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.
Category Archives: Lightnings
Upcoming Lightning Regattas
Lightning Dixie District Championship and 43rd Annual Doc Gilbert Memorial Potomac Cup on June 29 and 30 at Leesylvania State Park. Skippers register here, or volunteer to crew, and volunteer for a shore task. Thank you.
Only 2 PRSA spring series Sundays left before the SSA No Gas Regatta or the PRSA Spring Regatta, both on MAY 25-26.
It looks like several PRSA skippers will be going to the SSA No-Gas Regatta, To go to this regatta, Go to https://www.lightningclass.org/
To see regatta details and links to the Regatta sign-up pages.
If you’re not going to SSA, you can still sign up for the PRSA Spring Regatta at… https://www.nextsailor.com/app/page/regatta/672
Or sign up to help on race committee for this regatta.
Still time to get in some good practice before these regattas so plan to do one or two Sunday races on the Potomac!
Also….
The Lightning Dixie District Championship and the Doc-Gilbert Potomac Cup will be combined and run simultaneously on June 29–30, at Leesylvania State Park. This combo Regatta satisfies Fleet 50’s requirement to run the Dixie District championship every five years or so. Plan to be there.!!!! Go to https://www.lightningclass.org/
to see regatta details and links to the Regatta sign-up pages.
Call or text me if you have any questions or need help getting to one of these regattas.
Thanks,
Frank Gallagher
Captain – Lightning Fleet 50
703-599-0144
frankjgallagher@gmail.com
PRSA Spring Regatta May 25-26
Registration is open for the PRSA Spring Regatta! Sign up now and help us spread the word about our signature spring event: https://www.nextsailor.com/app/page/regatta/672.
If you are interested in volunteering to help out with some regatta organization, please let Regatta Chair Kaitlyn Lucey know. This is a great chance to get involved with one of our events, learn more about regatta organization and operation, and help out PRSA!
2024 Spring Series #4
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
2024 Spring Series #1, #2, and #3
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.
2023 Fall Series – Cumulative Scores thru 10-29
November 5th will be the last of the fall series.
The cumulative scores below are intended to motivate you to come out. Please do!
A few notes about the scores:
The race dates and race number are out of order:
Sep 17 races 8-11
Oct 1 races 1-3 & 17
Oct 8 races 4-7
Oct 15 races 12-13
Oct 29 races 14-16
To be counted as a race for your class, there must have been 1 or more finishers
Half, rounded-down, of your worst scores are thrown out
If you were on RC when there was a race in your class, you will get RDG but that has not been calculated yet. Plus, I often did not know who (sail numbers) were on RC.
I20-thru 10-29 three TOs no RDG for RC
Laser-thru 10-29 4 TOs no RDG for RC
Bucs-thru 10-29 4 TOs no RDG for RC
PRSA/Lightning Fleet 50 Sailors Represent at SSA Frigid Digit Regatta
Several PRSA / Lightning Fleet 50 sailors took part in the Severn Sailing Association’s Frigid Digit Regatta this past weekend!
Aaron Boesenecker, Piercarlo Brunino, Jeff Witten, Tim O’Brien, and Ed Stacey were all on the water. It was tough competition, with former NA Champs, the USA Team for the PanAm games, and other top-notch racers on the water. Congrats to Team Beedobeat (USA 14592) on taking 7th in a tough fleet after 5 days of great (and very choppy!) racing in Annapolis! (Photo Credit: Bertie Werley, Pymatuning Yacht Club). View the scores and read the full regatta report here: https://www.lightningclass.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=93488&module_id=552596
2023 Spring Series #7 (May 21)
John Van Voorhis, Bob Bear, and Steen Byskov and son ran the races – four of them.
(Races 15-18)
Leesylvania Volunteers
Eleven Fleet 50 sailors and friends met at Leesylvania State Park last Saturday and spent an easy couple of hours working and chatting while we worked.
It was really good to see Bob Gotthardt back and looking strong after his health event last year.
Jim and Bob used the small amount of available paint to freshen up the kitchen in the pavilion. The rest of us traded off the four available rakes to clean the camping area next to the pavilion of gum balls.
In return, the park gives us the pavilion to use free of charge for our regatta (normally $700).
Spring Series So Far
This spring started off with two very heavy wind days, followed by a near zero wind day, and finally a moderate wind day. Below are the cumulative results so far.
Next weekend is the Potomac Cup and then four more Spring Series Sundays and the PRSA Spring Regatta on the river. Nearby on the bay we have the Dixie Districts/No Gas. Lots of sailing opportunities before the hot summer settles in on us. Plan to get out as much as you can. You won’t regret it.