Ah the Fourth of July celebration in Clear Lake! Better known as the “Great Carnie Invasion” has begun! Kids and adults alike swinging around jolting from side-to-side, confused by mirrors and being robbed at the game stations… Can anyone else smell the funnel cake, cotton candy, corn dogs and
generators?!?!?! It’s a tradition of long standing here in Clear Lake and
everyone, at least to a certain extent, loves it!!!  More importantly though, thank you to every man and woman who has stood in harm’s way with honor and integrity to make our enjoyment of this Holiday possible through 248 years as a Nation.

If you’re daring enough to venture out among the masses on the 4th, don’t forget to check out the Clear Lake Parade; as they have for years, the Sailing Center has a float; of course that’s assuming the weather is decent and the parade actually happens.  Be on the lookout for the float and the fancy ILYA Championship banners on the sides!

Julie Oltrogge is still in search of able bodied people to help with launch, retrieval and moving of boats during the ILYA Championship Regatta.  If you haven’t been in contact with Julie, please do so before she searches you out!  Let’s make it easy on her for once, shall we! julieoltrogge@gmail.com

Where’s the SW breezes, hot temperatures and torturous humidity? Someone please make it happen!!!! Rain, storms, lots of wind, no wind… We just can’t seem to catch a break, especially the E and C fleets who have only sailed 4 and 2 races respectively. Those poor ladies and gentlemen have had a bag full of skunks this season!

Everyone was blown out last Saturday when the back side (or is it backside) of a low pressure system brought cool temps and big breezes.  On Sunday, the normal high pressure phenomenon of no or light breeze prevailed; a valiant effort was made to run races Sunday morning, only to rightfully cry uncle and give in to the Gods half way through, abandoning the races.  Sunday afternoon was more of the same; no breeze, but by then the boat waves had also built up to proportions that are not fun sailboats.

So that’s it…The end of the First Series at the CLYC…It’s a week earlier this year due to our impending massive undertaking in August, the Inland Championship!  Due to the lack of sailable conditions last weekend, the results were unchanged.  It was a hotly contested and very close series in all the fleets; two fleets ended on tie breakers and two ended with the winner and 5th place separated by just 4 points.  Here’s the results!

It seems as though in the second half of the season a few ladies are going to have huge targets on their backs, figuratively speaking of course!  Emily Haugerud leads both the E and MC fleets, albeit by the slimmest of margins and the Ebeling ladies hold the lead in the Melges 15 fleet! Can anyone overcome girl power?  It’s going to be fun filled, no holds barred, take no prisoners type of sailing! Good luck to all sailors in the second half!

This weekend of course begins the aforementioned Second Series AND is the 4th of July Regatta for all fleets.  Be ready to sail back-to-back races on Saturday (maybe even Sunday morning, though the second race wouldn’t count for the regatta).

Did you think the Annual Russ Schurtz Memorial Dad/Mom/Lad/Lass race had been forgotten or swept under the rug??? Not a chance!  This year the Race will be held in conjunction with the X boat fleet party on Sunday, July 14th.  The race begins at 4pm, be listening to your radio on Channel 72 for instructions from PRO Charlie MacNider.  Following the racing the X boat fleet will be grilling out and enjoying each other’s company at the YC building.  Members, if you have questions regarding the use of a Sailing Center X boat for the Dad/Lad event, please email the Sailing Center Board at CLYCia.1935@gmail.com.  Please don’t assume you can use one of the boats as a list has already been started.

The next CLYC Board Meeting will also be held on Sunday, July 14th.  We’ll meet at the MEC on Buddy Holly Place at 1:30pm. The plan is to have the meeting completed in enough time for Board members to enjoy participating in or watching the Dad/Lad event at 4pm.

The next social event is Saturday, July 20th at the Zanios residence. As usual it will start about 6:30; the liquid refreshment will be on hand and available at that time and the hors devours should be brought by the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.  Parking is available on the North side of North Shore drive; please be sure your vehicle is facing West. Parking is also available along Fairway Drive.  Don’t forget, a correct answer to the following question gets a prize/gift courtesy of your Crows Nest author… This one promises to be bigger and better and the last one!

In what year was this proposition made?: “Y’s guys will pay good money for a way that is guaranteed to wipe out Bill Stoyles…My son advises that the X-fleet is having much the same problem with Bill Nicholas…”

Next week, we’ll have a wrap up of the 4th of July Regatta plus more exciting news from around the Club. See you on the water this weekend!  Until then friends…

Stay in the Clear Air,

Dan Allen
MC 2811 – Relentless
dsallen@cltel.net
www.clyciowa.com
www.clycss.com