It was a beautiful fall day that greeted us as we got boats ready for racing on Sunday. Sunny with puffy clouds that brought puffy winds. The breeze was mostly out of the Northwest 4-11kts with some gusts, but the shifts were big. From the Committee boat we noted that the big puffs came down from the north in a right shift, and the lulls sometimes came from due west. It looked like, for the most part, it paid to protect the right side for the puffs (Although sometimes that would prove to be a mistake). We set up a long WL course and got started on time. My course was maybe a bit too long since the race took just a little over an hour to finish. For the second race we shortened up, and maybe got it too short since that race was finished in about 35 minutes. So we adjusted once again splitting the difference and this time got it right, and got two more races at about 45 minutes each. We finished the last race down wind at the leeward mark to give the racers a head start for home. In all ten Lightnings (Add three more who were on RC for a season record thirteen Lightnings on the water), Four Albacores, Four Cats, and two Buccaneers came out to play on what might be the most beautiful day of the Fall Series. We also had two Lasers show up for the last race (177053 & 173175), which was won by 177053. The rest of the scores after the break:
Fall Series #1 Results
The forecast was grim: 0-3 from everywhere… Most of the boats had to be towed up to the course… It wasn’t looking good at all… Then all of a sudden a breeze came up and we sailed. The mostly Lightning RC (Thanks for joining us Wilda), headed up by Frank Gallagher, quickly set up a nice Olympic course for us and got 3 races in before calling it a day. The breeze slowly built to 5-10 knots and came generally out of the NW with some big left and right shifts through the afternoon. In fact one such shift occurred during the start sequence in the first race forcing the entire Lightning fleet to start on port tack. On the course you were in big trouble if you got caught on the wrong end of one of those shifts. In all 9 Lightnings, 4 Albacores, 4 Buccaneers, 2 Cats, and 1 lone Laser came out to play on what turned out to be a terrific day. Scores after the break:
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!
Register now for the 2012 President’s/Leukemia Cup!
Online pre-registration for the 2012 President’s/Leukemia Cup is now up and running! You can pre-register your boat and, if you wish to raise funds to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, simply indicate this preference on the PRSA pre-registration form. The regatta will be held on September 8-9 this year. We’ve posted the link to the PRSA pre-registration form, a list of key dates, and all the rest of the relevant info to the President’s/Leukemia Cup page. You can also access this information by clicking the “President’s/Leukemia Cup” link above on the top navigation menu. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your PRSA Rep to the LLS, Aaron Boesenecker.
Wednesday Night Sailing Fun
Need a good reason to show up for Wednesday night sailing? Take a look at these great photos of Mike Heinsdorf and new Albacore convert Seth blasting around the cove! Hope to see you all out there next Wednesday!
Spring Series #8 Results
It was a crazy day on the river last Sunday. Don’t like the wind direction? Just wait a minute, it will change. Don’t like the velocity? That too will change! Sheesh! Len Guenther and the Lasers did a nice job with what they had and got 4 races off for the 8 Lightnings, 4 Albacores, 3 Cats, and 2 Buccaneers that came out for the punishment I mean fun. Here are the scores:
2012 Spring Regatta
On Saturday, a solid southerly breeze blew all day long and built a bit toward the end of the day. The four fleets on the upper course (Haines point) got 4 nice longish windward-leeward races. The Laser and Penguin fleets on the lower course (cove) got 8 races.
Lee, Michelle, and Mike H. put together a very special BBQ featuring pulled pork and Yuengling on tap.
On Sunday, we had more of the same wind! Amazing. For the last two races, we (the RC) stretched the course out so that it took the lead boat just under an hour to finish.
Here are the results — preliminary in case people see mistakes that need correction:
Barney Harris was skipper over 50 who beat the most boats — 10 of them.
Both Daphne Byron and Kyra Tallon were woman skippers who beat the most boats — 4 each. However, Daphen wins the tiebreaker by sailing in the larger fleet.
Lower course:
Spring Series #7 Results
Another week and another wild and wacky day on the Potomac. The forecast this week was NE 5-10 and partly cloudy skies. Anyone who was down at the marina on Saturday would have been more likely to expect variable 0 – 3, which were the conditions that day. What did we get Sunday? ENE – NE – E 10-15 with gusts later in the day in the low 20’s. At least they got the partly cloudy right! In fact, on the way up to the race course, my crew and I noted that half the sky was absolutely clear, and the other half was totally cloudy. That makes partly cloudy I guess… Anyway, if you were out there on Sunday you were sure to have a good time. The RC made up in brains what they lacked in man power, which was a good thing since only three people showed up to run races. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?!? Jim Graham did a great job for us racers, setting up a WL course in the mouth of the Annacostia, and getting off four good races before sending everyone home. Eight Lightnings, two Albacores, and four Cats came out to play on this great day. Here are the scores:
Spring Series #5 and #6 Results
I have been away the last couple of weeks so I can’t comment on sailing conditions and such, but here are the scores you have been waiting for:
Spring Series #5:
Open Cats Spring Series #5 050612
Spring Series #6:
Buccaneer Spring Series #6 051312
Sailing Tomorrow? Lightings in Leesylvania and some sweet sailing videos
Tomorrow looks like better weather than we had last weekend, so who’s up for some sailing? After last weekend, the weather can only get better. The Lightings are in Leesylvania, so I’m hoping to see a good number of cats, Bucs and Albacores, as everyone is guaranteed at least one more start than normal!
This weekend is the annual Doc Gilbert Regatta in Leesylvania State Park. This is the first of two regattas hosted by Lighting Fleet 50 the year – the second is the Dixie Districts. Information on the Doc Gilbert Regatta is here: http://lightningfleet50.org/?page_id=416
The Olympics are this year, and the US Sailing Team is well represented, but the Swiss, so far, have the best multimedia. If you find yourself stuck inside, check out some awesome video of the Swiss Sailing Team here: http://vimeo.com/30784621 and here: http://vimeo.com/35598342.