News

Cold Weather Sailing: Frostbiting Gear Guide
December 26th, 2012 7:26 pm by

Also recently featured on Sailing World’s blog is an interview with several frostbite sailors about the gear they use to frostbite.  It included wisdom from Potomac River Sailing Association’s Erich Hesse:

Frostbiting, as the name suggests, can be downright miserable. But with the right gear to keep your digits warm, you can triumph over the bitter cold, sail fast, and get to the bar without blue toes and with some hard-earned bragging rights. We checked in with six frostbiting fleet champions to see how they gear up for sailing in the winter… Read on.

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Frostbiting: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
December 26th, 2012 7:24 pm by

PRSA sailor Tim Zimmerman’s take on Frostbiting in the Sailing World blog:

That chorus keeps running through my head because it’s the holiday season. Cold weather is settling over the mid-Atlantic, the leaves are gone from the trees, and there is talk of snow and freeze warnings from weather forecasters. It’s my favorite time of the year, so of course I am excited. But my enthusiasm and anticipation has little to do with a fat, bearded, old guy in a red suit, or mistletoe, or presents. Instead, for me (and a small minority of Lasering oddballs) this is a joyous time of year because the arrival of winter means the arrival of the Laser frostbiting season. And that means drysuits, short-course racing, blustery winds, and Sundays well-spent.   Read on.

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SSA Frostbite Video
December 12th, 2012 11:07 pm by

Some frostbiting video aboard with Reid Beigel week 1 of the Severn Sailing Frostbite Series.

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Jacie Swenson Reflects on the US Masters in Spinsheet Magazine
November 9th, 2012 7:05 pm by

Check out the latest Spinsheet Magazine where D11-sailor Jacie Swenson reflects on her experience of returning to Masters sailing at the US Masters in Brant Beach.  Page 73.

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ILCA-NA 2012-2013 ExCom
October 26th, 2012 12:18 pm by

The International Laser Class Association North American Region has a new Executive Committee.  The members are:

Chairman – Andy Roy
Vice Chairman – Meka Taulbee
Secretary – Lauralee Symes
Treasurer – Eric Reitinger
At Large – Christine Neville

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42nd Annual Jack Elfman Orange Coffee Pot Regatta
October 25th, 2012 7:23 pm by

The Orange Coffee Pot Regatta trophySurf City Yacht Club in New Jersey (D10) has announced the date for the 42nd Annual Orange Coffee Pot Regatta that will be next June 1-2.  This will also be the Laser District 10 Championship regatta.  More details in the regatta announcement.

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NOR Hampton Roads Sailing Fall 2012 Laser series
October 25th, 2012 12:53 pm by

It’s been a great summer, but now it’s time to dust off the westsuit and booties and get chillin’.

The Sunday Laser and dinghy race series resumes this Sunday, October 28, with a tune-up at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center. The center will be opened at 10 a.m., skippers’ meeting at 10:30 and racing will begin around 11 a.m. Racing will finish by 1 ro 1:30 p.m. so there is still time to catch the games or get the chores done.

Mitch Brindley, head coach at ODU, has given the green-light for the series, so there will be Lasers available for charter for competent sailors. There are eight boats, and six full rigs. Charters are done on a first come, first serve basis. Cost is $10 per regatta. I also have a spare boat at my house if we run short.

A note for newcomers: Fall and winter are beautiful times on the water, but it is going to get cold and with that, comes risk. The series annually attracts a wide range of abilities, but we ask that participants have at least fundamental skills in dinghies and proper attire for the temperatures.

The series will open (in the tradition of last year) with an away-game at Fishing Bay Yacht Club for their annual End-of-the-season Frostbite. So many of our southern bay regulars commit to that great regatta and excellent club. If you haven’t been there, it’s worth the trip and Jon Deutsch is a great host.

The series picks up again at ODU on the following Sunday, Nov. 11, and will continue through Dec. 9.

We look forward to another great year and hope everyone can make it out.

Please feel free to contact me at robert.suhay@pilotonline.com and be sure to spread the word.

Robert Suhay

 

Post it for the fridge:
Sunday Laser series
Place: Old Dominion University Sailing Center
Time 10:30 skippers’ meeting
Start 11:00
Finish: No races start after 1:30
Dates: Tune up Oct. 28; (Away game opener Nov. 4 at Fishing Bay Yacht Club – NOR available at Laser District 11 website); ODU series Nov. 11, 18, 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. Race starts at 11 a.m. Finish by 1 to 1:30

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31st Chesapeake Masters Championship: Video
October 19th, 2012 9:41 am by

Video highlights of the 31st Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship at Fishing Bay Yacht Club October 13-14.

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31st Chesapeake Masters Championship Results
October 15th, 2012 10:31 pm by

With 45 Lasers, good wind and great help on the race committee and in the kitchen, we couldn’t have asked for a better weekend at the 31st Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship.  John MacCausland from Cooper River Yacht Club came away the overall winner of the 7 race series.  John bested masters sailors in various age groups, all over the age of 35, hailing from MI, MA, NY, NJ, OH, PA, VA, NC, MD, and Washington DC.

Racing got off to a slow start on Saturday when the competitors drifted to the race course in a light northerly.  3 hours and a couple blown off starts later the wind finally settled in from the east at 6-8 knots allowing us to sail 3 races in the late afternoon.  John MacCausland, Gavin O’Hare (Eastport Yacht Club) and Mike Schmidt (Magothy River Sailing Association) all took bullets in Saturday’s races.

Off the water Saturday night chef Alain Vincey prepared Osso Buco for the sailors, race committee and guests.

Sunday’s racing saw far better conditions with the wind starting around 8 and building to 14 out of the south-south west. The long courses gave the sailors plenty of room to spread out make moves.  Sailing his way to the title John MacCausland picked up two more bullets while Gavin O’Hare got another and Bob Tan (Severn Sailing Association) added a bullet to his best 2nd place on Saturday.

Results for each Category:

Apprentice Master (35-44)
1. Gavin O’Hare (Eastport Yacht Club)
2. Dorian Haldeman (Severn Sailing Association
3. Kent Leverich

Master (45-54)
1. John MacCausland (Cooper River Yacht Club) *overall winner
2. Mike Schmidt (Magothy River Sailing Association)
3. Henry Amthor (Hampton Yacht Club)

Grand Master (55-64)
1. Michael Moore (Diego Garcia Yacht Club)
2. Had Brick (Island Heights Yacht Club) *2008 Champion
3. Don Hahl (Brant Beach Yacht Club)

Great Grand Master (65+)
1. Newton Wattis (Surf City Yacht Club)
2. Lindsay Hewett (Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club)
3. Roger Link (West River Sailing Club)

Women
1. Sandy Westphal (Severn Sailing Association)
2. Dorian Haldeman (Severn Sailing Association)

Not only was the competition fierce, but so was the Race Committee.  They did a fantastic job all weekend with some tough winds and weren’t afraid to tame the fleet with the Z-flag for all 4 races on Sunday.  Big thanks to Rick Klein, Ric Bauer, Sharon Bauer, Catherine Clark, David Clark, Philip Kenny, Ruthanna Jenkins, Ron Jenkins, Mike Dale, Geoff Cahill, Barb Guenther, John Beery, Roger Craver & Becky Dale.

The Laser Fleet members came through as well including Mike Toms, Brad Squires, James Jacob, Alain Vincey, Anthony Burton, Richard Biggs, Frank Murphy & Len Guenther who provided excellent breakfasts and dinners for the sailors.

Thanks again to all of the sailors who came. We look forward to having you back next year for the 32nd!

Results | Pictures | Video

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FBYC Laser Team Video
October 1st, 2012 8:39 pm by

This past summer the FBYC Laser Race Team was coached by world class sailor Gabriel Moran, of Ecuador. Check out this video he made about our sailors:

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