also had the added benefit of recruiting many of the students to be members of LCYC. She revitalized the SEW-MAD Women’s Regatta which has provided countless women the opportunity to race in a fun setting. She has been a staunch supporter encouraging women to race monthly in the LCYC club series and long-distance races.

Lynn is a great role model for all sailors of LCYC – male and female; kids and adults – to use their knowledge and gifts and encourage others to get on the water. As Lynn has often said, “Have fun and just keep at it!”

Even though Lynn is wrapping up her long tenure at the helm of Women’s Sailing at LCYC, you will always be able to find her on the docks – especially race days – encouraging everyone. Thank you, Lynn, and may you enjoy fair winds always.

Series Racing

by Rick Mella, Race Director

The 2021 Fall Series is in the books with Regatta Network posting all the winners. Saturday, Oct 16th, Keel boat races were run under great sailing weather with winds blowing from 8 to 10 mph, gusting to 18 mph with 30 degree wind shifts, perfect Canyon Lake sailing. Three races were sailed Saturday for the compressed two month Fall Series Keel boat racing.

J-22
- First Place: Bruce Dunn Sail # 226 Alyssa Rose
- Second Place: Coleman Terrell Sail # 306 Good Grief
PHRF Spinnaker
- First Place: Gustavo Medellin Sail # 007 Canyon Wind
PHRF Non-Spinnaker
- First Place: Bill McVey Sail # 83 Mi Amor
- Second Place: David Lilley Sail # 269 Out of the Blue
Big Boats
- First Place: Skip Klement Sail # 227 The Pearl
- Second Place: Jack Mogab (Tracy & Steve) Gypsy Wind
Multi-Hull
- First Place: Joe Monosmith Sail # 131 Saturday Knight

Fall Series Board Boat racing, Sunday, October 17th, with four races scheduled for the final day of racing in October. Light winds were predicted and Mother Nature did not let the board boat sailors down. For most of the day, winds were 4 to 6 mph, shifting from the Southwest to the East direction.

Flying Scot
- First Place: Chris Powers Sail # 6081 The Full Catastrophe
- Second Place: Simon Elliott Sail # 6194 Simon’s Boat
- Third Place: Bill McVey Sail # 5700 Semper Fi
- Fourth Place: Bo Wright Sail # 4261
Sunfish
- First Place: Dave Sanford Sail # 10
Portsmouth
- First Place: Travis Grahmann Sail # 1622

Again, my special thanks for the Race Committee volunteers. They worked very hard to set & manage the race course for our LCYC Series Regatta for the Spring Series weekend. Volunteers are always welcome, no experience required! Working as a Race Committee volunteer, it’s a great way to view the monthly racing at LCYC. For those LCYC members / non-members, who want to help with Race Committee duties, please reach out to me since we have plenty of openings for volunteers throughout the year. Contact info: Email: richardamella@hotmail.com or RaceDirector@lcyc.net

SEW-MAD Regatta

by Debbie Fogle

On September 25th, thirty women sailors took to the waters of Canyon Lake for a great day of racing. They were blessed with decent weather and at times decent wind conditions. In typical Canyon Lake fashion, the wind seemed to be on and then just like that off, but it did not dampen the moods of the ladies on the water. Everyone had a great time, and we were able to get 3 races in for 4 fleets.

The festivities did not stop on the water. Everyone changed into their special hot pink SEW-MAD shirts and met on the McKown Deck for a lasagna dinner, awards and traditional champagne toast. This year was special as we were celebrating 30 years since the first SEW-MAD Regatta. As is the tradition SEW-MAD gets women onto the water in a friendly race environment, allowing them to take the tiller and hone their racing skills.

The award ceremony is always a lot of fun. A Floppy Sail Award is given to the “final” finisher in each fleet. Many of the skippers have received this award at least once, and it is a great way to encourage each other to keep sailing and practicing. This year’s fleet award winners were – Lynn Simpson in the Flying Scot, Elsa Graham in Non-spin B, Dayna Fogle in the Sunfish and Debbie Fogle in Portsmouth. Two perpetual trophies are given as well to the top winners in the largest keelboat and board boat fleets. Elsa Graham with crew Ann Cook and Terry Beasley were awarded the keelboat trophy and Debbie Fogle received the board boat honors.

Thank you to all the folks who made the day a success – – the women who came to race, our wonderful race committee led by PRO Travis Grahmann, our galley crew led by Georgina and Ed Tadia, Donna Rice for making such beautiful and tasty cakes, and a big thank you to Lynn Simpson for making sure this year’s regatta was a GO.

Check out the SEW-MAD page of the LCYC website for some great pictures, drone shots and a beautiful video commemorating 30 years of SEW-MAD fun.

For Want of a Pin..

by Chris Fogle

For want of a pin the stay was lost;
For want of a stay the mast was lost;
For want of a mast the race was lost;
For the loss of the race the regatta was lost –
All for the want of a pin.

Chances are you recognize this as a variation of the time-tested proverb that battles can be lost for want of something as simple as a horseshoe nail. But being a fan of all-things-nautical and racing, I wanted to express it in a way other sailors would appreciate. Given the general complexity of sailboats and especially today’s racing boats, the starting points are virtually unlimited.

As a coach (and Grand/Dad and Scout Leader and commander and skipper …), I always encouraged the need to take care of one’s gear. “Take care of your gear and your gear will take care of you.”
Skip your annual maintenance, and you won’t see that corrosion on the stanchion. Skip your pre-race inspection, and you won’t notice the missing ring on that hard-to-get-to clevis pin that holds the shackle that the mainsheet runs through. You get the picture. If not now, when?

But it’s not just about your boat. It applies to your crew, too. I’ve been blessed to have delivered and raced sailboats offshore through the years. When you’re hundreds and thousands of miles from land, your crew mates are “everything.”

Just like with the boat, cracks in the fabric of a crew have a way of getting bigger and causing untold headaches. On long races and deliveries, with hours spent in tough conditions, the differences among crew members can be inordinately magnified. Getting past this tension requires each crew member to appreciate the others for what they bring to the boat – seeing beyond the surface and recognizing their true worth, as it were.

Not everyone may be the best trimmer, but they might be an ace on the helm. They might not know how to navigate, but when the battery won’t charge, they know how to fix it. (One noted exception – EVERYONE should know how to tie their knots!) If you’ve ever noticed the makeup of a crew in the Ocean Race, you’ll immediately see the “team of specialists” approach to filling out their rosters.

The principal of taking care of gear (and people) extends beyond the boat. Whether it’s with your family, your employees, your volunteers, or the person serving you lunch – a smile, a compliment, a wave on the dock, a little extra in the tip – these are all small prices to pay for crew harmony.

So, dust off your tools – look for those little things you can do today to stay in the race. Amortize your efforts with your crew over the long-haul. Don’t ration your goodwill. If not now, when?
Find the missing pin and save the mast.

TSA

by Debbie & Chris Fogle, TSA Representative

Stay tuned to the Ditty Bag for more updates as the season progresses. You can also check out the TSA website at https://txsail.org/ for more information, or check us out on the Facebook TSA Junior Sailing Page www.facebook.com/groups/172730702754870