Monday, October 12, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, October 12, 2009







Sonar Fleet 1
Noroton YC

Sonar World Championships

The 2009 Sonar World Championships were held at Noroton YC October 1-4. The following are press announcements from the event (because I can not say it any better!).

Day 1:

Thursday October 1, 2009.

With conditions on Long Island Sound as far from typical as they get, the 58 boat Sonar Worlds fleet got off three races with winds gusting into the 20’s and temperatures well down in the 50’s. It was a cross between season’s-end regatta sailing and East coast frostbiting.


With finishes of 2-3-4, Marblehead sailmaker Jud Smith holds the lead going in to Day 2. But he has only a two point lead over Bill Lynn, also of Marblehead, with Dave Franzel of Boston just one point behind Lynn.

Peter Galloway of the host Noroton Yacht Club leads the local contingent as the record fleet, representing seven countries, heads into the second day of the four-day event.

Day 2:

Marblehead sailmaker Jud Smith, master of many classes, continued to lead the Sonar Worlds at the end of the second day of racing. His 15th and 2nd , combined with a 2 – 3 – 4 the first day gave him a 26-point total and pulled him into a six point lead over David Franzel of Boston, who came through today’s two heavy air races with a 3 – 17.

Long Island Sound again bared its autumn teeth with a south easterly gusting into the 20s and when the flood tide change to ebb, there was a short, sharp sea that made the upwind legs a challenge for helmsmen and the downwind legs a wave-rider’s dream. As on day 1 of the regatta, the temperature was in the 50s and multiple layers was the dress of the day.

Four time North American Sonar champion Peter Galloway continued to press the leaders and with today’s finishes of 17 – 1 is eight points behind Franzel in third place.

With five races completed, three more are scheduled for Saturday, and at least one for Sunday. After the sixth race there will be one throw-out, which will undoubtedly juggle the scores, but with a 15th to drop, Smith will be sitting on finishes of 2-3-4-2 and whatever the weekend brings.

In fourth place going into the weekend is Karl Ziegler of Darien, Ct. whose family home looks out on the racecourse. His first place in the second race of the day gave him a five-race total of 49.

Friday began for the 58-boat fleet with a flat calm, which slowly turned into an exceptionally shifty south-easterly, which forced the race committee to set and re-set the course four times. With a scheduled start of 10 am it was about noon before the fleet got off the line. From there the wind and sea built, but big shifts continued to play a major part in the outcome throughout the afternoon.

Day 3:

Saturday had been another day of unreliable winds on Long Island Sound (or is that an oxymoron?) and only one race of the scheduled three was completed. That race was started in a 10 – 14 knot southerly, which shifted to the left nearly 30 degrees on the opening leg. If you got to the left early you were in the hunt; if you chose the right it was a very long race.

Neither of the two series leaders was in the top 10, but Franzel finished 11th and Smith 18th. Smith dropped his 18th, and Franzel dropped his 17th from the previous race and this brought them to the tie on points.

Karl Ziegler of Rowayton, Ct. moved from fourth to third, replacing the host Noroton Yacht Club’s Peter Galloway, who was saddled with an OCS penalty.

The wind had dropped to near zero by the end of the race and the ever-patient race committee, along with the 57 competing boats sat for nearly an hour until the wind got back up to 8 knots and another start was called.

Between the one minute signal and the start the wind swung 45 degrees to the left and 10 minutes into the contest, with the port tack boats laying the weather mark, two signals sounded the end of the race.

After another long wait racing was cancelled for the day when radar showed a line of thunder squalls descending on the race area. It was a good call, as the “squalls” produced plenty of thunder, lightning, very heavy rain and virtually no wind.

Day 4:

With completion of the sixth race of the Sonar World Championship on Saturday, the one throw-out came into play and moved Dave Franzel of Boston into the slimmest of leads over Jud Smith of Marblehead. The two were tied at 26 points, but Franzel’s first place in the third race gives him the lead on the tie break.
So it all came down to the final races scheduled for Sunday. The 57-boat fleet floated around in a typical Long Island Sound calm for nearly four hours before race committee chairman Mark Murphy was able to set a line and get the fleet away in a light south westerly.

The east – going ebb had begun and the weather leg was directly uptide. As the wind faded it was obvious that no boat was going to make it to the first mark before the 45-minute time limit. So the score was unchanged and Dave Franzel became the 2009 Sonar World Champion. Sailing with Franzel were Greg Anthony, Todd Cooper and Conor Hayes.

Final Results:

Final results can be found by going to the Sonar Class website:

http://www.sonar.org/

Overall, the Noroton fleet performed admirably with 6 of the top 10 finishes!

3. Karl Ziegler
4. Peter Galloway
5. Lee Morrison
8. Scott Harrison
9. Bob Monro
10. Craig Sinclair

Sonar Class Association dedicates World Championship trophy:

At the Awards ceremony for the 2009 Sonar World Championship regatta held at Noroton Yacht Club, Peter Galloway, Sonar Class Executive Director, announced the dedication of the Sonar Class World Championship trophy in the name of William Ziegler III. This spectacular trophy was created by the well known firm of Azure Dragon Marine Sculptures in England and was originally awarded to the winner of the third World Championship in Cowes, Isle of Wight in 2005. This stainless Steel trophy about 1 meter high evokes the excitement of racing Sonars and is befitting of a World Champion.

The Ziegler family have been prominent members of Noroton Yacht Club for many years. Bill was an avid sailor and racer, campaigning his many high performance yachts through out the world that always bore the name Gem. But perhaps above all he loved sailing Sonars. “My father used to say that some of his fondest memories were of those racing the Sonar” according to his son, Karl who likewise possesses his father’s love of the sport.

Shortly after attaining ISAF (International Sailing Federation, the worldwide governing body of the sport) recognized status in 2000, the class was permitted to organize a world championship regatta and elected it to be held in odd numbered years. The very first world championship was held just one week following the tragedy in New York on September 11, 2001. That horrific event not withstanding, the championship was a huge success largely due to the generosity of Bill Ziegler. Karl and Cecily Ziegler, in keeping with Bill’s tradition of generosity, have made it possible for us the dedicate this trophy in Bill’s name.


Click to Enlarge

This year’s World Championship drew a record attendance with representatives from seven nations including past and present multi-class champions and Paralympic medalists. The 2009 recipient of the William Ziegler III Trophy is Dave Franzel from Boston, Massachusetts and his crew of Greg Anthony, Todd Cooper and Conor Hayes. Karl Ziegler and his crew finished third in an event punctuated by a variety of conditions ranging from blustery to agonizing drifters.

The next World Championship regatta will be hosted by the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club in the village of Rhu, Scotland in 2011 where competitors will meet once again to vie for the right to take home and proudly display the William Ziegler III Trophy for the following two years.

The John Kostanecki Award:

The Sonar class has established the John Kostanecki Award.

With the passing of our fellow Sonar Class member, longtime Noroton YC member, and great competitor, John Kostanecki, we realized a great opportunity to honor him and recognize the top disabled sailor at the SCA World Championships.

In creating the award, we hope to acknowledge the outstanding contributions and achievements to the class of the disabled sailors. John represented the incredible spirit that we all have in us, and is reflected by the determination that disabled competitors display. This years recipient is Bruno Jourdan from France. The 2008 Paralympic Silver medalist sailed with good consistency and minimized his mistakes to finish 22nd overall. He topped the the remaining disabled sailors including USSTAG members Rick Doerr and Jen French, 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist and Canadian Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Paul Tingley, 2008 Paralympic Bronze Medalists from AUS, Colin Harrison, and 8 time Paralympian from IRE, John Twomey.

John would've been proud to see where the state of disabled sailing has evolved to, thanks in part to his perseverance, and John would've been extemely proud to see the excellence displayed in running a superb World Championship by his beloved Noroton YC.

Photos:

Pictures from the Sonar Worlds can be found at www.sailingpress.com. They are available for sale as well by contacting Andrea Watson at:

agwatson@sailingpress.com

There are also a number of photos posted on the Noroton YC website,
http://www.norotonyc.org. Just click on the Photo Gallery.

This week’s events:

Friday 10/16-Saturday 10/17 - Boat haul-out
Friday 10/16, 5:30-7p - Snack Bar Appreciation Dinner. Cost: Chits or tips. Please sign up online or at the snack bar.
Saturday 10/17 - END of launch service

Upcoming events:

Wednesday 10/21 - Dock haul-out

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, September 23, 2009






Sonar Fleet 1
Noroton YC


Racing News:

The Kirby Cup team race, hosted by Noroton YC was held last weekend. Sailed in Sonars, teams represented were Noroton YC Fleet 1, Marblehead, MA Fleet 14, Texas Corinthian YC Fleet 13, New York YC Fleet 15, Vineyard Haven YC Fleet 28 and Seawanhaka YC Fleet 24.


The following is a nice write up of the event by Karl Ziegler:


The 2009 Kirby Cup was held last weekend at Noroton Yacht Club under sunny sky's and fickle winds that would prove as tricky as the final score was. A remarkable level of talent showed up to contest for the title of the Sonar Class Association's team racing champion. Teams representing Noroton, Seawanhaka Corinthian, and New York Yacht Club joined those traveling from Marblehead, Texas Corinthian and Vineyard Haven Yacht Clubs for the right to receive the trophy from none other than Bruce Kirby himself who hails from Rowayton and was on hand to be part of the action.

Racing was extremely competitive from the start with the local team from Noroton Yacht Club, represented by skippers Tom "TK" Kinney, Lee Morrison and Steve Shepstone demonstrating good speed and smart team racing to take the lead going into the second day. Hot on their heels only a half point back were Vineyard Haven YC, and the team from Marblehead. Showing no signs of jet lag were the sailors from Texas Corinthian who were only another half point behind. With the top four teams separated by only a single point, the regatta seemed poised for a dramatic finish. But Sunday proved to be too beautiful for the wind to show up, and the regatta ended with the scores as they were on Saturday.


Wes Whitmeyer and his race committee team received tremendous accolades at the awards ceremony for running thirty great races on the event's only day. Chief judge, Peter Wilson presented team captain and event organizer Lee Morrison the trophy, along with the help and inspired remarks from Mr. Kirby. For winning the event,
Noroton Yacht Club gets the honor of hosting the event again next year. They're left to pray for more wind and the same quality of sailor to return next year to guarantee another success.

Rick Doerr wins the Sonar Class in the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta 2009!


Held from September 14th to the 19th at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the venue for the 2012 Olympics, the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta is open to all Olympic Classes.

Rick Doerr with crew Maureen McKinnon-Tucker and Hugh Freund pulled out a victory in an extremely competitive fleet of nine boats from eight countries!


On the podiu
m With Rick and his crew are:
2nd: John Robertson, Hannah Strodel and Steve Thomas (GBR)

3rd: Jourden Bruno and Eric Flageul (FRA)

© onEdition 2009

Congratulations Rick (AKA Alphonsus to his international friends!)


Sonar World Championships:


We have hit 50 entries for the 2009 Sonar Worlds! With the expectation of a couple of last minute entries, we will surpass the most recent and largest worlds yet - 51 entries at Marblehead in 2007.


Only a week before the events begin. We are holding our final count down to the Worlds meeting this Thursday, 7:30PM at Noroton.

We still need volunteers, particularly next Wednesday. Please consider stopping by on Thursday at 7:30p and raising your hand to help out next week.


Fleet Racing
:

Our last fleet race of the season is coming up this Sunday, September 27. It is also the last opportunity to race before the Worlds!


The current forecast is for a nice SSW breeze at 10 mph with a 40% chance of a little liquid sunshine. I hope to see everyone out there on the line!


Peter’s Corner: Rule’s questions and answers from Senior Judge Peter Wilson.

Answers to last week’s questions:


Click on image to enlarge

In situation #1, there is room for blue to duck yellow, and she chooses not to. No foul. If there had not been enough room, then Green breaks rule 19.2(b).

In situation # 2, blue is obligated to tack once she calls for ‘room to tack’, whether or not grey tacks and is no longer an obstruction. Blue breaks rule 20.1(c).


Check it out:


I guess creating this newsletter and posting it on http://fleet1news.blogspot.com/ wasn’t enough for me. I still felt unfulfilled so I created a new online destination for everyone. It is a new social network for all things Sonar. You can find it by clicking on the following link:

http://sonarclass.ning.com/

It is a work in progress but the cool thing is everyone can participate! If you have any questions, whether it be rules or measurement or whatever, just create a forum discussion. Anything you want to blog about? Just do it! Add or check out events. Download photos or video. Create groups (I created a Fleet 1 group for any discussions specific to our our fleet). It’s kinda like a mini Facebook or MySpace only interesting!


I hope everyone will sign in and try it out. The more we use it, the more we’ll want to use it.


This week’s events:

Sunday 9/27 - Last fleet race before the Worlds


Upcoming events:


Tuesday 9/29 - Sunday 10/4 - Sonar World Championships


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, September 15, 2009








Sonar Fleet 1
Noroton YC


Last week’s version of team 500. Now we know their secret weapon!

Racing News:

The northerly last Sunday did its usual thing...shifty, puffy conditions. Still, at the end of the day, we got in three races thanks to PRO Chris Zaleski and his RC.

The LIS Championships at Sachem’s Head attracted some of our fleet, Lee Morrison, Scott Harrison and Peter Galloway to be precise, but we still managed to get 10 boats on the line. Winning the day was team 500 (l to r above) Randy Tankoos, Bill Jayson, Gillian Jayson and Will Graves. Second went to Ed Sweeney and third was Kevin Sheehan with partner Palmer Sparkman.

Here are the results:

Jayson 1 5 1 = 7
Sweeney 3 2 3 = 8
Sheehan/Sparkman 4 1 5 = 10

Each race was a D2. It is interesting to note that there was only a 2 minute separation between the first and last boats for each race. So even the last place boats had lots of action at each mark rounding...trust me, I know! :(


LIS Championships:

As I mentioned, Fleet 1 had three boats participate in the LIS Championships. Scott Harrison, with crew Warren Costikyan and Adam Westerman finished third behind two local boats. Peter Galloway finished 4th and Lee Morrison finished 9th.


Kirby Cup:


The Kirby Cup team race, hosted by Noroton YC is coming this weekend. Sailed in Sonars, teams represented are Noroton YC Fleet 1, Marblehead, MA Fleet 14, Texas Corinthian YC Fleet 13, New York YC Fleet 15, Vineyard Haven YC Fleet 28 and Seawanhaka YC Fleet 24.

Spectators are welcome to come out to watch the racing from Volunteer which will be on station in the vicinity of the race course. If you are not familiar with team racing, you should come and check it out. The races are short with lots of action so there is very little down time!


Peter’s Corner: Rule’s questions and answers from Senior Judge Peter Wilson.

Answers to last week’s questions:


Click on image to enlarge

If we take the zone away, when Blue becomes overlapped to leeward of yellow as a result of yellow crossing head to wind in her tack, blue can luff to prevent yellow from completing her tack so long as she gives yellow room to keep clear. Yellow is subject to rule 13, and must keep clear. Blue does not have to let yellow complete her tack.

However, as this incident happens inside the zone at the pin end of the finish, some other rules come into play that put some other obligations on blue. As the boats were on opposite tacks when the first of them (yellow) entered the zone, rule 18 does not apply at position 1 or 2. However, once yellow passes head to wind both she and blue are on port tack at position 3. Now rule 18.2(a) applies and blue must immediately begin to give yellow mark-room. And, as neither boat is fetching the mark (see definition of fetching), rule 18.3 does not apply.

Yellow is entitled to mark room, which is room to sail a seamanlike course to the mark and then her proper course while at the mark. Blue cannot luff up to force yellow to steer a course at or above the pin because this is not ‘to the mark’. At position 4 yellow has come down to close-hauled and blue is still a little above close-hauled, giving yellow mark-room.

After yellow passes head-to-wind in position 3, she is still a tacking boat and then in position 4 a windward boat, so she must keep clear of blue, which she does. If there is contact between yellow and blue at position 3 or 4, as long as yellow is sailing to the mark she will be exonerated from breaking rule 13 or 11, and blue would break 18.2(a). Blue must be very careful trying to break up the slam dunk inside the zone and is taking a big risk once yellow is on port tack.

This week’s question:



Click on image to enlarge

Fleet Racing:

As a reminder, there will be no fleet racing this Sunday, September 20, due to the Kirby Cup.

I Have Way to Much Time on my Hands:

I guess creating this newsletter and posting it here wasn’t enough for me. I still felt unfulfilled so I created a new online destination for everyone. It is a new social network for all things Sonar. You can find it by clicking on the following link:

http://sonarclass.ning.com/


It is a work in progress but the cool thing is everyone can participate! If you have any questions, whether it be rules or measurement or whatever, just create a forum discussion. Anything you want to blog about? Just do it! Add or check out events. Download photos or video. Create groups (I created a Fleet 1 group for any discussions specific to our our fleet). It’s kinda like a mini Facebook or MySpace only interesting!

I hope everyone will sign in and try it out. The more we use it, the more we’ll want to use it.


This week’s events:

Saturday 9/19 - Sunday 9/20 - Kirby Cup team race.


Upcoming events:


Sunday 9/27 - Last fleet race before the Worlds

Tuesday 9/29 - Sunday 10/4 - Sonar World Championships

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, September 8, 2009





Sonar Fleet 1

Noroton YC




A group of real winners!
(l to r) TK, Randy Tankoos,
Ed Sweeney, Susan Morrison,
Lee Morrison, Peggy Hersam
and Commodore Jayson

Racing News:

We were able to get six races in over the Labor Day weekend. Sunday was the best day of the year with a fairly consistent 14 knot ESE (110º-120º) breeze. The chop that generally comes with an easterly did not disappoint either.


After three races on day one, with 15 boats on the line, we had a tie for first between the Cranes and Team 500 comprised of Bill Jayson, Randy Tankoos, Kathy Hoyt and Ned Jones. In third was Lee Morrison, just three points behind.


Labor Day racing was a slightly different animal with the east wind down to about 5 knots. But we still had some chop so there’s that!

Winning the day was Lee Morrison with 7 points in three races.. His crew consisted of wife Susan, Don Vasta and Marya Schmidt. Second was Colin Gordon with crew TK (aka Tom Kinney), Mike Huang and Duke Young sailing Sonar #384. Third was Rick Doerr with 11 points.


The overall for the two days, including one drop-out looks like this:

Gordon (OCS) 1 3 5 1 3 = 13
Morrison 3 (5) 5 4 2 1 = 15

Jayson 2 6 2 (7) 4 5 = 19

Sweeney 1 (10) 7 6 6 2 = 22


We have lots of great pictures from Sunday thanks to PRO Peter Galloway! The pictures can be viewed by going to:


http://gallery.me.com/petergalloway/100052

I would also like to thank our PRO for Monday, Michael Rudnick and his great RC!


Kirby Cup:


The Kirby Cup team race, hosted by Noroton YC is less than two weeks away. Sailed in Sonars, teams represented are Noroton YC Fleet 1, Marblehead, MA Fleet 14, Texas Corinthian YC Fleet 13, New York YC Fleet 15, Vineyard Haven YC Fleet 28 and Seawanhaka YC Fleet 24.


We are still seeking used 2003-2007 North mains and jibs to be used in Kirby Cup racing. If you have sails you would like to loan us, please put them in the upper living room preferably before next Monday evening. Jibs should be labeled with the sail number on the tack (so, we know who they belong to).


Spectators are welcome to come out to watch the racing from Volunteer which will be on station in the vicinity of the race course. If you are not familiar with team racing, you should come and check it out. The races are short with lots of action so there is very little down time!


LIS Championships:


The LIS Championships, are this coming weekend, 9/12-9/13 at Sachem’s Head YC in Gilford, CT. This is a great opportunity, and maybe the last, to get some really great competitive racing in before the Worlds.


On-line registration is available for this regatta. Just go to the Members Only section of www.sonar.org, then Regattas -> Event Registration to register.

Sonar Seminar:


We had a great turn-out for the Sonar seminar last Saturday. Many thanks to Peter Galloway and Brian Hayes for taking the time to share their thoughts on everything from rigging to sail trim to race course management.

We would also like to thank Ched Proctor for his assistance during the on-the-water portion of the seminar.


Peter’s Corner: Rule’s questions and answers from Senior Judge Peter Wilson.

Answers to last week’s questions:

Click on image to enlarge

Answer: There is no clear answer because the definition Obstruction makes yellow an obstruction for both blue and green not only when they are both behind her, but also when they overlap her. ‘A boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her, or give her room or mark-room…’


Blue claims that green did not give her room to keep clear of yellow once green chose to go below yellow, and therefore broke rule 19, which exonerates blue from breaking 18.2(b) with respect to yellow.


Green, however, claims that blue could have easily seen that she (blue) would not be able to go between yellow and green and still give mark-room to both of them, so she (blue) was not compelled to break rule 18.2(b). Green also says she broke no rule as she was entitled to mark-room from blue and was simply taking the room to which she was entitled.


It is likely that the definition of obstruction will be changed for 2010.


This week’s question:


Click on image to enlarge


This week’s events:


Saturday 9/12 - Sunday 9/13 - LIS Championships at Sachem’s Head YC.

Sunday, 1:30p – Fleet racing


Upcoming events:


Saturday 9/19 - Sunday 9/20 - Kirby Cup Team Race

Tuesday 9/29 - Sunday 10/4 - Sonar World Championships

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, September 1, 2009





Sonar Fleet 1
Noroton YC

Racing News:

The dog days of summer seem like they have finally hit. Just in time for September!

We were able to get in one light air race Sunday before the breeze completely died. Too bad to, we had a nice turn-out with 15 Sonars on the line including our new Guest of the Fleet, Jen French.


Jen is here from St. Peterburg, FL to participate in the US Disabled Sailing Championships being held at Riverside YC on September 10-13. She is then going to race with us in the Sonar World Championships.

Back to yesterday’s race. Peter Galloway took the gun with crew (left to right above) Ched Proctor, Jim Linville and Peter. Not pictured was Paul Steinborn.


Rounding out the top three were Lee Morrison in second and Rick Doerr in third.

Sonar Worlds:


On-line registration is now available. Go to the Members Only section of www.sonar.org, then Regattas -> Event Registration to register.


Entries must be received by September 8 or be subject to a $75 late charge. That is only one week away so get those entries in!


LIS Championships:

Less than two weeks until the LIS Championships, scheduled for 9/12-9/13 at Sachem’s Head YC in Gilford, CT.

This is a great opportunity, and maybe the last, to get some really great competitive racing in before the Worlds. You have until this Friday, September 4 to register and avoid a late charge.


On-line registration is also available for this regatta. Once again, just go to the Members Only section of www.sonar.org, then Regattas -> Event Registration to register.


Guests of the Fleet:


We have a couple of guests sailing with us at Noroton. Pictured are (l to r): Tim Ripley who is a guest of the 2.4 fleet, Andy Ross and Jen French. Also pictured is our own Rick Doerr.

Both Tim and Jen will be competing in the US Disabled Sailing Championships.


Sonar Seminar:

The Sonar seminar will be held this coming Saturday, September 5. The day’s schedule remains the same. Arrive at Noroton at 10:00am. Plan to stay until 5:00pm.


Peter’s Corner:
Rule’s questions and answers from Senior Judge Peter Wilson.


Answers to last week’s questions:






In both situations, as long as port has a seamanlike escape for each course alteration made by starboard, then starboard does not break 16.1. It is port's obligation to take action to keep clear. See the recent ISAF Q&A 33 http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/QA2009033-[7441].pdf.

In the upwind situation port does not take avoiding action when starboard alters up, and breaks rule 10 when starboard ducks to avoid contact. In the downwind situation port waits to attempt crossing, and still has time to avoid, so no infraction on her part. However, by waiting until the last minute to avoid contact, she increases the risk of being found by a PC to have broken rule 10 if starboard has to avoid.


Proper course does not come into play in either scenario, as an upwind starboard is not restricted to sail above closehauled (unless restricted by 17 in an overlap situation), and downwind she can bear off as much as she wants so long as she gives the port boat room to avoid her.

This week's question:





This week’s events:


Saturday September 5, 10:00a-5:00p
– Sonar Seminar hosted by Peter Galloway and Brian Hayes

Sunday, 1:30p
– Labor Day Series, Day 1

Sunday, 6:00p-10:00p
- Lobster Bake!

Monday, 1:30p
- Labor Day Series, Day 2


Upcoming events:


Saturday 9/12 - Sunday 9/13
- LIS Championships at Sachem’s Head YC.

Saturday 9/19 - Sunday 9/20
- Kirby Cup Team Race

Tuesday 9/29 - Sunday 10/4
- Sonar World Championships


Caption Contest:


Now it’s time for our second caption contest! Submit captions for the picture below. The winner, picked by yours truly, will get something. Not sure what, but something. :)




My offer, to get things started, is: “No I said knit one, pearl TWO.”

Rules:
What rules? We don’t need no stinking rules!!!!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, August 25, 2009






Sonar Fleet 1
Noroton YC

Racing News:

No racing last Sunday. Even with the gallant effort by PRO Warren Costikyan and the rest of the RC, there just wasn't enough breeze. It briefly looked promising. Enough so that they lowered the AP and three die-hard boats went out to the race course (earning themselves participation credit!) only to have the wind die again.

Those three (insert adjective here) were:

1. Bruce Kirby
2. Orner/Infurna
3. Gary Coventry

Sonar Worlds:


On-line registration is now available. Go to the Members Only section of www.sonar.org, then Regattas -> Event Registration to register.

LIS Championships:

Only two and a half weeks until the LIS Championships, scheduled for 9/12-9/13 at Sachem’s Head YC in Gilford, CT. This is a great opportunity, and maybe the last, to get some really great competitive racing in before
the Worlds. You have until September 4 to register and avoid a late charge.

On-line registration is also available for this regatta. Once again, just go to the Members Only section of www.sonar.org, then Regattas -> Event Registration to register.

Peter’s Corner:
Rule’s questions and answers from
Senior Judge Peter Wilson.


Answers to last week’s questions:



















1. What rules, if any, does green break? GREEN BREAKS 18.2(B) WITH RESPECT TO BLUE AS BLUE WAS CLEAR AHEAD OF GREEN WHEN SHE REACHED THE ZONE, AND GREEN DOES NOT ALLOW BLUE TO SAIL HER COURSE TO THE MARK, OR HER PROPER COURSE WHILE AT THE MARK.
2. If there is contact between yellow and green, which boat breaks what rule(s)? Between yellow (inside) and green (middle), if there’s contact yellow breaks rule 11 and is not exonerated if she sails outside of her proper course for rounding. However, if yellow is sailing her proper course and there’s contact, then green breaks 18.2(b).
3. If there is contact between blue and green, which boat breaks what rule(s)? GREEN BREAKS 18.2(B) WITH RESPECT TO BLUE. BLUE MAY BREAK RULE 19.2(B) IF SHE DOES NOT GIVE GREEN OBSTRUCTION ROOM ON YELLOW WHICH IS AN OBSTRUCTION TO BOTH BOATS BECAUSE BOTH OWE HER MARK ROOM. IF BLUE IS GIVING OBSTRUCTION ROOM TO GREEN AND GREEN SAILS DOWN ON BLUE CAUSING CONTACT, SHE ALSO BREAKS RULE 11.

Next Question:
STARBOARD / PORT DOWNWIND CROSSING
STARBOARD / PORT UPWIND CROSSING

Three boat lengths?


Wondering what three Sonar boat lengths look like? Well Bill Thomson has come up with a nice visual aid.


Next time you're at the Club go out on the pier to the first light post. You'll see 4 sets of white tape about 23 ft apart.


Basically a skipper is behind the first post and the second light post is three lengths away. It will help give you a better sense for it.

This week’s events:


Saturday August 29
– Sonar Seminar hosted by Peter Galloway and Brian Hayes (Time TBD but Plan for a full day)

Sunday, 1:30p
– Fleet Racing


Upcoming events:


Sunday 9/6 - Monday 9/7
- Labor Day Series. First gun at 13:30.

Saturday 9/12 - Sunday 9/13
- LIS Championships at Sachem’s Head YC.

Saturday 9/19 - Sunday 9/20
- Kirby Cup Team Race

Tuesday 9/29 - Sunday 10/4
- Sonar World Championships

Monday, August 17, 2009

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, August 17, 2009






Sonar Fleet 1
Newsletter

August 17, 2009

Racing News:


T
he light summer breeze of Long Island Sound wasn’t enough to stop us yesterday. We got three races in thanks to PRO Luke Raymond and the rest of the RC.

With eight boats racing, winning the day was Rick Doerr and his crew (L to R above) Ellen Connery, Nick Connery, Rick and Bart Lund.

Top three finishers were:

1. Rick Doerr 3, 1, 4 = 8
2. Bob Monro 1, 6, 3 = 10

3. Gary Coventry
5, 4, 1 = 10

Hinman Masters:


The Hinman Masters team race, sailed in Sonars, took
place this past weekend in Newport RI, hosted by the New York Yacht Club. Eight teams participated from around the country. They had 3 days of perfect sailing conditions and the NYYC race committee and on-the-water umpires were flawless in execution. Noroton YC managed a very respectable 4th place finish. The following are the results:



Sonar Worlds:

Our next Sonar Worlds meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 31st at Noroton at 7:30PM. At the time of this meeting we’ll have just under a month before the Worlds start. So, please make every effort to attend and help identify and pin down any loose ends.
We had a good meeting on August 3rd – a lot has been done in preparation for the Worlds and I believe we are in good shape. We have a great Race Committee and Judges lined up. SIs are being reviewed and will be posted in the next couple weeks. On-line registration will be up soon – we plan to test the system with the upcoming Sachem’s Head regatta. Guidelines for key areas have been created and reviewed. Based on initial inquiries we should easily hit our low end participation count of 40 boats. There are 20 ‘definitely’ and ‘likely’ boats from Noroton alone. The biggest outstanding items at this time are housing and finding volunteers to help on Tuesday and Wednesday Sept 29th and 30th.

Thanks,
Lee

Peter’s Corner:

OVERLAP OF RULES 18 AND 19


















1. What rules, if any, does green break?
2. If there is contact between yellow and green, which boat breaks what rule(s)?

3. If there is contact between blue and green, which boat breaks what rule(s)?

This week’s events:


Sunday, 1:30p
– Fleet Racing


Upcoming events:


Saturday August 29
– Sonar Seminar hosted by Peter Galloway and Brian Hayes (Time TBD but Plan for a full day)

Sunday 9/6 - Monday 9/7
- Labor Day Series. First gun at 13:30.

Saturday 9/12 - Sunday 9/13
- LIS Championships at Sachem’s Head YC.

Saturday 9/19 - Sunday 9/20
- Kirby Cup Team Race

Tuesday 9/29 - Sunday 10/4 - Sonar World Championships

Sonar Fleet 1 Newsletter, August 13, 2009





Sonar Fleet 1
Newsletter

August 13, 2009


Racing News: We got racing in last Sunday! Actually, three races including the Rear Commodore’s race. With 14 boats on the line, here are the top three finishers…

For the Rear Commodore’s Race AND the overall in three races:

1. Bob Monro 1, 1, 3 = 5
2. Peter Galloway 2, 4, 1 = 7
3. Ed Sweeney 3, 3, 5 = 11

Congratulations to Bob and his crew of spouse Fran, son JJ and his parents Bob (Sr.) and Kathy.

Sonar Seminar:

Our Sonar seminar, hosted by Peter Galloway and Brian Hayes of North Sails will be held on Saturday August 29th.

More details will follow as we get closer to the date.


Sonar New England Championships:

It’s not too late to register and spend a great weekend in Martha’s Vineyard. On-line registration is available at http://www.vhyc.org/

This week’s events:

Sunday, 1:30p – Fleet Racing


Peter’s Corner:
The answers to last week's questions:





18.3 situation with three boats. At position 2 Blue calls for room to tack. Yellow tacks immediately as does Blue so that their tacks are for all practical purposes simultaneous. Upon completion of their tacks, there is room for one boat (not both) to pass between Green and the mark. At position 5 Yellow luffs to round the mark and Blue luffs up to give her mark room. At position 6 Yellow bears off to round the mark, Blue also bears off, but Green has to luff above close-hauled to avoid blue. Green protests Blue and Blue protests Yellow.

ANSWERS: Note that this has been submitted to the Appeals Committee who has not yet answered, so the answers are mine.

Question 1: What rule(s) does Blue break if any? 18.3 WITH RESPECT TO GREEN BY CAUSING GREEN TO SAIL ABOVE CLOSE HAULED TO AVOID HER.
Question 2: What rule(s) does Yellow break if any? NONE. YELLOW IS ENTITLED TO MARK-ROOM FROM BLUE UNDER 18.2A. YELLOW DOES NOT BREAK 18.3 WITH REGARD TO GREEN BECAUSE GREEN DOES NOT HAVE TO ‘AVOID HER’.
Question 3: What boat(s), if any, are exonerated? Cite the applicable rule. NONE. WHILE YELLOW COMPELLED BLUE TO BREAK 18.3 WITH RESPECT TO GREEN, SHE DID NOT BREAK A RULE IN DOING SO, AND HENCE THERE IS NO 64.1 EXONERATION FOR BLUE.
Question 4: What boat(s) if any are DSQ? BLUE UNDER RULE 18.3
Question 5: Would the answers to questions 1 through 4 be any different if there is not room for one boat to pass between Green and the mark? IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A PROTEST COMMITTEE MIGHT SAY YELLOW BROKE 18.3 WITH RESPECT TO GREEN IN THE ABSENCE OF BLUE, BUT I’M NOT SURE I CAN GET THERE BECAUSE BLUE IS IN FACT, BETWEEN THEM.





Sunday, August 16, 2009






Sonar Fleet 1
Newsletter

August 4, 2009


Racing News: With A forecast of thunderstorms racing was canceled last Sunday. That’s two weeks and counting with no racing :(

Of course, no racing meant no Junior’s day. Watch for the rain date.


Sonar Barbecue:
Last Sunday’s barbecue, also canceled, has been rescheduled for this coming Sunday, August 9, following the Rear Commodore’s race.

This week’s events:


Saturday, 6:30p-11p - Summer Band Party

Sunday, 1:30p – Rear Commodore’s race

Barbecue after racing - Actually, it’s lasagna!


Peter’s Corner:
Another interesting situation from Peter Wilson:





18.3 situation with three boats. At position 2 Blue calls for room to tack. Yellow tacks immediately as does Blue so that their tacks are for all practical purposes simultaneous. Upon completion of their tacks, there is room for one boat (not both) to pass between Green and the mark. At position 5 Yellow luffs to round the mark and Blue luffs up to give her mark room. At position 6 Yellow bears off to round the mark, Blue also bears off, but Green has to luff above close-hauled to avoid blue. Green protests Blue and Blue protests Yellow.

Question 1: What rule(s) does Blue break if any?

Question 2: What rule(s) does Yellow break if any?

Question 3: What boat(s), if any, are exonerated? Cite the applicable rule.

Question 4: What boat(s) if any are DSQ?

Question 5: Would the answers to questions 1 through 4 be any different if there is not room for one boat to pass between Green and the mark?


Sonar Kirby Cup and Worlds Update:


The Kirby Cup is here in just six weeks. The Sonar Worlds follow the Kirby Cup two short weeks later. Plans are moving along nicely however we still need lots of help. It is our hope that all fleet members will volunteer their time to make each of these events the best they can be. One area, in particular, that we are looking for volunteers is for housing for judges, etc. If you are able to help, please contact either Lee Morrison or Tory Crane. Our next planning meeting will be on Monday August 31, at 7:30p at Noroton YC. Please plan on attending and offer your time for each of these events.

Sonar New England Championships:


From Alex Pardo

513-503-8158


Hello,

I am writing to encourage you and members of your Sonar fleets to come visit us on Martha's Vineyard in August for the Sonar New England Championships. The dates are Saturday and Sunday August 15th and 16th. This year we shortened what had been a 3 day regatta to a two day event in hopes of making it easier for people to come over. We are again using Falmouth Yacht Club's hoist for the drop in/take out . They have generously agreed to cut their hoist fee in half to $50 provided boats are in an out within 1 week. We also hope to provide everyone housing so please let us know ASAP if you will need it. The regatta fee includes the hoist fee, beer/wine on Friday night, dinner Saturday night and on the water lunches (all for a crew of four). For anyone who has sailed on the Vineyard you know it is a spectacular venue for racing. Although I can't go so far as to guarantee good breeze it has been a windy summer so far on the Vineyard. I hope to see some (or all) of you at the event.
Please pass this around to anyone you think might be interested and please contact me if I can help with anything.

Thanks.