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

2021-2021 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 Fall Series 8 – last one

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

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Buccaneer_FS8

I20_FS8

Laser_FS8

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(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

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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 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.

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Buccaneer_FS7

I20_FS7

Laser_FS7

Lightning_FS7

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 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:

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Buccaneer_FS6

Flying Scot_FS6

I20_FS6

Laser_FS6

Lightning_FS6

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

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.

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20(21_Championship_Series_Cum

(October 17, races 64-66 in the championship series)

 

2021 Lightning Fall Series 4

It was a cloudy day with nice winds were from the NE.  Our course was from near the airport shore to the mouth of the Anacostia, twice around.   The finish line was an obstruction that could not be sailed through which created a strategic question about which way to sail around it.

Frank started off slow but ticked off three bullets after the first race.  He banged the right each time and even though we thought there were some shift worth taking to the left his strategy prevailed.

Lightning_FS4

(October 10th and races 60-63 in the championship series.)