Tag Archives: Laser Class

2014, News, Regattas, Results

2014 President’s Cup Regatta: September 6-7

The 2014 President’s Cup Regatta will be held September 6-7 at Washington Sailing Marina.  The NOR, Sailing Instructions, and other details have been posted to the regatta webpage.  Please take a minute to read through these details and sign up on the “Who’s Coming?” list so that we know who will be attending and so that we can generate some momentum for the regatta.

Please note that there are a couple of important changes for the 2014 regatta:

  • All competitors must register online and pay the regatta entry fee (either via PayPal or mailed check) in advance of the regatta.  A link to the online entry form (with payment details) has been posted to the regatta webpage.  We cannot accept registration fees on site given NPS enforcement of provisions that prohibit the exchange of money on National Park grounds.
  • We will be running the President’s Cup as a one-design regatta with the emphasis on racing.  The Leukema and Lymphoma Society (LLS) party on Saturday will likely begin well before we finish racing on the one-design upper course.  Please plan accordingly, as the RC intends to conduct as many races as conditions allow.  We will not be scoring boats separately for LLS racing awards.  President’s Cup trophies will be given as described in the President’s Cup NOR.
  • Any boats wishing to raise funds for the LLS should register directly with the LLS on this website: http://www.leukemiacup.org/nca/  The LLS strongly encourages online fundraising in advance of the event.  However, cash or check donations will be accepted Saturday morning on board the Potomac Belle (stationed somewhere near WSM).  Dinner tickets for the Saturday LLS  party can also be purchased at that time.

 

News

Racing Rules Seminar with U.S. Sailing Judge Mike Brownlee

PRSA will be hosting a Racing Rules Seminar on Thursday, May 15, beginning at 7:00 pm.  The seminar will be conducted by Mike Brownlee, a U.S. Sailing certified judge.  Mike has extensive sailing experience, including several years as a volunteer offshore racing coach with the U.S. Naval Academy.

The seminar will be held in the Charleston Room at Indigo Landing Restaurant at the Washington Sailing Marina.  Sailors are encourage to come a little early, grab a drink and appetizer at the bar and socialize with other sailors.

We hope to see you there!

News

Get Ready for the 2014 Sailing Season!

We might still be in the grip of winter, but it is not too soon to think about our upcoming sailing season!  The 2014 PRSA racing calendar has been posted, and now is the perfect time to take care of your PRSA dues and sign up for RC duty for the year so you are all set to go once the season starts.  You can sign up for RC duty and renew your PRSA skipper and associate memberships on the right on the Dues & RC Duty page.  Skippers who have not signed up for RC duty by March 15 will be contacted by their respective fleet captains to help fill first our remaining PRO slots, and then the other slots on the RC schedule.  Skippers, please remember to remind your crews to pay associate dues as well…or, better yet, gift them an associate membership for the year at only $25 as an advance “thank you” for all of the hard work they’ll do on your boat this year!  Pay your dues now and you’re set for the season!

Also, don’t forget to “like” PRSA’s group page if you are on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/345661598808307/).  We’ll be using that facebook group to post announcements and photos throughout the year along with the PRSA webpage and Yahoo! listserv.  Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming season!

News

2013 President’s/Leukemia Cup: Great Wind, Great Racing, and a Great Celebration!

What a fantastic weekend!  We were pleasantly surprised with great breeze on both Saturday and Sunday, we had tight racing on both the upper and the lower courses, and we had great celebrations after the racing on both Saturday and Sunday.  The folks on the lower course got 6 races on Saturday, and on the upper course we had 4 races on Saturday and 3 more on Sunday.  All told there were 61 boats on our PRSA one design courses (14 Lightnings, 12 Albacores, 10 Cats/Scows, 7 Bucs, 7 El Toros, 4 Flying Scots, 4 Lasers, and 3 Penguins).  You can’t ask for anything more in a regatta!

Many PRSA sailors also supported the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through fundraising efforts and through their own contributions.  As we went into the regatta weekend the fundraising total was trending towards $160,000+ and many sailors made generous donations at registration over the weekend.  I’ll be sure to send along the final totals on the fundraising efforts once those figures are available from the LLS.  In the meanwhile, a huge “thank you” on behalf of the LLS to all of you who contributed to the fundraising effort.

Keep reading for links to scores as well as for some of my observations from the upper course.  Be sure to add in your own comments and recollections as well!

Continue reading 2013 President’s/Leukemia Cup: Great Wind, Great Racing, and a Great Celebration! →

Announcements

Register Now for the 2013 President’s/Leukemia Cup!

Registration is now open for the 2013 President’s/Leukemia Cup Regatta.  You can register for the regatta and sign up to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (optional, but encouraged!) using the registration form on the PRSA President’s/Leukemia Cup Regatta Webpage.  The NOR as well as information on prizes and fundraising incentives from the LLS, has also been posted to the regatta webpage.

Early registration is a huge help for the regatta planners, so sign up now!  Any boat that raises $100 before the regatta will be eligible for LLS racing awards based on your Saturday finishes as well as additional prizes and incentives from the LLS.  Raise more than $100 and you’ll receive additional prizes and goodies from the LLS.  You can request a fundraising webpage from the LLS right on the PRSA registration form, or you can bring cash/check donations to the regatta and turn them in at on-site registration.

Please contact your PRSA Liaison to the LLS, Aaron Boesenecker, with any questions (apb99@mac.com).

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

Frostbite, Lasers

Laser Frostbite Day #5, 12/18/2011

It was a beautiful day on the Potomac River with the wind from the northwest 7-15, which was more than the forecast that I saw. The sun was behind the clouds making it feel like a frostbite race but the wind was enough to keep you working. It was another great turnout with 23 boats making it on the last sailing day in 2011. Will Summers and Istvan Pely set up a windward leeward out in the river. The current was coming in/slack at the beginning of the day and was going out pretty aggressively by the last race keeping the fleet off the line.
Getting a good start was essential and the mark roundings were crowded which put an emphasis on making the right decision in a short amount of time. The firsts were well spread out in six races with six different people winning a race (Erich, Frank, , Len & Robert). The wind was very shifty which caused many lead changes. Results are posted here.
I have been excited by all the new faces this year and the turnouts thus far. I hope that we can keep it up in 2012.
The next Sunday is the Hangover Regatta January 1. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year and hope to see you on the water on the 1st.

-Erich

2011, Lasers, Pictures, Regattas, Results

PRSA Spring Regatta 2011, Lower Course Results

If you missed Saturday you missed a great sailing day with a south breeze 10 mph and warm temps. We had sixteen boats with a few people who have not sailed in quite sometime. Steve Parsons sailed with us for the fist time in about a year and Cheryl Taylor has not sailed in over a year.

The day started out with a very solid breeze with very few wind shifts (unusual conditions for the river) but by the fourth race the river had found its wind shifty groove.

Cary Comer came out of the gate rounding all of the marks in the first race in first and finished fourth on the day. Len Guenther warmed up after the first three races and finished with a 3-1-3-4 and good enoguh for third place overall. Justin Pollack was very consistent and finish the day with a first in the last race and second in the overall standings. Erich Hesse loved the steady southerly and took the first place honors.

Thanks to Jim Graham for organizing the regatta. Big thanks to Rick Welch, Aaron Boesenecker (thanks for the pictures) and another Lightning crew member for great RC and crunching the numbers by hand afterwards. Thanks to Steve Parsons, Len, and Farley with helping flipping burgers and rolling hot dogs. I think a great time was had by all.

Erich Hesse (Laser Fleet Captain)

2011 PRSA Spring Regatta – Lasers

Pictures: Lasers on the Lower course

News, Regattas

Annual Spring Regatta Next weekend!!

Next weekend is our annual Spring Regatta. Information including the schedule, NOR and pre-registration is located on our Web site here:

http://potomacriversailing.org/SpringRegatta/

Sailing Instructions:
Upper course: 2011 PRSA Spring Regatta Upper Course SIs
Course board: Courses – simplified no graphs

Lower course: 2011 PRSA Spring Lower Course SIs

As always we will be having both an upper and lower course. Lower course will be racing Saturday only. After racing Saturday there will be a BBQ. If you are planning on sailing, please take a moment to pre-register. You can Pay online through PayPal or bring cash or a check Saturday. Hope you can make it.

Saturday:3 (or 4) races are planned

Registration: 9:00 to 10:00 near the cranes
The skipper’s meeting is at 10:00 a.m. near the cranes.
The first warning signal is at 11:30 a.m.
No warning signal after 4:00.
If sailing conditions are good on Saturday, the RC may run a 4th race, especially if the forecast for Sunday is poor.

Sunday:3 (or 4) races are planned

The first warning signal is at 11:30 a.m.
No races will be started after 3:00.
Four races will be attempted if 2 or fewer races were completed on Saturday or if sailing conditions are particularly good.
Awards as soon as possible after the last race.