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A Brief Message from the Commodore
Pete Price - Torch Lake, MI

November 20,  2003
Hello to everyone from the Mid West,

I want to take this opportunity to thank Bob and Sandra Zak for all their service to the NCESA, their years of dedication and contributions to our fleet is very much appreciated. THANK YOU BOTH!!!

This is my first letter to all of you so I will start off with a short introduction. My name is Pete Price, your Commodore; I started sailing at Muskegon Yacht Club in the Butterfly fleet in 1964, my father Larry got into his first E Scow in 1968. I have been crewing or skippering ever since. I should be a lot better that I am after all those years. I currently sail out of Torch Lake. I have sailed other boats in those years but nothing like the E Scow. It’s the people that make sailing the E Scow so much fun. That’s what this is all about, Fun.

A synopsis of the Annual Meeting.

The NCESA had its Annual meeting in Chicago on November 8th 2003. It was a positive meeting with all the regions represented. There were 14 lakes represented, including special guest Toby Sutherland from Grand Lake CO. It was reported that all the fleets are generally strong, 17 new boats are on order at Melges and over 150 sets of new foil rudders have been installed.

It was discussed that Crystal Lake in beautiful northern Michigan is hosting the Nationals in September 2004. They are already for us and are very well prepared. They have housing info on a preliminary web site for you to check out.
http://www.clyc.net/e-nats.htm


Several important items that were discussed:

1. We need to better service our membership.
  • Dierk Polzin is currently improving the website. He is cleaning up and archiving data, creating regional organization pages, setting up a better used-boat system. Maybe even some video and audio clips in the near future. if you have ideas drop us a note.
  • We will be collecting NCESA dues more diligently and it will be required at a few more events in years to come.
  • If you have not joined yet there is still time to do so for the 2003 year, you will get the Reporter Magazine and a bumper sticker by the end of January.  A current NCESA membership list sorted by fleet is HERE in adobe pdf format.
2. Long Batten Experiment.
  • It is proposed that the longer battens add to the life of a mainsail.
  • We decided to test ten boats this year, the chosen participant will be required and must make an effort to attend regattas and provide a report.
  • If the experiment proves successful, we plan on submitting a vote in the early fall for full implementation for the 2005 sailing season.
  • Look for the formal batten experiment application on your web site this weekend. (Application period was open from Nov 23 - Dec 1 - 26 received)     More Photos
Long Batten Photo

3. Asymmetrical Spinnaker Experiment.
  • We had quite a discussion and saw a new video of the final sail plan in a variety of conditions. The video is going to be available soon in some form, CD or Video to registered fleet captains.
  • There was much development done on the final design and the board felt that the proposal is currently stable enough for a full NCESA sanctioned experiment under normal racing conditions. We want everyone to get a chance to sail and race it and see it in action.
  • Like the Batten experiment, we will test ten boats for a two-year test. The participants will be required and must make an effort to attend regattas and provide a written report. The participants will have an option to go back to the symmetrical design in the second year. Here are some more Photos

  • Asymmetrical Experiment Information and Form
Asymmeterical Heavy
4. An official ballot will be sent out with the NCESA Dues Notice in January to decertify Johnson Boat Works as required by our by-laws. The board voted in favor and now the NCESA Membership must vote. We may have other advisory ballots at the same time, one idea is to move future National Regattas to the last weekend in June or maybe August. Please take the time to voice your opinion and vote.

5. We are asking for your help in developing a better plan for the health and growth of the E-Scow organization. Our members have great events planned all over the US in Florida, South Carolina, and Colorado. We encourage you to travel to check these Regattas out. Some of my fondest Regatta memories are from the Columbia, South Carolina Easter Regatta.

I want to thank Dierk Polzin our executive secretary for all his reporting and input. I also want to thank all the committees that contributed to the success and swift completion of the Annual meeting.

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you on the slopes or on the ice.


Pete Price
peteprice@paragonpattern.com
616-846-6419


NCESA Directors and Officer List for 2003-04
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