Page 56 - ECA Yearbook 2023

Fleet 30 enjoyed another great year of racing and camaraderie on Lake Travis in
2022. Beginning with the Red Eye Regatta on January first, and continuing
through the Spring, Summer, and Fall Series Races, as well as numerous
clubwide regattas, the Ensigns consistently turned out to compete (and also hang
out and enjoy each other’s company). It turns out that the Ensign is not only a fun
boat to sail, it’s also a great place to gather after racing, share snacks and drinks,
revisit the races, and laugh a lot. Fleet 30 took plenty advantage of this in 2022.

Post-race Hang-Out on 588

Fleet 30 also had the privilege of sharing the joy of sailing Ensigns in 2022. In
March, several members of the fleet participated in a “First Sail” event.
Individuals new to sailing were invited to get on a boat with an experienced
skipper to see what it’s all about. It turned out to be a very gusty day. So much so
that another AYC fleet that was scheduled to race that day decided it was “too
much” and headed into the harbor …just as the Ensigns, with newbies as “crew”,
headed out. Everyone got soaking wet, but all had a great time, and most of the
guests were even brave enough to take the helm for a few minutes.

Fleet 30 was also particularly excited to bring back a perennial favorite,
Sail4Kids. This event had been on hold due to COVID for a couple years, but it
was back on in 2022, thanks to Fred Ford. Seven Ensigns, each with a skipper
and crew member, came out to provide an afternoon of sailing for a group foster
kids aged 9 to 17 from a local group home. The kids had a terrific time, some of
them taking the helm, some venturing to the front of the boat or hooking their feet
under the hiking straps and seeing how cool it is to lean back and dunk the back
of their heads (or in some cases their entire faces) in water. All boats were armed
with water cannons, leading to semi-controlled chaos with boats exchanging
volleys of water as they sailed past each other amid shrieks and laughter. It was
a privilege to be part of this community outreach event and Fleet 30 is looking
forward to many more years of this great tradition.

Another major event for Fleet 30 in 2022 was hosting the Region IV
Championship Regatta at Austin Yacht Club. The fleet was proud to dedicate this
regatta to the recently passed and multiple time National Champion, Dean
Snider. Lewis Price served as Regatta Chair, and the entire fleet pitched in to
make this a great event. Nine boats participated in the regatta, with former
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