There will be no on-shore 1000 skipper’s meeting for Spring Series #4 (Apr. 24) because the Race Committee will already be on the water running races for day 2 of the I-20 Cherry Blossom Regatta.
PRSA Spring Series racing will start as scheduled on the upper course with the first warning signal at 1125. Competitors should be sure to check in with the RC Signal Boat on the water prior to the first warning.
We had a great turnout for Spring Series #3. Unfortunately the weather was a bit less cooperative, providing us summer drifting conditions. A determined RC eventually got us off on a W2 race in a very light and patchy southerly after numerous attempts to find breeze and set a course. I know that at least a few boats were glad that we got that race though, as Sunday saw Lisa-Marie Lane earn her first ever bullet in the Lightning fleet. Staying patient, staying focused on the conditions, and being mindful of finding clear air appeared to be key for her & team As You Wish. Lisa-Marie was followed closely by Kristen Burke (skippering Progressive Plastics) in 2nd, and I’m told that this might mark the first time in Fleet 50 history that we had female skippers finish 1-2 in a PRSA series race. Congrats all around!
I was finally out for my first racing of the spring season aboard Lightning #14592 (sailing with regular crew Piercarlo and welcoming new/interested crew Claudio Purificato aboard) and we quickly relearned some of the cardinal lessons of light air sailing: find clear air (especially after the start), find the next patch of breeze, and mind the current. I was caught to windward of a pack of boats on the start, which was a mistake. Groups of boats go very slow together in light wind, and we saw that firsthand. We were too close to bear off and gain speed; tacking away killed the speed we had, so we were fighting back from the rear from the start.
Piercarlo and Claudio did a great job finding breeze and clear air up the first leg, though, so we were in the hunt at the top mark. The incoming tide was a big factor on the afternoon, and I saw numerous boats in different classes take themselves out of the race by cutting it too close to the windward mark. By the time you got clear and did circles you were at the back of the pack. We all did a good enough job with the current and we maximized our gains on the few easterly puffs that came through such that we were able to reel in many, but not all, of the 11 Lightnings on the course.
After the racing we all enjoyed a great BBQ around the grill. Keep reading for the scores and for some more details from the racing. Please feel free to offer up your own comments here or on the PRSA email listserv!
The PRSA Spring Racing Series started on April 3 and will run through June 12. Are you ready to race? Here are a few things to remember:
Racing each Sunday is followed by a BYO BBQ in the grill area. Don’t forget to bring some food and drink for you and your crew!
The day ended up being a great day of sailing. On shore we decided that we would have all boats start together as we had no more than 4 boats in any of the fleets. After a slow sail to the race course while the wind died before shifting to the south, we all got up to the course around 12:15. The Grahams and Griffins were able to set a course and get the first race off. The first race had the wind starting out of the southeast and swinging more south during the race. As the afternoon progressed, the wind continued to swing to the south. We ended up have different levels of breeze with it varying between 5 and 15 knots. Race committee was able to get off 4 races and I thoroughly enjoyed having everyone starting together as it allowed for a larger fleet to race against and added more competition,
After sailing, Melissa and Heather held the BBQ and everyone stuck around and had plenty of food, drink, and fun!
2016 Spring Series #1 – Albacores
2016 Spring Series #1 – Buccaneers
Both PRSA Spring Series #1 and the PRSA Spring Kickoff BBQ were cancelled due to cold temps, high winds, and very low water on April 3. We will hold the PRSA Spring Kickoff BBQ after Spring Series #2 on April 10. PRSA will be providing food and beverages, so come ready to race and come hungry for some great festivities after the racing!
The PRSA Spring Series starts with Spring Series #1 on April 3. Are you ready to go sailing? Here are a few things to remember as you get ready for the racing season:
Spring Series #1 will be followed by BBQ with all food and drink provided by PRSA, so make sure to bring your appetites for food as well as for racing on April 3!
It was a great day for sailing! The wind was strong from the southeast at about 10 mph then built to 12-14 from the south as the afternoon went on. Thank you to the race committee for setting up solid courses and on offset mark for olympic courses.
In the first two races I managed to get solid starts to be at or near the front of the fleet. The tide was flowing very strong down river all day. In the second race I cut the last mark too close and had to do a circle, which is a bummer of a way to lose three boats.
For the third and fourth race the wind was up in the 12-14 range and I managed to botch the start of the third race. I got too close to the pin end with too much time left and ended up over early. The windward mark had also been moved so I and a few others over stood the windward mark. The tide also drove me way past the lay line and I was almost reaching by the time I actually got to the windward mark. The second downwind leg of the triangle planing was possible which added a new challenge we don’t get too often. I managed to do OK and keep up with the boats around me.
For the fifth and final race the wind was somewhat lighter back closer to 10. I was better on the current situation so I managed to stay closer to the marks and lay lines. I tried to keep the boat flat and pointing while going upwind and upright while going downwind.
My lessons learned for the day were: don’t hit marks, know where the next mark is, and be aware of the current and lay lines. I’ve also waited a bit too long to do the write up and the races have blended together a bit in my memory. Thanks again to everyone for coming out to make this day fun!
We are pleased to announce a series of informational seminars that we have organized together with SCOW and DISC. A huge thank you to Csilla Gal (PRSA & SCOW) for taking the lead in organizing these events. All events will be held in the Charleston Room at Indigo Landing (WSM). Mark your calendars now!
Local Knowledge Clinic (3/2, 7pm): PRSA expert Barney Harris will share his wisdom with us all in an updated version of the fantastically informative seminar that he gave a few years back. Barney has been persistently collecting and analyzing charts, graphs, and observational data in order to help sailors and race committee understand local conditions on the Potomac. This unique meteorological and tidal knowledge may be the extra advantage you need to get ahead!
Racing Rules Clinic (3/9, 7pm): a group of thee experts will answer questions related to racing and will give their expert opinions on situations brought up by the attendees and make a final verdict on who broke the rule.
Race Management & Protest Committee Management (3/17, 7pm): this seminar will cover matters that members are engaged in running races should know.
Racing Tactics (3/23, 7pm): this presentation from Mike Callahan (GU Sailing Coach) is expected to cover starting, mark rounding, upwind and downwind tactics. Mike has asked for some details on what we would like to hear, so email Aaron at apb99@mac.com if you have suggestions.
Sail Tuning (3/30, 7pm): this talk will probably be delivered by Scott Steels, an Olympic medalist windsurfer from Ullman Sails. He is expected to deliver a talk on sail trimming: a basic intro followed with some more in depth technical discussion.
Thank you to the race committee for setting up courses is these difficult conditions. For the first two races the wind was light to non-existent with a strong down-river current. The first race especially was challenging with the wind becoming too weak to get back up river for the second leg. I got close to the committee boat then pushed back down river by the current. The only wind it seemed came from the jets making north landings on the run way. After twenty minutes of this the wind filled in enough to get around the leeward second mark and finish.
After the first race there was lots of talk of heading back in. I was definitely in favor of heading in but the race committee wisely waited five or so minutes to see what would happen. With some light wind from the south race two started. After a moderately botched the start near the boat end I tacked to port for clear air. I got lucky with a wind shift to make a long starboard tack all the way to the windward mark near the front of the fleet. The wind stayed light but consistent enough to to finish the race without any drifting.
The wind picked up greatly for the third and fourth races and I managed to come in first on the fourth race. That’s my first win in the frostbiting fleet so I was pretty pumped. I really enjoy sailing every Sunday with so many sailors and I especially like the debrief and hangout after racing. Thank you again to everyone who came out this weekend!
Tom Hutton
