May 1998

 

May 1998
June 1998
Sept. 1998

FROM THE COMMODORE

Competing for time. That's what life has become. So many things to do and too little time. I'm writing this veryearly on a Sunday morning because that's the only free time I have. Many people can't race on Sundays because there are other things they have to do. Time. Time. Time.

I'm writing about time this month because I've been told that I've been put into a 1999 difficult time slot. Next month's meeting coincides with the series finale of "Seinfeld." Now if major corporations are spending over a dollars for every 30 seconds of your time, how am I going to get anyone to come to the next meeting? How about free coffee and donuts? Shall we turn it into a Farewell Seinfeld party? I'm open to suggestions but I don't want to be sitting alone at the next meeting.

This month we are recognizing our second Unsung Hero. Lou Guidone prepared an excellent biography of Adrian Spitz. I would like to thank Lou for taking the time to write the article and obviously, on behalf of the Club, thank you to Adrian for putting so much time and effort into Narrasketuck.

I am writing this before the Log deadline because I want to remind everyone that this year's Work Days are May2 and May 9. We might need additional tools this year (saws, wheelbarrels, gardening tools, etc.) so if you have some tools to lend, please call Kerry O'Sullivan or Abbey Gura to see what they need. We can't quite finish up the area by the garage because we don't have our dredging permit yet, but there's still a lot to do. SNAP and Junior Training are starting to advertise for this year, so if you know of anyone interested, pass on the information. At the last meeting we voted on getting all new rigging, spars, sails, etc. for two of our 420's so when Jeff gets the hulls finished, we should have two very competitive boats. This will be a big plus in keeping our advanced kids interested and competitive this summer. Thanks to Jeff Brous and Ruth Westfall for their devotion to the program.

It just started raining and I have to go down and check on the winter storage boats now. Too bad today's the only day I can do this. Time. Time. Time. It's going to be a busy month down at the club, so I hope to see you soon.

Ken

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** COMING EVENTS **

 

Saturday, May 2 --- WORK DAY # 1

Saturday, May 9 --- WORK DAY # 2

Saturday, May 16 -- Flag Raising/Opening Day 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 17---- Tune Up Race 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 24 ---- Novice/Crew Regatta 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27 - SNAP Student Introduction

Saturday, May 30 -- SNAP Lessons Day #1

Sunday, May 31 ---- Spring Series begins Races 1, 2, 3, 1:30 p.m.

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FLAG RAISING/OPENING DAY

 

The new sailing season is about to begin! Our Flag Raising and Opening Day is May 16, 1998 at 4:30 p.m. BYOB and bring an hors d'oeuvre. Champagne, cake and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Call Pat McGillicuddy at 594-1455 if you need more information. Come one and all! Celebrate the beginning of another terrific sailing season!

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FOR SALE

Club Owned DaySailer - 1971 O'Day DaySailer with trailer - boat owned by club - hull needs work. Boat is located in rear row by fence, near north property. Green hull. Best offer gets it (with Board approval). Contact: Art Leiz at 541-5407.

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ASTEROID HITS MONTANA --RECORD WINTER WARMTH

McCann Wins

 

El Nino, El Schmino! That's right. You heard it here first. This warm winter wasn't due to some warm water effects in the Pacific caused by some drought in the Himalayas. No Sir. From now on all winters will be this warm. And I can tell you why. An asteroid, half the size of Jersey, smashed into Montana. Scientists know about it but the government doesn't want to panic the people. (Nobody lives in Montana1 anyway.) Just as science predicted in the movie, this huge asteroid smashed into Montana causing the earth to shift a little more than a half degree on its axis making it stand more upright. This causes the sun's rays to hit the earth more directly and that will make it warmer every year. It now tilts 22.9 degrees instead of the 23 1/2 that it used to. You can tell this real easy. Just look how short your shadow has become. The same with tree shadows and all. That's how I verified that it really happened. The shadow of the Empire State Building no longer reaches my windowsill.

And I can tell you exactly when it happened, too. Remember in January (or February), the night the B Train (or maybe the Number Three) got knocked off the tracks in the Bronx (or upper Manhattan). What do you think did that? Trains don't jump the track every day. The asteroid, baby. I could even feel the vibration in my bed.

Anyway, this is going to cause global warming, making the polar ice caps melt, making the ocean levels rise, making Sunrise Highway waterfront property. Therefore, all boats in the yard must move to the north end of the parking lot at Home Depot by October 15, 2001 or there will be a $25 fine.

The El Toro racing was excellent. The weather was r~ice, as you know. Joe McCann won the series but he got lucky, I think. We were holding him pretty even till that damn asteroid event. On the day after the crash, Joe won four races and I didn't win any because I couldn't concentrate because I was worried about the asteroid and the earth and all. I didn't tell Joe about it because, well, you know lawyers. The slightest thing can set them off. He still deserves to be congratulated.

Other interesting things happened. Frank Marinaccio won the first TWO races of the season and then never won another. (What's that about?) Peter Jenkins, our man with an eye to the weather, thinks the El Toro would be appropriate for the Southern Ocean. Give us a break, for pete's sake. Alan Pearlman began to sail much faster with his new jacket. (Why?) Nick DeMarco felt he needed more ballast and took on some rail meat late in the season. (Hmm.) The ubiquitous Malcolm Mccullough started every race of the season (as did Alan and Frank). On the steep end of the learning curve, Malcolm is sailing better with every race and FEELING better about it. Several impromptu end of season parties were held at Toomey's on the Crik. This would be a great thing if they didn't think Coors Light was robust brew. And when are they going to start using potato in the French fries. Who knew you could deep fry packing pellets.

The Race Coimnittee did its usual stellar job. (Although they had a bit of trouble with the non-traditional leeward starts. Loosen up!) Ruth Westfall filled in for Cathy Powell one day and was a bit nervous before the first race. She seemed to settle down nicely when at the first gun she bellowed, "Connelly, you're over!" It will be a cold day on Long Island before she gets called again. Special thanks to Cathy Powell, Ruth WeEtfall, Jim Koehler, Dick Knight, Dave MacLellan, Bill Meunier, Frank (the cruttib bum (bun, I meant, bun)) Marinaccio, and Gale Force Jenkins. Complete results are below.

1998 EL TORO WINTER SERIES

Place

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Skipper

Joe McCann

Jim Connelly

Peter Jenkins

Frank Marinaccio

Alan Pearlman

Jerry Sachnoff

Art Leiz

Nick DeMarco

Sandy Myhro

Jan CostelbE

Marguerite Koehler

Malcolm McCullough

Dan Jenkins

Points

21

25.2

36

57.5

67

87.75

103

111

129

139

140

176

178

 

Did not qualify (due to astrological concerns). Listed in order of races completed.

Paul McCann

Don DiStefano

Pearce Baker

Bob Beckmann

Jeff Brous

Ken Newman

Kerry O'Sullivan

 

Well, I would like to stay and chat a bit, but IT'S MEDICATION TIME!

Jim Connelly

The Institute of Inconsequential Studies -- Printston

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UNSUNG HERO - ADRIAN SPITZ

Adrian was born in 1923 in Forest Hills, New York and spent his summers near Reynolds Channel in Long Beach but was never exposed to sailing. In 1945, he was serving in the Army and was stationed at Dibble General Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Flying was one of his many interests and one Sunday he flew over a large number of small sailboats. Upon landing, he learned that they were associated with the Palo Alto Yacht Club. He was soon crewing on a 17 1/2 foot sloop called a National One Design. Showing the good sense we have all observed, he quickly bought the first one available and became a skipper. After racing the boat for eight months, the Army intervened and he was sent to Germany.

After the war, Adrian bought one of the first Comets which was, by that time, almost ready for the woodpile. With the help of his father, the boat was rebuilt and they sailed it in Reynolds Channel. In the winter of 1947, he bought and assembled a kit for Thistle #430 and, again, sailed it in Reynolds Channel the following summer. During this period, Adrian bought a piece of property on a canal on Brightwater Place in Nassau Shores. With the help of another Thistle sailor, the bulkhead on the property was replaced and the area became their base for sailing on Great South Bay.

By 1951, the racing bug had bitten him again and Adrian joined the Narrasketuck Club. At that point in time, there was no clubhouse but for $10.00 in dues, you were able to race and make some great friends. Adrian organized the Thistle fleet of seven boats, all of which were stationed on his property. In 1958 the Thistles fell out of favor so he joined and became Captain of the

Jet 14 fleet for three years. In 1962, the Comets became popular so he joined that group, spent several years as Fleet Captain and sailed regularly until 1969. Adrian was also a member of the El Toro building group that spent one long winter in Bob Schwarzler's spar loft.

Adrian's racing skills matched his organizing and building talents and he has accumulated a good bit of silver and glassware courtesy of Narrasketuck and other Great South Bay clubs. Unfortunately, a bad knee has forced him to limit his sailing in recent years.

Adrian's contributions to Narrasketuck have not been limited to racing. When the present clubhouse was being constructed, he did the bulk of the brickwork on the fireplace. In addition, he served as Club Secretary in 1965-1966 and followed up that assignment by working with Warren Pulver on the Prize Committee for many years. He is always available when needed as demonstrated by the many hours he spent repairing the clubhouse chimney in 1997.

Lou Guidone

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NEXT MEETING: Thursday, May 14, 1998 8:15 p.m.

NEXT LOG DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 20, 1998

 

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