Monthly: August 2014

From Jackie Monies:

Sail Oklahoma 2014, a boating festival unlike any other in America is returning for a fifth year.

Held annually on Lake Eufaula, OK, over Columbus Day weekend, five days covering October 8 through October 13 this year, Sail Oklahoma began as an idea to hold an informal event that incorporated lots of boating, lots of educational programs, as many boats as could be gathered and a diverse group of builders and boaters. It has attained that goal and more.

Best described as a messabout on steroids, international designers come together to teach and play, veteran builders and sailors put in their oars and boats, combined with newcomers, multi-generational families and a host of canine sailors. Food and music play an important part. This year’s concerts on Saturday night are headlined by Kelly McGuire, a national writer of boat and sailing songs.

John Welsford of New Zealand, Michael Storer of Australia, and Richard Woods of Canada, headline a crew of top designers. Dave Gentry, Jim Michalak and Graham Byrnes represent American designers. All will present programs and seminars, building demonstrations, and sail and mix with attendees all weekend.

Sean Mulligan of Sail Havasu and Lezlie Henson of Key West, FL will talk about building and sailing the Matt Layden designed Paradox. Michael Storer and Shawn Payment will entertain with building and paddling canoes down the Loire River. Bob and Virgene Trygg will discuss building a Tahitian Ketch and then sailing to the Keys—all to inspire and challenge people to live their dreams.

Important this year is emphasis on building and sailing boats that can be righted, recovered and reentered safely. Richard Woods, John Welsford, Graham Byrnes and others will all contribute to this subject and boats will be capsized and safety addressed.

While serious in teaching and learning, mostly Sail Oklahoma is about having fun in small boats. All types of boats, sizes, propulsion, materials are welcome—from canoes and kayaks to multi-hulls and sailboats. Races are fun-filled to inspire sailors to learn while laughing, chasing other boats and maneuvering in close quarters. You just have to see it to understand; boating is fun.

Contact Mike and Jackie Monies at m_monies@yahoo.com for more information. For despite all this, the event is privately sponsored in their back yard and neighborhood beach launch. No fees, no requirements more than that you like boats and want to learn what makes them an adventure and fun.

MAGNOLIA BEACH, TX—There are a number of ways one can win the annual SCA Helmsman of the Year award. Essentially all of them involve establishing oneself as a hero of the small-boat community, either through acts of extraordinary audacity at the actual helm of a small boat, or selfless acts of thoughtfulness and generosity at a virtual helm somewhere in the small-boat world.

This year we honor a man who’s done as much as anyone to support small-boat sailing and building—both through his business and in tireless personal efforts—Chuck Leinweber.

Using his popular online blog and chandlery, Duckworks, as a platform, Chuck has sponsored or otherwise supported numerous small-boat events. In 2007 he personally founded the Texas 200, a popular group sailing event that continues to generate excitement and bring new people into sailing, and this year he’s helping launch the first ever Ply-Wooden Boat Festival in Port Aransas, Texas. But Chuck’s contributions are often less heralded and more personal, as with the many times we’ve seen him quietly setup and even contribute to impromptu online fund-raising efforts for sailors in distress.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the small-boat and sailing world, congratulations and the 2014 SCA Helmsman Award go to Chuck Leinweber—a genuine “nice guy” and a true friend and benefactor to our community. •SCA•

Chuck Leinweber at the helm.