Tracy Blevins wins (2) and Bill wins (1) after toting their RC’s up from Virginia and dusting off the spider webs.  It is obvious that neither of them have lost their touch. We got off (8) races in two hours with 14 RC’s participating and neither of them finished in double digits all day.  It just goes to show you we a courteous bunch and will give a little extra room at the start and the marks for visitors. (Maybe not)

There will be no RC Racing this coming Sunday.  Instead we will be hosting our annual Squaw Island Regatta at CYC.  The entry fee is $15 and can be paid at the dock after 1pm. Skippers meeting at 1:45 and a 2pm start.

Please check your batteries before you enter the water.  There is nothing worse than being miles from the nearest battery pack in a race.

Current Entries are:

• Jonathan Gorbold (defending champion)
• Jay Niggli (almost defending champion)
• Nelson Habecker (yet to finish this damn race)
• Neal Atkins
• Maggie Atkins
• Terry Schmidt
• Anne Lambert

Don’t forget that Sunday June 2nd will be the final races of the spring meet.  As it stands right now Jonathan Gorbold has a 10 point lead over Jay Niggli for the 1st and 2nd spot but it is much closer for 3rd, and a Jefferson Cup award on sailors night, between Bill Schmidt who has a 2 point lead over Nelson Habecker who has just a 6 point lead over Terry Schmidt.  It should make for very good racing and strong language so don’t miss it.

See you this Saturday for the Squaw Island Regatta and Cookout which follows.

For complete racing results click here

Why not kick off the Memorial Day weekend with the RC Laser fleet by coming out to sail in the 3rd Annual Squaw Island Offshore Race this weekend?

This 2-mile race requires skippers to sail their radio controlled sailboat up the lake to a mark at Squaw Island and then back to a finish line at the club. It was one of the more fun but challenging sailing events we have held the past two years.

Registration can be done online or can be handled Saturday starting at 1pm at the concrete dock on the CYC waterfront. Skippers will need to figure out their mode of transportation on the water to follow their boats up the course and back. We are getting close to the event, so if you need a ride and don’t have one, please let us know asap and we’ll do our best to find you a chauffeur.

If you have a powerboat and would be willing to take spectators or skippers for a ride on Saturday afternoon, please show up at 1:30 to be paired with a sailor.

Our Race Director, Keith Calkins (who thought we were crazy last year but has learned we are actually crazy every year) will hold a skipper’s meeting at 1:45 pm.

Racing will begin shortly thereafter with an on-the-water start this year with a line set somewhere in the vicinity of the south end of the mooring field. We’ll attempt to have a start line set so that we have a windward start and so that onlookers from shore will get a good view. The finish line will again be at the concrete dock area.

• Notice of Race
• Sailing Instructions
• Online Registration
• 2012 Results
• 2012 Squaw Island Pictures

We will have a cookout following the race. The fleet will provide meat and rolls but you can bring beverages, sides, salads or deserts to share. We should be finished in plenty of time to allow CYC members wishing to attend the wine tasting at the clubhouse later in the evening to make it there on time.

Prizes for this year’s race will be:

First Place:

Your Own Roses

Plus

Second Place:

Third Place:

Big bucks are at stake       So don’t miss it

On a day when “C” sails were the choice of all  and the wind came and went from every direction Neil Atkins was able hold off a challenge from Anne Lambert to win the last race on Mother’s Day.  Our PRO (Anna) did her best to set a good course but it was the “Wind Gods” that determined who would fly and who would die all day.

Please note the following:

• Racing next week will again be Sunday 4 – 6 pm at the south end of the docks  CYC.
• Tracy and Bill Blevins have traveled up from Virginia for the weekend and have RCs’ in hand.
• The Squaw Island Regatta and cookout will be held on Saturday May 25th.
• There will be no racing Sunday May 26th.
• Sunday June 2nd will be the last series of races for the Spring Meet 4-6pm at CYC.

See you on the docks.

RC racing is planned for 4 – 5:45 pm Sunday afternoon this Mother’s Day at CYC. The club will be serving a Mother’s Day brunch from 11:30 – 7 pm. (No kitchen food will be available.) Therefor I am planning on shorting the racing by 15 minutes so that those who wish can enjoy the brunch.
Cost of the brunch is $22.95 per plus gratuity. It includes omelets, seafood newberg, smoked salmon, pasta, a carving station and desert.

If you would like to attend e-mail me back at rcsailors@gmail.com or call the club to be added to the RC laser table. It would be helpful for the kitchen to know how many of us are planning on to arrive at 6pm.

The weather calls for overcast skys and winds out of the west at 15 knots so we should be able to get plenty of races in.

See you on the water.

Beginning (Sunday) May 5th the RC racing venue will be the south dock of the Canandaigua Yacht Club and the new time will be 4 -6 pm.  We will return to Lake Riley again in the Fall to complete our Riley Lake series.

I would like to thank the RAMYA members for inviting us to sail on their turf and for taking part in our races.

Talk about an unsettled wind – not only did the wind sock do 360 degree shifts, at times it pointed straight up.  I decided that the best way to set the course was to do a rectangle in hopes of having an upwind and down wind leg somewhere.  At times it could be accomplished on the same leg.  The only real consistent one was myself who managed to be last over the start-line  nearly every time.  Maybe if I asked nicely everyone would crouch down at the start so I could see better.

SUMMER IS BACK!!!!!!!!

With the temps in the 70′s it was the perfect day for a cookout and refreshments.                    (Including two 007′s)

NOTICE OF RACE

Canandaigua, New York RC Laser Fleet 14

3rd Annual Squaw Island Race

May 25, 2013

Rules: The regatta shall be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing as amended by Appendix E for RC sailing, prescriptions of US Sailing, class rules of the RC Laser Class of North America and further Sailing Instructions as mandated by the Race Director (RD) who also has the authority during the course of the event to make changes which will be announced to the competitors.

Eligibility: The regatta is open to all RC Lasers conforming to RC Laser Class Rules.

Race Director: Keith Calkins

Race Summary:

• Boats will be out of the water during the Skippers Meeting.
• The starting line will be set between two markers just offshore from the concrete dock at the south end of the waterfront at the Canandaigua Yacht Club.
• The south concrete dock is also designated as the finish dock.
• At the start, skippers will sail their RC Lasers across the starting line in the proper direction and then sail a course that is roughly north on Canandaigua Lake towards Squaw Island, about 1 mile away.
• Skippers in chase boats will follow their RC Laser and navigate their racing boats to a turn mark south of Squaw Island, located at approximately Lat/Long N42.869918, W077.275702, keeping the turn mark to port as the boats round and then sail back to the yacht club.
• Boats will finish when the skipper is on the finish dock and then retrieves their RC Laser from the water after successfully completing the course.

Schedule:

• Online Registration
• 1:00 – 1:45          Boat set-up and practice sailing
• 1:45                      Skippers Meeting (All boats must be out of the water.)
• 1:58 PM               Two-minute audible countdown timer begins
• 2:00 PM              Start
• ~ 5:00 PM          Dock party begins with first finishing boat
• ~ 6:00 PM          Awards presented after all boats return

Location: Canandaigua Yacht Club (CYC), 3524 West Lake Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424

Entry: Eligible boats may be entered by submitting the registration form online and paying an entry fee of $15.00 boat.

Scoring: The race will be scored under the Low Point System described in The Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix A and the event will consist of only one race.

Prizes: A prize will be awarded to the skipper who completes the course in the fastest time. A dock party will follow racing for all skippers and crew.

Contact: Nelson Habecker at rcsailors@gmail.com or 585-201-0514 if you need us to find a chase boat and driver or for any other information.

Barbie’s boat and Barbie moving fast after workshop

It was a great day for sailing !  Chilly, but with the sunshine and the running we had to do to keep sight of our boats, we all managed to stay relatively warm.

At the workshop on Saturday Jonathan revealed a couple of sail setting tips to improve boat speed which proved most beneficial for Anne Lambert, Terry and Gary Schmidt. Out of the 7 races held Anne improved her score by walking away with a 2nd & 4th  for the day, Terry races in with a 2nd, two 3rds, and a 4th, and Gary, who missed the first 2 races due to slow play on the golf course, had 2 wins, 2 seconds, and a fourth.  It seems pretty clear that if you set your sail correctly that your boat is much harder to beat.  “Thanks Jonathan!”

Following racing, Jonathan and Anna served everyone attending a  baked chicken dinner which was very generous of them. ” Thank You again Jonathan & Anna.”

Complete Results and Standings

We will be racing one more time at Riley Lake (Sunday April 28th  2-4pm) before shifting to the Canandaigua Yacht Club for the remaining 4 Sundays in our spring series.  Jonathan & Anna will be away that day  so our good friend, Walt Bankes has agreed to be PRO for the day. Following racing everyone is invited to Anne & Nelson’s house to enjoy the taste of summer with a  Hamburg/Hotdog style cookout to celebrate the end of cold temperatures. Beginning May 5th we will be at CYC and the new time will be 4 – 6 pm throughout the summer.

Shortly I will be sending out NOR for this year’s Squaw Island Race and Cookout to be held Saturday May 25th.  It is never too early to start planning  for that one.  Chauffer boats will be needed , so if you know of any please pass it along so no one gets left behind.  As always, if you act as a chauffer you will get a free meal, drinks and plenty to talk about.

Riley Lake Photos

Calendar

First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest female RC racer Barb Urich and her crew Tom Howard. (As crew, Tom’s assignment is to change batteries if necessary).  They showed up with a brand new boat and got a feeling for what the winds are like at Holiday Harbor.

Racers began showing up around 1PM at the launching pad (423 Holiday Harbor) to prepare their RCs to Race.

  After careful assessment of wind speed and direction it is decided by all that the “A” sail would be best for this endurance race.

The finish on both the race over and back came down to whoever could best hold off a challenge.

Here is the official order of finish and  payouts WIN  PLACE  SHOW:

Race Over:

Jonathan Gorbold  $3.00   $2.60   $2.10

Bill Schmidt                         $2.80   $2.60

Jay Niggli                                          $2.60

Race Back:

Jay Niggli                   $8.00   $2.80   $2.40

Jonathan Gorbold                  $2.20    $2.10

Bill Schmidt                                            $2.10

In case you are all wondering, Admiral Nelson’s boat was scratched from the races due to an unsound main sail servo.  (I swear that Anne’s down in the den when I’m in bed).

First let me update you on the event and then Ill finish the story of my day.

Upon finishing the race over and back there was still time for another 3 races off the dock.  You can check out the full results here.  (R14-R18)

Then we all settled in for a wonderful bowl of Chicken Chili (created & delivered by Terry Schmidt), a sausage sandwich and a glass of wine.  (I’m not so sure that we don’t just show up for the food rather than the racing????)

Next Sunday (4/21) we will be back at Riley Lake from 2 -4 PM and this time the Admiral’s boat will be ready.  Why you ask?  Because:

on Saturday April 20th Jonathan & Anna will be hosting an informal workshop to help all of us repair, maintain, and race our Lasers.  We will go through a preseason maintenance checklist for the boat, servos, lines, batteries, receiver, transmitter, sails, booms and masts. This will be a hands on, fix it session so everyone can learn how to do it.

If you are new to the fleet and have a new boat that you would like help in setting up bring it along and we will help you..

The time will be 3:30 pm till 5:30 pm April 20th at

3 So. Pittsford Hill

Pittsford‎ NY‎ 145349.

Chili or Black Bean soup will be on hand and a glass of wine to satisfy our hunger.  If you are interested in attending the workshop please reply to eal@onecommail.com (Admiral Nelson) with a yes so we might be able to plan the food and drinks.

OH YES, about my day.   I’m always hungry when it’s over and I love to wine a little.

Just another day of racing if you chose the right sail.  Len Redon is the only boat to use the “D Sail” on this peaceful afternoon. He posted 3 wins 2 seconds and 1 third out of nine races to prove that the “D” was the way to go.  He was followed closely by Jay Niggli who also was able to win 3 races with his “C” sail.

I actually practiced with a “B” sail prior to racing  but changed to a “C’ as race time approached.  It is no doubt that every race had the wind speed turned up a notch.  Unfortunately no one took a picture when Anna called out ”all clear” and every boat was 10 feet from the starting line laying down sideways in one of the frequent 30+ gusts that came through.

By the time we wrapped it up white caps were the norm.  You can check out the full results here.

Next week we will be racing at 423 Holiday Harbor Cdga. in our annual “Walkabout” race.  We will race into and out of all the channels on a .8 mile race to the other side of Holiday Harbor.  We will then collect ourselves and race back .  Depending on the time remaining we will have shorter races to finish out the 2pm -4pm program.

Anne is planning some sort of crock pot idea following racing so that there will be some type of reward for those who partake.

Then:

On Saturday April 20th Jonathan & Anna will be hosting an informal workshop to help all of us repair, maintain, and race our Lasers.  We will go through a preseason maintenance checklist for the boat, servos, lines, batteries, receiver, transmitter, sails, booms and masts. This will be a hands on, fix it session so everyone can learn how to do it.

If you are new to the fleet and have a new boat that you would like help in setting up bring it along and we will help you..

The time will be 3:30 pm till 5:30 pm April 20th at

3 So. Pittsford Hill

Pittsford‎ NY‎ 145349.

Chili or Black Bean soup will be on hand and a glass of wine to satisfy our hunger.  If you are interested in attending the workshop please reply to eal@onecommail.com (Admiral Nelson) with a yes so we might be able to plan the food and drinks.