Category Archives: News

News

Olivia Constants Foundation Team Racing Fundraiser

On August 24-25 the Olivia Constants Foundation (OCF) will be holding a Team Race Regatta & Fundraiser up at the Severn Sailing Association (SSA) in Annapolis.  Many of us in PRSA (especially the Lightning Fleet) know the Constants family and the tragic story of Olivia’s death two years ago.  This event is a great opportunity to try your hand at team racing (a clinic is included!), raise some funds for a great cause, and celebrate the spirit of Olivia through sailing and camaraderie.

Those of us in the Lightning fleet have a District regatta up in Havre de Grace, MD, on the 24th and 25th, so most of us won’t be able to make the team race event.  But don’t let that deter you — boats and training are provided, the racing will be great and the celebrations after the racing will be even better!  The folks up at SSA are an awesome bunch, and the weekend will surely be a fun time.  All you need to do is bring a skipper/crew pair and a great attitude!

I’ve posted the regatta announcement and the NOR below, as well as a link to the OCF itself in case you would like more information about Olivia’s story and the work of the Foundation.  You can also find the NOR and registration information on the SSA website.

Regatta Announcement

Notice of Race

Olivia Constants Foundation

 

Spring Series, News

Spring Series #9 Results

Well the Spring Series is a wrap. Today I have the final results of our racing this past Sunday, but first I would like to share my thoughts on the day (Scores after the story):

My Day As A Buccaneer

As most of you know, my sailing this spring was abruptly ended, before it even began, on the first day of the spring series when my boat was sadly T-Boned into String Theory, leaving me with a rather large hole in her bow. Ariel has been in drydock for repairs ever since. This past Sunday I was bound and determined to get a ride on a boat and get some sailing in before the series was over. Towards that end I showed up bright and early to the marina looking for a ride. Sadly, all of my Lightning brethren had full crew, so it was looking grim for your humble narrator. I hung around and helped the RC splash the committee boats hoping for a last minute reprieve. It was so bad even the RC did not have room for me! I was getting ready to call it a day and go home when all of a sudden I heard the voice of an angel. Buccaneer skipper Kyra Tallon asked me if I would like to sail on a Bucc. Oh yes! I quickly replied, I would love to. I have not sailed a Bucc since I was in high school, so it would be a real treat to sail one of these nimble and fun boats again.

Continue reading Spring Series #9 Results →

News

2013 PRSA Spring Regatta!!

The 2013 PRSA Spring Regatta will be held May 25-26 at the Washington Sailing Marina, Alexandria, VA.  Register in advance using an on-line registration form. Just bring a check to the regatta or pay online with PayPal. This saves you and us time getting the scoring computer loaded. See Who is Coming. Marina Entry: Participants bringing boats from outside the marina on Saturday morning simply need to tell the guard at the gate that they are sailing in the regatta, and fill in a sign-in sheet. Payment of Marina entrance/launch/storage fees at the gate is not required. If you only intend to sail on Saturday, be sure to indicate on the sign-in sheet that you will be there for only one day.  More information is here.

Spring Series, 2013, News, Results

Results! Finally! Spring Series #1 #2 #3

I know some of you have been anxiously waiting for some results this spring.    I finally got just enough of the information I need to complete them. So, here they are:

First, Week 1; What a blow out. A day that shall live in infamy… For me at least. A day my boat will never forget. It was a blow out with winds gusting over 30. Only the Lightnings, Albacores, and one lone Bucc braved it and came out. Here are the scores:

Albacore Spring Series #1 04/07/13

Lightning Spring Series #1 04/07/13

Buccaneer Spring Series #1 04/07/13

More scores after the break.

Continue reading Results! Finally! Spring Series #1 #2 #3 →

Announcements, News

PRSA Spring Series #2

Sunday, April 14, the day before taxes are due, was sunny, warm and windy, which was a great excuse for all who procrastinate on their taxes to get on the water. We had 6 cats, 5 Albacores and 4 Lightings out on the water – not bad considering that RC was a couple Albacores and Buccaneers and the Lightings were off drinking moonshine. It’s been a while since six Hobies showed up on the water, so kudos to the Hobie fleet for getting the boats out!

We got off a total of 4 races by about 2:30PM, which was a big difference from last weekend when we got blown off the water after one race by gusts approaching 30 knots. And we competed with the barbeque record set last week, with last sailors leaving almost at 7pm. However, no charcoal was in site, so we munched on cupcakes from Georgetown cupcake brought by a potential crew and some tasty jalapeno, cheese and bacon bites made by one of the Hobie sailors.

Breeze was mainly out of the north, coming from the direction of the National Cathedral, and was anywhere from 0 to just under 15 knots. The races were a mix of triangles and windward-leeward courses, all twice around except for the last Lightning race, which was just once around. And what a hard fought race that turned into. Chris and Rick were battling to get the windward mark just as the breeze died. Combine the lack of breeze with a current that was not in their favor and it became a painful slog to the windwark mark. Just as they got the windward mark, the breeze filled in, and it was a quick run down to the leeward mark, where the race committee was about to head with an “S” flag and a whistle, so they could finish and head on home. But alas, it was not their day.

The Carolina 19 had been tied up to the Bayliner for most of the day, as it was much more fun to hang out on the Bayliner, which was functioning as a doggy day care facility and had shade. Enthusiastic RC members cast the 19 off the Bayliner, before starting the engine. This turned into a slight issue as the engine refused to start – it turned out that it just needed a couple pumps of the bulb, but of course this happened while we were finishing one race and the boat was drifting away. It also meant that the Lightnings were able to round the mark and started heading up to the finish line.

But it wasn’t meant to be. The wind completely died, the current was strong, and the sailors ended up losing their patience after about half an hour and one by one gave up and started paddling home.

Announcements, News, 2012

2012 PRSA Annual General Meeting

Greetings Sailors, its hard to believe that the season is already over
(or just starting for the Lasers)… Fast approaching is our Annual
General Meeting which is being held Nov 17th at Marina Towers. We will
be passing out awards for the Spring/Fall series, Spring/President’s Cup
Regatta and our perpetual awards at the meeting. We also have some new
perpetual awards I’m told. We will also be electing our Executive
Board. There is an opening on the Executive Board for a Rear
Commodore. We need all the help we can get running this organization
and this is a great opportunity for you to have a say in PRSA’s future.
The Rear Commodore is responsible for our racing activities. If you are
interested or would like to nominate someone please let me know. Also
we are planning on doing something different for food this year, more to
come later. If your planning on coming please goto the link below and
let us know so we can plan food and drinks accordingly. Hope to see you
there. Thanks

Sign Up
http://potomacriversailing.org/annual_party/annual_party_form.html

Who’s Coming:
http://www.potomacriversailing.org/annual_party/BanquetWhoIsComing.html

News

President’s/Leukemia Cup Wrap-Up

I just wanted to pass along the final fundraising total, along with a big “thank you!” from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for those who raced, raised funds, and generally supported the LLS mission at the 2012 President’s/Leukemia Cup.  All told, we helped the LLS raise $142,000 in support of their work to research and cure blood cancers!  Many thanks to all of the PRSA sailors who raised funds in support of this fine cause, and congratulations to anybody who braved the conditions on Saturday to race on the first day of the President’s/Leukemia Cup.

For those boats that raised funds and also raised on Saturday, the LLS Racing Awards (based on Saturday’s racing results) will be presented at the 2012 PRSA AGM.

 

News

2012 President’s/Leukemia Cup: What A Blast!

Saturday saw breezes of 15-20 kts with gusts to 30.  Rigs came down, boats were upside down, and crews were swimming.  Thankfully everybody made it through safe and sound and we were all on shore when the storm front (with 50+ kt winds!) hit.  Unfortunately, that storm meant that the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society had to shut down the party before fundraising and racing awards were handed out and before the raffle and silent auction winners were announced.  We’ll pass along updated information from the LLS as soon as we receive it, including any information concerning prizes or awards you may have won if you were fundraising for LLS.

Sunday ended up being a gorgeous day with a 10-12 kt NW breeze, wonderful sunshine, and great racing.  The RC did a great job in getting us four races and we all enjoyed a nice BBQ after the racing.  Make sure to post your own comments and recollections from the weekend below!

President’s/Leukemia Cup Results