Kentucky Lake Race Results are in for the
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Spitzer Cup Invitational K. Lake 2001
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September 29, 2001
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10 mile course, 10kts with ~ 19kt gusts, times variable:
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Trophies Received:
- 1st Place: Fretnaught - Doug Gardner
- 2nd Place: Country Rhodes - Rik & Sandy Sandberg
- 3rd Place: Anima - Ann M. & Lisa
- 4th Place: ChickieBabe - Glen & Dorene Barrera
- 5th Place: Toy Blew - Rod & Mary Ellner
- Honorable Mention for Crew: Ken Wise
- Officiator: John, Light House Landing
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We all had a blast! It was the best sailing! Beautiful weather, GREAT FOLKS, good food!
We'll post pictures when I have a chance to get them downloaded. But for now...
"time to make potatoes ;^)"
Dorene & Glen
ChickieBabe
Burnham Harbor
Chicago, IL
30 Sep 2001
Whoa!!! What a week. Can't recall the last time I saw that
much perfect weather in a row. We got into LLL on Sunday morning, had a
little "blow" in the evening and from then through Sunday, the weather
just couldn't hardly have been better. Only thing I can complain about
is that I had to leave before I was tired of having fun. :-)
I'd like to say a special THANKS to Glen and Doreen for
hunting up and bringing the trophies, what a nice surprise. Ours will
make a wonderful memento of our first annual, end of September, trip to Ky
Lake and the Light House Landing Marina. Emphasis here should be on the
"first annual", because if I have anything to say about it, this gathering WILL
take place again next year. The company of all the "Rhodies" was great,
the food was excellent, except for "too much of it", and I'm not sure
you could find a nicer bunch of folks in the country, who own a marina, than
the staff at LLL.. I think it would be safe for me to say that a GOOD
time was had by all.
Got home this (Monday) morning about 9am. Turned out to be
876 miles. Hope you have all had as much fun as we did, and a safe trip
back home.
Enough for now, got to go to work (AARRGH)
Rik
01 Oct 2001
Thanks. We'll do it again next year. Among the highlights of the
trip, for me: first race, first raft up with 4 Rhodes, first time seeing
Dylan (Doug and Robin's 4 month old son), first time the forward hull
and then the rudder hit two different sets of rocks on the same day, first
time for consistent good winds/sunny skys, and first time for...Walleye
Cheeks! With great people like you all to share it with, what else can
you ask for in a sailing vacation?
Glen
ChickieBabe
Burnham Harbor
Chicago, IL
01 Oct 2001
I suppose it was "cool" by Kentucky or South Carolina standards. But,
by Minnesota standards for this time of the year, it was really nice.
We did need coats in the mornings. Once the sun was up for a while
though, it warmed up quick. High 60's, low 70's pretty much every day
and a little warmer each day as the week went on. Good breeze (10-15)
all day, every day, except for a couple of hours on Wed. and Thurs.
afternoon
Rik
01 Oct 2001
Oh yeah, the walleye cheeks :-), I'll have to remember to start watching
for them next summer. They aren't always available. I can always get
thosesteaks though :-) :-) ! ! !
For me, first time sleeping in the boat. First time anchoring out
overnight. My first race also. First raft up of any kind. First failure
to inflate a fender :-). First time dropping the mast while on the water.
And, the coolest first, first time sailing five miles on one tack!!
Don't know for sure if there is anything anybody would like to do
differently. I can't think of too much I would change. I'd like to start
planning to do it again next year at the same time, or if it works out
better for anybody, a little later. Unfortunately, we can't make it any
earlier. We will be going though, whether it's alone, or with somebody.
By the way, Anne, if you are reading this, thanks so much for your
efforts also. We had a great time in the race and your local knowledge, both of
the lay of the land and the people, was a big help. Did you ever get
your chart back? Say hi and thanks to Steve and John.
Rik
02 Oct 2001
I thought it was great!
Glen and Dorene did a WONDERFUL job organizing and promoting the event. I
thought last years gathering was great, but this one was even better!
Kudos to my heros!
Rod and Mary, it was wonderful to meet you! For those of you who are not
fortunate enough to know these two, they are two of the nicest folks you
could ever hope to meet. Rod was always there when you needed anything,
whether it was cooking french toast (or cooking sausage gravy and
biscuits), helping to raise a mast, or whatever. Mary is indescribable.
You just need to meet her to understand.
Ken and Joann Wise were just delightful to have around. Ken crewed on
Fretnaught when we went to raft up, and I was SO glad he did. It was
important to me to have another sailor on board when Robin had to be in the
cabin with Dylan. I'm sure that Rod feels the same way about Ken crewing on
Toy Blew during the race.
Anne M was our liason and expediter, as well as all-round fun person! She
took the spinnaker sheets on thursday to show some folks what you can do
with a big lightweight sail in almost no wind. We have a great picture of
Anne doing just that. (I said it was a great picture of Anne. I didn't
say it was a good picture of me, or that anyone else will ever see it! ;^)
Now, go and make some more potatoes, Anne!
Rik And Sandy are the "get things done" team! Man, what energy! I think
Sandy cooked most of the meals, and Rik was the self appointed taxi driver.
I'm certain that he also had the fastest R22 on the lake. Don't anyone
listen to him when he says he doesn't know how to sail! He is probably the
best natural sailor I've ever met. In the race he turned back to try to
rescue a lost Tilley hat (unfortunately lost forever) and STILL came back
to finish second. I'm convinced he would have been first if he had a smaller
headsail on the furler (winds were heavy, and I was using about a 130%, and
it was partly furled). After the raft-up, he made it back up the lake in
record time. He not only beat us all back, he actually HUMILIATED us!
Fortunately, he is so nice that nobody really cared that he beat us
soundly, then has the gall to say he doesn't know how to sail. (So, Rik... if you
don't know how to sail, and you are so much better at it than the rest of
us, what does that say about OUR skills???)
What a WONDERFUL group of people! The only thing that was missing was a
few of our other good friends who were unable to come. You know who you are,
but I just wanted to say again how much we missed you, and that we thought
of you often (and always fondly).
There are many more stories, but those need to wait for another time.
Here's looking forward to NEXT year!
Doug Gardner
s/v Fretnaught
02 Oct 2001
What a great time we all had. Seeing 5 Rhodes 22's together is a treat. It
is great fun seeing all the options and different configurations on the
boats. The gathering is like a 5 day sailing seminar. There was a lot of
interest in the Rhodes, The mast raising systems attracted a few on lookers
and one person was esspecially interested in the IMF. The Rhodes 22 always
attracts a crowd.
Thanks to Ken for crewing on Toy Blew. We learned a lot. Reducing the
sails is very effective and easy. I guess Mary, Ken, and I were cruising
rather than racing.
Thanks to Joanne for making the great salsa, guacamole. Ken and Joanne also
shared some great Australian wine.
Dorene and Glen, great job of organizing the event. What a great party. We
did miss not hearing Glens and Robins guitars and I do believe Dorene
sings. Maybe a little rain and then some music.
Doug, Robin, & Dylan, it was good to meet you. Especially seeing your boat
and the ingunity and work you have put in it. Robin next year we need to
hear the guitar. Dylan is a good little guy. He will be a joy to you.
Rik and Sandy always with good ideas to address. Sandy, where did you get
the suction cup hooks, Rik showed one to me, the ones with the lever
activator? The walley cheeks and steaks were great. Great sailing. I would
have liked to stay out on the hook one or two nights but wouldn't want to
miss anything on shore.
Anne we had a great time at KKL. What a jewel of a body of water and
harbor. I like all the extras you had added to your boat. The time
definately went too fast. We had a great time
Thanks to everyone for the great week. Great breaksfast. several hours
sailing, cocktail hour or so, dinner. That is a pretty good day. Let along
5 days running. Next time music.
Rod
Toy blue
03 Oct 2001
Hey, everyone,
Sure had a great time with y'all here!! Hate that Doug and Rik beat me out!
We certainly could not have had better weather or winds! Already looking
forward to next year when I actually may make potatoes!
Anne
03 Oct 2001
OK, I guess I'll have to stop saying I don't know how to sail now. I do
appreciate your comment about being a "natural" sailor though cause it is
true that I've always "just known" how to do it, from the first time I ever
set foot on a sail boat. Never had a minutes worth of instruction. I sure do
appreciate the compliment.
I think I probably had a little equipment advantage there too. All of your
boats were in the water most of the summer so your bottoms probably weren't
as fair and I'm sure all of your sails have more time on them than mine. So,
I don't think I can take all the credit for being fast, good sailor or not.
Sure was a pleasure meeting you guys. I think you and I might be able to
have some interesting discussions on d.I.Y modifications to the boats, etc.
You seem to be somewhat of a backyard engineer, same as me. I was a little
disappointed that we weren't able to find a time when Robin could sit down
with her guitar (Glen too). I'm not real musical, but I do appreciate good
guitar picking when I can get some.
Now, I've got to see about getting that Tilley replaced.
Hope you, Robin and of course, Dylan had a fine ride home.
Maybe we could do one of these get togethers early in the spring too.
Something to think about. Start planning for next year. I obviously, haven't
had enough yet!!! I'm still grinning.
Best Regards, Rik
02 Oct 2001
Posted our K Lake pictures. You can see them at
http://www.picturetrail.com/
The "Visit Album Member Name" is: dor.
Have several albums in there, K Lake is marked. Enjoy! :^)
Dorene
ChickieBabe
Burnham Harbor
Chicago, IL
03 Oct 2001
Greetings: I just got back to Indiana after that wonderful experience at
K. Lake. I want to thank Anne for all the arranging and for being a good
sport. My thanks to Glen and Dorene for their organizing and their
hospitality. Thanks to Doug for teaching me so many neat sailing tricks,
like using the high side winch and not using the center board. Thanks to Rod
and Mary for their company and for Rod's Sausage Gravy & Biscuits. Thanks to
Rick for showing me some fancy sailing and to Sandy for walleye cheeeks, my
first, and some great steaks.
Other firsts, first time I have seen a marina with more sailboats than power
boats, WAY More. First time I met the Rhodies and I am impressed, they make a
terrific group. Thanks to all the cooks, the food was great. First time sailing
in 18mph winds with no more than a one foot chop. We intend to be back next year.
K.Wise
s/v Awaken
04 Oct 2001
As the only non-sailing member of our group at KL, I was overwhelmed by the
warm welcome I received from all of you. When Ken said he wanted to meet up
with a group of Rhodies and sail.sail,sail, I had mixed feelings Traveling
hundreds of miles, sitting in a car following surgery was not my idea of
the ideal recovery plan. But Ken had been so impressed with the sincerity and
concern exhibited on the rhodes list. The chance to meet face to face was a
very strong draw. Sailing was the cherry on top for Ken.So of we went.
Meeting with Mary and Rod; Rick and Sandy; Glen and Dorene; Doug, Robin and
Dylan; Anne and Steve, was teriffic. At the end of our stay I felt as if I
was leaving a group of old friends.The memories are warm and strong.From
burgers by flashlight, walleye cheeks (a first) to steaks and elusive
potatoes. In additon, breakfasts by Doug and Rod to start the day. My hobby
is food and cooking--next year a stove. I had a great time at KL and can't
wait for next year and the chance to see you all again. Until then Keep dry
and I wish you all good sailing.
Ken & Joanne Wise
s/v Awaken
07 Oct 2001
Scheduling so everyone can make it is always a difficult thing. This year,
our solution was to have several gatherings at various times across the
country. We had an early summer (late spring?) gathering in New Bern, a
high summer gathering on Long Island Sound, and the fall gathering at
Kentucky Lake. I think the scheduling worked very well, in the sense that
it permitted more people to attend at least one gathering than would
otherwise have been possible. Note that (with the exception of Glen and
Dorene) none of the KY lake participants this year were able to attend any
other sailing event.
No matter what time of year you schedule, there will be people who can't
make it. Fall gatherings exclude those who have school commitments, summer
gatherings exclude those with summer commitments (like Rik). There are a
number of reasons why the late september date was chosen for kentucky lake:
- 1) People with summer commitments can make it
- 2) It is close enough to haul out for many of us that the gathering
coincides with winterization of the boat
- 3) It is possible to get a cabin without scheduling 2 years in advance (this
is probably going to be extremely important if attendance increases)
- 4) Weather is better than in high summer or spring
Please be aware that we understand that fall dates exclude people. Just as
we are aware that other dates exclude others. Unless someone has an idea
about how to reconcile these conflicting schedules, I propose that we keep
the Kentucky Lake gathering as a fall gathering for those who cannot make
the others, and we work hard to expand the LIS and New Bern gatherings so
that they are even better.
Once these gatherings are relatively stable and successful, we can consider
a midwinter gathering... maybe in the keys? With luck, we could find a time
over the holidays which would allow attendance by all interested parties.
Note that this may be difficult because schools on quarters tend to go back
to school early in january and schools on semesters tend to go back mid
january. For example, Ohio U. usually lets out at thanksgiving and restarts
the first week of jan. Miami lets out the week before christmas and
restarts sometime around Jan 15. The overlap is christmas and the week
between christmas and new years. I bet that timing would pose other
problems for people, as well as coincide with the busiest week of the year
in FL.
These are just my 2 cents.
Doug
07 Oct 2001
