VSA - Fleet doubling in number of boats in the last 2 years
When Valley Sailing's harbor is frozen and Alton Lake is windswept Fleet 52 is enjoying vicarious racing at monthly meetings at various members' houses. The format includes programs such as tuning secrets, rules update, winter cruise accounts (usually with a book of photographs), starting tactics, etc. followed by refreshments.
Refreshments are not taken casually for we have a 10 year or so tradition of competitions, with fiercely fought-over traveling trophies. Our older competition is the hors d'oeurve. The newer one is the dessert contest which was founded because one of our long-time skippers tried to highjack the hors d'oeurve competition with a Keylime pie of the Coral Reef Yacht Club variety. It would have succeeded but it was disqualified by the protest committee. (It was not appealed to the district appeals committee as that would have required an additional 6 pies!) An incidental benefit of our winter indoor sailing season is the opportunity for spouses and partners who are not inclined to crewing to meet and socialize with other sailors and skippers.
Fleet 52's members comprise not only the active Comet owners and skippers but also loyal Comet alumni and alumnae who no longer own Comets. Our secretary/treasurer is an alumna and faithfully records minutes and reminds us of the momentous decisions from previous monthly meetings, as well as sending monthly meeting notices. She keeps our annual dues of $15 and other monies and pays our bills such as classified ads we put in our metropolitan newspaper promoting the sale and sail of Comets. Last year we rescued Comet 4011 from the Salvation Army and this year sold it to an enthusiastic new sailor, Corina Iukovici. The price was conditional on joining our sailing club and our fleet. Eric Waldschmidt sold two comets this year to new sailors on the condition that they join us. We usually ask more if the boat leaves our fleet. We promise sailing lessons to new Comet owners. This is often done by crewing for them until they master the basics of sailing. We are planning to buy another Fleet Comet to have on hand for prospects in 2001.
Fleet 52 has doubled in number of boats in the last two years. Various approaches have helped to effect this renewal. When visitors find their way to our club, we offer to take them for a sail and/or invite them to come and crew. Several of our steady crew have become Comet owners. Crewing at our Comet Territorial Regatta at Eagle Creek Sailing Assoc. in Indianapolis has infected several new owners. The members of ECSA are exceptionally friendly, hospitable and helpful and have been hosts to Fleets 27 & 52 Territorials for 19 years; this wonderful atmosphere cannot but impress crew. Also, the tuning advice offered by champions Harmon & Hess to less experienced skippers was and is most helpful and appreciated.
What is the main factor in this growth? Undoubtedly it is the persistent, positive participation by all of the Comet veterans - being proactive about sailing in regattas, attending home social gatherings, coaching and advising new skippers, championing the cause of sailboat racing and promoting other one-design classes as well. Five days ago a new skipper capsized and bent his mast in a great arc. Three days later with advice from several veterans it was straightened, and supplied with a new spreader by another veteran. Such is one of the great advantages of sailing in a one-design fleet.
One month after the above report from their Fleet Captain Phil Cotton, Valley Sailing Assoc. added yet another new sailor to their fleet. We welcome their newest member Scott Bradley. Scott bought Comet #3985 from Nick Houghton who hadn't sailed it for 2-3 years.