Commodore Judge Joe Huddleston Passes – by Lee Huddleston

Gary,

Please pass the word to our fellow Members that Judge Joseph R. Huddleston, “Joe,” died the evening of July 11 in Hilton Head Island.

Joe was the last living founder of the Club.  Joe incorporated the Club and was its first Commodore.  He worked hard to get the Commonwealth of Kentucky to let us have land at the State Park to put a clubhouse.  It would have been on the hill just above the parking lot at the marina.  Unfortunately, because it was public land, we would not have been able to serve alcohol.  When the governorship changed hands, however, the deal fell through.  Thank God for prays not answered.

In the early 1960s our father purchased a old wooden-planked, keel boat, Star, the first Olympic sailing class, from Bud Burford, one of the other founders.  Bud had raced it for years on Kentucky Lake but then switched to a Y-Flyer.  Bud taught my dad, Joe, Philip, and me how to sail on the Star and then his Y-Flyer.  As the oldest brother, Joe took responsibility for keeping the boat afloat, not an easy task.  In fact, several years later the folks at Ken Lake State Park Marina let the Star sink while on a mooring.

Later Joe purchased what was at the time one of the largest boats in the Club, a Balboa 20, which he and his wife, Heidi, sailed often on the Lake.  Finally Joe and Heidi moved up to a Hunter 26, which they eventually moved to South Carolina.  As recently as a month ago Joe was sailing on Port Royal Sound off of Hilton Head Island.  Joe also sailed with me on s/v Truelove up the Atlantic coast to Okracoke Island, North Carolina.

Through the extraordinary dedication of Heidi, despite diabetes, Joe was in excellent health.  He thought that he had ruptured a disk in his back and went to the hospital to get some help.  To everyone’s total shock, it turned out to be cancer.  He began to receive treatment and we had hope that he could beat it.  Then an extremely aggressive version of the cancer got into his brain and within days he was gone.  Of course, I and many others will miss Joe’s good-heartedness, intelligence, generosity, and love of sailing.

Fair winds and far places, wonderful brother.

Lee Huddleston

July 2011 Meeting Minutes 7-8-2011

Commodore Champion opened the meeting with a salute to past commodores: Bill Miller, Gary Reimer, Ronnie Hendricks, Herb Siewert, and Lee Huddleston were in attendance.

Hardmaster Report: Hardmaster Reimer reported that the dock is still tied to the trees at 9.5 feet over Summer pool. He is looking to get an engineer to determine how to extend the arms on the dock. Expect the lake to be at summer pool by month end.

Treasurers Report: Not available Barry Sanders is at Kenlake with the Boy Scouts. Discussion that we need to get a proper accounting of finances to determine future plans. We need a formal report. Also mentioned that those over 62 years old are supposed to have their dues frozen and they want to know who is eligible and at what rate their dues are to be frozen.

Commodore Champion asked if any mates plan to crew in the Bluegrass games at Kentucky Lake and posted a sign up sheet on the board.

Commodore also mentioned that the Yankee Doodle was hot and had not much wind but the dinner was well attended and the pig was devoured.

Next Race is the Infinity Race on July 16th. This new regatta is around the islands and Racing chair Doug Roberts needs help on the Committee boat. Herb Siewert mentioned the need for the Committee boat to fly the American Flag.

Bill Miller presented a pavilion report. Construction costs are rising and are around $4388 for a 30×30 pavilion with a gabeled truss metal roof and 6×6 posts. To have a cedar gabeled end will increase to $4750. This will need to be pre-paid. Max Vinson has offered to supervise construction, as he has a background in this. Lots of discussion back and forth, as to the need for a new pavilion, type of roof structure for sail storage etc.  This project would need to begin in November with the teardown by POYC members of the old pavilion. We are still looking for input from the members on this project, if you have ideas or plans let the officers know.

More discussion but no conclusion on Lee Huddleston’s Suburban donation as a put in take out vehicle. Max Vinson offered to help people put their boats in and said he has the assorted sized balls to do this.

Max showed several people how to make a Turks head knot and this was very informative.

Next Months knot will be a Soft Shackle splice. I’ll try to find something on this and post on Tell Tale on line.

We need cooks for the next two months, please contact Alan Cannon if you can help.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.

Gary Guss – Scribe

POYC goes to the Palms – by Larry Caillouet

POYC at Culebrita

After flying the POYC burgee through 900 miles and 13 islands in April-May, Diana and I settled on a more limited goal for this trip: just go to some quiet and pretty places in the Virgin Islands. For me that usually means places with sandy beaches, palm trees, and not a lot of people. The two photos were taken at the exact kinds of places I was looking for. The first one is the bay on the north side of Culebrita in the Spanish Virgin Islands off of Puerto Rico. This island is a turtle sanctuary and is uninhabited, except by turtles, birds, fish, and an occasional sailor. The second photo is Sandy Cay in the British Virgin islands.

POYC at Sandy Cay

It is also uninhabited and is a nature preserve. A walk through the trail that circles through the island brings you into close contact with lizards, red crabs, hermit crabs, and all kinds of birds. It can get busy with boaters during the day, but if you slip in late in the day and leave early in the morning, you can have the island to yourself.

Larry Caillouet

How to Do Well at the Sailboat Race – by Doug Roberts

How to do well in a Sailboat Race – Pay attention to the details

I have always believed that in order to do well in a sailboat race you must pay attention to every minute detail, non-stop, throughout the entire race, to the point of obsession.

Even before you launch you check the mast to ensure it is properly adjusted. You check your sails to ensure they are in good order. You check your wind indicators. You check your hull.

During the race you must pay attention to details. You must monitor the wind at all times, and trim the sails accordingly. You must pay attention to the line you are running to ensure it is the fastest way around the course, each degree of pointing you gain or lose on the most direct line to the mark means time. You must watch the waves to ensure they help carry your boat and not cause a header. You must keep a watchful eye on your competitors to ensure they do not gain a position to put you at a disadvantage. You must mind the tiller, for each movement of the tiller is akin to putting on the brake. You must keep you boat on its best plane, minimize the surface contact.

But as I learned recently, you must also pay attention to the non-verbal instructions of the race committee before the start of each race.

If the course is a standard triangular course, there are nine different races that can be run from that configuration. The sign on the side of the committee boat is there to inform you as to what course to run. You should check it between the time the class flag goes up and the start of the race. (oops I missed this instruction on the first race last of the Yankee Doodle)
The flags are also part of the non-verbal instructions of the committee boat, get to know the color of flag for your class and watch for that flag to be raised. This is your indication to start the race. Verbal cues and horns are optional. Regardless of the preliminary instructions at the skippers meeting, the race committee may change the instructions. These non-verbal cues are the way they communicate with us on the course.

Attention to detail is a key to doing well in a race.

Hope to see you at the Infinity Regatta.

Doug Roberts – Racing Chairman

June 10th Minutes

The June meeting was held on June 10th at POYC. Commodore Champion opened the meeting with a recognition of all past Commodores present. Barry Sanders, Carol and Frank Kersting, Ronnie Hendricks, Gary Reimer and Doug Roberts all were present.
Max Vinson gave a great presentation on making Shackle lanyards and provided all present with fids and enough line to create these useful items. Thank you Captain Max for your interesting presentation. These lanyards sell for $5 at West Marine.
As Bill Miller was not present, no report on the Pavilion rebuild was forthcoming. Gary Reimer would like those that are able to take a look at the stone columns at Covington Park in Bowling Green as an idea of whats possible. Debbie Champion asks that all forward their ideas to her for possible inclusion in the planning of this project.
Due to high water the dock continues to be tied to trees, if you tie to the dock please also set a stern anchor to help take pressure of of the dock. The lake is expected to reach summer pool around July 20th.
The heads have been repaired and are in working order per the hardmaster.
The purser reports that we are in sound fiscal shape.
Our next race is the Yankee Doodle on July 2nd and Herb Siewert is presiding, we will have the usual pig roast and the cost for dinner will be $10. The skippers meeting will start at 10am and the races at around 11am. Herb needs at least 2 volunteers to help on the committee boat. Herb plans to have a t least 3 races for this event.
The Club has made at least $300-400 dollars on the regattas this year. We have race t-shirts for sale for $15 each.
Vandals broke the concrete sink which we had donated to us last month. We may be able to salvage part of the counter top from this for use in an outdoor kitchen later.
The knot of the month this month will be the Turk’s head knot. The meeting was adjourned at about 6:30 pm.

Yankee Doodle Regatta & Pig Roast – July 2nd

Attention Sailors ! It’s time for the annual Yankee Doodle Regatta. The Honorable Herb Siewert is the Racing Chair for this event. The race will be held on Saturday July 2nd with the Skippers meeting at 10am, and the racing will commence at 11am. Trophies have been ordered for 3 classes: Dinghys, Cruisers and Sunfish. If enough Multihulls enter, we will order trophies for them after the race. The plan is to have 3 races and Herb will need to have 2 people on the Committee boat to help. Please contact Herb via email at h.siewert@insightbb.com or by phone to volunteer. Dinner will be a pig roast and will cost $10 per person, the sides will be included, as well as Beer and Pop. Please bring a desert to share if you wish … Come on out and enjoy a great day of racing at our club and some great food to eat later.