End summer with the RC Laser fleet by coming out to sail in the 6th Annual Squaw Island Offshore Race Saturday August 27th.

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 in past 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 call Nelson Habecker at 585-201-0514 to coordinate.

Our Race Director, Keith Calkins, 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  be crossing the start line  in the opposite direction from the start.

• Notice of Race
• Sailing Instructions
• Online Registration
• 2015 Results
• (2014 cancelled due to lake power boat restrictions)
• 2013 Results
• 2013 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.

This year’s prizes will be:

There will also be an award for the first team boat that finishes. (If you share a chase boat with another racer and both finish the race before any other shared case boat, that team will be awarded BIG  prizes as well.)

DON’T MISS OUT!!!!!!!

The Admiral

Nate Heinzelman

In the second week of our Fall Series it was Nate who rattled off 4 wins and 1 second out of 5 races to take a clear lead in the series.  “RESULTS”  He found himself a good spot on the dock to sit where he had a good view of the race course which was all he needed.  The course was set in a north south direction which made it more difficult for most of us to maneuver our boat to the leeward mark (due to all the boats shadowing each other) with the exception of Nate who never seemed to be in any trouble.  “GREAT SAILING NATE”

There are only 6 weeks left in the Fall Series and next  Sunday (week 3) will also be off the south dock CYC at 4pm.

See you on the dock at 4

The Admiral

Canandaigua, New York RC Laser Fleet 14

6th Annual Squaw Island Race

August 27, 2016

Rules: The regatta shall be governed by the rules as defined in the current 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.

Entry: Eligible boats may be entered by paying the online Entry Fee of $15.00 prior to the start on August 27,2016    or (cash) the day of the race prior to the start.

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

Race Course: The RD will announce the course at the skippers meeting. The Turn Mark will be in front of Squaw Island and RC Lasers will keep the mark to port as they round. The race will be from CYC to Squaw Island, around the turn mark, leaving it to port, and then back to CYC.

Start: The starting line  and finishing line will be two markers set just offshore from the south concrete dock and will be pointed out clearly at the Skipper’s Meeting. This changes Rule E3.7. A two-minute audible countdown sequence will be used and the goal is to begin the race promptly at 2 PM.

Finish: A boat is considered to have finished when the skipper crosses the start line in the opposite direction from the start.

Time Limit: The time limit will be 4 hours.  If the first boat has not finished within 4 hours of the start, the race will be abandoned and the party will begin. If a boat does finish within the time limit, all others will be allowed to finish but the party will still begin at 6 PM.

Shortened Course: After the starting signal the course may be shortened with 2 sounds or abandoned with 3 sounds without displaying flags. This changes Rule 32.

Sail Changes: Sails may not be changed during the race.

Outside Help: Rule E5.6 will not apply.

Launching and Re-launching: “Rule 45 is changed to (a) Boats scheduled to race in a heat may be launched, taken ashore or re-launched at any time during the race. (b) While ashore or at the water’s edge or on a chase boat, boats may be adjusted, drained of water or repaired; have entangled objects removed; or have batteries changed.” This changes E4.4. Also see “Chase Boat Rules” below.

Radio Communications: VHF radios are not required and will not be used to communicate changes to the sailing instructions. The RD will monitor VHF channel 9 .

Protests: It is the responsibility of a right-of-way (ROW) skipper to call a protest against a fouling boat. Please solve your disputes on the water. If there is a remaining protest after the race, see the RD immediately upon finishing.

Marks: You may touch the Turn Mark at Squaw Island. This changes Rule 31. The Squaw Island Turn Mark must be rounded to port. There may or may not  be a large orange inflatable buoy placed at approximately half the distance between CYC and Squaw Island. It is not a mark of the course (unless stated at the skipper’s meeting) and is only to be used for reference purposes and can be passed on either side. You can even run into the orange mark if you wish.

Retiring Boats: Boats retiring from the race shall notify the RD as soon as possible.

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.

Personal Flotation Devices: Rule E1.4 is changed to “When on board a rescue boat or chase boat, each competitor is responsible for wearing a personal flotation device adequate for the conditions.”

Chase Boat Rules:

1. All racing sailboats have the right of way over chase boats.
2. Chase boats shall not cause a wake that impedes or helps a racing boat.
3. Chase boats shall not cause a wind shadow which affects any racing boat.
4. Chase boats shall be completely stopped with the motor in neutral before hauling a race boat for any purpose and remain in that state until the sailboat is launched again.
5. When chase boats stop to haul, they must do so in a position that does not interfere with other racing boats.

Prizes: A prize will be awarded to the skipper who completes the course in the fastest time. Other positions awarded as we find things to give away.

Party: A cookout on the waterfront will follow racing for all skippers and chase boat crew.

Our Race Director and PRO for the 2016 Squaw Island Race will be Keith Calkins.

The fact that Jonathan was in another State for the whole series, Gary & Terry were in Chicago for a few weeks, and the payment of a bottle of Jack’s Cabernet given to Jack to not compete, probably had nothing to do with it.

The series was actually very close between Gary, Jay, and myself for the entire series.  In the end it was The Admiral with a net 46, Jay with a net 53, and Gary with a net 57.  “Complete Results”

George Nix was once again kind enough to be our photographer getting some great shots of the close races. Visit the link at: https://goo.gl/photos/u6cnUVnx62evnHSh8

Next Sunday we will begin our Fall Series which leads us into shorter hours of daylight by the time we wrap it up in October.  Week 1 of the series will be off the south dock CYC 4-6pm.

See you on the dock.

The Admiral

Competitors making full use of the dock space

It was a beautiful day for RC racing.  Although club racing was cancelled due to lack of wind, I had put out an e-mail ensuring everyone that the wind would pick up and that they should come prepared to race.  There were 10 RCs’ that showed up to race and sure enough the wind did pick up and 6 races were run.  The day was meant for #99 (Richard Mikulec) with four wins and #59 ( Gary Schmidt) with two.  Neither of them were worse than third in any race. The results moves Gary just 2 points out of second place currently held by Jay Niggli for the Summer Series with one week left.  “RESULTS”

We were all rewarded following the races by Jack Bennett who had his sister (Carol Lee) visiting for the weekend.  It seems that she has excellent skills at making hot Hor d’oeuvres and together with Jack they put on a spread that was more than all of us could handle.  There was asparagus wrapped in bacon, hot ham with pineapple, stuffed mushrooms, grapes, tomatoes, scrimp, hot dips, cheeses, breads, chips, and drinks.  After several hours of consuming all the delicious plates we could, we graciously bid them farewell, leaving them with all the clean up.  Many Thanks to Carol Lee and Jack for all their efforts.

Next Sunday will be the final race day for the Summer Series. Don’t miss it if you wish to upset the standings.

See you on the dock!!!!!

The Admiral

NOTICE OF RACE

Canandaigua, New York    RC Laser Fleet 14

6th Annual Squaw Island Race

August 27, 2016

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 (Keith Calkins) 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 has successfully crossed the starting line in the opposite direction from the start.

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, and to the fastest Team that completes the course.  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.

I stood on the dock wondering where I should set the marks to best fit the wind that was swirling around from all directions.  I came to the conclusion that a triangle would probably best fit for the day.

Barb Urich chasing a faster boat but still winning race #1

As it turned out every leg was windward, leeward, and a reach at some point.  And if that was not enough, you also had to sail through a least one hole in the wind to complete each race.  So, at times you were flying and at times you were dying.

It was a limited number of racers for the afternoon but everyone who raced was able to score at least one victory with 8 races completed.  “RESULTS”

George Nix was kind enough to bring his camera to illustrate the ups and downs in the wind.  Photos at: https://goo.gl/photos/HtYGTPZmpuepUvas9

We have just two Sundays left in the Summer Series, so if you intend to change the order of things there is no time to lose.  Racing for the next two Sundays will be 4-6pm off the south dock CYC.

See you on the water!!!!

The Admiral

There is a new listing for a used RC Laser for sale.  Check it out at Pre-Owned Lasers for Sale

“IT SURE FELT LIKE ARUBA”

The 10 -12 knot winds were all we needed to keep us cool on this Sunday of racing. Straight out of the south, it was easy to set a course that would be easy on the vision impaired.  Although we all believed that the steady breeze would allow us to use our “A” sails it proved not to be the case.  After the first race we all changed to “B” sails and remained there for the following 6 races.

WE were fortunate to have several visitors join us for the afternoon.  Dave Horrocks was up from Florida, Dave ? was there,  boat #20 from ? joined us, and Anna & Jonathan were in town. ( There was no time to catch all the names.) After watching the first few races Jonathan jumped in with a spare boat and scored two wins and a second.  “RESULTS”

At six  O’clock we packed the boats away and began to enjoy a trove of wines that Anne wanted to school us on.  As we looked out on to the water we noticed Christine Brown out sailing her Wianno Senior (a 25ft gaff rigged sloop) vintage sailboat back and forth across the lake.  She was nice enough to answer her phone and within minutes she was at the dock offering a ride in exchange for the wine we had not yet consumed. “Piracy on the high seas”  As the sun was going down and all the wines had been consumed we sailed back to shore and modern day life.

Next week we will not be sailing so that all might enjoy all the 4TH of July activities. Our next race date will be July 10th 4-6pm again off the south dock.  We all would like nothing better than to repeat this past Sunday.

Thank You Christine!!!!!!

We are two weeks into our summer series and it has been a test of strength, courage, and desire for everyone.  On the first Sunday of the meet we were faced with winds of 15 knots and gusts that were almost continuous at 25 plus. (“C” sails were the choice for all.)  Most of the time the boats were laying down just trying to hold their position when a gust came through.  Of the 7 races we had there were 6 different winners.  If you could beat the gust to the leeward mark you were in the lead.  But if you did not, you were looking at your rudder as the high point on your boat.  Miraculously none of us were blown off the dock (strength).

Then there was this past Sunday (Father’sDay) when most of us were sitting down watching the seaweed grow (“A” sails).  Despite the lack of wind at times all the boats were waiting it out (courage). Gary was kind enough to put out marks but had trouble determining a desirable course.  His answer to that was to put a mark in a different location until he ran out of marks (desire).  Racing was a test of patience. The hardest part was to keep your boat going in the right direction with all the motor boat chop pushing you back.

George Nix made better use of his time by taking a few photos of our boats waiting for wind.  You can view them at: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMfQBlEQOyGnjNGYBNpClUhc9z2mH4KvE9vnJPK06vc0dnuFHP3bIzGPOLkIAaC5A?key=TlZucHVsVzVzWHNnSmk5eVRQS0drd3VzMjVQVWFn

Sunday June 26 will be week 4 of our 8 week Summer Series.  The time remains the same, racing from 4-6pm off the south dock CYC.

If you are interested in the standings to date click on: “RESULTS”.

See you on the water!!!!!!!

The Admiral