What a strange Winter – I don’t know what it’s been like in the other areas of the NCESA but I could have sailed either E-Scows or ice-boats on my home Lake Christmas morning and the Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs before they started. (Maybe I too should claim that I only sail when I want to sail to explain my declining finishes.) Meanwhile, half of White Bear Lake was open water instead of the covered with 2 feet thick ice. I hope the remainder of Winter includes normal cold temperatures and snowfall – we need to give the ice-fishermen their time and the snow is needed to add to the lake levels as it usually does.

But I’m guessing you would rather read about more important NCESA items including the status of the Reporter, the important exploits of some of our members, and the current situation concerning foil shaped rudders.

Two important items were just or soon will be mailed to your homes. The first is a ballot that requests approval of a Scantling change. This ballot was mailed to every regular member’s home today (1/16/02). Please return the ballot to Sandra ASAP so that we can update the 2002 Yearbook (if the change is approved) before it goes to press this Spring.

The second important item to be mailed very soon is the Reporter. All NCESA members (Associate and Regular) will receive copies of the Reporter in the mail. Complete coverage of the National Regatta on Torch Lake, many other regattas, and other articles of great value are included. The Reporter will also include the 2002 membership form – please fill it out and return to Sandra as soon as possible.

Some of our members attended and performed very well at the Championship of Champions Regatta in San Diego last week. Andrew Keane (White Bear Lake and ILYA X-Boat Champion) and Gordy Bowers were just ahead of Bob Biwer and Augie Barkow in the final standings. I’m sure that shiftier winds and sailing a boat that uses a third sail downwind would have put both teams much higher in the fleet. But congratulations to all! (Please excuse me if others important to the NCESA participated but I did recognize their names.)

The deadline to apply to use foil shaped rudders during the 2002 sailing season is rapidly approaching. The Rules Committee will convene on March 1st to select the 10 best applicants. Please remember that the 10 chosen will be expected to modify their boats, at the boat owner’s expense, as soon as possible to participate in local schedules and regatta schedules. The expense could be high as approximately $800 for older boats that need a tube job and the new rudders. Email myself zak@E-Scow.org or Buzz Reynolds Buzz@E-Scow.org to apply.

I have noted that our web-site Bulletin Board includes mostly messages about boats for sale and implementation of foil shaped rudders. The foil shaped rudders messages generally suggested that the change should not be delayed for another year. I encourage the 50% of you on the other side of the issue to add your thoughts to the Bulletin Board.

Regards, Bob Zak