Category Archives: News

Announcements, News

Safety Review Committee Report Completed

Earlier this month the Safety Review Committee complete their review and report on Safety and Standard Operating Procedures at PRSA.  They took a deep dive into what we do for safety, and what we need to look at to increase safety and reduce risk going forward. There are new safety rules that will be going into effect in the Spring Series.

  • All members of the RC are required to wear PFDs or buoyancy aids at all times.
  • All competitors are required to wear PFDs or buoyancy aids while racing.
  • If water temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit full wetsuits or drysuits are required for all competitors and for all RC volunteers.
  • Competitors leaving the racing area must notify the RC (verbally or via VHF).

There are also a number of recommendations that we’ll be looking to implement going forward.

The report itself is a very good read and a compact 12 pages so I’d suggest

Safety Review and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Committee Report

Thank you to Aaron and the rest of the committee for your many hours of work and dedication to the safety of your fellow sailors.

-Tom Hutton

Lightnings, News

2021 Lightning Fall Series 5

Winds from from the NW, strong, and gusty.  Only Frank went out with Tom Hutton and Scott Bradford as crew – very experienced crew though.  His competition was Barney in the Albacore but Frank decided not to fly the spinnaker because of the gusts.

Only three more Sunday to race.  Come out to make sure you are over the 50% threshold to qualify.

Lightning_FS5

20(21_Championship_Series_Cum

(October 17, races 64-66 in the championship series)

 

Lightnings, News

2021 Lightning Fall Series 4

It was a cloudy day with nice winds were from the NE.  Our course was from near the airport shore to the mouth of the Anacostia, twice around.   The finish line was an obstruction that could not be sailed through which created a strategic question about which way to sail around it.

Frank started off slow but ticked off three bullets after the first race.  He banged the right each time and even though we thought there were some shift worth taking to the left his strategy prevailed.

Lightning_FS4

(October 10th and races 60-63 in the championship series.)

News

2021 Falls Series 2

Will Phillipe & team ran RC.

It was a beautiful day to sail today with sunny skies mid 70s and wind to sail in. As PRO I was certainly challenged today with our NNW winds moving to WNW. I made use of the Postpone before Race 1 because we needed a few extra minutes to get setup (remember as PRO the postpone is your friend). The forecast of NW winds with a later shift to WNW came earlier than I expected so race 1 the windward mark was off. We moved it closer to Gravelly Point to be more NW but it continued to move WNW and the gusts putting it closer to West. I was torn about trying to adjust the course and to get races off but with it shifting back and forth I opted to leave and keep running races.

Results:

Albacore_FS2

Flying Scot_FS2

I20_FS2

Laser_FS2

Lightning_FS2

News

2021 President’s Cup

The winds were interesting.

On Saturday we started with no wind and an hour postponement on shore.  Light north north easterlies were forecast and when they came in we launched and sailed.   But then – surprise – the winds came up from the south.  Despite the delay, Aaron Boesenecker and his RC team gave us three races on Olympic courses.

Steen Bryskov organized a great cookout for us.  I can personally attest to how delicious the grilled portobello mushrooms were.  They were topped with diced red onion and marinated in balsamic vinegar by Jim Graham.  Plus Steen brought his espresso maker and treated groggy competitors to a great cup of coffee each morning.

On Sunday the winds did come in from the north northeast.   The challenge was that they sometimes came down the Potomac on the left side of the course and sometimes down the Anacostia on the right side of the course.   Whoever solved that puzzle won.

Kudos to the Albacore and Flying Scot fleets that each brought out 15 boats.

The Norman Schaller award went to Dave Beckett in the Flying Scot fleet who dominated his competitors in the Scot fleet just a bit more than Barney Harris dominated his in the Albacore fleet.

Hats off to Kaitlyn Lucey our regatta chair for a very successful 90th  annual (?) President’s  Cup.

The results are here.

News

2021 Fall Series 1

A beautiful day for sailing.  SSW breezes at about 10-12 with higher gusts to later in the day to challenge the sailors.

Pictures!  Steen and Andres on the mark boat came in close to take those high resolution pictures. Selected ones are posted on the PRSA Facebook group.

Farley Will and team took advantage of our southerly and gave us 4 LONG windward-leeward races.   Thanks, Farley!

Those of you who have new sail numbers, I added it as an alternate sail number under your Spring Series registration.  The results below will show your Spring Series sail number.

Albacore_FS1

Buccaneer_FS1

I20_FS1

Laser_FS1

Lightning_FS1

 

Announcements, News

PRSA President’s Cup: September 18-19

Join the Potomac River Sailing Association to race in the largest one-design regatta on the Potomac with the National Capitol and monuments as a backdrop, and to carry on the tradition of competitive one-design racing that started with the 1934 President’s Cup!  The 2021 PRSA President’s Cup Regatta will be held on September 18 & 19 at Washington Sailing Marina.  Please visit the Regatta Website – https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/23128 – to view the NOR and register.  All one-design classes 20 feet or under are invited.

This year we have a flat fee registration for each boat ($40 for regatta participation only).  Please note that tickets for Saturday ‘s post-race BBQ are not included in the registration fee.  BBQ tickets for Saturday evening for each person (skipper and crew, as well as any friends/family that might join you) must be purchased separately as part of your registration or via the “Online Storefront” area on the Regatta Network website.   Please make sure to purchase BBQ tickets for your entire boat — skipper and crew — as well as any family/friends/visitors in advance so we can be sure to have sufficient food on hand!
Early registration ends on September 1, so register now to take advantage of the early registration discount and to let us know that you’ll be coming!