2009 FS NAC

I am the vice chair of the 2009 NAC, hosted at the Ephraim Yacht Club, in Ephraim, WI. You can find lodging info at www.fssanac.com Make your lodging reservations now, as the EYC is located in a tourist town and the regatta will be at peak season. Reservations might be hard to get later. A short description of local sailing and weather conditions is located at the calendar forum at http://www.fssa.com/fsforum2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1146 We will also have a seminar before the regatta, at which experienced local racers like me and Ryan Malmgren of Mad Sails will present information on local sailing conditions in a variety of winds. The host club has never hosted a national event. We host an annual regatta which typically attracts 30-35 boats. We hosted the 2005 Midwest District Championships with 55 boats and the event was very successful and well liked by participants. As a result of that event, Harry Carpenter (who won it) recommended we apply to host the NAC. Additional information including a NOR will be posted soon on the EYC website. Jay Lott FS 5698

The EYC has created a Facebook events page for the NAC: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=50150352201 We have also created a forum page on Facebook where you can post if you want to share a ride or housing, or if you want to find a skipper or a crew: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=8262&uid=44558737326 Facebook membership may be required to view either page. It's free and takes 20 seconds at www.facebook.com. J. Lott

Planning for the NAC is going great. The parties are going to be awesome, including a pig roast at an EYC member's home on top of the bluff with a spectacular 30 mile view of the sunset, across Eagle Harbor and Green Bay. The EYC has upgraded its pier and created a lot of new drying sailing space, so all competitors will be able to dry sail their boats. We have 20 entries already and we are expecting most of the rest of our entries to come in the next month. If you are planning on attending and have not yet made lodging reservations, better do that soon -- we are in a tourist area and lodging will become harder to find the closer we get to the event. Don't forget the July 1 deadline to be a member of the FSSA, in order to compete in the NAC. Looking forward to seeing you there! For more info see www.fssanac.org J. Lott 2009 NAC Regatta Vice-Chair FS #5698

We are getting some great sponsor contributions to the NAC which racers and guests can win. At Brat, Burger and Corn Roast party on Monday night of the NAC, we will be giving away two Flying Scot spinnakers, donated by NAC Gold Sponsors Mad Sails and Gus Sails. If you are a skipper registered in the regatta you are automatically entered in this "door prize" raffle. Nobody except registered skippers will be able to enter this raffle. So your odds are good if you are a skipper in the NAC regatta. But you have to be present to win, so be sure to sign up to attend this party. If you already sent in your registration and didn't sign up for this party, contact our registration chair Nancy Claypool ncla...@stonepigman.com to amend your registration. At the Pig Roast on Wednesday evening of the NAC, we will be having a silent auction with a bunch of great sponsor gifts. At the awards dinner on Thursday evening of the NAC, we will be having a SHORT live auction with a few great auction items, then we will draw the winner of our fundraising raffle. You will have the ability to buy raffle tickets at the NAC. The top three prizes in the fundraising raffle will be a Flying Scot "AP" Mainsail donated by NAC Platinum sponsor North Sails, a 50" Panasonic flat screen TV, and $750 cash. So don't forget to pick up a few raffle tickets, and you don't have to be present to win in this raffle. The Door Prize Raffle and the fundraising raffle will each have other great prizes too. Keep an eye on our website at www.fssanac.com for a list of additional prizes, as they come in from our sponsors. Jay Lott NAC Vice-Chair

We have received 52 entries for the NAC as of today, and registration still has 3 1/2 weeks to go. This is going to be a very well-attended NAC! We hope to see you there. Remember, due to limited mooring space, there is an 80-boat limit, so if you plan to attend, you would be wise to pre-register rather than showing up and being disappointed if you are the 81st boat. Jay Lott FS 5698 NAC Vice-Chair

Michael, the funds raised from sponsors, and in the fundraising auction and raffle, are intended to defray the general expenses of hosting the NAC regatta. In order to encourage attendance in this down economy, the EYC has endeavored to hold down the registration fee (under $200 if you registered prior to the early registration deadline, which is a very low registration fee for a week-long national regatta) and as a result of the low registration fee, our budget is tight. Among other things, because the EYC's own facility is limited in space, we have rented the Old Ephraim Village Hall for the week, and we are required to reimburse the Village of Ephraim for the use of its launch ramp for the week and for employee overtime at the launch ramp. So, we have attempted as much as possible to obtain revenue from voluntary sources (sponsors, raffle, auctions) and not from fees which are mandatory to the racers (entry fees). Jay Lott FS 5698 NAC Vice-Chair

Well said, Michael. The efforts of the EYC team is very impressive, from Jay's active promotion of the event, to our web crew working with Carol Clayool, David Sauter and the team about getting results posted. See you there!! FSSA Forum editor

Everyone at the EYC is looking forward to the NAC. The EYC held its annual Ephraim Regatta last weekend and 21 boats competed. The weather the last couple of days has been perfect. Last night in our Monday evening Flying Scot series races we had 8-12 knot SW winds, flat water and a spectacular sunset. Some competitors have already arrived for the NAC and are spending a week enjoying Door County before the racing begins. Everything you need to know in advance of your arrival is at http://www.eyc.org/fsnac As of yesterday there were 71 boats registered and we expect a few more prior to the registration deadline ending on Sunday, August 2 at 5:00 PM. There is a limit of 80 boats, so if you plan to compete and you have not yet registered, you can still pre-register by express mail before you make the drive to Ephraim. Any questions, please contact me at jlo...@reinhartlaw.com Jay Lott FS 5698 NAC Vice-Chair The EYC looks forward to having you as our guests!

For those of you who want to see photos and results of the North Americans in Ephraim, here are some links... Results Photos, etc. at Ephraim Yacht Club Photos on the FSSA site FSSA Forum editor