Ensign News – June 2006

Also appears in Motor and Mast

By Bob Anschuetz

The social chairman returns!

In spite of sailing PHRF on “Chip Ship”, Chip Minshall continued as our social chairman. He now returns to the water in his Ensign “Dip N Chip.” He successfully campaigned “Chip Ship” but was attracted back to the Ensign Fleet by the siren song of “National Championship Regatta.” Bob Diannetti has returned to the cruising fleet, and he sold his Ensign to Chip. Bob has made himself available as crew for Ensign duty, so we are glad to keep him on the water with us.

Terry Hynds, long-term Ensign crew on MBSS with Nick Lubar, is now an Edgewater Member. Down at the end of D Dock, he has a handsome O’Day cruising vessel that he says he will stock with beer and be an on-the-water resource for thirsty Ensign sailors. It is good to know that someone will be out there with emergency rations!

Wes Kroeze and Dianne Kube have put in many hours of labor redoing the bottom on “Onrust.” We acknowledge that they were cleaning out areas even using a toothbrush before refairing and reapplying bottom paint. All of this work will not be seen when the boat is in the water but the result will certainly be evident on the race course.

Kent Johnston has his boat in the water much earlier than usual. In the past it has been splash the boat and race the next day. He is expecting the National Regatta to be his swan song with Ensign racing.

Bob Frantz has a co-owner of “LimitUp.” Sherry Desmond will be helming on both Tuesday night and on Sunday mornings. Bob reports that his crew is ready to go.

Bob Edwards reports that Adam Lindsay is completing work on “Wotthehell” and that they will be ready for the first race. Adam has hopes of getting “Dark Side of the Moon” back on the race course prior to the National Regatta in August, although he may not make the first month of racing.

Si Ostrach spent the winter as a visiting professor at the University of Florida. We have no report about his sailing activities there, but “Wind Lab III”, is in the water and ready to go.

Nick Lubar seems to be spending more time in the Far East than in Cleveland, but “MBSS” is already a competitive boat with a wily skipper and skillful crew. We will have to see what tricks he has picked up the Far East.

Bill Hale will have “Hearty” in the water but he is not planning to race as a skipper this year.