2010 Lake Rosevelt Cruise...

Foster's Sailing Blog: S/V AQUILA 2010 Lake Roosevelt Cruise...: "John Lennon once said, 'Life is what happens when your busy making other plans.' That certainly is the case for me. I note a passage of seve..."

Indoor RC Sailing at the KROC Center

In Feburary It's Tiller Time Sailing School/SAIL Marine offered indoor sailing classes at the Coeur d'Alene Idaho KROC Center. Each class is a two day course. Day 1 students learn the ins and outs of FLOW and on Day 2 they apply want they learn with model radio controlled sailing boats on the pool. It's a fun class that only costs $55/person. Next classes start this April. For more info visit www.itstillertime.com and click on lessons or email Miles Moore at info@funtosail.com

3rd Street Boat Launch/McEuen Park Follow Up!

After a four hour meeting with the gym at Woodlands Elementary packed to capacity, I can pretty much break down the public’s feelings about the park project into a few short sentences:

Leave both Tubbs Hill and the 3rd Street Boat Launch alone.

Improve the park instead of creating a whole new one.

Allow the community to vote on the park.

Make sure taxes do not increase due to this project.

Oh, and, can we afford this?

The idea in question was to remove the launch and create a new one. Pretty much everyone at the meeting was against the city's idea to put a new launch next to NIC on the Spokane River as a replacement for the 3rd Street Launch. Negatives to this idea include not being able to use the launch from late fall to early spring due to low water levels and high currents, non-motorized craft such as Hobie catamarans and monohull dinghies would not be able to navigate the river upstream into the lake, and having to sail through all the boat traffic would be insane. Also many motorized trailer-able keelboats would not be able to beat the current with their small outboards. So this idea is no good for trailer sailors.

Doug Eastwood of the Coeur d’Alene Parks Department pointed out that they have land available at Silver Beach which could be used for a launch. This area has the best wind and is away from the resort ferries, sea planes, and all the boat traffic coming from the river and marinas. If this Silver Beach launch was created one could take exit 15 off the highway, pass through one stop light, and travel down a wide road to the launch. With the 3rd Street launch we currently have to pass through multiple stops lights and lots of traffic, then deal with the marine traffic once at the launch. I think a lot of people at the meeting were intrigued by the potential of a new launch site but want to reserve judgment until more information is presented.

The consensus from those at the meeting seemed to be that many people resent the fact that city officials did not seek input from the community about what features they would like to see in the park; they want to be able to vote on the park. They also voiced that they want the park to be a true outdoor recreational park not a Disneyland like park with a lot of bells and whistles that serve no purpose other than for ascetics.

Another big question asked was why the city is considering doing this when budgets are being cut and as a nation we are heavily in debt.

I will post more info about the Silver Beach Launch as ideas develop. Please post your feelings about the cities launch ideas. Thank you!

3rd Street Boat Launch/McEuen Park

The City of Coeur d'Alene is planning to totally change the McEuen Park. For sailors, this means that the 3rd street boat launch on the east side of the CdA Resort will be eliminated. I do like the park design but losing the launch will result in having to launch at Higgins Point, which is far away from the northeast end of the lake where Tubbs Hill and the Resort are located. Blackwell Island Launch on the Spokane River is near the city but is not suitable for sailboat launching due to the over hanging tree branches, fast current during spring and fall, and insane boat traffic. I have been told the marina in the park will be bigger but from the plans I have seen it appears to be about the same size.

The impact on businesses may be negative as the local boat rental businesses and boat dealers will not have a place to launch larger boats, and so on. This change may or may not be good for the resort when it comes to gas sales, and people launching and staying at the resort, etc.

On February 10th, at 6 p.m., at the Woodland Middle School (2101 Saint Michelle Avenue) there will be a meeting for public input and discussion. This is a chance for you to express your concerns. See the park design and info at the McEuen Park Project website.

Spokane Boat Show... "Why is a ship called She?"

The Spokane Boat Show is officially over and for SAIL Marine and Sailing the Inland NW it was a success... During the boat show we signed up new members and met a lot of persons interested in learning to sail. The Catalina 22 Sport, Weta Trimaran, Hobie Wave and particluar the Hobie Tandem Island where highlights for many at the show. Sales were slow at this years show but as always more sales will follow after the show.

In picture - Miles Moore and Scott Bailey

Next to one of the wood boats there was a humorous sign I thought you all would like to read... here it is..."Why is a ship (Boat) called She" ... 

Check out this blogs calendar as our next event is the RC model sailing activity, followed by our spring break trip to the Potholes Reservoir. Also this month and next is the indoor sailing class at the KROC Center in Coeur d'Alene Idaho, and in April the keel boat classes start. I want to remind people that Hobie Mirage kayaks are welcome to all events, but adding a sail may be a good idea.

Fair winds, Miles Moore - commodore 

Sailing Catalina 22

Video shows how nice it is to sail an older generation C22...