Canandaigua Lake RC Laser Sailing

Jonathan Gorbold Wins The Race Across The Lake

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Admiral Nelson

Race Report by Admiral Nelson.

The weather was just perfect. The wind was out of the northwest and the west and the southwest for much of the race and at times was not there at all, for which Anne was thankful.

The race from the Canandaigua Yacht Club across the lake to Neil and Maggie Atkins’ house 2.5 miles away took about an hour and a half to complete and everyone finished with an excuse for not winning.

Nelson, who was leading for much of the way, gave up the lead to Jonathan by making a left turn to the house that wasn’t Maggie and Neil’s.

Jay Niggli was following Nelson which turned out to be a not so good idea.

Bill Schmidt tried to hug the shoreline but was stopped short of the house by a sea urchin (we believe it was just seaweed).

Terry Scmidt and Jack Bennett approached the dock with caution trying to avoid the same calamity as Bill.

Upon arrival we were all graciously greeted by our hosts, Maggie and Neil, who did their “usual” by putting on a spread that we all enjoyed for hours.

We did set out marks and conducted a few races but soon gave up due to all the weeds catching on the keels of our boats. (Could have been caused by the fight Bill’s boat had with that sea urchin.)

The food and drinks were our main focus for the remainder of the day and Jonathan showing off his $1,000,000 bill, his bubbly, and his horn that he tooted occasionally.

Posted in Party, RC Laser Fleet 14, Regatta | Tagged "race across the lake", jonathan gorbold | Comments Off

Race Across The Lake, More Racing & A Cookout!

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Bill Blevins

Roughly 2.5 miles, heading of 156.4

Join us, rain or shine or hurricane, on Sunday, September 16th at 1:00 pm for a RC Laser race from the Canandaigua Yacht Club to Neil and Maggie Atkins’ house!

Please let Maggie know if you plan on coming over for the cookout. She said there was no need to bring anything but she would like to have a good headcount by Sept. 14th.

Nelson and I will run across the lake in a powerboat and set up a finish line in Deep Run Cove in front of their house and then be back at CYC by 1 pm where we’ll get set up for a start gun at 1:30.

If you can’t figure out your ride across the lake, we’ll have directions for you to drive around and those who sail across will meet on the other side. Once we are all over there, we’ll set out some marks and race in the afternoon while the food is grilling. So, please make plans to come whether or not you want to race across!

These races are for fun and won’t count for our overall high point awards or for the Fall Series scores.

In other news, the Old Salt’s Regatta will be sailed in Sunfish this year. A representative(s) from each fleet competes on behalf of the fleet where they normally race during the year (J/24, J/22, RC Laser, Ensigns, Cruisers, Vanguards, Sharks, etc.). The regatta has been moved to 9 a.m. on Sept. 15th and is held at CYC. If you would like to represent the RC Laser fleet in this regatta this year, please let Bill Schmidt know so he can get you set up with a race-ready Sunfish to use for the competition.

This Sunday, September 9, at 4 p.m. we will continue the Fall Low Points Series with Week #4 of 6. The scores are tightening up so make plans to come out and sail!

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Terry Schmidt Wins $50 In Women’s RC Laser Regatta

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Bill Blevins

After 12 races in moderate winds and mainly “C” sail weather, Terry Schmidt bested the other female competitors (see the full results here), taking home the $50 cash prize for the Women’s RC Laser Regatta that was announced last night and sailed today.

In other news from the event…

Leslie Bennett’s transmitter battery died during race 2
Tracy Blevins’ feet went numb during race 10 because of the high heels she was wearing
Christine Stebbins had to go get ready for a date after race 8
Anne Lambert sailed consistently near the top of the results but her feather boa started bothering other competitors during race 3.
Nelson Habecker was a great PRO and Bill Blevins was competent as scorekeeper.

Posted in RC Laser Fleet 14 | Comments Off

Women’s Labor Day RC Laser $50 Regatta

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Bill Blevins

The women in the Canandaigua RC Laser fleet decided (last night) to hold a regatta for women only at 4 p.m. on Labor Day, September 3 (today). The first place finisher will win $50 cash! Pass the word around to any female who might like to try racing an RC Laser. We’ll have extra boats on hand.

The Fall Series scores have been posted as well as the overall 2012 Season High Point scores. After 3 weeks of racing, Tracy Blevins continues to hold the lead in the Fall Series while Bill Blevins is on top for overall high points but in both contests the positions at the top have tightened significantly making for very close racing with only 3 weeks to go before the awards banquet.

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Tracy Blevins Leads The RC Laser Fall Series

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Bill Blevins

The scores from week #1 of the Fall Series have been posted and they show Tracy Blevins in the lead, followed closely Jay Niggli and Terry Schmidt. This six-week series is the final in the 2012 racing season, ending just before the Sailor’s Night banquet where the overall 2012 high point award will be presented. Bill Blevins leads that competition, followed by Jonathan Gorbold and Jay Niggli.

During our scheduled “off week” from the Fall Series of races on September 16th, Neil and Maggie Atkins will be hosting the Canandaigua RC Laser fleet at their home for a cookout after a “Race Across the Lake.” The event will be held rain, shine or hurricane this year. The start will be at the Canandaigua Yacht Club on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.. Boats will race southeast across Canandaigua Lake on roughly a heading of 156.4 degrees for about 2.5 miles and finish by the dock at Neil and Maggie’s house where even more racing will occur from their dock. A headcount of those who will be attending would be appreciated so please let Maggie know if you plan on making it for this race and cookout.

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David Turnbull Wins The David Turnbull Regatta

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Bill Blevins

Eleven Canandaigua RC Laser sailors waited out the rain to race in The David Turnbull Regatta on Sunday afternoon. The weather cleared and the sun and shifty winds returned after a 45 minute delay and the group then sailed a half-dozen races. Part of the fun of the regatta, at least for David, was that he got to make up the courses and rules on the fly during the races.

After the race, PRO Anna Gorbold totaled the scores, David Turnbull won top honors and took home the $55 prize purse. The racers enjoyed dinner at the club after the regatta and everyone wished David well as he moves to Boston this week to begin a new job.

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Don’t Miss The David Turnbull RC Laser Regatta

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Bill Blevins

The David Turnbull Regatta is a special one-day series of RC Laser races that will feature new rules, a low entry fee and a high payout for the winner.

Venue: Canandaigua Yacht Club
When? Sunday, August 5
Registration: 3:50 pm
Skipper’s Meeting: 3:55 pm
First Start: 4:00 pm
Entry Fee: $5 per boat
Prize: Winner takes all
Special Rules: David Turnbull (RC Laser #17) will have rights in every situation: at starts, on crossing tacks and at mark roundings, etc.
Party: A party on the dock will follow so don’t miss this special event!

In other news, the calendar is up-to-date (including The David Turnbull Regatta) and the overall high point standings for the season and the odd/even low point results for the Summer “One Lap” Series have been updated.

NOTE: To qualify for year-end awards you need to have participated in at least 60% of the races this season. There are seven more weeks of racing left so make sure you have plans to sail for the remaining Sunday nights!

Finally, The David Turnbull Regatta (with the special rules, the large prize pot and party) is being held because David is moving to Boston to start a new job next week! This Sunday will be his last week sailing with us! Now you have to come out, sail and wish him well!

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Summer Series Starts Next Sunday

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Bill Blevins

The six-week Summer “One Lap” Series begins on Sunday, July 1 at 4 p.m.

The series will use an Odds & Evens Scoring format. We’ll divide the skippers into two “heats” and after each race (made up of two heats) finishers will be divided again using their finish position in the previous two heats – either an odd finish or even finish position – for the next race.

Races in the Summer Series will be only one lap around the course. The goal will be to keep moving from race to race very quickly and to get in a lot of racing in an afternoon.

We practiced the format tonight and between raindrops the 12 sailors got in 12 heats and 7 total races. (click here for results). Tonight’s races were just for fun and the scores didn’t count towards the overall season high points but everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoyed the change pace from the past few months when we were preparing to host the championship regatta.

Come out next week and mix it up in the Summer One-Lap Series!

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RC Laser North American Championship Wrap-up

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Bill Blevins

Jonathan Gorbold congratulated by Nelson Habecker.

Everyone we’ve spoken with in the past week about the 2012 RC Laser North American Championship agrees that the regatta was a huge success!

2011 RC Laser North American’s defending champion, Jon Elmaleh (also the sailor who designed the Radio Controlled Laser back in the mid-1990’s) bested 29 other sailors and took home the top prize for the regatta. Tops finishers from Canandaigua were Jonathan Gorbold who finished 9th overall and Terry Schmidt, the top female finisher.

Canandaigua's female sailors (L to R) Maggie Atkins, Anne Lambert, Tracy Blevins and Terry Schmidt

Be sure to read the RACE REPORT written by Dave Branning, North American RC Laser class secretary. The post includes links to the FINAL SCORES and lots of PHOTOS.

Thanks to the committee members and the race committee who worked so hard and to everyone else from Canandaigua and Rochester who helped make this regatta weekend memorable!

Today at 4 p.m., we will be back to our normally scheduled programming with the final week in our Spring Series. We’ll be on the concrete dock at CYC and race until 6 p.m. (Remember, don’t park on the waterfront boat lot. Unload your stuff and park in the grass across the street please.) We’ll be heading up the hill to the clubhouse for the Father’s Day steak dinner after racing so make plans accordingly if you wish to join us.

Posted in North American Class News, North Americans | Tagged jon elmaleh, jonathan gorbold, spring series, terry schmidt | Comments Off