Tag Archives: One Design Racing

PRSA Sunday Series # 7 – November 1 – Last one for 2009!

Eric Johnson was PRO, with RC provided by Jim Graham, Steve Parsons, and Wilda Heiss.  We got an extra hour of sleep Saturday night, as we switched from Daylight Savings time back to Standard time, so we were rested and ready to compete.   The AccuWeather forecast (always subject to change)  called for a partly sunny afternoon (with rain ending in the morning), a high of 53 degrees, and winds from the NNE at 10 – 9 MPH. High tide was at 6:48 AM; low tide at 1:05 PM (and high again at 6:59 PM)  Sunset was at 5:08 PM.  The river flow was above normal for this time of year, at 7,710 CFS (gage height 3.7 ft). The water temperature was a seasonal 57 degrees.   Five Lightnings came out, along with one Cat and one Laser.  The rain ended a little after one PM, and the wind picked up, making for good racing for those who came out and stayed out.  Results to be posted soon.

UPDATED! PRSA Fall Series # 7, Today, Sunday, November 1 — Last One for the Fall Series

(As of Sunday, Nov 1) Eric Johnson is PRO, with RC provided by the Albacores and others (Driver and Helper slots are still available).   We got an extra hour of sleep last night, as we switched from Daylight Savings time back to Standard time, so we should be rested and ready to compete.   Today’s AccuWeather forecast (always subject to change)  calls for a partly sunny afternoon (with rain ending in the morning), a high of 53 degrees, and winds from the NNE at 10 – 9 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 above normal for this time of year, at 7,710 CFS (gage height 3.7 ft).   The water temperature is a seasonal 57 degrees. Round up crew and come on down!

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!

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.

(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!

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.

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.

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!

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