Tag Archives: Catamarans

2010, News, Results

PRSA Spring Regatta 2010 Saturday and Sunday, May 29 – 30

Updated 5/31/10 — The PRSA Spring regatta, our Memorial Day Weekend major event, has come and gone!  Saturday brought us an overcast morning that slowly cleared, temperatures in the mid 70s, and calm winds until Noon.  PRO Nabeel Alsalam wisely postponed, from the docks, the departure until 11:45, and by the time we got to the race course we had a very nice southerly, blowing 7 – 10 MPH.  Nabeel got off 3 great Olympic course races for the 7 Lightings, 4 Buccs, 17 Albacores, 4 Hobies and a Thistle who came out. On the Lower Course we had 3 Optis and 2 Penguins.  Sunday brought us a promising start with sunny skies, northerly winds at 5 – 10 MPH that unfortunately went light and variable as the day went on, and we gave up on the day at 3 PM at the end of the second race (which not everybody finished, due to a time limit expiration).  Upper Course Results here.  Lower Course Results here.

Our sincere thanks to the regatta organizing committee and to the PRSA members who worked this regatta.  They include: PROs Nabeel Alsalam (upper course) and Jennifer Parrow (lower course); Race Committee drivers and helpers  Ryan Vear, Stefano de Leo, Red Fehrle, Craig Huzway, Anna Lindel, Elaine Duffe, Inga Barkane, Linda Pacelli, John Hart, Annie Cross, Bill Swanson, Kate Dixon, Steve Parsons, and Thomas Jagodits; Registration workers Will Phillippe, Jeff Neurauter, Happy Olmstead, Wilda Heiss, Steve Parsons, and Barb Thompson;  Planning the post-race barbeque and bringing food and beer: Pat McGee and Scott Snyder; producing the NOR and SIs, and acquiring trophies, scorekeeping, recruiting RC, and Boat Duty, Nabeel Alsalam.  Well done!

Per PRSA Commodore Pat McGee:  Starting Saturday morning many members just kicked in.  I was really pleased by the amount of general pitching in.  I could not move more than a few steps without someone offering to help.  It made me very pleased with our membership.  Maybe this is explained by our having shrunk into a core group (family). I owe all of you  all a big thank you. I can’t thank you guys enough for just picking things up and making it all happen.  Get’er done mentality.  Nabeel – RC — great decisions – sitting on the docks for 90 minutes Sat., I know you were getting some pressured commentary – Great work!

2010, Results, Spring Series

PRSA Spring Series # 6, Sunday, May 16!

Updated 5/19/10 —  Sunday was a day when the weatherman promised much and delivered so little.  The forecast was for partly sunny and pleasant conditions, a high of 76 degrees, and winds from the northeast at 8 – 10 MPH.   Seven Lightnings, six Albacores, and three Hobies splashed and made their way up to the race course, while  PRO Bob Astrove and RC crew set a windward-leeward course along an ENE axis, with the windward mark close to the deepwater channel and the leeward mark close to the airport shore.  But they only got off one race before the wind died.  At 2 PM the N flag went up and boats were towed back to the dock.  Results after the break:

Continue reading PRSA Spring Series # 6, Sunday, May 16! →

2010, Announcements, Results, Spring Series

PRSA Spring Series # 5 Sunday, May 9

UPDATED May 10!  Two days of strong northerly winds had pushed a lot of the tidal Potomac River water south, and that, coupled low tide around noon, made for the lowest water level we have ever seen on the river at the marina. The mud flats adjacent to the airport pier were actually above water; a windsurfer was seen walking his rig upstream in chest-high water in the middle of the channel; the ribs of the sunken wreck were two feet above the water surface.  The AccuWeather forecast had called for sunny skies, with winds from the NW at 15 – 20 MPH, and gusts to 25, and they got the sunny skies part right, but the wind turned out to be stronger and gustier than predicted.  Three Lightnings, four Albacores, and two Cats splashed, and RC did set out for Haines point to try to set up a long windward-leeward course as far upriver  as they could, but the strong gusty winds and low water made them change their mind, and racing was canceled at 11:30 AM. 

2010, Results, Spring Series

PRSA Spring Series # 4, Sunday, May 2

Good wind, good temperatures, good waves and good race committee work made for great sailing this Sunday.  We had 4 or 5 Bucs, 2 hobies, and 5 albs out on the race course sailing 4 windward leeward twice around races and 1 Triangle.  5 races total.  With the wind picking up later in the day only Heinsdorf, Harris and Hesse stayed for the final race.  Must be something about ‘Hs” The albs brought a ringer skipper from Toronto and a ringer crew from California. Harris, in his new state of age,  showed a little  mind slipping as he overstood the finish in race 2  and wanted to go around again.  Don’t know what that was all about.  Heinsdorf once again demonstrated his quick reactions as he dunked his brother crew while he scrambled to the rail for safety during a leeward mark rounding capsize.

Thanks to the race committee:  Bill Buck; Susan Graham, Nathan Marsh, and mystery girl (Heinsdorf’s brother’s friend).  And to the use of a GW crash boat.  After racing, Lee pulled out the leftovers including BEER from the monster party on Friday for everyone to feast on.  Thanks to everyone for the good time.  Results after the break:

Continue reading PRSA Spring Series # 4, Sunday, May 2 →

2010, Results, Spring Series

PRSA Spring Series # 3, Sunday, April 25!

Updated 4/26/10 — Seven Lightnings came out along with 4 Hobies, 3 Albacores, and a Laser on a day with a NOAA forecast of heavy weather arriving sometime after 2 PM (which it did, but north and west of DC).  Before 2 PM, the winds were predicted to be from the south at 8 – 9 MPH under cloudy skies, with a high temperature of 75 degrees, and that’s exactly what we got, except that the clouds dissipated by the end of the first race.  PRO David Thompson and RC set up a windward-leeward course and got off three races in quick succession, finishing the 3rd race at exactly 2:00 PM, then sending boats home to ensure a safe ride and retrieval at the cranes before the heavy weather hit (which never did here, except that winds increased to 20 MPH after 3 PM).   Results to be posted soon.

2010, News, Results, Spring Series

PRSA Spring Series # 2, Sunday April 18!

UPDATED 4/19/10 —   The AccuWeather Forecast called for sunny skies, a high of 60 degrees, and winds from the NW at 14 – 18 MPH, and that’s about what we got, except that it was cloudier and chillier than predicted.  The river flow, at 9,150 CFS (gage height 3.9 ft)  was below normal for this time of year, and the water temperature was down to 62 degrees.  High tide was at 11:26 AM.  10 Lightnings and 3 Albacores came out.  Yates Dowell and the Hobie fleet set up a triangular course and got off three races in quick succession, and we were all back at the docks by 3 PM.  During docking on the return, Erich Hesse in his Albacore came screaming straight in to the slot between two of the crane docks, made an incredibly tight U-turn, and stopped the boat along side the north dock with bow pointed out — stunning!  Crew Lars Rathjen, standing on Eric’s forward deck, then  stepped neatly off the deck — and right into the water!  It was a site worthy of a bloopers video.   Fortunately, no injuries, other than to Lars’ psyche.  Results after the break:

Continue reading PRSA Spring Series # 2, Sunday April 18! →

2010, Results, Spring Series

PRSA Spring Series # 1, Sunday April 11!

What an outstanding day, weatherwise, for the first race day of the 2010 season — sunny skies, a high  of 75 degrees, and gentle breezes made for Bermuda shorts attire and fun conversations.  Erich Hesse and his ace Albacore RC crew got off three races in somewhat challenging wind conditions — a 9 MPH southerly at the start of the first race, but dying off to an ESE at 3 MPH at 2 PM, then coming back up later in the afternoon, reaching 12 MPH at 6 PM, well after we were off the water.  The river flow was slightly below normal for this time of year, at 12,500 CFS (gage height 4.2 ft) and the water temperature was 62 degrees. Low tide was at 1:42 PM; High tide at 7:31 PM. 8 Lightnings came out, along with 3 Hobies, 2 Albacores, and a Flying Scot. Results after the break:

Continue reading PRSA Spring Series # 1, Sunday April 11! →

Announcements

PRSA Spring Series # 1 Sunday, April 11!

UPDATED 4/11/10 — Today’s AccuWeather Forecast calls for sunny skies, a high temperature of 74 degrees, and winds from the SSW at 6 – 9 MPH. The river flow is slightly below normal for this time of year, at 12,500 CFS (gage height 4.2 ft) and the river water temperature is 62 degrees. First high tide is this morning at 7:09 AM; Low tide will be at 1:42 PM; Second high tide at 7:31 PM.  Take off your winter covers and get ready to race!