Tag Archives: Lightning Class

News, Results

Fall Series #6 10/25/2009 Scores

Well it looked promising as we left the dock with northerly breezes in the low teens. By the time we got up to the race course however, it had started to fade. We sailed the first race in 6-8 with big shifts from right to left and back again. The race committee set up a nice long course, triangles for some and WL’s for others. The second race started in 1-4 and faded to near zero by the time I crossed the finish line. Very painful and frustrating race. Anyway, it was a beautiful day to be on the water, and the beers were cold so a good time was had on Ariel. In all 3 Cats, 4 Albacores and 6 Lightnings came out to play. Where is everybody?

 Scores are up after the break:

Continue reading Fall Series #6 10/25/2009 Scores →

Announcements

PRSA Fall Series # 7, Sunday, November 1 — Last Sunday Series Race for 2009!

(As of October 27) Eric Johnson is PRO, with RC provided by the Albacores and others (Driver and Helper slots are still available).   You will get an extra hour of sleep on Saturday night, as we switch from Daylight Savings time back to Standard time, so you’ll be rested and ready to compete.   Today’s AccuWeather Long-range forecast (always subject to change)  for Sunday calls for a sunny day, a high of 64 degrees, and winds from the WNW at 10 MPH. High tide will be at 6:48 AM; low tide at 1:05 PM (and high again at 6:59 PM)  Sunset will be at 5:08 PM.  The river flow is currently well above normal for this time of year, at 5,930 CFS (gage height 3.5 ft), and should remain up through the weekend if we get the rains forecasted for today and tomorrow.  The water temperature is a seasonal 56 degrees. Round up crew and come on down!

News

PRSA Fall Series # 6, Sunday, October 25!

Eric Johnson was PRO, with RC provided by the Albacores and others.  The AccuWeather forecast  for Sunday called for mostly sunny skies, a high of 65 degrees, and northerly winds at 10 MPH.  The river flow was above normal,  at 5,360 CFS (gage height 3.4 ft).  The water temperature was a seasonal 58 degrees. Low tide was at 8:42 AM and high tide at 2:25 PM.  Winds were lighter than predicted, and it only made it to 61 degrees, but it was still an improvement over the previous weekend’s weather. The Marine Corps Marathon was Sunday morning, so there were street closures in downtown DC, and a view of the runners on the road in East Potomac Park during the first race.  Here is Eric’s report:  “It looked like it was going to be a great day was we were motoring up to the course, with a cool, steady 10-12kt northerly breeze, but the wind started to drop out right around 11:30.  We were seeing pretty dramatic changes in direction, oscillating from NE to NW on about a 10-minute cycle, as well as steadily decreasing wind speeds, so we called it a day after two races. We wound up towing several of the boats in, as the wind dropped to zero after (and during) the last race.  There were six Lightnings, three Cats, and four Albacores in attendance.”  Results to be posted soon.

Announcements

(Updated) PRSA Fall Series # 6, Today, Sunday October 25!

(As of  Sunday,10/25) Eric Johnson is PRO, with RC provided by the Albacores and others (Helper slots are still available).  The weather will be much better than it was last weekend.  Today’s AccuWeather forecast (always subject to change) .calls for mostly sunny skies, a high of 65 degrees, and . winds from the NNW at 12 – 8  MPH.  The river flow is  above normal, after yesterday’s rains, at 5,360 CFS (gage height 3.4  ft).  The water temperature is a seasonal 57 degrees.  Low tide will be at 8:42 AM and high tide at 2:25 PM.  Round up crew and come on down!  NOTE: The Marine Corps Marathon is on Sunday morning — look for street closures in downtown DC and plan your trip to the marina accordingly!

Results

PRSA Fall Series # 5 – Sunday, October 18.

The RC (PRO Bill Kleysteuber; drivers Scott Snyder and Robert Bennett; and Helpers Jason Desjardins and Dan Miller)  nearly outnumbered the skippers at the Skippers Meeting (4 Lightning skippers and one Albacore skipper).   The AccuWeather forecast (always subject to change) called for cloudy and breezy conditions with rain possible, a high of 43 degrees, and northerly winds at 21 – 22 MPH, with higher gusts.  High tide was  at 8:51 AM and low tide at 3:23 PM.  The river flow was  above normal for this time of year, at 4,290 CFS (gage height 3.3 ft), and was headed higher.  The river temperature was on a downward trend, at 48 degrees.  The skippers voted to stay ashore, so there was no racing.  It turned out that actual winds were somewhat lighter than predicted, and the rain stopped by noon, making for some sailable conditions.

Continue reading PRSA Fall Series # 5 – Sunday, October 18. →

Announcements

UPDATED! PRSA Fall Series # 5, Sunday October 18!

(As of Sunday, 10/18) Bill Kleysteuber is PRO, with RC provided by Albacores.  Today’s AccuWeather forecast (always subject to change)  calls for mostly cloudy, breezy, and cold conditions with rain possible, a high of 43 degrees, and northerly winds 21 – 22 MPH, with higher gusts.  High tide will be at 8:51 AM and low tide at 3:23 PM.  The river flow is currently above normal for this time of year, at 4,290 CFS (gage height 3.1 ft), and is headed up.  The river temperature is on a downward trend, currently at 48  degrees.

News, Results

Fall Series #4 10/11/2009 Scores – and Photos!

What a simply beautiful day on the river yesterday. 7 Lightnings and 8 Hobies came out to play (The Albacores were away at their National Championship) on a gorgeous fall day with temps near 70 and light breezes out of the North. Rick Welch dominated the Lightnings with 4 (count ’em) 4 bullets. Wow. On the Hobie side Bob Etheridge won the day. It was really nice to see such a great turnout from the Hobie class this week.  Photos by John Butler here (thanks, John!) Scores are after the break:

Continue reading Fall Series #4 10/11/2009 Scores – and Photos! →

News

PRSA Fall Series # 4, Sunday October 11!

Eight Hobies outnumbered the seven Lightnings on the race course on a beautiful fall 69-degree sunny day!  Not only that, five of the 7 Lightnings were short crew!  PRO  Nabeel Alsalam set a long leeward – windward course with the windward mark near the entrance to Roaches Run, and the leeward mark near the entrance to the Anacostia, and got off four races in quick succession.  The winds were in the range predicted (7 MPH) but were up and down, with some serious shifts. One gust knocked over a Hobie in the second race, but other than that the winds were gentle enough to allow double-handed spinnaker flying, some successful.  Low tide was at 9:14 AM and high tide at 2:32 PM.  The river flow was well below normal for this time of year, at 1,410 CFS (gage height 2.7 ft) and the water was a seasonal 64 degrees.  Results and stories to be posted soon

News, Results

Fall Series #3 10/04/2009 Scores

8 Lightnings and 8 Albacores came out to play on a beautiful gusty day. The RC set up a nice long 3 lap Olympic course with the windward mark all the way up by Roaches Run. Because the wind was out of the NW with frequent shifts west, the “Triangle” portion of the course was not much of an angle. It was more like a very long offset. At the start, winds were in the 10-15 range with gusts to 25. This faded as the day progressed, and actually got quite light by the time everyone came in. Rick Welch won the day for the Lightnings, while Barney Harris took top honors for the Albacores. Special thanks for Special Olympians Frank Altrichter, Rod Sellers, and Isaac Sellers for help on RC. Scores after the break:

Continue reading Fall Series #3 10/04/2009 Scores →

News

How to recover a Lightning from a Capsize!

Jeff Storck had the unfortunate experience on October 4 of catching a strong gust as he was tacking, with his centerboard temporarily on the river bottom, and quickly found his boat capsized and his crew in the water.  He was asked how he recovered; his story is listed below, along with the subsequent comments that were exchanged in the email dialog. 

One point not made in the dialog is that if there is ever any possibility of a capsize, you must put on your PFDs before you leave the dock, and keep them on until after your return.  Also, pay attention to the water temperature and be aware of the effects of hypothermia and how quickly it can slow down your mental processes — which is why it is very important, when the water is 64 degrees, as it was yesterday, to have crash boats on the race course when capsizes are possible — to rescue CREW — not boats.

Continue reading How to recover a Lightning from a Capsize! →