Tropical system Ophelia confounded our attempts at racing on both days of the 2023 President’s Cup Regatta. We had too much wind, high surf, and flooding on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, we had one of the calmest days on the Potomac in recent memory (absolutely no wind!). None of this stopped the competitors from having a good time socializing over the food and drinks on Sunday afternoon, though. Many thanks to all who attended, and especially to those who traveled for the regatta. At least we were treated to a nice double rainbow over the cove as we wrapped things up on Sunday.
All posts by Aaron
Combined PRSA, DISC, and SCOW Team Wins OBDC Foundations Regatta!
A cross-club and multi-team effort led to a win in the Spinnaker Division of the Old Dominion Boat Club Foundations Regatta (August 26). PRSA Sailors Aaron Boesenecker (helm and main trim), Bob Gotthardt (jib/spin trim), and John Van Voorhis (helm and main trim) combined with DISC Sailor Tara Brannigan (pit) and SCOW Sailor Marco Ovando (bow) for a great day of racing on the S2 7.9 Too Many Cooks (with thanks to PRSA members Nelson Pemberton and Tim Dickson for letting us sail their boat!) in support of local and national charities. We had fun, we went fast, and we helped raise funds for some great causes!
PRSA Spring Regatta May 27-28
Updated 29 May: we had a great weekend of racing, with all classes getting 9 or 10 races in a shifty and variable easterly. Results are posted here: https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/26050#_newsroom and we have some fantastic photos from Lindsay Bach (from the mark boat) posted here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mS7iMjrp9u6yJ3to8
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Register now for the PRSA Spring Regatta (May 27-28) and enjoy two days of racing on the Potomac River with the monuments and Capitol as a backdrop. Head to the Regatta Network site – https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/26050 – to register and to view the NOR. Additional regatta information will be posted on the Regatta Network site.
PRSA at the Annapolis and DC Boat Shows!
- The Annapolis Boat show — April 28-30 — is providing our members a discount code, “PRS23”. This will get you admission to the show for $12. Spinsheet has coordinated the club showcase, and will be taking photographs through the event, so wear your PRSA gear, especially if you are willing to volunteer at our PRSA booth.
- The DC Boat show (May 5-7) will be held at National Harbor. We will be there with other local clubs to promote sailing on the river and collaboration among our area clubs.
2023 Spring/Fall Series Registration, NOR, Sailing Instructions, and RC Duty
PRSA Sailors:
We are just 2 weeks away from the start of the PRSA Spring Series! We are writing now to provide information on some important changes that are going into effect this spring. Please make sure to read through these details carefully so that you’re prepared to race as our Spring Series kicks off on 30 March.
First, you will need to register for the series in advance. Use this link to register: https://forms.gle/9riR85toVRbdvZ976. When you register, you will be prompted to sign up for at least ½ of your required Race Committee (RC) slots. We have had a difficult time filling RC slots in recent seasons and this change will help to address the issue. We will be providing opportunities to help train RC and will look to pair individuals with less RC experience with those that can mentor.
In 2023 all skippers of multi-person boats are responsible for the same amount of RC duty: 4 slots over the Spring & Fall series. Skippers of single person boats are responsible for 2 slots over the Spring & Fall Series. Each skipper may serve your 4 slots all in the Spring, all in the Fall, or spread throughout the spring and the fall. If you bring your crew or friends to help you, make sure to enter the last name of the skipper receiving credit for these volunteers on the RC spreadsheet. You can find the link to the RC Service Signup Sheet here: http://potomacriversailing.org/dues-rc-duty/. And remember, serving as PRO for any race day or as Regatta Chair for one of our 2-day regattas counts as 2 slots.
Second, make sure to review the NOR and the Sailing Instructions for the 2023 Spring and Fall series racing (posted here: http://potomacriversailing.org/spring-fall-sunday-series/). We have made several important changes on scoring that should both bolster participation and enable sailors to travel to away regattas to still compete in, and be competitive for trophies, our Sunday Series races. In brief:
- The new scoring rules eliminate the minimum “races sailed requirement.” There have been many cases where skippers are only a race or two below 50% threshold and don’t qualify. Since days get canceled due to weather and/or due to lack of RC, it isn’t always in the skipper’s control that they end up not sailing in 50% of races. Adding DNC to bring those skippers up to 50% participation would have seen those skippers ranking higher than boats that qualified. We will still only calculate a boat’s series score based on their top 50% finishes in the series(effectively everyone gets to drop their worst half of their scores).
- We are also modifying how DNS, DNF, & DNC are scored and how races conducted while on RC are calculated so that all races can be scored. Our goal is to reward people on RC, incentivize people to race in the conditions that they feel comfortable and at least show up to the Marina before making a final decision.
These changes were discussed at the AGM and then refined through input provided to Tyler, our Rear Commodore, by members and at the 23 January Race Program Committee Meeting. On behalf of the PRSA Executive Committee, I want to thank Tyler in particular for all of the work that he has put in to update our NOR and SIs and to streamline the organization of our Spring and Fall series.
Summary of relevant links:
- Registration for 2023 Spring & Fall Series: https://forms.gle/9riR85toVRbdvZ976
- Spring & Fall Sunday Series NOR and SIs: http://potomacriversailing.org/spring-fall-sunday-series/
- PRSA RC Information (and link to RC signup): http://potomacriversailing.org/dues-rc-duty/
- Information on all PRSA Regattas and Series Races: http://potomacriversailing.org/nors-sis/
Please make sure to review the NOR and the SIs and to register so that you are all set to start racing when the 2023 Spring Series begins on 30 March! We look forward to seeing you on the water!
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.
DISC “Three Bridges Fiasco Race” (June 26)
- AMENDED Notice of Race (updated version posted 23 June, 1345); the amended version allows for additional classes with the revisions to the language under “Classes” on p. 1.
- Entry form and registration payment ($20) — note that you must register and pay by 1800 on 24 June.
- 2021 3 Bridges Fiasco SIs
- Starting Schedule
- Course Diagrams
Per the NOR and SIs, please contact DISC Officers via officers@discsailing.org with any questions about DISC racing or these Race Instructions.
PRSA Spring Series Racing Underway!
Our PRSA Spring Series starts on Sunday, April 11! Please make sure you’ve read through the following information and completed the necessary steps so that you are ready to get out on the water as our PRSA Spring Series starts.
- Sign the 2021 PRSA COVID-19 Acknowledgement of Risk & Waiver: https://forms.gle/xKAAkXm7gh7xZanB6. Although things are looking better, we are still in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic and some areas (including some places in our own area) are seeing upticks in cases and community spread. All participance’s — competitors and RC members — are required to sign this waiver in order to participate in PRSA Activities. You must sign the new 2021 waiver (the prior waiver for fall 2020 and 2020-2021 frostbite racing is no longer applicable).
- Review the PRSA COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZdAoKmJyO2sD10bB9BjWX1V4xnXqDjfeh8WBBcWXG5Y/edit?usp=sharing
- Review the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for the Spring Series: http://potomacriversailing.org/spring-fall-sunday-series/
- Review the RC Service Requirements and sign up for RC Service: http://potomacriversailing.org/dues-rc-duty/
- Race Committee members should be sure to review all of our Race Committee & Boat Instructions carefully: http://potomacriversailing.org/dues-rc-duty/rc-boat-instructions/. Ensuring safe racing and taking proper care of our PRSA equipment is of paramount importance.
- Take note of a new federal requirement: effective April 1 a new federal law passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (which included a U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization) requires a vessel operator to use either a helm or outboard lanyard or wireless engine cutoff switches (ECOS) when operating power boats under 26 feet in length. Please make sure to clip the cutoff lanyard to your life jacket when operating our skiffs.
As always, please feel free to reach out to your PRSA Executive Committee if you have any questions.
- Race Committee volunteers are needed. Go to the Race Committee page to sign up.
- There is no entry fee, but you must send an email to Jeff Neurauter (jmnsailor@yahoo.com) by March 26 if you want to participate. Let’s get this sailing season STARTED!!!