Category Archives: News

Announcements, News, Results

2016 Spring Series #7: March Weather in May

On the one hand it is crazy that we had cold rain and temps in the 50s today.  On the other hand, it is also crazy that this might have been one of the best days we have had all spring!  The weather certainly has been crazy, and once again a group of intrepid sailors made the best of it for a day of river racing.  We had 5 Lightnings, 5 or 6 Albacores, 3 I-20s, a Buc, and a couple of Lasers out on the race course.  PRO Bob Gotthardt and his RC crew did a good job to get us 4 races in a shifty, spotty NE breeze.

I was especially pleased to have my parents out on the race course despite the dreary weather.  My Dad sailed with me on #14592 and my Mom took some great photos from the RC boat!  Scores are posted below, and you can keep reading for some details from my vantage point on Lightning #14592.

Continue reading 2016 Spring Series #7: March Weather in May →

News

PRSA Merchandise!

Tired of this rainy weather? Stock up on colorful and functional PRSA gear now so you’re set to go once the sun comes back! Click the “PRSA Merchandise” menu item at the top right on the PRSA homepage to view the options and place your orders.

PRSA Members Sporting PRSA Bling!
PRSA Members Sporting PRSA Bling!
Announcements, News

PRSA Spring Regatta: May 28-29

The NOR for the PRSA Spring Regatta (May 28-29) has been posted and registration is now open.  Visit the regatta website and register by May 20 to take advantage of the early registration discount.  Once you’ve registered, help us spread the word about the regatta!

We have partnered with DC Sail once again to organize a spectator cruise aboard the American Spirit on Saturday of the Spring Regatta.  Spectator cruise tickets are $20/person (or $25 for a combined cruise and Saturday dinner ticket).  Tickets can be purchased via the regatta website.  We have also posted complete details on the cruise in the “race documents” area on the regatta website.

 

Announcements, News

PRSA Rookie Regatta Rained Out

A few hardy sailors showed up this morning for the PRSA Rookie Regatta, including one true Rookie — Lizzie Ellis!  Unfortunately the conditions did not cooperate with our plans to race and the regatta was cancelled due to rain and a lack of wind.  Congratulations to Rookie Lizzie (under the umbrella) for winning the regatta by showing up and looking for a ride!  We love the enthusiasm, Lizzie, and we’ll be sure to get you on a boat next week!  We will also try to reschedule this event for after the end of our PRSA Spring Series, so stay tuned for more info.

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Announcements, News, Results

Spring Series #3: Light and Challenging!

We had a great turnout for Spring Series #3.  Unfortunately the weather was a bit less cooperative, providing us summer drifting conditions.  A determined RC eventually got us off on a W2 race in a very light and patchy southerly after numerous attempts to find breeze and set a course.   I know that at least a few boats were glad that we got that race though, as Sunday saw Lisa-Marie Lane earn her first ever bullet in the Lightning fleet.  Staying patient, staying focused on the conditions, and being mindful of finding clear air appeared to be key for her & team As You Wish.  Lisa-Marie was followed closely by Kristen Burke (skippering Progressive Plastics) in 2nd, and I’m told that this might mark the first time in Fleet 50 history that we had female skippers finish 1-2 in a PRSA series race.  Congrats all around!

I was finally out for my first racing of the spring season aboard Lightning #14592  (sailing with regular crew Piercarlo and welcoming new/interested crew Claudio Purificato aboard) and we quickly relearned some of the cardinal lessons of light air sailing: find clear air (especially after the start), find the next patch of breeze, and mind the current.  I was caught to windward of a pack of boats on the start, which was a mistake.  Groups of boats go very slow together in light wind, and we saw that firsthand.  We were too close to bear off and gain speed; tacking away killed the speed we had, so we were fighting back from the rear from the start.

Piercarlo and Claudio did a great job finding breeze and clear air up the first leg, though, so we were in the hunt at the top mark.  The incoming tide was a big  factor on the afternoon, and I saw numerous boats in different classes take themselves out of the race by cutting it too close to the windward mark.  By the time you got clear and did circles you were at the back of the pack.  We all did a good enough job with the current and we maximized our gains on the few easterly puffs that came through such that we were able to reel in many, but not all, of the 11 Lightnings on the course.

After the racing we all enjoyed a great BBQ around the grill.  Keep reading for the scores and for some more details from the racing.  Please feel free to offer up your own comments here or on the PRSA email listserv!

Continue reading Spring Series #3: Light and Challenging! →

Announcements, News

Spring Series Racing is Here!

The PRSA Spring Racing Series started on April 3 and will run through June 12.  Are you ready to race?  Here are a few things to remember:

  • Post to the PRSA Crew Connection or peruse the listings there if you are looking for a ride or looking for crew.
  • Check our PRSA Calendar so you know what is happening each weekend.  We have a few special events this spring, including the annual PRSA Rookie Regatta on May 1 and a new PRSA Distance Race on June 12.  On the other Sundays we will run our regular one-design races around the buoys.
  • Make sure to sign up for your RC Duty slots.  Sign up now so that you know when you’re serving and so that you make sure to do your part for PRSA in helping us run safe and fun races.

Racing each  Sunday is followed by a BYO BBQ in the grill area.   Don’t forget to bring some food and drink for you and your crew!

Announcements, News

Are You Ready For Spring Series Racing?

The PRSA Spring Series starts with Spring Series #1 on April 3.  Are you ready to go sailing?  Here are a few things to remember as you get ready for the racing season:

  • Post to the PRSA Crew Connection or peruse the listings there if you are looking for a ride or looking for crew.
  • Make sure to sign up for your RC Duty slots.  Sign up now so that you know when you’re serving and so that you make sure to do your part for PRSA in helping us run safe and fun races.

Spring Series #1 will be followed by BBQ with all food and drink provided by PRSA, so make sure to bring your appetites for food as well as for racing on April 3!

News

2015/2016 Frostbite Series #15

It was a great day for sailing!  The wind was strong from the southeast at about 10 mph then built to 12-14 from the south as the afternoon went on.  Thank you to the race committee for setting up solid courses and on offset mark for olympic courses.

In the first two races I managed to get solid starts to be at or near the front of the fleet.  The tide was flowing very strong down river all day.  In the second race I cut the last mark too close and had to do a circle, which is a bummer of a way to lose three boats.

For the third and fourth race the wind was up in the 12-14 range and I managed to botch the start of the third race.  I got too close to the pin end with too much time left and ended up over early.  The windward mark had also been moved so I and a few others over stood the windward mark.  The tide also drove me way past the lay line and I was almost reaching by the time I actually got to the windward mark.  The second downwind leg of the triangle planing was possible which added a new challenge we don’t get too often.  I managed to do OK and keep up with the boats around me.

For the fifth and final race the wind was somewhat lighter back closer to 10.  I was better on the current situation so I managed to stay closer to the marks and lay lines.  I tried to keep the boat flat and pointing while going upwind and upright while going downwind.

My lessons learned for the day were: don’t hit marks, know where the next mark is, and be aware of the current and lay lines.  I’ve also waited a bit too long to do the write up and the races have blended together a bit in my memory.  Thanks again to everyone for coming out to make this day fun!

2015_2016 PRSA Laser Frostbite Series 15

Announcements, News

SCOW-PRSA-DISC Winter Seminar Series

We are pleased to announce a series of informational seminars that we have organized together with SCOW and DISC.  A huge thank you to Csilla Gal (PRSA & SCOW) for taking the lead in organizing these events.  All events will be held in the Charleston Room at Indigo Landing (WSM).  Mark your calendars now!

Local Knowledge Clinic (3/2, 7pm): PRSA expert Barney Harris will share his wisdom with us all in an updated version of the fantastically informative seminar that he gave a few years back.  Barney has been persistently collecting and analyzing charts, graphs, and observational data in order to help sailors and race committee understand local conditions on the Potomac. This unique meteorological and tidal knowledge may be the extra advantage you need to get ahead!

Racing Rules Clinic (3/9, 7pm):  a group of thee experts will answer questions related to racing and will give their expert opinions on situations brought up by the attendees and make a final verdict on who broke the rule.

Race Management & Protest Committee Management (3/17, 7pm): this seminar will cover matters that members are engaged in running races should know.

Racing Tactics (3/23, 7pm): this presentation from Mike Callahan (GU Sailing Coach) is expected to cover starting, mark rounding, upwind and downwind tactics. Mike has asked for some details on what we would like to hear, so email Aaron at apb99@mac.com if you have suggestions.

Sail Tuning (3/30, 7pm): this talk will probably be delivered by Scott Steels, an Olympic medalist windsurfer from Ullman Sails. He is expected to deliver a talk on sail trimming: a basic intro followed with some more in depth technical discussion.

 

Frostbite, Lasers, Frostbite, 2016, News, Results

2015/2016 Frostbite Series #14

Thank you to the race committee for setting up courses is these difficult conditions.  For the first two races the wind was light to non-existent with a strong down-river current.  The first race especially was challenging with the wind becoming too weak to get back up river for the second leg.  I got close to the committee boat then pushed back down river by the current.  The only wind it seemed came from the jets making north landings on the run way.  After twenty minutes of this the wind filled in enough to get around the leeward second mark and finish.

After the first race there was lots of talk of heading back in.  I was definitely in favor of heading in but the race committee wisely waited five or so minutes to see what would happen.  With some light wind from the south race two started.  After a moderately botched the start near the boat end I tacked to port for clear air.  I got lucky with a wind shift to make a long starboard tack all the way to the windward mark near the front of the fleet.  The wind stayed light but consistent enough to to finish the race without any drifting.

The wind picked up greatly for the third and fourth races and I managed to come in first on the fourth race.  That’s my first win in the frostbiting fleet so I was pretty pumped.  I really enjoy sailing every Sunday with so many sailors and I especially like the debrief and hangout after racing.   Thank you again to everyone who came out this weekend!

Tom Hutton

2015_2016 PRSA Laser Frostbite Series 14