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Show Competition, recreation and fitness Wednesday August 26, 1987 J . .(Z-vV::A7 S : .- A 5" 4&. y0 3 f y'i, 4 V . 5? uM asMjff 'A. ' , ' WHnteteMMMIlAlAMMliMM Mike Seach wL: 'V . n wr a , x ' y Clearfield sailboat skipper Michael Seach looked out over the gently rippling waters of Willard Bay. "Hey! See that?" he said pointing just above the dike to the north. The three other men aboard Seachs McGregor sloop turned and searched the horizon. They spotted a flock of about 15 white pelicans gracefully gliding toward them in V formation. The birds crossed the dike and then swooped down near the water with d silent ease that left the men motionless. The pelicans skimmed so near the surface that their wings almost flicked the water when they' collectively broke out of their glide, following the leaders example, to occasionally take a few intermittent flaps. The world seemed to stop for a brief moment as the men stood staring, panning the scene as the birds passed off the stern of the boat. The only sound that could be heard was an almost inaudible hum from the breeze brushing past the masts taught cables. The welcome visitors continued on out of sight. Thats one of the reasons I like sailing, Seach finally said. If you were in a powerboat you 'd never see that, " he added as he turned his attention back to the wind and his sails. When sailing is serene it can be sub21-fo- . . t v V Av P r ;JV 7 2 r fJn wAAA -r , Y vA r V'? ., ,5 f i Z , r 7' fcr rA-- .: 't : 5 , AA7 . : ', ', VT r r -- i ,e ia.'.':S'.'-'.'tK- -- p ' ' - ':' ' 0v ' - , f ' ! ' ' 'A' fl. : ,v y ' a:Wr , c ?w, -- ;f jfl i v i ;;,vi I - 1 - w,sg85f " ) i. v " v vV: r T' ''? fa ? ff vmrLivm.utm)wv''wuywmw,,nwwvwmxm,nwuiyw r' ) ' H , , I . , ' v But it can also a lot of hard work. When the wind blows strong it can be draining, dangerous, even disastrous if you dont know what youre doing. You can experience a tranquility in sailing like you. cant find anywhere kht else. l lhk Vx ., . T y lime. ; - d. 15-ye- ar - , r; ; yr-Z- , -- , k r f , y, f ., it r-;c- xw 1 s; . V , S I rW KV''U 'iV"r.-uErr'- ' ' - )?: "T: chicken-hearte- 50-fe- et - - n Any v ' 'it i V.;.. -' -- r - - jr-- i fi Avs i vs; ji & I , 1 v j , W'JsS ot black-tippe- d ?: . l,'Zvr- f .Y.r:' 1 9 . r - - - ,. i ' . ff'Vl wTU ,x A' v in a powIn other tyes of boating it is much erboat, rowboat or canoe easier to learn to control the power and therefore easier to master. But to a novice, sailing can be like trying to capture the wind. It takes probably two or three years of sailing before it begins to feel like an old shoe, Seach said. Which is exactly the way it should feel before a person attempts to navigate the heavy winds. Ill tell you, its scary sometimes. If someYou cant be one is really afraid of the water he probably shouldnt sail, the veteran sailor said with just a hint of his native New York accent showing through. Ive been sailing alone for 15 years, because it scares my wife, Seach said. However, the same action that pushes some people away from sailing is what draws others to it. I actually prefer the high winds. I hate it on calm days when you go out. weather. The sails just Thats luff-luflutter and you dont do anything but sit and ghost, Seach said, making a See Sail, page 3D ', ' " '', j " ter. sail-boat- er well-tann- i,v ' 6Xy A C - ,S- 4; Jf&rf .v.- - ' j ; s Jff-.i- ? ' j ft ; I ' V,' - 4 f r' si : ' ? "i Ii t , 7 f ' '?9 vw2' J. : t Vu ' ' ' g 50-ye- ar ed V ' '"4, ' - j' f k IIIf ; x 1 ;, '''', r "S f1 .f !, y &', k '' 777; M if f S Just the same, sailing gets into your blood and you cant get it out, according to Michael Seach, a Clearfield who is also a qualified sailing instructor. One of the things about sailing is you have to know what youre doing before you try to go out and do it, old sailor. said the " y x ' , y ' ' a, n ' jr , . -- ' . M ' t, to But in a storm it can also get so tense that a landlubber will swear sailors dont have all their oars in the wa- . i Is. ? t f y 'Cl fV . At 7-S- ' s ;sr ET -- ' ' ''1 Wwjs sVS fc.v' V y, w W" CX. v ; sv ' ' s v '''s' ' ' v , ' ''' ' ' ': '' ' V w' ' s " WlM'' wv. ss ' vV y. y . A,W-'- X.sv. ' x ; r ,fi ' ' A Z7 y " ' ' Xjsss.. - - '"v'T'' J y s" " . y. ysS , s ''u a' V"-- ' Zv.'A, a.' vH2i 1 ' ' aavv , v.v '' , '"v a 4 , , A 77 , y .4 j? ,nzS - - Skipper and crew aboard the 21 -- foot Alexis. Mike Seach and Jason Stephens Photos by Robert Regan enjoy sailing outing on Willard Bay, top photo. In placid waters broken by a power boat the Alexis slowly sails along, above. Seach readies the mast before each trip, AAAi'z-- ' far right. ,L K - iw.v.r; fy V'"J' ' 1' Ui' ; i rz v ' -v r a- ;U r,v ' ' 'i ? . . J. , li f A7vrv7 Gary Hatch 77 7 I' ; 4 . 3' v;c 7 ;; 'J A sr- - f f 'I K.nrr.-V- x 4m, WS I- 7(7 vAvrv Story by - & i , - I S 'f - .J |