LASC - Lake Arthur Sailing Club - Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, Butler PA (Western PA)

Sailing Quote of the Day
Here's a nice little goofball <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/news/local/pinellas/south/story/Missing-boater-located-safe/Y6upABFES02IZT8RZoiFzQ.cspx">sailing story</a> to remind us of an important safety principle. A sailor recently sailed out of his Saint Petersburg marina, telling a friend he'd check in with him daily. When the friend didn't hear from him after a couple days, he alerted the Coast Guard, which began a search with a helicopter and two search vessels. Seeing the news story about the search for the missing sailor, a stranger recognized the sailor and his boat tied up at a local restaurant. The reporter drily concludes his story, "The Coast Guard reminds boaters that it is important to not only have a float plan but to also follow the plan." If not, your bill for the day may include a lot more than lunch, if you're charged for the expense of man hours and helicopter fuel! <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/07/sailing-quote-of-the-day.htm">Sailing Quote of the Day</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 15:54:31.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/07/sailing-quote-of-the-day.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/07/sailing-quote-of-the-day.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/07/sailing-quote-of-the-day.htm&zItl=Sailing Quote of the Day">Email this</a>

America's Cup Battle of High Tech and Big Bucks
Unless there's a last-minute legal twist or bad weather, the 33rd <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/od/advancedsailingcruising/a/americascupoverview.htm">America's Cup race</a> is slated to start in only four days on February 8. For many, the Cup races have in the past been the pinnacle of international sail racing, eagerly followed and discussed. But for many others, the legal wrangling of the last three years combined with the exorbitant expenditures on the boats, teams, and all possible technological advances have left a sour taste. At times the media coverage does make this feel less like a sailing event than the ego-sparring of two of the world's richest men, BMW Oracle's <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/od/advancedsailingcruising/a/LarryEllison.htm">Larry Ellison</a> and Alinghi's Ernesto Bertarelli. <img src = "http://z.about.com/d/sailing/1/0/c/2/-/-/alinghihydroplanesmall.jpg" hspace="5" align="right" width="170" height="113"> Still, I confess I'm looking forward to watching the event <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/28/americas-cup-to-be-televised-live-on-internet.htm">via the Internet</a> despite all that. The racing itself should be very, very fast and exciting. And the sideshow footage and commentaries should be, at the very least, fascinating. Take, for example, the two little hydroplanes Alinghi is using to buzz around the race course measuring windspeed at various altitudes and water locations off Valencia. With a mast over 17 stories tall, the trimmers need to know how the windspeed differs at different points along the sail. Think of all that technology next time you're tweaking your mainsail sail in a club race! Photo courtesy Alinghi <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/04/americas-cup-battle-of-high-tech-and-big-bucks.htm">America's Cup Battle of High Tech and Big Bucks</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 09:06:24.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/04/americas-cup-battle-of-high-tech-and-big-bucks.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/04/americas-cup-battle-of-high-tech-and-big-bucks.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/02/04/americas-cup-battle-of-high-tech-and-big-bucks.htm&zItl=America's Cup Battle of High Tech and Big Bucks">Email this</a>

Americas Cup Update: Court Says Race!
Moments ago, Alinghi issued a press release saying they had just received a call from Justice Kornreich of the New York Supreme Court, announcing that the court will not hear the legal complaint from BMW Oracle about the construction of Alinghi's sails prior to the scheduled race starting date, February 8. This means the race is on! (And let's not even think about the possibility that Alinghi could win on the water but lose in court thereafter—let's hope for a clean race that decides the winner on the water instead of behind the bench!) <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/29/americas-cup-update-court-says-race.htm">Americas Cup Update: Court Says Race!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 14:15:35.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/29/americas-cup-update-court-says-race.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/29/americas-cup-update-court-says-race.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/29/americas-cup-update-court-says-race.htm&zItl=Americas Cup Update: Court Says Race!">Email this</a>

America's Cup to Be Televised Live on Internet
<img src = "http://z.about.com/d/sailing/1/0/b/2/-/-/Oracle1_28small.jpg" hspace="5" align="left" width="300" height="200"> Strong winter winds have kept the two <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/od/advancedsailingcruising/a/americascupoverview.htm">America's Cup</a> boats in port for three days this week, but the first race remains scheduled for February 8. The last court challenge—BMW Oracle contending the Alinghi's sail was not constructed in its home country as specified by the rules—has yet to be settled, but both teams are preparing for the race to start on schedule. We'll just have to wait and see what the New York court says and how that ruling affects the competition. Meanwhile, officials in Valencia continue to get things organized. The best news this week is the promise that the races will be broadcast live and free on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.americascup.com">www.americascup.com</a>. As of today no American television network has promised to show this international event, so the internet coverage is a boon for those of us in the U.S. eager to see those great multihulls flying at each other in a very fast race. Stay tuned! Photo courtesy BMW Oracle <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/28/americas-cup-to-be-televised-live-on-internet.htm">America's Cup to Be Televised Live on Internet</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 09:27:03.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/28/americas-cup-to-be-televised-live-on-internet.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/28/americas-cup-to-be-televised-live-on-internet.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/28/americas-cup-to-be-televised-live-on-internet.htm&zItl=America's Cup to Be Televised Live on Internet">Email this</a>

Winch Wheel Invention the Winch Handle Solution?
<img src = "http://z.about.com/d/sailing/1/0/Z/2/-/-/winchwheelsmall.jpg" hspace="5" align="right" width="300" height="242"> Some months ago I wrote about my search for the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2009/09/28/the-search-for-the-perfect-winch-handle.htm">perfect winch handle</a> to solve the problem of the strength needed to winch in an oversized genoa under load. At the time I was looking for a ratcheting winch handle, which unfortunately is no longer manufactured and sold, but about which I'd heard good things. Now I'm thinking that a clever invention called the Wilson Winch Wheel may be the perfect solution. <a href =http://sailing.about.com/b/a/000217.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/25/winch-wheel-invention-the-winch-handle-solution.htm">Winch Wheel Invention the Winch Handle Solution?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 10:53:17.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/25/winch-wheel-invention-the-winch-handle-solution.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/25/winch-wheel-invention-the-winch-handle-solution.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/25/winch-wheel-invention-the-winch-handle-solution.htm&zItl=Winch Wheel Invention the Winch Handle Solution?">Email this</a>

Sailing Is Rocket Science!
<img src = "http://z.about.com/d/sailing/1/0/S/2/-/-/EinsteinGettySmall.jpg" hspace="5" align="right" width="170" height="169"> The next time someone doesn't fully appreciate your sailing compendium of knowledge and skills, especially if they try to tell you it's not rocket science, you might explain how high level sailing actually is. Maybe it's even more difficult than rocket science. Case in point: Einstein capsized his sailboat and had to be rescued. The genius who understood physics better than anyone else alive may not have understood everything he needed to know to keep his sailboat upright. So there! I learned this tidbit recently after happening upon the obituary of a man named <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/510606.html?nav=5008">Don Duso</a>. In the 1940s Duso helped rescue Einstein after he capsized his sailboat on Saranac Lake in upstate New York. I hadn't even known Einstein sailed. But it only stands to reason that the man who discovered relativity by reveling in "thought experiments" would enjoy sailing--and that he might push a small sailboat to its limit while contemplating the complex interactions of energy and mass relative to the speed of wind. E=mw2? It's cool to think about this as your boat heels to the wind and the bow wave sings along your hull and you slip along the space-time continuum. Sailing is as close to the alternative universes of contemporary physics as many of us will ever experience. And imagine having a beer with Ol' Al back in the clubhouse after a fine day on the water and shooting the breeze about what it all means. Heavens! Photo Courtesy Getty Images <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/18/sailing-is-rocket-science.htm">Sailing Is Rocket Science!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Monday, January 18th, 2010 at 17:36:07.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/18/sailing-is-rocket-science.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/18/sailing-is-rocket-science.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/18/sailing-is-rocket-science.htm&zItl=Sailing Is Rocket Science!">Email this</a>

Americas Cup Even More Embarrassing
The <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/od/advancedsailingcruising/a/americascupoverview.htm">America's Cup</a> is back in court again as yesterday the American BMW Oracle team filed papers challenging Alinghi's sails as American-made. The Swiss Alinghi team has argued that that the Americans are misinterpreting both the rules and the reality of the sails' construction. Yesterday, the teams had been in talks in Singapore in an attempt to resolve the issues so that racing could begin as scheduled on February 8, but now things look dicey. Brad Butterworth, Alinghi skipper, issued a statement accusing the American team of "seeking to win the Cup without ever racing for it." It's messy, it's legally complicated, but most of all I find it really embarrassing for America's international image and for sailing in general. Remember that famous line: "Why can't we all just get along?" Let's kill the lawyer jokes and race! If you haven't already, please express your opinion about this legal wrangling in this <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2009/12/30/continuing-dispute-in-the-americas-cup-race.htm">poll</a>. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/14/americas-cup-even-more-embarrassing.htm">Americas Cup Even More Embarrassing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Thursday, January 14th, 2010 at 08:57:50.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/14/americas-cup-even-more-embarrassing.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/14/americas-cup-even-more-embarrassing.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/14/americas-cup-even-more-embarrassing.htm&zItl=Americas Cup Even More Embarrassing">Email this</a>

Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show
<img src = "http://z.about.com/d/sailing/1/0/R/2/-/-/ChicagoStrictlySail.jpg" hspace="5" align="left" width="300" height="225"> The 15th annual Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show opens January 28 for four days at the Navy Pier. Put it on your calendar now if you can be in the area, but remember that you need to register in advance for some of the seminars being offered. Chances are, if you're a serious sailor, you'll want to spend two or more days at the show. Not only is this the largest indoor sail show in the country, but there are so many activities and seminars offered that you'll want to keep the winter doldrums at bay for at least a couple days there. <a href =http://sailing.about.com/b/a/000205.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/11/strictly-sail-chicago-boat-show.htm">Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 11:47:35.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/11/strictly-sail-chicago-boat-show.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/11/strictly-sail-chicago-boat-show.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/11/strictly-sail-chicago-boat-show.htm&zItl=Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show">Email this</a>

Good Online Film about Sailing Across Oceans
For those of us sailors unfortunate enough to be in northern climates this time of year and unable to sail much ourselves, many of us take our vicarious pleasures from sailing books and movies. It's a particular thrill to find a really good online video, not like your amateur video on YouTube, and this is the case with a film called Blue Water available <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.bluewaterfilm.org/">here</a> online. This is a professionally made film that tells the stories of several boats sailing across oceans, thoroughly worth watching on a winter's evening. This free online presentation is sponsored by the Ellen MacArthur Trust, which helps young people recover from life-threatening illnesses by taking them sailing. Enjoy!<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/05/good-online-film-about-sailing-across-oceans.htm">Good Online Film about Sailing Across Oceans</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 18:21:47.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/05/good-online-film-about-sailing-across-oceans.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/05/good-online-film-about-sailing-across-oceans.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/01/05/good-online-film-about-sailing-across-oceans.htm&zItl=Good Online Film about Sailing Across Oceans">Email this</a>

Continuing Dispute in the Americas Cup Race
<img src = "http://z.about.com/d/sailing/1/0/L/2/-/-/AlinghiJDHsmall.jpg" hspace="5" align="right" width="170" height="237"> I don't know about you, but I've really had it up to here with all the legal wrangling regarding the upcoming<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/od/advancedsailingcruising/a/americascupoverview.htm"> America's Cup race</a>. It's still scheduled to start in February, but that's seeming more and more doubtful, especially if the BMW Oracle Team continues to find more things to protest. Frankly, it's looking more like whining than a legitimate protest to me. The latest contention is whether Alinghi's sail, constructed in part by North Sails in the U.S., should be disqualified because it wasn't made entirely in Switzerland along with the rest of the Alinghi boat. The original 19th century rules say the boats must be built in each team's country. Alinghi argues back that the rules don't specify that each and every component of the boat must be entirely manufactured at home, a virtually impossible criterion in this age of highly specialized global technologies. To me, it looks like one of those letter-of-the-law versus spirit-of-the-law debates. Which unfortunately usually means more lawyers, court time. We know <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/od/advancedsailingcruising/a/LarryEllison.htm">Larry Ellison</a> hates to lose, but maybe he and BMW Oracle should ease up and start planning for a race instead of shifting more funds into legal maneuvers. I'm all for the American team, but frankly, guys, this is looking increasingly like an international embarrassment. Let the race happen! Photo courtesy Alinghi Please take the poll below: <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/sailing/2199582837/poll.js?linkback="></script> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2009/12/30/continuing-dispute-in-the-americas-cup-race.htm">Continuing Dispute in the Americas Cup Race</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/">About.com Sailing</a> on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 13:34:13.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2009/12/30/continuing-dispute-in-the-americas-cup-race.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sailing.about.com/b/2009/12/30/continuing-dispute-in-the-americas-cup-race.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://sailing.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://sailing.about.com/b/2009/12/30/continuing-dispute-in-the-americas-cup-race.htm&zItl=Continuing Dispute in the Americas Cup Race">Email this</a>