Located in beautiful Eustis, Florida, Lake Eustis Sailing club is the home to four one-design racing fleets and is the most active racing and sailing club in Central Florida! The large boat storage area and dual launching ramps on our lakeside, ten acre property allow all to dry sail their boats, for convenience and safety. We have a large clubhouse, perfect for pre- and post sailing get-togethers and activities. With such a perfect setup, its no wonder we're home to five regional sailing events, and to club racing two weekends per month, each year from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Come on out and get involved with the most active racing club in Central Florida!   Additional details, address and phone etc.

 

Here are the race committee and safety boats. We have separate safety boats for our youth program. We have two storage sheds with all the needed materials to run a first class regatta.

 

Our double ramp with a large tee dock makes launching so much easier. All boats are  stored on trailers in our boat  yard just a few feet away.

April - A long-time MC Fleet Member, Jim Hoffman, passed away Mar 5, 2014

                               Jim and Janet Hoffman at the LESC Christmas Party

Friends, I am deeply saddened by this news, haven't read email in over a week. Jim was an incredible sailor and when I first joined the club and bought old MC 657, offered to take me out in heavy wind and show me how to sail an MC and most importantly, how to jibe! (We went on his boat)
It was a freezing, brisk day and I was wearing jeans and basic cold weather "shore clothing" (being new to racing) and away we went! It was awesome sailing upwind and he coached fantastically! My confidence grew tremendously!  And then, clear across the lake, it came time to jibe!
I handed the tiller over, intimidated by the power of the MC and Jim took the helm. We did the "Hail Mary" and into the drink we went! I still tell people this story because it was the closest I have ever come to hypothermia and it made an incredible impression on me. It also kicked up my skill level beyond just jibing but an awareness of conditions, clothing and an intense desire to not capsize when it's freezing outside! "Things" happen fast!
That lesson has played out 10-fold on my recent (10 yrs or so) experiences sailing larger boats on exciting adventures and my trailer-sailor adventures sailing and camping the FL coastlines. I am forever grateful! God bless his soul, be with his family and know his passion of sailing will pass on forever!
 
Glenda Libby

One of our long-time MC Fleet Members, Jim Hoffman, passed away Wednesday night – Jim was in his late 70’s. You may not have known him - he has not been active for the past couple of years - but was quite a man (and great personal friend to myself and many others) and a big believer in the LESC , the MC Fleet, and the LEYSF. Jim and his wonderful wife Janet chaired many MC Midwinters and he handmade those Paddle-Trophies that are legend. Jim was a tireless cheerleader for the MC and LESC traveling around the US extensively at the beginning of the millennium. To know him really well was to love him and he’d give you the shirt off his back with his endless generosity and good nature – but God help you if you crossed him on the race course! Rest in peace Gentleman Jim. The above is from a note to the MC fleet from David Moring. I got to know Jim from a day on the water on safety boat duty. I was a little apprehensive, as my only interaction with him up to that time was in our club races, and he was the fiercest of competitors! It turned out to be one of my best days at LESC, I gained amazing inspiration, and a good friend. We will all miss him.
His wife, Janet, has generously asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be sent in his name to LEYSF. The address and online donation links are below. We are putting together a light memorial for Midwinters (more later).

David Helmick

Send your photo to Richard Kinnie for posting next month.