All posts by Nabeel

Lightning & Laser sailor/racer.
Announcements, Lasers, Results

2021-2022 Frostbite 1

It was a great start to the season with temperatures in the high 40s and a SW breeze that started off frisky but got lighter and lighter.   The tide was going out and a current shear was visible near the channel.  Tyler and Eva ran RC.

Laura Windecker won the day with Farley Will and Tom Hutton tying for 2nd and 3rd.

LaserFrostbite2122_1

(races 1-5)

Third place observations from Tom Hutton:

It was good to be back out with so many other lasers! The weather was cool but not cold, and the wind was up and down but overall a good day to be on the water. It was one of the rare days when the wind was from the south but also a bit shifty. It was either shifty or my steering needs work, the latter being more likely. I’d say this day had 3 major lessons for me.
  • Lesson #1 Know the Course. In the first race I forgot (or didn’t find out) how many laps were required. I’d got out to the left for more wind when I heard a horn, turning to see Laura crossing the finish line. I’m not sure I lost any boats with this mistake but this kind of mistake is easy to fix.
  • Lesson #2 Pointing and Locking In Up Wind. I had good speed going upwind which for me is about getting the sail into “pointing mode” as soon as possible. I sheet the sail to what I want for the wind speed, two-blocked for medium to heavy, 3 inch gap for medium to light, and 6-12 inch gap for light. Any looser than that and I won’t be pointing anymore, but reaching. After trimming the main I set the vang, then adjust my cunningham as necessary to get the big wrinkles out of the sail. After that is spending 75% of my focus on keeping the tell tales flowing and the boat flat. If I get my head too far out of the boat I start to pinch, or miss the lift and give up precious ground. So get the sail set, get the tell tales flowing, then focus on going fast.
  • Lesson #3 Clear Air Down Wind. I’m almost always trying for clear wind, and I’ll get pretty far sideways to get it. Mostly I don’t want to be near anyone else, especially in a group of people. I’m not sure about this lesson as downwind I’m not as fast as quite a few others. I think Farley passed me 2 or 3 times downwind so maybe I don’t have any lessons here. Some days I do better than others downwind, Series #1 was not so great. Turning around to look for wind I think is going to be my new technique that I’ll try out.
2021, Announcements

2021 Annual Meeting – November 20th at 12:30 in the WSM Grove

Friends,
It’s that time of year, one last chance to get together and share a meal with friends while we celebrate victories on the water and show our appreciation for our fellow club members’ service over the past year. Please join us Saturday, November 20th in the grove at Washington Sailing Marina. We’ll be firing up the grill around 12:30. As is custom with our Sunday cookouts, please bring something for the grill and whatever you wish to drink. A few folks have suggested they would like to do a bit more and bring something to share, so if that’s you, or that inspires you, please let us know what you will be bringing and sign up here
The business part of the meeting will begin at 2:00 or 2:30.
In addition to awards, this year we will also be holding elections for the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each of these positions is open for a two year term, responsibilities are outlined in the bylaws. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, volunteering for one of these offices is a great way to do that.
At this point, the long range forecast is calling for sun and crispy fall temperatures. If that changes, please monitor the google group for any updates.
Thanks, hope to see you next weekend!
Tom Hutton
2021, Announcements, Lasers

2021-2021 Laser Frostbite Series

The new member year and frostbite series is approaching! The first racing day will be November 21st, the day after the Annual General Meeting. With the new season we have added a position to the RC duty list, the Equipment Check helper. This will be someone who will help the RC put the boat away and make sure everything is ready for the next Sunday. The snow of the winter, and the freezing temperatures mean we need to make sure we’ve got the boats put away right. The person doing this would be free to sail that day, they just help the RC after sailing is over. The link for the RC signup is below, please take a look and sign up. Given last year I’m expecting each sailor to need to do 2 RC slots and 1 Equipment Check helper slot.
For any sailors new to the frostbite season, there is no need to sign up for sailing. We meet at the cranes at noon, the first warning signal is at 12:30.
Lastly, for the upcoming season I’m looking to pass the torch of Laser Fleet Captain, if anyone is interested please let me know.
– Tom Hutton
Click here for RC signup.

 

2021, Results

2021 Fall Series 8 – last one

2 Comments

Frank Gallagher and team ran the races and, I hear (I wasn’t there), got them off without delay.   How was the wind?

Pictures from Lindsay Bach

Albacore_FS8

Buccaneer_FS8

I20_FS8

Laser_FS8

Lightning_FS8

(Races 62 to 65 of the Spring and Fall Series)

Fall Series DRAFT Results (Races 35 to 65)

  • To qualify you must sail 50 percent of the races in which one or more of the boats in your class sailed.
  • Your score is the average of your best qualifying races or all your races if you did not sail enough races to qualify.

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Buccaneer_FS

Flying Scot_FS

I20_FS

Laser_FS

Lightning_FS

Lightnings

2021 Lightning Fall Series 7

To PRO Bob Astrove’s surprise the wind started off from the SW and he set up the course that way.  But after the I20s were off and just as the Lightnings were to start the wind shifted to the west.

Tom got a good start at the boat closing off Ed Lane but John came in just behind and he and Janine sailed high and fast  to get to the windward mark on a single tack.  By that time, the wind had gone even further right and John simply gybed and headed on a reach back to the leeward mark.  Meanwhile, on Shadowfax we tried to raise the chute and gybe.  It wasn’t pretty.  We fell way behind.

The RC reset the course for race 2 and raised the T2 flag — two triangles.   The reaching legs were quite tight and so flying the chute was not a given.   Frank raised it and passed us on one leg but then foolishly tried to carry it on the next and lost.   Otherwise, we did our best to remember how to make the Lightning go fast on a jib reach — we don’t do it very often.

As always it is great fun being out on the water and doing the best one can with the wind and the waves.

Only one more before the boats need to be stored away for the winter.

Cumulative championship results:

2021_Championship_Series_Cum_FS7

2021, Results

2021 Fall Series 7

To PRO Bob Astrove’s surprise the wind started off from the SW and he set up the course that way.  But after the I20s were off and as the Lightnings were to start the wind shifted to the west and it was a beat/reach for them to the windward mark and the chutes could not be carried downwind.

The RC reset the course for races 2 and raised the T2 flag — two triangles.   The wind picked and everyone had enough after three races.

Thank you, Bob, for stepping in to fill the empty PRO slot.

Albacore_FS7

Buccaneer_FS7

I20_FS7

Laser_FS7

Lightning_FS7

Lightnings

2021 Lightning Fall Series 6

A beautiful fall day for sailing.

We had 8 boats racing a great turnout.  Bobby was back in the saddle with Potomac Red after a required hiatus after surgery. Beppe, age 14, was helming Shadowfax. Despite an OCS he did great.  Kevin’s son was helming 14566.  An Aero sailor was helping Jeff Witten on Mighty Moose.

Only two more Sunday to go.  Then the long-dark winter sets in.  Carpe Diem.

Cumulative Results:

2021_Championship_Series_Cum_FS6

(October 24, races 67-70 of the championship series,  14592 and 14318 sailed with two.)

2021, Results

2021 Fall Series 6

A beautiful fall day to sail.  The wind started off with a lot of east in it which the Pro Bob Bear and his team set up for Race 1.  By the time of Race 2, it had veered to the SSW and the RC readjusted the course.  By the end of the day, we were getting big shots from the SW and the wind was up.  Fun.

Results:

Albacore_FS6

Buccaneer_FS6

Flying Scot_FS6

I20_FS6

Laser_FS6

Lightning_FS6

(October 24, Race 55 to 58 of the Spring and Fall Series)

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)