Club Update, Commodore Steve Scherschel

The Telltale—January 2009Happy New Year to All!Club Update, Commodore Steve ScherschelI hope you all had a good holiday season and, likeme, are looking forward to the next sailing seasonthat still seems far, far away. If you aren’t able towork in a sailing holiday during the winter seasonand want to immerse yourself in things nautical fora short time, you might look into Strictly Sail, Chicago.It runs from January 29 through February 1on Navy Pier in Chicago. I’ve always enjoyed theopportunity to inspect a great variety of new boats,look for that perfect “boat show special” and justget a change of pace. If you still need dock materialsto properly secure your boat next summer,don’t forget to pick them up.The City of Muncie has set their fees for the 2009year. The increases are significant but not as bad aswe feared they might be. The board is tighteningdown on budgets so we won’t need to increase theclub fees. Please remember that the club has no controlover the city fees and that they go to the city.Also, we are still a real bargain compared to other optionsfor sailing in the area and have a great facilityand reservoir. One of the major reasons we are ableto maintain such reasonable club fees is the majorcontributions of effort put forth by some of the members.Keep that in mind and let us know how you’dlike to contribute. It’s the membership that makes theclub, not just the board.A Mid-Winter Getaway!Strictly Sail, Jan 29 - Feb 1, Navy Pier, Chicago ILThe Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show is almost here!If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, they can be purchasedat a 15% discount by going to:http://www.boatus.com/tickets/If attending Strictly Sail in Chicago, check the area ofthe indoor sailboat pond for other members on thehours of 3:00 and 4:00 pm. Buying tickets online willsave you time on arrival. Lines can be long. Their webwill take you to the Strictly Sail with a code word to getan extra 15% discount for your tickets. The rates onllineat The Inn of Chicago are even lower now theneariler if you wish to stay downtown. $79.00 They havea 24 hour cancelation policy. Park in the garage nearthe hotel and take the Free Navy Pier Trolley to theshow. The trolley runs from the Pier West on Grand toMichigan Ave then East on Illinois back to Pier every 20-30 minutes. Your MSC membership card will get youinto the Chicago Yacht Club if you are interested inhaving dinner there. Parking at the Pier is quite expensivebut convienent.If you visit the website ( http://www.strictlysail.com ),you will find more information that can possibly be coveredhere. There are over 200 exhibitors, over 100 types ofboats, dozens of amazing seminars, and many specialevents. A number of MSC members plan to head to thisevent. All members are welcome to join us for this Chicagogetaway. If you are interested in attending, Frank & ByvondaThomas have gathered far more information than wecan cover in this issue of the Telltale.Frank and Byvonda have information on hotels, trolleymaps, parking maps, and parking fees. I believe that ablock of rooms is reserved for MSC members at the Inn ofChicago at a rate of $89/night plus tax. If you are interestedin attending, please contact Frank & Byvonda at:Fbauerthomas@aol.comStrictly Sail Chicago Boat Show Admission:Weekday Adult Ticket $12.00Weekend Adult Ticket $15.00Any Two Days $24.00Kids 15 and under FREE

TelltalePage 2 January 2009Coming Events• 14th Annual Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show, January 29-Feb 1, 2009, Navy Pier,Chicago, IL, Admission: Weekday Adult Ticket $12.00**; Weekend Adult Ticket$15.00**; Any Two Days $24.00**; Kids 15 and under FREE(Members of Boat U.S. get a 15% discount)• Indianapolis Boat, Sport, & Travel Show, Feb. 20—Mar 1, 2009, State FairGrounds, Indianapolis, IN• MSC has winter "socials" on the second Tuesday of the month at the Fickle Peachdowntown Muncie. They have beer/wine but no food. The next “social” will be onTuesday, February 10.• Louisville Boat, RV, & Sport show January 24—February 1, 2009• Detroit Boat Show February 14-22, 2009"Why jump in the water beforethe ship turns over.”• Invasion of The Potter Yachters! May 15, 16, & 17 (tentatively)• Class Warfare! July 5, 2009, Prairie Creek ReservoirAnnouncements• Muncie Sailing Club T-Shirts are available for both 2008 ($10) and 2007 ($5). If you are interested, please contactBill Morgan ( morgansins@sbcglobal.net ). License plate covers are also available for $1. Contact Laura Heupel( l.heupel@comcast.net ).• If anyone has a working electric dryer, they’d like to donate to MSC, it would be appreciated.Telltale Update - Tales Wanted; Tall and ShortIf you have a chance, sendin a note telling MSC membersabout the first timeyou sailed.• What was the firstboat?• When was it?• Where was it?• Who were you with?• Did it go well?• Any mishaps?As a teller of the tale, youhave the right, even theduty, to embellish the taleas you see fit. Send it to:telltale@netdirect.netThe Telltale needs input.• If you have a boat,trailer, or motor for saleor want to buy one,please email the informationand I’ll pop it inthe newsletter.• If you have a hint or tipfor fellow sailors,please send it in.• If you have an adventureor misadventure,please send it in.If you buy a new boat or gosailing someplace new,fellow club members wouldbe interested.Please send newsletter information and contributions to:telltale@netdirect.net

TelltalePage 3 January 2009January 2009 Board Meeting - CanceledThe board did not meet in January.

TelltalePage 4 January 2009Prairie Creek Update (The following article appeared in The Muncie Star Press)2009 Prairie Creek fees pushing higherThe parks board increases user fees at the reservoir in aneffort to make it self-sustaining.By NICK WERNER, January 8, 2009Prairie Creek Reservoir users will pick up more of the tab in2009 in the form of increased fees as Muncie officials look tomake the park more financially self-sustaining. The most significantincreases involve daily fishing permits, which jumpedfrom $2 to $5, and the boat ramp launch fees, which doubledto $10 a day or $100 annually. A few boaters and fishermanhave complained already, but Muncie Parks Department superintendentDoug Zook said the city had no choice but toraise fees. "With the city of Muncie being in the financialstraits we are in, we had to do what we could to make PrairieCreek a self-sustaining operation, instead of a liability againstthe tax base," Zook said.The parks board approved the increases in December and theybecame effective Jan. 1. Prairie Creek Reservoir is owned bythe Indiana-American Water Co. and leased to the city at anominal fee for use as a park. It is used for camping, sailing,picnicking, swimming, fishing, off-road vehicle riding andother activities. The fee hikes would generate an additional$100,000 to $120,000 for the reservoir if business at the reservoirthis year were to remain near levels from the previous fewyears, Zook said. "That would make Prairie Creek selfsustaining,"he said.While fee hikes might benefit reservoir finances, Steve Goad,owner of Lighthouse Bait and Tackle, said he worried they couldscare customers away from his business. Specifically, Goad isconcerned about the boat launch and fishing permit fees. "Onthe other hand, I understand where they are coming from," Goadsaid about the parks board. "They have to pay for stuff outthere."In light of the hikes, anglers might favor state reservoirs, such asthe nearby Summit Lake in Henry County, where $20 gets amotorized boat on the water for a year, or public access sites,where launching a boat is free. But Goad pointed out that launchfees at private lakes such as Geist and Morse, both near Indianapolis,are much higher than even the increased Prairie Creekrates. Chanette Harris, who owns Dry Dock Marina at the reservoirand serves with Goad on a Prairie Creek advisory board,said the increases won't mean much until the city does a betterjob of enforcing and collecting fees.SPECIFIC FEES:(What's it gonna cost to use Prairie Creek Lake?)Beach Admission:Prairie Creek 2008: Prairie Creek 2009:Under 3: Free Under 3: FreeChild (3-15): $2 Child (3-15): $2.50Adult: $3 Adult: $5.Dock FeesPrairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009:City resident: $275. City resident: $375County resident: $325. County resident: $425Out-of-county: $350. Out-of-county: $475Flotation Pier: $325. Flotation Pier: $425Mooring pier: $200. Mooring pier: $250Boat Launch fees:Prairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009Daily: $5. Daily: $10.Annual: $50. Annual: $100.Fishing permit:Prairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009Daily: $2. Daily: $5.Annual: $15. Annual: $25.Campground:Prairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009Daily RV: $15. Daily RV: $20.Daily tent: $10. Daily tent: $10.Annual: $800 Annual: $900.A Glance Around The State:Eagle Creek:Sailing Club Family Membership $425Dry Dock/Bouys $550Lake Monroe:Dry Dock $312 (for boats under 20')Slip 12'x26' $1,395Brookville:Quaker Marina Docks & Bouys $1,590Geist:24' Slip $1,750Dry Dock $1,000

TelltalePage 5 January 20091982 Catalina 22This popular open cockpit design with endboom sheeting features swing keel, roller furling150 Genoa and main manufactured byU.S. Sail.The boat is white with dark blue striping withpop top, sleeps four and includes winterized 4HP Yamaha 2cycl engine, pull out galley, flotationcushions, swim ladder, working lightsand switches, porta-potty, blue covers formain sail, Genoa, engine and tiller cover, anchorwith 75ft of line, whisker pole, stand-offFor Salepole, extra lines and hardware, cleaning supplies,four life jackets, fit for two batteries.Boat has fresh bottom paint, waxed andbuffed hull and topside, and refinished teak.Trailer has new tires, wheel bearings wererepacked this fall. Start your spring ready tosail, priced at $4,500.Contact:Richard DouglassPhone 765-744-1320.Email:munciedst@aol.com.Weather ProverbsRed sky in the morning is the sailors warning.Red sky in the night is a sailors delight.Orange or yellow can hurt a fellow.The evening red and morning grayAre sure signs of a fine day,But the evening gray and the morning red,Makes the sailor shake his head.When a halo rings the moon or sunRains approaching on the run.When grass is dry at morning lightLook for rain before the night.The sudden storm lasts not three hoursThe sharper the blast, the sooner 'tis past.The higher the clouds the better the weather.When the sun shines while raining,it will rain the same time again tomorrow.Rainbow to windward, foul fall the dayRainbow to leeward, rain runs away.If clouds are gathering thick and fast,Keep sharp look out for sail and mast,But if they slowly onward crawl,Shoot your lines, nets and trawl.When rain comes before the wind, halyards, sheets and bracesmind,But when wind comes before rain, soon you may make sailagain.No weather's ill if the wind be still.When sea-gulls fly to land, a storm is at hand.