Hello Paupack Sailing Club,
Another week of great sailing weather has been had for those of us fortunate enough to have
made it out to the lake or slipped away for those of us who’ve not. It looks like just about everyone’s boats are now in the water and have been rigged and ready to go. We’ve also managed to keep a prior club members boat in the club. I am happy to report that the Oday 26 “Incentive” has been given a new home by one of our new members Karl! Incentive had been raced in years past and I’m personally excited to see it stay in the club and potentially join the other three Oday 26’s in the race fleet in the years to come. Please let us know if you need any help Karl!
Race two was held on Sunday June 3 rd and was an exciting event. Winds averaged 7 knots out of
the south. Course 4 was chosen given the wind conditions with port rounding, and skippers choice around Epply Island. The race fleet got started without delay with the preference for the pin. The fleet sailed for the start on port with a last-minute tack for starboard by Enduring Freedom. Having right-of- way, she split the fleet got to windward over the line and tacked again for the first mark. It was Fiddlers Green who would take the lead holding off the rest of the fleet, even managing to stay ahead of the S2 7.9 Odyssey across the finish line! It looked like both fleets split around Epply without their being a clear preference or advantage around the Island. The One Design boats would follow the race fleet and quickly pass most of us with Keith’s J24 Anthem sailing across the finish line first! Fiddler’s Green would follow Anthem across the line with Odyssey close behind. After handicap adjustments were made there was just 17 seconds separating Anthem from Fiddlers Green! Superb sailing, and congratulations to Kristen, Alicia, and Tommy for taking first overall! Stef’s S2 Odyssey crossed the line third as well as holding on to that position overall. The Race fleet saw Fiddler’s Green take first, followed by Enduring Freedom, and Ecstasy. While Anthem took first in the One Design fleet, with Odyssey in second and Vanquish in third. Overall standings at this point show Anthem in First Place, Enduring Freedom in Second, and African Queen in Third. A hearty round of applause for our Race Committee for choosing a great course to suit the conditions and running the race so professionally and accurately. The next race is Race number 3 which is scheduled for Sunday June 24 th . Please check to see whether you are scheduled for Race Committee remembering that the race prior to that event you are expected to assist with Picnic duty.
This week we take a break from racing in recognition of Father’s Day. It is an opportunity to tell dad how much you appreciate him. New dads, old dads, granddads, dads-in-law, stepdads, serious dads, sailing dads…There must be a million fatherly types out there, and without a doubt, there are at least that many reasons to honor them on Father’s Day. It is also a day to cherish the memories of the Fathers and Grand Fathers who are no longer with us. We celebrate the many fond memories, the lessons we’ve learned from them, and the people we have become because of them. Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love, reinforced the importance of giving back and taught me how to be a better person. A father is neither an Anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding beacon of light whose love shows us the way!
The Paupack Sailing Club has sadly lost another of its racing members. This week we come together to celebrate the life of Fred “Fox” Stoddard who passed on May 31, 2018 at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge NJ surrounded by his loving family. Fox believed deeply in the value of education and self- sufficiency. He was a problem solver and life-long learner, using his keen mind and skilled hands to improve the world around him. He was generous in his appreciation of others and in his service to the community. Fox was a man who lived his principles and served as a model to his family, his business associates, and his friends. Fox was also very active in community volunteer work. He enjoyed spending summers at their home on Lake Wallenpaupack, PA where they entertained family and friends for over 25 years and celebrated many family reunions, birthdays, and anniversaries. His grandchildren called him “GrandFox” and enjoyed fishing, swimming, and sailing at the lake house. Fox was also a fellow member of the Paupack Sailing Club and enjoyed competitive sailboat racing. His life experiences – army service, university degrees, a diverse professional career, extensive travel and education, and community volunteering - all provided an enriched and expanded worldview far beyond the “magnolia curtain” of the Mississippi delta where he grew up. Fox will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but we will cherish the many happy memories we made together on the lake.