Mike Heinsdorf, Dave Huber, Tim Dickson, and John Van Voorhis ran the races.
11 Albacores, 1 Buccaneer, 3 I-20s, 2 Lasers, and 4 Lightnings competed. All 5 fleets were able to compete in the first 3 races, after we started the 4th race for the Albacores the wind died so we opted to send the rest of the fleets home. The early high winds were a bit too much for the I-20s.
The first 2 races were W2, the last 2 races were W1.
This double-header regatta was held at Leesylvania State Park on June 29 and 30 where the Potomac is 2.5 miles wide!
Six races were scheduled and completed in solid 10-15 mph breezes. Well, it went light in one race which challenged the sailors as the boats had to choose the best VMG angles downwind.
Trevor Prior and team from the Susquehanna Yacht Club won. PRSA’s own Aaron Boesenecker with Rick Welch and Lisbet Kugler were second. Joe Buczkowski and team were third.
PRO Nelson Pemberton, mark boat captain, Barney Harris, and team set up the courses and ran the races. Dan Trammel, our judge, ran a redress hearing and provided anyone who asked with help interpreting the rules, Thank you!
Red Fehrle and Suzanne Humphrey prepared a steak and salmon dinner for us while we were out racing. Lindsay Bach, Sheila Campbell, Maryann Gallagher, Christy Chen and many others brought sides to complement the main course. Frank Gallagher and Pam Maple brought breakfast to get the sailors going.
Jim Dillard was one of the forces behind the creation of Leesylvania State Park back in the 1970s. And he made sure it was sailboat friendly with two cranes for launching out boats. It is now the home of a sailing school. Jim was there competing at age 90 in the latest of his series of green Lightnings with his son-in-law Justin and daughter Christy as crew.
Yuengling was again the sponsor of our regatta and we appreciate that continued support.
Results:
The Doc Gilbert Potomac Cup Regatta is Lightning Fleet 50’s annual invitational regatta. It has been held annually since 1974 except for 2020. It is held at Leesylvania State Park about 20 miles south of the Washington Sailing Marina on the Potomac River. There the Potomac is 2.5 miles wide.
To learn about and register for this year’s regatta please visit this page.
Past Results:
2024-Dixie Districts and Doc Gilbert Potomac Cup
2018 Dixie Districts and Doc Gilbert Potomac Cup
Dane Pederson and team ran Spring Series #7.
John Van Voorhis and team ran Spring Series #8. A front came through and we had a westerly with strong gust from the northwest and a strong current running out. A line of thunderstorms caused the RC to send us home after two races. The storms broke up but its better to be safe rather than sorry.
Key Rules for Scoring the Series:
(DNS = Number came + 2, DNF = number came + 1)
Spring Regatta racers had a great two days on the water! Yesterday winds ranged from 10-15mph and were ideal Potomac conditions for five races. Albacores, however, earned the eye flag for their starts after two general recalls to start the day – currents pushed many boats across the line and were strong both days. Today we fit in one race before winds emptied to then fill in from the South after we got off the water. There was a lot of paddling and taking advantage of the airplane wash to get back to shore.
Jim Graham and team ran the races More wind than forecast and most of the fleet got five races.
Eva Hogan and team ran the races. The winds came in earlier and stronger than forecast. Plus, the big puffs came in from the right — not good when you are flying a spinnaker. Frank capsized on such a shift and puff.
Just not the right day for sailing today. Rain, current, debris, and very light wind caused us to cancel all the racing today.
And even after the rain pretty much stopped we wouldn’t have been able to sail as the wind dropped from light to nothing.
But Piercarlo, Dane, and John had their boats ready to go. Nabeel & Frank were there as well working on revitalizing the Fleet 50 website. And Aaron was there to sail w’ Piercarlo & Lisbet
I had RC.
We are kind of having a bad run of weather this spring. This was the 4th Sunday, half way through the Spring Series and so far we have only completed 5 races. The good news here is those who have yet to come out aren’t behind in the series. See everyone next Sunday!
Bobby Astrove
Whoever is not going to the 50th Anniversary of the No Gas Regatta at SSA on memorial day weekend, should help out with race committee for the PRSA Spring Regatta.
No Gas Registration is OPEN!!!
Please Register here for the 50th Annual No Gas Regatta 05/25 – 05/26
Also, please sign Up here for ILCA Who’s Coming List.
-Lisa-Marie Lane
Mobile 703.209.3653
#15126 As You Wish…Fleet Captain, Lightning Fleet 329
#186551 Buttercup, Laser District 10
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.—Mark Twain
Spring Series #1 was a windy chilly day. Stew Harris and team started off the four intrepid sailors on a W2. Only Barney and Justin Harler finished the race. And that was it.
Spring Series #2 was a light light day. Aaron Boesenecker and team were lucky to give us one W1.
Spring Series #3 started off light but the wind gradually filled in with the sail home after the four W2 that Dana Howe and team gave us being downright beautiful.