Upcoming Regattas
This Fall has been jam-packed with racing. We have two more local events to look forward to, before the close of 2022. HYC will be hosting its annual one day Turkey Regatta and the District 15 Championships. Links below
- District 15 Laser Championship, December 17-18, 2022 NOR (registration link embedded in the NOR)
Raceday #2: Good Racing with Excellent Breeze
JUL 24, 2022 - It looked very grim, mid afternoon, with much needed showers snuffing out the building southerly. When I showed up to the club, just before 1500, I saw Raleigh and David M. on the deck, with some fairly pessimistic predictions about the evening. Indeed, the wind was blowing offshore at that point, probably just west of North.
Fortunately both of them—along with Rebekka, Ty, Tom, and Philip-- did rig up: like clockwork, the breeze backed all the way around, to 170 degrees, and filled in as predicted with a solid 12. The Race Committee consisted of Grayson, Paul, and me, plus new member Andrew, who sails, but now wants to get into racing. Even though the velocity proved solid, we did have to pull marks a number of times and the RC was mildly vexed by these crazy rights. In total, 6 races were completed between 16:30 and 18:10.
We had our hands full on the RC boat, but I did snap off a bunch of photos until the memory card filled up. My apologies for not getting more, but what I captured is now filed under the photos tab on this site.
Thanks to the RC team and to Raleigh, who was instrumental in getting the whalers launched!
You can view the scores here.
Fortunately both of them—along with Rebekka, Ty, Tom, and Philip-- did rig up: like clockwork, the breeze backed all the way around, to 170 degrees, and filled in as predicted with a solid 12. The Race Committee consisted of Grayson, Paul, and me, plus new member Andrew, who sails, but now wants to get into racing. Even though the velocity proved solid, we did have to pull marks a number of times and the RC was mildly vexed by these crazy rights. In total, 6 races were completed between 16:30 and 18:10.
We had our hands full on the RC boat, but I did snap off a bunch of photos until the memory card filled up. My apologies for not getting more, but what I captured is now filed under the photos tab on this site.
Thanks to the RC team and to Raleigh, who was instrumental in getting the whalers launched!
You can view the scores here.
Raceday #1: Raleigh wins the tiebreaker
April 16 Alex and Raleigh tied in super light conditions, where the wind clocked around from the southeast to the northwest over the course of an hour. The racing was fierce, with the starts being particularly tricky. A big thank you goes out to Mark, Susan, Neil, and Tom, who ran the races. As one might expect, there was lots of mark pulls being made.
Raceday #2 Moved to April 16
The next spring Raceday has been moved to April 16.
IV. COMPETITORS' MEETING
Spring Series: Competitors' meeting at 14:30 on the day of the race.
Summer Series: Competitors’ meeting at 16:00 on the day of the race.
Fall series: Competitors' meeting at 13:30 on the day of the race.
V. STARTING TIMES
The warning flag for the start of the first race will be raised at the following times:
Spring Series – first race, 15:00. The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practical. No race may start after 17:00.
Summer Series –first race, 16:30 The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practical. No race may start after 18:30.
Fall Series – first race, 14:00. The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practical. No race may start after 16:00.
IV. COMPETITORS' MEETING
Spring Series: Competitors' meeting at 14:30 on the day of the race.
Summer Series: Competitors’ meeting at 16:00 on the day of the race.
Fall series: Competitors' meeting at 13:30 on the day of the race.
V. STARTING TIMES
The warning flag for the start of the first race will be raised at the following times:
Spring Series – first race, 15:00. The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practical. No race may start after 17:00.
Summer Series –first race, 16:30 The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practical. No race may start after 18:30.
Fall Series – first race, 14:00. The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practical. No race may start after 16:00.
Trust Your Decisions: 2022 Raceday Series is Here!
March 27, 2022 – The first day of the 2022 raceday season kicked-off with a very blustery southerly breeze, coming down straight from the Boardwalk. There were a total of seven sailors competing, with Guillermo, Tom, Neil, Adam, Dave R., Dave M. being joined by Andres and his brother, Jose. Raleigh and Paul managed the racing from the start boat, while shore support and communication was handled by Grayson. It really was a banner day and it was nice to see those who could make it, after a longish winter.
My perspective: it was important to not be too hard on oneself for missing shifts. It seemed, to me, that the right was producing regular puff-bursts, while the left would come through, every once in a while, with a smoking and sustained wind line. Looking uphill and doing what “looked right” didn’t always pan out--but like I am suggesting--you had to “trust your decisions," yet be ok with it when it didn't work out.
Guillermo did a fantastic job on Race 2 & 3, sprinting to the weather mark first. Tom was also in the mix with a number of excellent boat-end starts. There were plenty of capsizes and I managed to be over early in two races. I had a moment of insanity, where I tacked onto port, at the pin, thinking I would cross the fleet and Andres! Ugh, spin city for me and thankfully my foul didn’t cause carnage. Dave M. gets the sportsman/self-policing award, doing an circle after apparently tapping the weather mark with his boom (nobody was near him at the time).
Andres and his brother are regularly practicing down at SSC and I’m going to try to join them. I’m not sure what time, but will circle back with them.
Thanks again to Guillermo, the SSC Race Governor, and Raleigh, Paul, and Grayson for organizing such an excellent day of racing (six in total). Photos below! Guillermo posted the results, too.
My perspective: it was important to not be too hard on oneself for missing shifts. It seemed, to me, that the right was producing regular puff-bursts, while the left would come through, every once in a while, with a smoking and sustained wind line. Looking uphill and doing what “looked right” didn’t always pan out--but like I am suggesting--you had to “trust your decisions," yet be ok with it when it didn't work out.
Guillermo did a fantastic job on Race 2 & 3, sprinting to the weather mark first. Tom was also in the mix with a number of excellent boat-end starts. There were plenty of capsizes and I managed to be over early in two races. I had a moment of insanity, where I tacked onto port, at the pin, thinking I would cross the fleet and Andres! Ugh, spin city for me and thankfully my foul didn’t cause carnage. Dave M. gets the sportsman/self-policing award, doing an circle after apparently tapping the weather mark with his boom (nobody was near him at the time).
Andres and his brother are regularly practicing down at SSC and I’m going to try to join them. I’m not sure what time, but will circle back with them.
Thanks again to Guillermo, the SSC Race Governor, and Raleigh, Paul, and Grayson for organizing such an excellent day of racing (six in total). Photos below! Guillermo posted the results, too.
2022 Saturday Practices
Thanks to Philip and Raleigh's organizational efforts, we've already had two Saturday practices in 2022. I was able to join Raleigh on January 23, which was on the chilly side, but no problem with a farmer john wet suit. With 50F water and air temps, we did three or four windward leewards between daymarker 2 and and 4 in a 7 to 9 mph northerly breeze. My takeaways in these conditions were: 1) going upwind , I found playing the cunningham really affected my pointing (cunningham off put me on a very high track in these conditions) and 2) Raleigh showed me that subtle turns downhill proved to be much faster than my radical carves. By the end of our day on the water, I had an easier time keeping up with him downwind, sailing angles, but keeping the up- and down-turns smooth. With regard to pointing while going upwind, Raleigh seemed to go just as fast (VMG) by footing, but it is always good to be able to go high, when needed. Short story, don't over cunningham in these conditions.
Our sailing was almost scuttled just as we were launching: I've never seen this before, but Raleigh's top gudgeon failed, which is a testament to the number of miles he has sailed on that boat. Fortunately we had the Iowa-registered, club laser to use. It seemed like a pretty good boat and didn't leak, if you ever need to use one of them.
The highlight was watching the finish of a PHRF pursuit race; we saw maybe 20 PHRF boats and about a half dozen J/24's sailing on their own circle. It was cool watching SSC's Laser fleet's Heather Patterson take second or third in the PHRF division, driving her Catalina 30-something. Congratulations to her and her crew.
For anyone not going to the Dallas regatta, I bet there will be interest in sailing at SSC this weekend.
Our sailing was almost scuttled just as we were launching: I've never seen this before, but Raleigh's top gudgeon failed, which is a testament to the number of miles he has sailed on that boat. Fortunately we had the Iowa-registered, club laser to use. It seemed like a pretty good boat and didn't leak, if you ever need to use one of them.
The highlight was watching the finish of a PHRF pursuit race; we saw maybe 20 PHRF boats and about a half dozen J/24's sailing on their own circle. It was cool watching SSC's Laser fleet's Heather Patterson take second or third in the PHRF division, driving her Catalina 30-something. Congratulations to her and her crew.
For anyone not going to the Dallas regatta, I bet there will be interest in sailing at SSC this weekend.
2022 Race Schedule
The official SSC schedule has been posted by Race Governor Guillermo . I've transcribed it, below, and added the HYC's HOOD and Turkey Regatta dates, as well as the impending D15 Rock the Ice Regatta. I will update as I hear more.....
D15 Corinthian YC, Dallas Rock the Ice Regatta 1/26-27/22
SSC's Mid Winter Catamaran Racing 2/26-27/22
SSC's Racer's work party 3/12/2022
SSC's Team Racing 3/19/2022
SSC's Spring #1 3/26/2021
SSC's Performance Club Regatta 4/9-10/22
SSC's Spring #2 4/16/2022
SSC's Spring #3 5/21/2022
SSC's Summer #1 6/4/2022
SSC's Summer Solstice 6/18-19/22
SSC's Summer #2 7/23/2021
SSC's Summer #3 8/6/2022
SSC's Fall #1 8/27/2022
SSC's Long Distance Race 9/3/2022
HYC's HOOD Regatta 9/17-18/2022
SSC's Fall #2 9/24/2022
SSC'sGalveston Bay Fall Dinghy Festival 10/8/2022
SSC's Fall #3 10/22/2022
SSC's Club Championship 11/5/2022
SSC's Racer's work party 11/12/2022
HYC's James T. Liston Turkey Day Regatta 11/19/2022
Excellent Fall Sailing
It has been a very busy fall for me, at work, so I feel behind on reporting on all of the excellent racing during the fall. I want to thank the entire race committee crew at SSC and the HYC race committee, which most recently hosted its annual Turkey Day Regatta, on Saturday the 20th of November. Guillermo, a new Laser racer named "Alan," and I sailed three flat water races. Excellent fun!
Circular Economy Corner
Last Spring, Raleigh purchased a set of really nice Dynamic dolly wheels to replace his clapped-out, squared-off, Seitech wheels. The new tyres roll great, by not only holding air, but by also spinning on some impressive stainless bearings, which outperform the old plastic needle bearings.
Rather than throwing away the old wheels, Raleigh reckoned I would find a use for them.
My initial response was to refuse the gift, but my inner Yankee beckoned, and I threw Raleigh's blown-out Seitech wheels into the back of the car, where they remained for many, many weeks. I realized that with no valve stem, these wheels were junk.
Sometime in June, when cleaning out the shop, I came across a couple of cans of spray foam, used for home insulation. I'm not sure if it is a real economy, or if it is necessarily "green," but I decided to experiment with the broken wheels by filling them with the so-called "Great Stuff" (which can be a great mess). I started by drilling holes around the tyre and plastic hub, which served as injection points. Then, working fast -- and on top of a drop cloth (this is really messy work)-- the tyres were inflated with the magic foam. I recommend wearing proper protective equipment and avoid getting this mess on your skin, in your eyes, etc. Read directions.
So far, so good, but note that I don't keep the boat on top of the dolly all the time; I imagine that if the full weight of the laser pressing on the foamed wheels in the hot sun would result in hard spots. They are still spinning after 5 months or so.
Rather than throwing away the old wheels, Raleigh reckoned I would find a use for them.
My initial response was to refuse the gift, but my inner Yankee beckoned, and I threw Raleigh's blown-out Seitech wheels into the back of the car, where they remained for many, many weeks. I realized that with no valve stem, these wheels were junk.
Sometime in June, when cleaning out the shop, I came across a couple of cans of spray foam, used for home insulation. I'm not sure if it is a real economy, or if it is necessarily "green," but I decided to experiment with the broken wheels by filling them with the so-called "Great Stuff" (which can be a great mess). I started by drilling holes around the tyre and plastic hub, which served as injection points. Then, working fast -- and on top of a drop cloth (this is really messy work)-- the tyres were inflated with the magic foam. I recommend wearing proper protective equipment and avoid getting this mess on your skin, in your eyes, etc. Read directions.
So far, so good, but note that I don't keep the boat on top of the dolly all the time; I imagine that if the full weight of the laser pressing on the foamed wheels in the hot sun would result in hard spots. They are still spinning after 5 months or so.
Register for the SSC Long Distance Race
This Saturday, September 4 is our Annual SSC Long Distance Race.
This is the Club's oldest perpetual trophy race, open to all members.
Competitor's Meeting is at 12:00
The Notice of Race/Sailing Instructions are now posted.
Please be sure to register early by following this link so that the Race Committee can research all necessary Portsmouth numbers. This is a pursuit race, where the slower classes start prior to the fastest, based on each boat's Portsmouth number.
This is the Club's oldest perpetual trophy race, open to all members.
Competitor's Meeting is at 12:00
The Notice of Race/Sailing Instructions are now posted.
Please be sure to register early by following this link so that the Race Committee can research all necessary Portsmouth numbers. This is a pursuit race, where the slower classes start prior to the fastest, based on each boat's Portsmouth number.
Eldred Continues his Lead into the Fall Series, Rebekka Leads the Radials
August 27 - A deep fleet of nine lasers showed up for the first raceday of the fall series. The breeze started out very light from 090 and backed to about 060 for the third race. The breeze clocked to 090, again, and came in super hard right at the start of Race 4. Phil (PRO), Seb, Mike, and Ryan did an excellent job responding to the changing conditions.
In the final race there was carnage on the course, with a number of capsizes and retirements. The play-of-the-day was Rebekka's boat-end start, where she set up to leeward of Mark in the windy race. From what I could see down to leeward, she not only held her lane but she also pinched off the weather boats, thus leveraging the favored-end starting position to lead the fleet all the way to the first leeward mark. Ultimately, she would lead the Laser Radial fleet, after all four races, while Mark would be lowpoint in the big rigs, winning three races. If anyone finds Rebekka's U.S. Women's Championship hat floating in the Bay, I think she would like it back.
Scores are posted. Thank you Race Committee!
In the final race there was carnage on the course, with a number of capsizes and retirements. The play-of-the-day was Rebekka's boat-end start, where she set up to leeward of Mark in the windy race. From what I could see down to leeward, she not only held her lane but she also pinched off the weather boats, thus leveraging the favored-end starting position to lead the fleet all the way to the first leeward mark. Ultimately, she would lead the Laser Radial fleet, after all four races, while Mark would be lowpoint in the big rigs, winning three races. If anyone finds Rebekka's U.S. Women's Championship hat floating in the Bay, I think she would like it back.
Scores are posted. Thank you Race Committee!
HYC: The HOOD Regatta is Back, September 17-19
This is Beth Gibson from Houston Yacht Club, checking in with all who sailed the 2020 HOOD regatta. Last year the laser line was 3 fleets strong with 25 skippers! Your organizers would love to see all of you again for the 2021 HOOD so to make this easy peasy, the direct link for registration is right below!
Register here > 2021 Houston Open One Design (HOOD) Regatta The Houston Yacht Club : September 17 - 19, 2021 < by September 1st to guarantee your regatta shirt sizes and insure we have trophies for your fleets!
Also, as a part of the HOOD District 15 will be sailing an ILCA circuit and we hope to see this group show up for great competition. We will have the beach open for launching, plenty of parking and lawn space for distancing while rigging. The social event is planned for outside (weather permitting) with live entertainment as we aim to make this a family event.
Refer to the event flyer and regatta contacts for further assistance. I hope to see the laser fleets get registered and on the start!
Best Regards,
Beth Gibson - HOOD Chair@ [email protected]
Charles Barkley
Houston Yacht Club Sailing Director @ [email protected]
Yolanda Mares
HYC Race and Regatta Chair @ [email protected]
Adolf Mares
Head PRO @ [email protected]
Register here > 2021 Houston Open One Design (HOOD) Regatta The Houston Yacht Club : September 17 - 19, 2021 < by September 1st to guarantee your regatta shirt sizes and insure we have trophies for your fleets!
Also, as a part of the HOOD District 15 will be sailing an ILCA circuit and we hope to see this group show up for great competition. We will have the beach open for launching, plenty of parking and lawn space for distancing while rigging. The social event is planned for outside (weather permitting) with live entertainment as we aim to make this a family event.
Refer to the event flyer and regatta contacts for further assistance. I hope to see the laser fleets get registered and on the start!
Best Regards,
Beth Gibson - HOOD Chair@ [email protected]
Charles Barkley
Houston Yacht Club Sailing Director @ [email protected]
Yolanda Mares
HYC Race and Regatta Chair @ [email protected]
Adolf Mares
Head PRO @ [email protected]
Eldred takes the Summer Shortcourse Series
August 7 - SSC Race Committee wrapped up another successful Summer Short Course series, completing a total of 25 races for the Laser and Sunfish fleets. Mark Eldred edged out Dave R. by one-tenth of a point for the summer series. Scores are posted! It was terrifically fun series and thanks again to the Race Committee! Congratulations to Mark!
Massive Trailer Repairs Completed
June 5, 2021- Many thanks to Mark Frary , Peter H., Dave M. and Raleigh for spending a wet day installing trailer components. A bunk and all the rollers were cut off and replaced on our start-boat's ride. This is knuckle-breaking work and we are especially grateful to Mark, who brought both the equipment and know-how to get the job done. The team's progress was hampered by the thunderstorms, but by about 3 p.m. they were able to reload the Race Committee boat back on the trailer and put it to bed. Again, thank you all!
Summer Short-Course Series Kicked Off
June 5, 2021- The sketchy weather forecast failed to deter 8 laser racers, who left their homes for SSC in torrential rains. Fortunately, the situation cleared surprisingly quickly; the blue sky emerged and the breeze filled-in, so that there was a solid 8-10 mph breeze for the first gun, at 1630. The onshore wind was initially coming from about 120, at the start, but as the evening wore on, things clocked to the right to about 140.
The race committee did a fantastic job putting the fleet through a total of 5 races in just about two hours, with the final heat starting at 17:45. The short courses engendered a mixing up of the fleet, with 2 points separating the 1st through 3rd place finishers. Mark E. and Dave R. tied for evening's lowpoint position, with 12 points apiece. Scores are now posted.
The short-course format placed a premium on getting a good start and it was difficult to decide ---on this particular evening--- whether to vie for a controlling position at the RC boat or take a chance on the slightly favored (relative to the wind) pin side of the line. My best results were built on mid-line starts and my worst result involved a failed attempt to get the controlling position, at the boat: I ended up fouling Tom, spinning, and playing catch-up the rest of the race.
It was really fun sailing and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. The weather was absolutely perfect, with very surprisingly little humidity. Thanks again to the Race Committee!
The race committee did a fantastic job putting the fleet through a total of 5 races in just about two hours, with the final heat starting at 17:45. The short courses engendered a mixing up of the fleet, with 2 points separating the 1st through 3rd place finishers. Mark E. and Dave R. tied for evening's lowpoint position, with 12 points apiece. Scores are now posted.
The short-course format placed a premium on getting a good start and it was difficult to decide ---on this particular evening--- whether to vie for a controlling position at the RC boat or take a chance on the slightly favored (relative to the wind) pin side of the line. My best results were built on mid-line starts and my worst result involved a failed attempt to get the controlling position, at the boat: I ended up fouling Tom, spinning, and playing catch-up the rest of the race.
It was really fun sailing and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. The weather was absolutely perfect, with very surprisingly little humidity. Thanks again to the Race Committee!
Memorial Weekend Practice Racing?
May 29, 2021- Race Governor Guillermo is proposing that we have a pickup, practice races on Saturday. If you plan to join us, with a 1 pm launch time, please let it be known by registering here. We'll drag out some marks and set some windward-leewards.
Register for the Solstice Regatta
June 19-20, 2021 - Don't forget to register for the SSC Solstice Regatta via Regatta Networks.
May 22 Raceday Cancelled
May 22, 2021 - Raceday was cancelled since the Bay was inaccessible to our whalers: Plan A, the club ramp, saw 3-4 foot crashing waves while Plan B, launching into Clear Lake, was no help since the Clear Creek Channel was closed, in both directions, at the bridge construction. The good news is that we will now have access to Seabrook Shipyard's new ramp, making Plan B a dependable option, going forward.
Spring Workparty
May 15, 2021 - Thank you Race Committee for turning out for the workparty, which was a huge success.
Accomplishments during the workparty included
Accomplishments during the workparty included
- Decked the dolly dock. The repairs have held fast during the heavy weather we've had this weekend and earlier in the week.
- Cleaned-out shed and took inventory of equipment, signal flags, etc.
- Scrubbed all three whalers
- Replaced trailer lights
SSC May Schedule
- May 8 - Laser Pickup Practice - Launch at 1300
- May 15 - Mandatory SSC Member Workparty - Assemble 9:00 AM
- May 22 - Spring Raceday #2 - Competitor's meeting 1430, first gun 1500 - Sailing Instructions
- FULL 2021 Race Schedule
Series Racing is Here!
April 25, 2021: What a fantastic weekend and I hope you all had a chance to get on the water, even if you missed Saturday’s racing. In total, we had 8 lasers and 3 sunfish. Mike and David M. worked the start line, providing the laser fleet 3 Gold Cup courses and one Olympic. The conditions were unseasonable, with a very dry, puffy, and cool northerly. The direction varied based on how close one sailed toward the land, with a bearing of 330 degrees at the dock and zero at the race committee boat. The result was a weird situation where the fleet was nearly on a dead run, at the start of the second gybe leg, on race one. In races 2 through 4, the RC distorted the triangle (decreased the angle measured at the gybe mark corner) so to better accommodate the shoreline-bent wind.
It was terrific to see Mark Eldred return to SSC; he demonstrated that his seven-year break from laser sailing had not diminished his racing skills, scoring three firsts in races one, two, and three. Looking up the course, it was a challenge for racers to determine when to hit to the left side, and take advantage of the persistent shift (shoreline port lift), or head out to the right, where the breeze was stronger. On the final race, Jeff masterfully played the left side, opening up an enormous lead on the second beat. He kept things exciting, however, by flipping in a particularly strong gust, about 30 yards from the final leeward mark. Fortunately for him, he’s really good at righting lasers and was able to lock-in the win. Jeff is now headed for Maine and he will be missed at the club. He’s been a terrific competitor, always encouraging and eager to share good tips. I should also note that Ty was Mr. Consistent on Saturday, with an impressive average of 2.5 points.
Looking ahead, our next raceday is on May 22. I recommend that we organize a practice before then, on May 8, with it in mind to launch at 1 pm. Remember, May 15th is workparty day.
Again, thank you race committee, which included, in addition to Dave M, Mike, and me... Jeff Stengler, who recently joined SSC and is a terrific helmsman and boat-launch manager! Also, as always, thank you Peter H. for organizing the whaler maintenance program.
Scores are posted. Also, see Photos.
It was terrific to see Mark Eldred return to SSC; he demonstrated that his seven-year break from laser sailing had not diminished his racing skills, scoring three firsts in races one, two, and three. Looking up the course, it was a challenge for racers to determine when to hit to the left side, and take advantage of the persistent shift (shoreline port lift), or head out to the right, where the breeze was stronger. On the final race, Jeff masterfully played the left side, opening up an enormous lead on the second beat. He kept things exciting, however, by flipping in a particularly strong gust, about 30 yards from the final leeward mark. Fortunately for him, he’s really good at righting lasers and was able to lock-in the win. Jeff is now headed for Maine and he will be missed at the club. He’s been a terrific competitor, always encouraging and eager to share good tips. I should also note that Ty was Mr. Consistent on Saturday, with an impressive average of 2.5 points.
Looking ahead, our next raceday is on May 22. I recommend that we organize a practice before then, on May 8, with it in mind to launch at 1 pm. Remember, May 15th is workparty day.
Again, thank you race committee, which included, in addition to Dave M, Mike, and me... Jeff Stengler, who recently joined SSC and is a terrific helmsman and boat-launch manager! Also, as always, thank you Peter H. for organizing the whaler maintenance program.
Scores are posted. Also, see Photos.
New Guv, New Marks
As you all know, Guillermo is SSC’s new race governor. Starting in this role for only about a month, he has been quickly getting up to speed. One of his first acts as governor has been to re-stock our mooring-ball marks and to source new ground tackle, consisting of manageable line and mushroom anchors. If you ever find yourself puzzling over how to fill the mooring balls with air (or boat fenders), I learned that the best way seems to involve an air compressor. Thank you Youtube. The new marks will certainly help the Race Committee and will let us be more creative with our races (for example, set up an “N” course, for team racing or setting a finish line to weather of the top mark, in big events). Thank you Guillermo!
Team Race Blowout
March 27, 2021- In total, we had six boats turn out for a ill-fated team race, which was flipped into a regular fleet race because of super strong winds, coming from the southeast; early in the morning you could see a wall of wind come charging in from the right, kinda from TCYC, moving the needle from 5 mph to high teens.
If I remember correctly, everyone flipped at least once (maybe Philip kept the rig above the boat?) and a number of sailors hit the beach after five races. In total, there were 8, approximately 12 minute sprints. As suggested above, Philip came out on top, with 17 points, in this fun practice event.
Scores posted.
If I remember correctly, everyone flipped at least once (maybe Philip kept the rig above the boat?) and a number of sailors hit the beach after five races. In total, there were 8, approximately 12 minute sprints. As suggested above, Philip came out on top, with 17 points, in this fun practice event.
Scores posted.
Six Boats at the New Years' Day Opener
Jan 1, 2021- Jeff, Philip, Guillermo, Mark, and Dave R. kicked off 2021 by sailing windward-leewards between the ship channel and the wharf where all those fishmongers are set up, over on 11th Ave. Breeze was offshore, so the water was flat and the wind was shifty. There was surprising current flowing out of Clear Creek Channel, as rainwater and low baywater meant water was gushing out of the lake. As we were de-rigging, Jason, a new member, showed up with his laser; not a bad turnout for the start of 2021! Photos are on the photo page.
Laser/ILCA District Championships, November 21-22
Ack, we have a conflict: Ryan Minth just reached out to me and let me know that the District 15 Championships are to be held at Rush Creek Yacht Club, the same weekend as the HYC Turkey Day Regatta. For some, it will be an easy choice to head to Dallas, but for others who aren't inclined to travel, there's the HYC option. Clearly, there's no reason not to race that weekend! Rush Creek has posted the NOR and Registration System.
Turkey Day Regatta at HYC, November 21
On November 21, HYC is hosting their "annual James T. Liston Turkey Day regatta features one-design and pursuit race action on upper Galveston Bay. It's the last large HYC regatta for 2020 and is a GREAT way to usher in the holiday season!. " I scanned the NOR and see that no walk on entries will be permitted. In other words, you must register ahead of time via their regattanetworks landing page.
It's Official, Rebekka is the SSC Club Champion!
Nov 3, 2020 - The yardstick numbers were calculated and Rebekka proved to be this years' winner of the Club Championship! Congratulations! Details on Saturday's racing, below.
Rebekka Led the Lasers at this Years' Club Championships!
Halloween, 2020- At this year's Club Championships, there was little water in the launching area, so the Race Committee couldn't launch anything bigger than the small inflatable to set the course. The races were therefore started from the T-Head pier. With the predicted northeasterly, clocking to a more easterly direction, the pin was kept to starboard, at the start, and kept to port when serving as the leeward mark and the finishing mark. The starts were tricky, where the right-enders held the premium controlling position and the left-enders struggled for water within a minute after the start. The race committee sent us on a W1, G1, G2, and G1 courses. Given that it was a Portsmouth yardstick affair, things proved interesting and we were particularly glad to see Gaston crewing for his boy, Matia, in a i-420 in Races 1, 2, & 3. They sailed particularly well and I think they might have run away with it, on time, but I'm speculating since the final results are still being calculated.
Among the Lasers (Guillermo, Jeff, and Dave R), Rebekka ran away with it, scoring 1-1-2-2, maybe? I'm working off memory. She was particularly fast on the upwind legs, nailing consistent starts and hitting the shifts right. Both Jeff and I managed to get line honors in Race 4 and Race 3, respectively; the catamaran (Hobie Turbo, maybe?) sailed by former laser sailor, Roger, inexplicably dismasted in Race 3.
As soon as the scores are calculated and posted, I'll post a link. Whatever the outcome, Rebekka should be congratulated for coming in first among the Lasers!
After the sailing, season trophies were distributed and the entire assembly of sailors expressed their gratitude to the outgoing Race Governor, Susan Caradec. She deserves heaps of praise for all her hard work over the years, figuring out how to work around boat ramp closures and for keeping the racing going in 2020. I'll try to report the 2020 data in another post.
Among the Lasers (Guillermo, Jeff, and Dave R), Rebekka ran away with it, scoring 1-1-2-2, maybe? I'm working off memory. She was particularly fast on the upwind legs, nailing consistent starts and hitting the shifts right. Both Jeff and I managed to get line honors in Race 4 and Race 3, respectively; the catamaran (Hobie Turbo, maybe?) sailed by former laser sailor, Roger, inexplicably dismasted in Race 3.
As soon as the scores are calculated and posted, I'll post a link. Whatever the outcome, Rebekka should be congratulated for coming in first among the Lasers!
After the sailing, season trophies were distributed and the entire assembly of sailors expressed their gratitude to the outgoing Race Governor, Susan Caradec. She deserves heaps of praise for all her hard work over the years, figuring out how to work around boat ramp closures and for keeping the racing going in 2020. I'll try to report the 2020 data in another post.
Club Championships, October 31
The club championship is this Saturday. Susan will get us the NOR with details, but it is my understanding that all club sailors are welcome. Please stay tuned. It looks like the weather is going to be very nice.
Raleigh and Rebekka, Raceday #3 Lowpoints
Oct 24, 2020 - Saturday was one of those days where just about anything could happen. The second cold front of the year passed over, bringing us puffy and oscillating breeze with a mean bearing of zero degrees. While there was some full-on hiking in Races 1 and 2, it was lights-out on the final run of Race 3; the fleet ghosted into the leeward mark and climbed back uphill, searching for the handful of zephyrs that continued to trickle-in from the north. In retrospect, even in Races 1 & 2, I think I should have set-up the sail for the lulls; I found myself more than once failing to shift gears quickly enough, when things got really soft.
It was the kind-of-day where one could start last and still go to the correct side and be back-up front, only to blow it with a bad tactical call (or tactical guess). There was lots of mixing up of the finishes and there was a different winner in all three races. Ultimately, Raleigh proved the most consistent and the fastest while Rebekka got straight bullets in the radials. Congratulations to them both. Also, thank you to Dan and his RC team, which did a superb job, especially when one considers the conditions.
The final scores for the Fall series are now posted. I managed to hang on to the lead, edging out Raleigh by a mere 0.05 points, when comparing our averages. David M. finished third in the Full Rig while Rebekka ran off with the Radials, with an average score of 1.15. Congratulations to all the qualifiers: Jeff, Dave M. Raleigh, Guillermo, Ty, Nuno, Dave R., Rebekka, Tom, and Phil. In total, we had 17 different sailors compete over 3 Saturdays. Thank you Race Governor Susan Caradec and the SSC RC team for all 12 races during this Fall's series!
Results Posted.
It was the kind-of-day where one could start last and still go to the correct side and be back-up front, only to blow it with a bad tactical call (or tactical guess). There was lots of mixing up of the finishes and there was a different winner in all three races. Ultimately, Raleigh proved the most consistent and the fastest while Rebekka got straight bullets in the radials. Congratulations to them both. Also, thank you to Dan and his RC team, which did a superb job, especially when one considers the conditions.
The final scores for the Fall series are now posted. I managed to hang on to the lead, edging out Raleigh by a mere 0.05 points, when comparing our averages. David M. finished third in the Full Rig while Rebekka ran off with the Radials, with an average score of 1.15. Congratulations to all the qualifiers: Jeff, Dave M. Raleigh, Guillermo, Ty, Nuno, Dave R., Rebekka, Tom, and Phil. In total, we had 17 different sailors compete over 3 Saturdays. Thank you Race Governor Susan Caradec and the SSC RC team for all 12 races during this Fall's series!
Results Posted.
Register for Saturday Racing: Fall Raceday #3
Oct 24, 2020 will be the third and final SSC raceday for the fall series. The first start is as 2 pm. Sailing Instructions are posted. Register on the registration page.
2020 SSC Fall Dinghyfest: Rebekka wins Radial, LCYC Craig Tops Fulls
Oct 17, 2020 - A fleet of 7 fulls and 3 radials sailed a total of 6 races in breezy conditions just off the T-head. The waves consisted of really, really steep chop with a regular appearance of some impressive rollers. Uphill was really challenging; the stronger sailors made terrific gains by sailing low and hiking hard. On the dead-down-wind legs, it seemed to me that sailing the boat just hot enough--whether by-the-lee or hardened up -- to catch a wave, was really important; sailing deep, right for the mark, didn't seem to work out so well. I talked to PRO Raleigh who told me that Jeff and Ty's sails were consistently "looked right" going to leeward.
My nomination for play-of-the day took place in Race One, when Jeff nailed the start at the pin end and just powered-off, bow down, and tacked and crossed the fleet within 3 or 4 minutes. He managed this maneuver despite the fact the RC boat was slightly favored. I also nominate Jeff for the sportsmanship award, for on that very same leg, he rounded the weather mark well ahead, only to spin a circle; apparently, he hit the mark, which was news to me as I came into the zone.
Another potential nominee for play of the day would be Rebekka, who in Race 4 led the way up the first beat; I suspect she nailed the start, got clear air, and hiked harder than all of us.
It was terrific to see a new SSC member, Phillip, join us. He is just getting back into laser sailing and did better-and-better, throughout the day, ultimately winning Race 6!
Congratulations to Craig and Rebekka! The results are posted on Regatta Networks.
Many thanks go to Susan Caradec, Race Governor, and her team, including Raleigh, Mike, Seb, Zack, Sue, and Sean!
My nomination for play-of-the day took place in Race One, when Jeff nailed the start at the pin end and just powered-off, bow down, and tacked and crossed the fleet within 3 or 4 minutes. He managed this maneuver despite the fact the RC boat was slightly favored. I also nominate Jeff for the sportsmanship award, for on that very same leg, he rounded the weather mark well ahead, only to spin a circle; apparently, he hit the mark, which was news to me as I came into the zone.
Another potential nominee for play of the day would be Rebekka, who in Race 4 led the way up the first beat; I suspect she nailed the start, got clear air, and hiked harder than all of us.
It was terrific to see a new SSC member, Phillip, join us. He is just getting back into laser sailing and did better-and-better, throughout the day, ultimately winning Race 6!
Congratulations to Craig and Rebekka! The results are posted on Regatta Networks.
Many thanks go to Susan Caradec, Race Governor, and her team, including Raleigh, Mike, Seb, Zack, Sue, and Sean!
Texas Sailor Griffin Orr Wins the 2020 Gulf Coast Championships
10/3-4/2020: With 13 Full Rigs registered, SSC won the participation award, contributing six boats to the fleet! Light air on both days tipped the scales towards the lighter sailors, with Griffin Orr (Corinthian Sailing Club) running away with the event, scoring a total of six points, after dropping a third in race #2. Raleigh placed, with 9 points, and I showed, with a total of 15.
The TCYC race committee did an excellent job orchestrating 18 starts for the Fulls, Radials, and 4.7s. Shannon endeavored to kick-off a seventh race on Day 2, but was forced to abandon by the time half the fleet rounded the second mark. I'm not sure if she called it off because the breeze went to zero-to-three or if she spotted, very early, the persistent shift from 30 degrees to ca. 90, which helped push us home with little effort.
I learned a great deal at this regatta, spending more time than usual tweaking the sail and watching the setup on other boats. On Day 1, everyone seemed to be in agreement that the chop was disproportionately big relative to the wind pressure. I settled on a sail draft, measured from the boom cleat to the foot of the sail, that was ca. 7 inches, while sailing upwind. In the last race we sailed, I noticed that Griffin sailed the downhill legs with a flatter sail than most. I'm saying more than I know, but I guess that a sail that is too full (in light breeze) downwind, does one little good, since a vacuum bubble on the lee side of the sail probably forms (loss of laminar flow). It seem to me, anyway, that keeping flow over the back of the sail, either by heading up or sailing by-the-lee, made better VMG than sailing straight for the mark.
It was the kind-of regatta where one was racing hard no matter where one found themselves in the fleet. There was always a group of boats to battle with and there was lots of talent on the course. Concentration and keeping the boat moving were key.
What a great thing that TCYC agreed to host this year's Gulf Coast Championship and made it easy for us all to participate! Nice to see some of our old pals from other clubs and to meet some new ones. Don't forget to register for the SSC Fall Dinghy Fest.
The Results from the Laser Gulf Coast Championships are posted..
The TCYC race committee did an excellent job orchestrating 18 starts for the Fulls, Radials, and 4.7s. Shannon endeavored to kick-off a seventh race on Day 2, but was forced to abandon by the time half the fleet rounded the second mark. I'm not sure if she called it off because the breeze went to zero-to-three or if she spotted, very early, the persistent shift from 30 degrees to ca. 90, which helped push us home with little effort.
I learned a great deal at this regatta, spending more time than usual tweaking the sail and watching the setup on other boats. On Day 1, everyone seemed to be in agreement that the chop was disproportionately big relative to the wind pressure. I settled on a sail draft, measured from the boom cleat to the foot of the sail, that was ca. 7 inches, while sailing upwind. In the last race we sailed, I noticed that Griffin sailed the downhill legs with a flatter sail than most. I'm saying more than I know, but I guess that a sail that is too full (in light breeze) downwind, does one little good, since a vacuum bubble on the lee side of the sail probably forms (loss of laminar flow). It seem to me, anyway, that keeping flow over the back of the sail, either by heading up or sailing by-the-lee, made better VMG than sailing straight for the mark.
It was the kind-of regatta where one was racing hard no matter where one found themselves in the fleet. There was always a group of boats to battle with and there was lots of talent on the course. Concentration and keeping the boat moving were key.
What a great thing that TCYC agreed to host this year's Gulf Coast Championship and made it easy for us all to participate! Nice to see some of our old pals from other clubs and to meet some new ones. Don't forget to register for the SSC Fall Dinghy Fest.
The Results from the Laser Gulf Coast Championships are posted..
Raceday #2: 8 Lasers, 5 RacesSep 26, 2020 - There was some pre-race parking lot excitement, with one of the Whaler motors catching fire during the onshore tune-up. I wasn't there, but I reckon it is an important reminder that all Race Committee members need to double check that their boats are fitted with extinguishers before launching. They are supposed to stay aboard in their holsters, all the time, but please double check where they reside, before hitting the water. My family lore has it that my mother had to pass 3-month-old me to a passing boat while my old man struggled to extinguish flaming Evinrude on our lapstrake runabout, so I guess these things happen. Glad nobody was hurt (yesterday and in 1968).
Facing a light air forecast and having only a start boat, PRO Tom made the executive decision to set a small, windward leeward course. Quite unexpectedly, the breeze built throughout the afternoon and shifted to the right. Rather than re-setting and stretching out the course, the Race Committee simply gave us more laps. First one, then two, and eventually three. This made for exciting mark roundings and for some tight-quarter racing. The play-of-the-day, if not the play-of-the-year, took place at the start of Race #2: Ty set up on port and easily crossed the fleet during a hard left shift. It was terrific to witness, as he skirted by Jeff, then David, then me, then the rest of the fleet, on our hips. There was nothing we could do. Again, I want to thank Tom, and Alan who also worked the RC boat, for salvaging the day! I also want to thank Peter for all his work on the motors! Results are posted. Photos. Ken JamesSep 23, 2020 - I just got the sad news about Ken James' passing, on Wednesday. The club released the following statement this afternoon:
Dear fellow sailors, It is with deep sadness that we must tell you of the passing last Wednesday of Ken James. He has been a mainstay of our club for 53 years and a good friend. He will be greatly missed. Please hold his family in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep you informed of details of services. I never got to race against Ken, but David M. tells me that Ken was a formidable competitor who hit the shifts and sailed particularly well in a blow. I served with Ken for approximately three years on the SSC Board of Governors and I really enjoyed his wit and his Thistle racing stories As many other people in the club will attest, Ken had an engineer's mind and could fix anything. He will be missed . Request from the SSC BoardDear Seabrook Sailing Club Members,
We are asking members to come down and help put our Club back into proper order after Tropical Storm Beta. The grounds will need to be cleared of whatever debris Beta deposited and the equipment evacuated from the sheds will need to be moved out of the clubhouse and off of the mid-deck back to it's proper storage areas. The Club is scheduled to run Fall Race #2 this Saturday and we are asking folks to come down to the club Saturday morning to get the grounds back in good order for sailing. If you can't make it on Saturday then please come down on your own. Thank you, Tim Barkley Secretary Local Fall RacingAfter some great racing last Saturday, we have four more Fall events to look forward to. Please follow the links to register:
Andres Wins the 2020 HOODSep 19, 2020 – Sailors were greeted with the first hard northerly of the fall season, bringing unseasonably dry and cool air. Things looked absolutely gnarly around 9 a.m., with full-on whitecaps being kicked up within the relatively tight area, just northeast of the beach outside of HYC’s back gate. Launching was a little tricky with the onshore breeze and unusually high tide; those launching from the beach found themselves climbing into their boats with only yards of leeway.
HYC’s organizers used the square course that kept the Laser, Laser Radial, Optis, and VX separated throughout the day. The breeze bounced around, but persisted with a median reading of 30 degrees (as it lightened up, it went as far left as 0, but shifted to the right soon thereafter). It snorted the first two races (17 mph, perhaps), but things became a little more variable in races 3 through 5. I was just hanging on during the first races and didn’t have a clear view of what was going on, as far as shifts or tactics, but I could see that both Dan and Jeff sailed remarkably well in the relatively flat-water conditions; it felt a lot like East Coast sailing and I bet Jeff, who originally hails from Connecticut, felt comfortable calling the shifts in this combination of wind and waves. As the day progressed, it seemed to me the wind shifts became more pronounced. Andres, once again, dominated the racecourse. Only in race 4 was Raleigh able to finish first. Day 2 of the regatta was canceled because of the forecasted high water and likely stormy conditions. While I have been doing my best to get in shape, my legs quietly welcomed this news. Here are the highlights:
Rebekka Wins Radials, Raleigh Takes Full, in SSC Fall Season Opener9/12/2020- Five Radials and seven Full Rigs made for a 12 boat Laser start at the first of the SSC Fall Series. I joined the Race Committee as the Principle Race Officer, so I had a good view of he course and the light-air action, for all four races.
We started with a W2, which delivered the standard of a 20-25 minute race. The wind hit the predicted 8 or 9 mph during the first beat, but it all softened considerably, throughout the afternoon. Mike and Grayson, on the markset boat, pointed out how the race area was sitting between two ominous cloud banks, both inshore and offshore, which thankfully did not mess with the direction, too much; we kept an eye on things, changing the weather mark three times, in order to match the steady backing wind and to steadily shorten the W1 course for the rest of the afternoon. Both Raleigh and Rebekka scored three wins in their respective fleets: Tom edged Rebekka out in Race 2 and Dave M. successfully match-raced Raleigh in an exciting final beat of Race 3. The play-of-the-day was in Race 4, when Rebekka handily won the pin side of the start, in the 0-3 breeze that was initially on offer. Rebekka soon thereafter picked-up a 15 degree lefty that provided the only pressure on the whole course. I watched poor Zamira get an equally good start at the boat, but she tacked too early, only to be rolled by the fleet. It was really interesting to see how Rebekka played the top of the course, covering the rest of the fleet by moving from the left side to the right. Downwind, she sailed relatively high on starboard tack, while Raleigh and Nuno crossed the boat side of the start/finish line. By the time they got to the bottom mark, Rebekka had stretched-out her lead, considerably , so that she nearly fended-off Raleigh's full rig on the final beat. I can't tell you all how satisfying it was to work on the race committee; what a great team. In addition to Grayson and Mike, we started on time thanks to others, including Amy, who worked the race committee boat, and the shore support team that helped with prepping and launching the whalers (Adam, Kyle, Peter Hansen, and Race Governor Susan Caradec). I really appreciate the depth-of-talent we have, when it comes to race management, at SSC! My takeaways
Register for Fall Series #1September 12, 2020 marks the Fall Series opener, at SSC. We are looking forward to continuation of the strong attendance, including the return of HYC sailors and perhaps others from around the Bay. This is a terrific warm-up for the HOOD Regatta, which I know Raleigh is looking forward to.
The Sailing Instructions specify the first start, for the Fall series, is at 14:00. Each fleet will have its own independent sequence (no rolling starts). I will be the PRO and I anticipate running at least three, hopefully four races. Note that the SI's tell us that "no race may start after 16:00." If you haven't sailed with us, keep in mind that the start/finish line is closed, while racing. There will be no competitors meeting, so send me your questions and be sure to register, online. One week out, we're getting conflicting weather forecast destails, but it looks like it will be sunny and we'll have breeze somewhere between 7 and 12 mph. HOOD Regatta Registration OpenYou can now register for the 2020 HOOD Regatta, which takes place Sept 19-20. Go check out their Regatta Networks page.
Cat Sailors Roger & Morgan Frakes Win the SSC Long Distance RaceAUG 29, 2020 - Racing was delayed thanks to a near squall rolling in from the south, thereby blanketing the entire bayscape with cloud. With visibility about a mile, it made little sense sending the fleet on the 12-mile track.
Fortunately both the rain and cloud cover abated soon after the scheduled starting time; the first fleet of the pursuit race left the dock at about 1:30. The five lasers sailed away from the T-head about one-quarter of an hour afterwards in a start that proved chaotic, with at least 3 out of the 5 lasers needing to re-start. I did David M. the enormous favor of closing the door on him, forcing him back to the line with plenty of time to get a clean start that placed him in a good position to challenge Ty, all the way up to the weather mark (Clear Creek Channel Daymarker #2). I opted to clear my air early and took a hitch to the right, then lee bowed Guillermo. This pushed him to the right, which I think forced Jeff to take a hitch, too. The result is that both David M. and Ty stretched-out even more distance from the rest of the fleet, as the breeze worked left. The combination of the light and backing wind worked really well for Ty’s foot-mode approach (maybe 6-8 inches between the boom and traveler blocks). This LDR was not Ty’s first rodeo and he attacked the second leg (tight reach to the Morgan’s Point Outer Range) by going paradoxically low, while David M. and I kept it high, nearly beating. During the first half of the two mile leg, I was really perplexed to see Ty stretching-out some serious distance on us. It finally dawned on me that there must be plenty of water ebbing out of the upper bay. For someone from Rhode Island, which often has more current than wind, I felt particularly schooled. In the last third of the leg, I joined him by driving below David M.’s stern and pointing the bow really low of the mark. Kicking up some speed, I reeled in David M. by the time we reached the MPOR. The downwind leg to Bay Port Daymarker #5 we got to see the multihulls zip past us. Seb’s new Hobie Tiger showed the most impressive speed, three-sail broad reaching, double wire-to-wire gybing, in-and-out of the monohulls. Being the lightest of the laser sailors, I was able to skate by to leeward of David M. and Ty, as they ran along the ship channel; I dove very low as a consequence of my faulty compass reading... I wonder if I was finding less current on the left, facing downwind, or if I was simply enjoying better VMG on account of the tighter angles? In any event, I felt more comfortable being far away from the freighters and a tug steaming into the Bayport cut. The final, tight reach to CC#2 saw the Lazarus-like return of the Hobie Waves, which the Lasers had long passed half-way up the first beat. All three of them rolled us to weather. The Lasers nearly passed the Waves, again, on the final downwind leg, back to the T-Head, but there simply wasn’t enough water. I think we finished the 12 mile course in about 2 hours 25 minutes. Long-distance racing is new to me and I found it to be really interesting. While the heat was grueling on the downwind leg towards Bayport, the fire-hose tight reach back to CC#2 was very pleasant and I will never forget the two very large dolphins who surfaced 25 feet off my bow (just off El Jardin). As always, it was great to see everyone. I will certainly do this race again. Congratulations to Roger Frakes, former laser sailor, now Prindle racer, and Morgan Frakes, for winning the SSC Long-Distance Trophy, one of the oldest annual sailing events on Galveston Bay! Here are my takeaways, for next year:
TCYC Gulf Coast Championship Registration OpenOct 3-4: My daughter called it to my attention that TCYC just pushed out its Regatta Networks registration page for the Gulf Coast Championships! I reckon I might be joining the radial fleet for this one... tough choice for a light full rigger but a heavy radial sailor. Regatta Network Page.
15 Lasers, 5 Races
8/8/2020- I made several trips down to the club on Saturday, starting at 10 AM; each time I saw a change in conditions. In the morning, a standard easterly seabreeze was trickling in, beckoning a vintage Lightening that was nearly rigged in the parking lot. Around 1:00, I saw Jeff heading out in his Laser into a stiff 15 mph on-shore breeze. Then, around 3:30 pm, a band of thunderstorms made it all haywire, with flat water and what seemed to be an unimpressive off-shore breeze. Lucky for us, the wind backed pretty quickly to about 110, on the compass, making for a solid 12+ with steep Seabrook wave action.
PRO Raleigh and his team -- Neil, Jeff, and Zack -- wasted no time and got the first race off like clockwork, precisely at 4:30. Their efficient race management yielded five laser and five sunfish races, with a mixture between Modified Olympic and W courses. There was a total of 15 Lasers, thanks to the welcome addition of some HYC sailors. The starting line was particularly congested. It was a challenge to decide whether-or-not to start at the favored, pin end or opt for the controlling position on the right side of the line. I chose the former in all five races and, subsequently, found myself, more-than-once, forced to the port layline. Raleigh will say I'm off-my-rocker, but it seemed to me that there was slight current pulling us to weather; more than once I found myself above the layline and it appeared to me that those coming in from the right were also overstanding. It was indeed shifty, so who knows, maybe the breeze direction triggered an optical illusion (or maybe we kept moving to the edges, in search for clear air on a congested course?). Davd M. proved to be the top SSC sailor, showing he had wheels both upwind and down in the breeze. He attributed his off-wind speed to a recent body surfing excursion, somewhere along the Alabama coast. An unconventional but apparently effective training program. Again, it was great to have HYC sailors join us. Andres, once again, took line honors with straight bullets. I watched his roundings a little more closely and noted that he gets his sail adjustments sorted out early, maybe before sailing into the three boatlength zone. Everything looks set by the time he is at the mark and is bearing off. Congratulations to the nine SSC sailors who qualified for the Summer Shortcourse Series! In total, we had 23 different Laser sailors join us during the 12-race series. Thank you Susan and her race committee! Results are posted. I will post the short video clips as soon as I figure out how to do so. Please Pre-Register, Online, for the Final Summer Series, August 8
The final evening of the summer series is this Saturday, August 8. I expect we will see another big turnout. Please note that we are adopting an online, pre-registration of sail numbers, online, as opposed to the hand-written sheet at the club. This should promote social distancing while making it easier for the score keeper. Please include your name, sail number, and fleet, taking care to note whether you are racing a radial or a full rig. Sign up now!
Summer Short Course Night #2July19, 2020- While we lost our spring series, the summer is proving to provide excellent conditions with strong fleet turnout. A total of 10 SSC racers were supplemented by another 3 sailors from HYC. The breeze direction was a little south of East (100) and with moderate pressure of 10 mph. The sprint style courses, however, forced everyone to hike hard. Andres Boccalandro (HYC) ran away with the evening series, with four first. Andres was faster than the rest of the fleet on all points of sail, yet the few times I was near him I was particularly impressed with his roundings; coming out of the top mark, he easily pulled away 3-5 boat lengths from the rest of the fleet.
The breeze oscillated ever so slightly, but one could find variations in pressure. The final race saw the only significant shift, where the wind hit hard right just after the gun, only to bounce hard left four-fifths up the leg, nearly auto-tacking the fleet. The close action was enormous fun. It was great to see 13 boats on the water and I think everyone will agree that it was race-mode the entire time; no parades, at all! If my count is correct, there were three new members racing lasers, with Daniel Dalgleish being lowpoint among the SSC racers. Welcome to everyone and hope you can make the next short course night, on August 8. A hearty thanks to Rebekka, Kyle, and Adam for running another excellent evening of racing. Scores are now posted. Andres Wins The 2020 SSC Solstice Regatta!
6/20-21/2020- Thank you Susan Caradec--SSC Race Governor--and the SSC Race Committee for hosting a terrific Summer Solstice Regatta. On the Laser circle, there was an exceptionally deep fleet of 14 boats. PRO David Morgan, once again, did not disappoint and made sure we sailed 7 races. Thank you David and the on-the-water race committee!
We saw a lot of everything, from 0 kt runs to a gnarly microburst in Race 3. Conditions were unstable, as thunderstorms skirted the bay all weekend. Day 1 was all about mastering the waves while on Day 2 a premium was paid to those who could get their heads out of the boat. Congratulations to Andres Boccalandro, from HYC & TAMU, who handily won the event with an average place of 1.29! Griffin Orr sailed a terrific second day, placing second overall, with Craig Berleme sailing well in both the big breeze and the light, finishing only 3 points behind Griffin. Raleigh Christman lost the tie breaker with Craig and was top SSC finisher. Finally, congratulations to Andrew Butler, from California Maritime, who sailed a flawless Race 7, robbing the regatta winner of yet another first-place finish. This Summer Solstice Regatta is more-or-less a Galveston Bay Laser opener for the year: we can look forward to the HYC HOOD, SSC October Dinghy Fest, and the Gulf Coast Championships over at TCYC. We also have a lot of intra-club racing to look forward to. Results from the Solstice Regatta Sails for Sale6/10/2020- This afternoon I spoke Ryan Minth of Cvane about the Australian boats he's selling (see Local Boats for Sale) and he mentioned that he is also selling MK2 sails that are left-over from the Worlds. These "event sails" come with the new-style battens. They are Norths that have the new "ILCA" sail logo (not the starburst logo), a three digit number (used at the worlds), and an assortment of country codes. He tells me that he will give us a fleet discount of $50 and sell them to our fleet members for $350. If you are interested in stepping up to a MK2 (with new style battens) or are in need of any other laser parts (or lasers), email Ryan at [email protected] .
Light Air Opener for the Summer Series
6/6/2020- The first day of the summer shortcourse series fielded five Lasers and a record four Radials. The breeze was soft, between 5 and 8 mph. Gentle oscillations bounced back-and-forth, making a compass helpful. The chop was typical for the end-of-the-day; footing was key and I found myself more than once gently sliding aft to keep the bow from digging into some of the steep waves. At times the bay felt like a washing machine, so keeping the speed up was really important to zigzag around the confused waves. I spoke with Ty, afterwards, from my car, and he told me he kept thinking that the northeasterly breeze would clock to the right and I, too, felt vulnerable every time I was on the left side... but it simply didn’t play that way. If anything, the left side, closer to Todville Rd, seemed to be the preferred position, at the top of the course.
Going downwind it was simply too light to work the waves. It wasn't until the last race, however, when I was forced to gybe immediately onto port after rounding the top mark (b/c of a fouled mainsheet), that I got the sense that sailing tighter angles, all evening, would have been the smart move. Thinking back to race 2, David Morgan sailed a very impressive run, following a tighter angle on the left side, looking downwind. We don’t get a lot opportunities to race in light air, so my downhill musings are simply speculative, at this point. Thank you to the Race Committee, which did an excellent job setting a square course and a perfect line! Looking forward to seeing you all at the Solstice regatta. Summer series scores are now posted. SSC Racing Starts Saturday
6/6/2020, Please note that this Saturday, is the belated start of 2020 racing, at SSC. According to the schedule, this is the first of the summer short-course racing, so the competitors meeting is at 4 p.m. and the start should be around 4:30 p.m. The racing instructions are posted.
See that there is a new clause in the course section, indicating that the RC might elect to start the races from the T Head. Also, if the RC uses a whaler to start the races, they might have us finish on the starboard side of the start/finish boat. Having the finish off to the right of the committee boat, looking upwind, gives the RC option to start another fleet, while we are finishing. It works really well, so long as the finishing pin is set way to leeward, thereby keeping us away from the boat starters and bargers. The SSC schedule for the entire year is also posted. Please remember to respect one an other's space, and maintain social distance. Season Updates
5/23/2020- As you all know, the entire spring series was scrubbed, given the uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus. There have been a number of socially-distanced pick-up practices, however, with stalwarts like Jeff, Dave M., Raleigh, and Guillermo making the most of a very breezy March and April. I have been spending most of my weekend sailing on the daysailer or V15, but I did get out Laser practicing with David and Guillermo a couple of weeks ago. We had a full-on northeasterly with very steep waves... really fun sailing.
The club endeavors to return to racing by holding the summer short-course series along with the immensely popular solstice regatta. The scheduled starting horn for the series is at 16:30. Everyone needs to follow proper social distancing on shore. The full SSC schedule has been updated. Read on, below, for more on Galveston Bay interclub Laser sailing: SSC Summer Solstice NOR Posted
5/23/2020- The club race governor, Susan Caradec, continues to keep the wheels moving and has posted the SSC Summer Solstice Regatta NOR. Let's all register ASAP! The regatta is June 20-21, 2020.
ILCA/Laser & Laser Radial Gulf Coasts Return to TCYC
5/23/2020- The Laser and Laser Radial Gulf Coast Championships are returning to Galveston Bay! TCYC has once again agreed to host the event. I don't see the NOR posted, since it will be held October 3-4, but you can find the event listed on the ILCA major event grid.
HYC'S HOOD Regatta
5/23/2020 - I just received an email this afternoon from HYC's Sabra Francis, this year's HOOD Regatta Chair, who writes as follows. Four or five of us went to last year's HOOD and it was a blast. Really interesting sailing in those flat rolling swells up there. Anyway, here's Sabra's note, in full:
The Houston Yacht Club is pleased to announce that we will hold the Eleventh Annual Houston Open One Design Regatta the weekend of September 19 and 20, 2020. We invite your fleets to attend. The HOOD will include the Beasley Cup for the J/24’s, the Heritage Cup for the J/22’s and the Ensign Region IV Championships. We hope that your fleet will be able to participate this year as well. We understand that this year has been trying for all of us. We believe that by following the best guidelines set by the U.S. Sailing Association, the CDC and State of Texas to minimize the risk of exposing competitors, spectators and staff we can make the regatta as safe as possible for everyone. As we get closer to the event, we will publish the specifics of what our special procedures will be. This will be a great time to reactivate your fleet’s activities. In previous years, the HOOD has had as many as 100 entries, with upwards of 14 classes of boats divided into three divisions with three separate racing lines. We are prepared to provide that level of support again this year. Although we have seen many events this year cancelled due to Covid 19, we are confident that HYC will be able to safely hold the HOOD Regatta. We are excited to announce that Mount Gay Rum will be our sponsor for the Friday night Happy Hour and Saturday Cocktail Reception. Of course, Mount Gay hats will be available along with some other special surprises they have in store for you. Our Chief Judge this year will be P/C Tony Nunes. Our PRO’s will be P/C Jack Yoes, P/C Jim Tichenor, and Wayne Coulon. The NOR’s have been posted on the Houston Yacht Club website and on Regatta Network. We will also be posting information on the Houston Open One Design Regatta Facebook page. Houston Open One Design Regatta Facebook https://m.facebook.com/HOODRegatta/ Please share this email with any and all interested parties. Please contact us if we can help you in any way to help get your fleet to the regatta. If you have any questions, you may contact us at the emails listed below. Sabra Francis HYC HOOD Regatta Chair 2020 [email protected] Madonna Breen HYC Fleet Captain [email protected] Terry Eukel HYC Race and Regatta Chair [email protected] Aussie ILCA Parts via C-Vane
5/23/2020- I was emailing our friend Ryan Minth, last week, and he tells me that he is continuing to carry parts and boats. I asked him for a price list of what he has on hand and he sent me this flier:
10 Boat Interclub Practice with LYC
March 7: A hastily organized Saturday practice drew five SSC laser sailors. After completing 3 short-course races, the fleet size was doubled by the welcome appearance of 4 LYC radial sailors and one sporting a 4.7 rig. In total, we sailed six races in conditions that required some hiking. The puffs were challenging to read, but it seemed to me that those who played the shifts up the middle won an advantage. Hopefully we can do this again on the 14th. We'll communicate by email.
SSC Intraclub, Laser Racing, March 21, 2020On March 21, we'll be holding a laser team race event, open to all club members. This is a low-key event, where we will kick off the SSC racing season with a fun, clinic style format. You will recall that we held a similar event in the Spring of 2018, which turned out to be great fun, with two 4-boat teams. In the end, the tie was broken the last race.
I will provide more details, but please fill out the registration form, below. We plan to have a morning start and bring your own lunch. The PRO, me, will make the teams, so that's one thing you don't have to worry about. Schull Sailing offers a pretty good introduction to team racing. 2020 SSC Schedule postedThe 2020 season schedule for SSC dinghy racing is posted. A total of 18 days of racing. Mark your calendar!
First Sail of 2020Jan 12 - Last Sunday Raleigh and Jeff broke out their boats and today Raleigh, Guillermo, Tom, and Dave dipped into the balmy 60F degree waters and headed upwind into a light northerly. They sailed up the coast, periodically regrouping in a series of rabbit starts. The breeze clocked and built to about 12 or 13. The downwind run saw classic Seabrook waves, with a stiff outgoing current quickly kicking up the swells.
The plan is to sail next Sunday, assembling about 1215-1230 for a 1 pm launch. Dave Perry's Rules Quiz: Windward LeewardWithout a doubt, Dave Perry explains the rules better than any other writer. If you have read his work, he often emphasizes the "spirit of the law," or the logic behind the racing rules. Check out his useful Rules Quiz, covering some windward-leeward situations
Raleigh Wins the HYC Turkey!Nov 23: Jeff, Raleigh, and Dave R. represented SSC in the 4-boat Laser fleet at HYC’s Turkey Day Regatta. The event included all sorts of vessels, from J-boats, to meddlesome vintage IORs, to a fleet of one-design Ensigns. On the dinghy circle there were a clutch of Optimists, Sunfish, and Laser 4.7s. PRO Shannon set the tone at the small-boat competitor’s meeting, insisting that the goal was to have F-U-N. We were all pleased that he chucked the original script and decided to run 5 races, instead of the scheduled 3. The RC set square courses and opted to conduct two fleet starts, with the Opti G-R-W-B fleets sharing the same sequence and everyone else sharing a second sequence. There were three weather marks, one for the Green fleet, another for the RWBs, and a top mark for the board boats . It kept the different fleets separated and only in Race 1 did some of the keelboats camp on those on the left side of the course. (this staggering of weather marks worked pretty well and maybe we can get some optis participating in the SSC raceday series?)
Winds started from about 270 degrees and shifted to due north, after race 3. The breeze made for a physical day, with a steady 14kts and puffs in the high teens. Things did go soft on the final race, making surfing difficult. Temperatures were on the cool side, with water about 62 F and the air peaking-out about the same. It was a terrific day and the shifty conditions made for excellent tactical racing: the final legs were generally very close. Three out of the four sailors scored at least one bullet with Raleigh finishing as the day’s winner. There was lots of discussion on how to handle the upwind legs (tack on the shift, or sail into the header a bit), but it seemed it was on the downhill legs where the big gains were to be made. It was a fantastic way to finish up 2019 racing and congratulations to Raleigh, once again! 51st Wurstfest RegattaNov 11- Unfortunately, some unexpected things came up at home and I didn't get to hit the road and attend this year's Wurstfest, as I originally hoped. I nonetheless thank Tom, Pablo, and Jeff for heaving my boat on the van, the Saturday before. It was a great idea, anyway.
Karel and Jeff, however, did indeed make it to Lake Canyon YC and there was a pretty good turnout, with 15 lasers registered, including the likes of Doug Peckover, Craig Berleme, and Griffen Orr, who ended up winning the event (2-1 -1-3-[4]-3). Jeff told me, this afternoon, that things were really light and flukey, with the breeze coming from the dam side of the lake. He also told me that Karel sailed particularly well, with a 4th-place finish in race one and a win in race 5 (Karel finished 5th overall and was four points out of fourth). Well done Karel!. HYC Turkey Day Regatta!Great news! HYC is hosting a one-day Turkey Day Regatta, on Saturday, November 23rd! You will see my name on the roster, later this week. Here's the Regatta Networks page.
Club ChampionshipOct 24- The club championship, sailed Portsmouth style, attracted some 14 or 15 boats, ranging from a Hobie 18 to Sunfish. I haven't seen the final scoresheet, but my memory says there was one radial (Rebekka) and three full rigs racing (Jeff, Pablo, and Guillermo). It seemed to me that the lasers dominated, with a V15 grabbing a couple of line honors (I'm excluding the H18; sorry Roger). While the lasers earned line honors in three races, none had a series-winner advantage (a throw-out).
The breeze was fairly strong and from an unusually westerly direction. The weather mark was fairly close to the T-head pier. From my vantage point, the left-hand side, looking uphill (toward the Kemah channel), seemed to offer more velocity at the middle and the top of the beat, whereas at the bottom of the course, either side could work. The weird thing was that there seemed to be some current running across the course, coming down the bay, which made the downwind leg a little tricky; if you were to pursue a rhumb-line course, you would need to point your bow to the left of the leeward mark (looking downwind), but to the right (looking downwind), towards Kemah, had more pressure... oh what to do...? The starts were the most aggressive I've seen all year, with two or three gen'l recalls and several individuals. Thank you, Seb, Tom, and Neil for running the races. It goes without saying that we are all indebted to Sue's leadership, as SSC Race Governor. It was a terrifically fun year! Club Championship: New Portsmouth Format Invites All SSC MembersOct 20 - SSC's Race Governor, Sue Caradec, announced that this year's club championships will take on a new format, open to all SSC members. Further, it will be Portsmouth style, with all classes starting on the same line, at the same time. Similar to PHRF, each boat is handicapped. I'm told that series winners will be allowed an throwout, each, whereas all others will have to keep all of their finishes for the day (I presume that scoring is average-low-point). It is a bring your own boat event. See you there!
Fun Fall Series!Oct 19 - Congratulations to Raleigh, Rebekka, Guillermo, Alex, Jeff, Adam, and Tom for qualifying for the Fall Series. Across the three days of racing, a total of 12 sailors competed in some 13 races. Thanks again goes to Sue Caradec and the race committee for organizing such a well-run series.
We saw some interesting conditions on Saturday, where the breeze moved hard to the right after race three. I was watching the action from the sidelines, in a V15, and caught a few interesting plays, such as when Alex T. flipped twice to weather on the downhill leg; the second time was particularly painful to watch, since he was well ahead, in first place, only to be death rolled by an unexpected puff, from the right (facing upwind). It was one of those kind-of-days, where the breeze seemed to shift unexpectedly, such as during the sequence in Race 3, when within the last minute the breeze went hard right, again, shutting the door closed on poor Raleigh, who had the good sense to bail out. In general, it became progressively harder to "dip" below the line the more boat favored, as witnessed in the V15's final start; unfortunately there was no way for the RC to time these crazy righties. This last day of the series had a bearing on the final standings, with Raleigh's 1-1-3-1-1 allowing him to edge-out Rebekka by 6 tenths of a point for the series. Congratulations to them both, as well as to Jeff, who finished third for the series. The final scores are posted. Thank you Mike Evans and the rest of the RC! They provided some fun racing! Final Raceday of the YearOct 16- Final raceday of the season and the year is this Saturday, 10/19. Competitors' meeting at 13:30, first shape up at 1400. See instructions.
Clew Tie DownsOct 16- By necessity, I am pretty handy at fixing boats, but if truth be told, I don't spend nearly enough time tweaking everything to perfection, like some in our fleet. Generally if the choice is between working on a boat or going sailing, I'll do the latter.
The problem with my slap-dash approach was put into relief for me at the dinghyfest. I rolled up early for the regatta, for a change, and I put my boat together next to Craig's. As I was setting up, I marveled at his tricked-out rigging. There were a number of interesting enhancements (like 3 or 4 mil control lines), but his clew tie-down caught my eye first; it is some kind-of spectra-like, < 1 mil line to which tiny machined aluminum rollers were stringed. He said I could try one out and he'd be willing to part with it, for $20, if I liked it. I was really impressed with how easy it is to rig and its slipperyness when easing the outhaul on the downhill legs. Maybe everyone already has a system they like, but I felt like this tie is superior in its simplicity and effectiveness. A small drawback is that it will likely scratch the spar, but I'll echo, "handsome is as handsome does." Previously, I had tried the velcro strap and, since last year, have been using the old fashioned square-knot tie down. I'm presently sold on Craig's system (I guess literally). Tom asked if this system would pass measurement, so I checked out the rule book and, indeed, Section (g) ii. states, "If the clew tie down is a tie line, it may be passed through solid balls with holes and/or tubes to reduce friction." Seems like it is a go for me. Now, if I could only keep from losing it! Dave R. & Karel Top the DinghyfestOCT 12 -- This year’s fall Dinghyfest looked like it was going to be a boat breaker, with this fall’s first cold front generating pre-dawn gusts of over 30 mph. By daybreak, things were still windy, but the forecast was for conditions to settle down by the afternoon. In light of this expectation, PRO Morgan held the fleet to the schedule, starting the first race at approximately 11 A.M. For the laser fleet, there were a total of six races, each about 30 minutes.
The first race did not disappoint the heavy air enthusiasts, with gusts in the high teens. The first reach was super tight, with the heavier sailors taking-off towards the reach mark, which was situated about a quarter of a mile north of the T-head. During the very first lap there were two spectacular capsizes at the gybe mark, with another at the leeward mark. A fourth leading boat had to stop to resolve problems with his mainsheet, thereby opening the door for Dave R. To take the first race. As the breeze progressively calmed down, the oscillations intensified. It seemed to me that in races 1 through 3, the left side, close to Todville Road, proved advantageous over the off-shore waves on the right. But as things lightened up, it was possible to roll-over the in-shore boats with strong righty puffs. I recall working very hard, up the middle left in 5-10 mph, very close to the top mark, only to have Karel full-hiking planing from right and rounding well ahead. The whole afternoon put me in the mind of inland college sailing/frostbiting/lake sailing, with opportunities for big gains and losses. The race committee, which consisted of Dave M., Tom, Andrew, and Sue did an extremely good job at setting and resetting the course to the “median” wind direction. There was minimal delay between races and they made the right call, progressively shortening the course as the breeze lightened (the last race was a single W). Congratulations to the Race Governor, Susan Caradec, for a well organized and fun regatta! The social committee did a terrific job with the food (thank you Lynn Scott) and the post racing discussions were lively. We hope this October tradition continues next year: it seems like the best month for racing! Also, congratulations to Dave R. (SSC) , Karel (SSC) , and the tourist, Craig B., for finishing first through third. Windy Raceday #2Sept 28- Strong onshore breeze provided an excellent day of sailing for only three laser sailors who battled one another on four olympic courses. Unfortunately, two of our fleet members were busy running the races (Dave M. and Pablo), while a small breakdown on Mark's boat drove him to salvage his day with the sunfish. Dave R. got his fill of hiking practice by crewing for his daughter in the V15 fleet.
For Karel and Jeff, it proved to be an excellent afternoon of racing, being joined by C-Vane laser coach, Ryan Minth, who won all but the final race. Things were close, however, and I saw Jeff round the top mark on two separate occasions and Karel scored a bullet in the final race. With a DNF after flipping in the leeward mark swell in Race 4, Ryan had a total of 7 points while Karel and Jeff were tied at 9 points each. Thanks to Pablo for sharing a number of really excellent photos! The next and final race day is on 10/19. Good times at the HOODSep 21-22- SSC's laser fleet was represented at this year's HOOD Regatta by Raleigh, Pablo, and Dave R. Raleigh proved the fastest of the three, consistently finishing in the top 3. For almost the entire event, the wind was light and steady, with small oscillations centering around 120 degrees. Selecting the correct side was tough and I really wished Alex T. was racing so I would have known which way to go. The current was surprisingly strong, as tropical storm runoff pushed down the bay.
The race committee did an excellent job setting a square line and course, but there was some problems finding the small marks, making for a fun challenge. It provided an opportunity for the leaders to talk to one another and discuss options during the top half of the beat. In Race 2, there was so much confusion about the course that it was ultimately thrown out by the jury in response to a protest. In the end, the tossing of Race 2 had no bearing on the overall finishes. It looked like Day 2 was going to be similarly light. We completed Race 1 in less than 7 mph. Race 2, on the other hand, was abandoned after a gnarly squall hit us from the right side of the course. As we were sailing to weather on the first beat, it kept getting darker and darker and darker.... ultimately a whaler came out and pointed us back to HYC. It was too bad for Pablo, who was sailing particularly well in this race, but the broad reach back to the beach was a fantastic ride, with full-on planing conditions. I will definitely sign-up for this event again! It was easy to get to, nice regatta gifts, friendly crowd, and fun racing. There was much to talk about, including the weather! Scores are posted on regatta network. Hood Regatta at HYC, Sept 21-22Sep 11- I stand by the philosophy of hitting all the local events, whether intra- or inter- Club. This year, HYC did a really good job coordinating the Galveston Bay race schedules, so the Hood Regatta is not on our one of our racedays! Rather, it is on September 21-22.
I just registered for the Hood and I encourage you to do likewise. They have a regatta networks page and I'm sure the organizers will appreciate getting an early headcount. You will see that Craig, from San Antonio, is already registered! The fleet is shaping up nicely and it should be a fun event: HYC did a terrific job at the Laser nationals, both on and off the water. Rebekka Starts Fall Series with Strong LeadSep 7- The breeze filled-in just as the fleet was putting in the water, making for a brilliant opener for the Fall series. The race committee (Raleigh and Neal) set a series of five Olympic and Windward-Leeward courses. The wind continually built, with everyone hiking by race three, if not before.
Rebekka won the first four races, being only challenged in a nail-biter finish, in race 4; I think I saw Guillermo in first at the final leeward mark, but somehow she pulled in front in the last 100 meters. I didn't see all the starting sequences, but Race 5's start was impressive, with the entire fleet on the line at the gun. From my vantage point, it appeared that Alex won the favored pin end and managed to cross the fleet well before the port-tack layline. Very cool to see everyone fighting-it-out, cleanly, with no drama. Congratulations Rebekka: all the scores are now posted. Guillermo Takes this Year's Distance RaceAug 31- The laser fleet was well represented at this year's long distance race, with Guillermo Garcia-Manero (1st), Adam Mullins (2nd) and Andrew Dennis (4th) joining the 9-boat Portsmouth fleet. Looming thunderstorms played havoc with the wind, with light and shifty conditions creating opportunities for those paying attention to their compass.
Wind was strongest up by the channel, but the course was nonetheless shortened by the RC, with Guillermo well ahead of the rest of the fleet with a ten minute lead. According to his GPS, he sailed a total of 12.83 nautical miles in 3:48:09. It was a marathon. Long Distance Race, August 31SSC holds its annual intraclub Long Distance Race on Saturday, August 31. This trophy goes back to the 1940s, making it one of the oldest perpetual awards on Galveston Bay.
The skipper's meeting is at noon. This is a cool event in that it is a handicapped "pursuit" race, where the slower classes start first and the high performance boats start towards the end of a very long sequence. Double check with the PRO at the competitors' meeting, but the Laser Radial should cross the start line at ca. 13:05:15 and the Full Rig leaves at ca.13:10:38. Go to the SSC race schedule page for the SI and course chart. Another Summer Series Wrapped UpAug 24 - The SSC Race Committee knocked-out six laser and six sunfish races for the final night of the short-course series. Breeze was 3-7 kts with some stronger puffs trickling in as the night went on. After race three, the sailing was postponed for a quick course change in order to accommodate the persistent shift to the left.
The series attracted a total of 13 SSC sailors, 8 of whom qualified for the overall standings. Congratulations to Dave M., Dave R., Dennis, Jeff, Karel, Pablo, Raleigh, and Tom. Note that Pablo gets the Iron Person award, having participated in 93% of the races. In total, there were 28 races in the series, spread across five evenings. Dave R. won for the evening, thereby clinching the 2019 summer series. He battled in the standings with David M., who tended to best Dave R. in the big breeze. The results are posted on the SSC Race page. The SSC laser fleet is particularly grateful to Sue Caradec for serving as race governor and for developing an alternative set of whaler launching protocols, given the closure of the Kemah bridge boat ramp. The summer race management has been terrific despite the new logistics! What’s in a Name... or the Laser is Dead, Long Live the ILCA DinghyAug 14 — It is hard for me to get up-in-arms about the drama between the ILCA class and Laser Performance, but I just saw this interesting development about Australian boats being measured and imported into Canada without the Laser decal. Rather, the measurement certificate will dub the boat the ILCA dinghy, which is very descriptive!
We are told that, “While competing in the Laser Radial and 4.7 World Championships, those Aussie boats bear an «ILCA Dinghy » sticker in the cockpit.” “There is no Laser sticker in the cockpit. The regular Laser logo is however on the sails.” “It appears that the boats will not be sold as Lasers but as « ILCA Dinghies » - the new name announced by the Laser class ILCA.....” For photos of the new sticker and more on this development (more than you want to know), point your browser to this Laser blog: https://optimist-openbic-sailing.blogspot.com/2019/08/suspense-in-kingston-will-aussie-ilca.html?m=1 Close Racing during Summer Series #4Aug 11- There is an errata update to the last raceday scores (#4).
Dave Morgan just edged out Rebekka and Raleigh, who tied for second with twelve points apiece. I suppose under standard protocol, Rebekka broke the tie breaker with two wins to Raleigh's single first place. Pablo was a mere two points behind Raleigh and Rebekka. Tight racing! The final evening of the series is on 8/24/2019. Gulf Coast ChampionshipsThe Gulf Coast Championships are in Pass Christian, MS, which has conditions similar to Galveston Bay, but even shallower, by my estimation. Raleigh and Dave M have both sailed these waters and can certify that there will be breeze. PCYC will be hosting the event. Contact Raleigh if you want more details; he estimates that it is about a six hour drive from Houston, traffic permitting .http://www.laser.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1166&Itemid=288
SSC Team Racing, August 10Register for the team racing on August 10. Competitors meeting is at 4 pm. https://ssclaserfleet.weebly.com/team-race-registration.html
D15 Upcoming EventsJuly 29: Karel has circulated the following links to D14 events, for the remainder of the year:
* August 17/18 - Cannonball Run Regatta - Palacios YC - http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/19204 September 21/22 - HYC Hood Regatta - HYC - https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/17466/NOR2018HOODRev308232018.pdf October 5/6 - LazerPalooza - Arlington Yacht Club - http://laserd15.org/wp/?page_id=34 ** October 12 - Fall Dinghy Fest - SSC - http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/18991 November 2-3 - Wurstfest Regatta - Lake Canyon Yacht Club - http://laserd15.org/wp/?page_id=34 I [Karel] have been to Lazerpalooza and Wurstfest in 2018. Both great events. I currently have my calendar blocked for all of the events and aim to make it out to all of them. * The Cannonball Run Regatta is not formally on the calendar, and is primarily a junior regatta. But there is some interest and a Laser standard fleet could be added if there are sufficient participants. As said, I would be interested and agreed with Griffin Orr to ask around in Houston. ** our own event at SSC In any way it would be nice to make it out to some of these events together. So let me and others know if you are interested. I plan to take the tent, wife and kids; they are all enthusiastic so these should be fun weekends away! Rigging Seminar by Ty July 20 at 2:30Several people have asked about tips on rigging and sail trim around the race course. Ty Geiger will hold a short class this Saturday afternoon at 2:30 before the Summer Series Races (Skipper's meeting at 4 pm). We'll meet up in the shade on the lawn in front of the clubhouse.
If you're interested, we will also plan on one or more Learn to Race clinics in the coming weeks. Summer Short-Course Series #3 July 20The third raceday of the summer series is Saturday, July 20. Remember that the he competitors' meeting is at 16:00. The format calls for 10-12 minute, collegiate style racing. It is excellent fun and really sharpens close-quarter tactics.
The sailing instructions are posted off the SSC race page. If you have any questions about the race schedule, please contact Seabrook Sailing Club's Race Governor, Susan Caradec. If you want to join Seabrook Sailing Club, contact the Vice-commodore, Dan Currie. Short Course Summer Series #2 on July 6 |
Dave Ryden, SSC Fleet Captain