September 2025
Save the Date: Junior Banquet and IBYC Awards Banquet November 15
The Junior Banquet will be held alongside the IBYC Awards Banquet on November 15. Several Junior Sailing awards will be presented that evening, culminating with the prestigious IBYC Junior Sailor of the Year Award. This promises to be a great event for sailors and families—please plan to attend.
Eric Bussell from Clinton Lake Sailing Association will give a presentation at the banquet about how they are reviving sailing enthusiasm and membership at CLSA. This will be an inspiring tale of success that will provide ideas for growth at IBYC. We hope to see all sailors at the banquet.
Winding the Season Down
The 2025 program is winding down, and attention has shifted to inventories, storage, ongoing maintenance, and improvements for the future. All boats are now secured on the racks, with some undergoing repairs before colder weather sets in. The Laser fleet is receiving priority attention.
Laser Fleet Updates
This summer highlighted that every Laser in our fleet is rigged slightly differently, especially in outhaul systems and tillers. To solve this, we are working toward a standardized outhaul system for all boats. This consistency will streamline rigging and maximize sailors’ time on the water.
In the early 2000s, Laser offered the pictured stainless sleeve with an integrated micro-block and clew hook. Unfortunately, this system is no longer in production. I have reached out to the original manufacturer, Harken, and am also exploring local fabrication options here in Springfield to produce about ten of these systems.
If you know a shop or individual who can help, please email me at john.s@ibyconline.com.
We are also standardizing tiller and extension setups. Beginning sailors have had difficulty managing extensions longer than 40 inches. To address this, we are fitting new tiller tubes to wedges and modifying older extensions to create manageable, consistent tillers suitable for both instruction and racing.
Why-Knot Sessions
A fun suggestion is being considered—10-minute knot-tying lessons combined with current social events at the club. I hear Rebecca’s wine tastings are extremely popular. Teaching bowlines after a few glasses of wine might turn out to be one of the most entertaining challenges yet!
Off-Season Planning and Travel
The off-season provides time to plan and collaborate with other regional sailing teams. In addition to Chicago, we are building partnerships with Indianapolis Sailing Club, Lake Lemon Sailing Club in Bloomington, Indiana, and Carlyle Sailing Association near St. Louis. The goal is for each location, including IBYC, to host an invitational regatta, with the other clubs traveling to compete. More details will follow.
Looking Ahead
There is still excellent sailing ahead before the season ends. We plan to hold one more Junior Sailing Team practice on a Sunday afternoon. It would be wonderful to bring the whole team together on the water one last time this year!
See you on the water — or at the dock with a story to share ~ John
