News
BURGEE – October 2010 – Luffing Lassies
Class of 2010 Finding the Wind
Ellen McKeefe
The new Luffing Lassies are out on the water now having learned to sail during a week when winds gusted to 15. This is a group that does not scare easy. Consider some careers, former and continuing; Gail Seidman was a burn unit ICU nurse in Chicago. Jacki Booker spent 27 years with the Illinois State Police, serving as Captain and District Commander. Other new LL’s were bankers, teachers, real estate pros, artists and marketing and advertising executives. Many have husbands and children; dogs, cats and boats. They are from the Midwest, the Northeast and Germany. And Lisa Beckstein is a fourth generation Floridian from Mt. Dora.
When asked, most of the 13 new LL’s noted that the Learn to Sail experience was a major part of their decision to stick around and sail with us this fall. Newbie Susan Keeton, “My first impression of the LL sailing process was that being a part of the LL’s was going to be more than I expected. The class was so well organized and all the existing LL’s pitched in to help wherever needed which spoke very loudly to me. I was very impressed.”
It was indeed pretty impressive. For five days as August became September, Captain Linda Schwartz and instructor Lorri Kaighin ran a tight ship, if you will pardon the expression. Not only did they succeed in herding the rookies into the best learning situations, they also made the best use of LL veterans who came out to help. While dozens pitched in during the LTS week, a day or two or three; it must be noted that Lisa Dodds, Jib Browning, Julie Burnett, Jane Owens and Fran Mericle were there every day, all five days. And so were Tom Schwartz and Willy Dodds, honorary LL’s.
Photog Rachel Harvey got some great action shots of new LL’s in 420’s with veterans and later, on their own in prams. Adding the 420’s to the training mix was a fine idea. Experienced 420 skippers took out the new sailors and gave them boat handling confidence in some pretty good winds.
A couple of weeks later in mid-September on a blindingly bright Thursday morning, some 20 Sunfish and 10 prams were out on the race course. Sunfish Captain Dottie Schell was thrilled with the turnout and Pram Captain Jane Owens noted that we have not seen 10 prams on the course for some time. Among the Sunfishers was Lorri who critiqued the newbies when they came in. The process continues.
If you have not visited the up-and-running LL website, please do so. www.luffinglassies.com will give you current information, new photos (thanks, Rachel) and the opportunity to advertise your business. Robin Wall made this happen; thank her when you see her.
There were some 250 boats out there for the 64th Annual Labor Day Regatta at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. This is one of the oldest, continuous annual regattas in the Eastern US and probably one of the few managed almost entirely by volunteers. Having that many boats with that many sailors, friends and family, the tip of City Island lists into the bay with the weight of it all. Bravo to Gregg Knighton for managing this extravaganza. Hundreds of volunteers made it work. As is their habit, LL’s were everywhere; at registration, in the kitchen, working the grille, behind the bar and on various race committee boats and, of course, competing. Volunteers; Captain Linda and Tom, Dottie, Julie, Lorri, Loretta Garber, Lisa and Willy, Rachel. Michelle Lee and Carol McDowell raced their Sunfish. Mariella Doyle and Daryl Lamb were on PHRF boats. There were five courses from the Guppy Pond near the mooring field, across the bay to the Eastern Shore near the Van Wezel, to the PHRF course opposite Ca d’Zan. I think I had the best volunteer slot as Race Committee recorder for the PHRF fleet. In addition to having a front row seat for some exciting competitive racing, I had a sweeping view of the whole regatta from my perch atop Charlie Ball’s beautifully designed Roseate.
Are you racing in the Sunfish Women’s North American Championship? It’s right here, at the Squadron, October 1-3, 2010. Not racing? Then volunteer to be out there on some power boat and see a fleet of Rita’s and Ursula’s competing. These women are not kidding around at the start. Their mantra; lead, follow or get out of the way.
