Sonar Fleet 1 News: May 2012

MEMORIAL DAY SERIES:

The following are some great action shots from last weekend's racing:

Oh well, there's always next week!

TAPPAN ZEE CHALLENGE RESULTS:

Here's a great write up by Rick Doerr:

Day one of the Sonar Tappan Zee Challenge got off to an auspicious start, possibly a portends of things to come when the first race of the series had to be abandoned when a demonstrable wind shift resulted in a fleet inversion and running to Mark 1. After the breeze settled into the new breeze direction, a steady Southerly breeze allowed to the race committee to get 3 good races off. With significant pressure differentials and famous Hudson River current, a large premium was paid to stay in touch and balance the favored current. The challenge was to sail correct angles against foul current on the runs and set up for the next pressure bands. David Eisenberg sailing 672 with Glen and Lee Morrison had strong day finishing in second for the day, followed by Al Constance (400) and Scott Harrison (772). Alex Melaney (390) had a strong day besides a halyard failure leading to a DSQ with a subsequent 1,2. Skip Shumway rounded out the top group with yours truly holding a narrow 2 pt lead after finishing 1,2,5.

Day 2 started out with a promising 5knt Northerly which quickly died out during the 9am start sequence yielding a prolonged postponement, with the next sequence not commencing till 11:03. With RC under duress to complete racing by 1pm (or sooner) to make sure boats could haul before low tide at the hoist, they pushed hard to get the only race of the day off in a SW'ly. With some boats drifting down current to make the start, the race started with the leaders in a dogfight to hold their lanes. With an impending SE'ly about to settle in Alex Melaney won the fight for the left side, barely making the offset mark before protracting their spinnaker set to jib reach to mark 2, followed closely by Eisenberg then Harrison. With the RC unable to change course, the boats were finished at the gate and sent in for the day. The jury would then had their hands full trying to determine if the final race stood up to reasonable standards as an acceptable race with the race being abandoned, then reinstated, then RDG/average score, but in the end, actual results were given to the competitors resulting in the Team of Eisenberg, Morrison, Morrison taking first followed by Scott Harrison in second.

The finishes for other Noroton boats are: Doerr - 4; Meleney - 5; and Coventry - 13.

Full results:

Click to enlarge

CREW TRAINING SEMINAR:

Our first ever Sonar Crew training seminar is coming up on Saturday June 9, from 9a-4p. Our agenda includes a two hour on-shore class then three hours on the water. Topics the class will cover include a discussion on the race course itself; rules; crew positions and tasks; points of sail; and wind.

Our class is limited to 21. If you are interested in attending, you can sign up by going to the Member's Only area of the Noroton website: http://norotonyc.org/

We need Sonar owners to volunteer to take out attendees. We are looking for at least seven boats. Each boat should have a skipper and one regular crew member to help with boat handling instruction. Please contact Scott Harrison if you can join us.

RULES QUIZ:

Senior Judge Peter Wilson has submitted the following question related to our new SI's:

Protests and Penalties under the 2012 Noroton Sailing Instructions.

Boat A approaches the weather mark on port tack and tacks to starboard just ahead and to leeward of B who is fetching. B is faster but sees there is no room for her to pass between A and the mark, so B heads up to avoid A and is compelled to sail above close-hauled. B immediately hails protest and within 5 seconds displays her protest flag. A neither acknowledges nor does she take a two-turn penalty.

B reports her protest to the race committee immediately after finishing, and then 15 minutes after the RC boat docks confirms her protest against A with the PRO (RC chairman of the day). In doing so B says, "I want a hearing because A gained a significant advantage by fouling me at the weather mark". The PRO finds the skipper of boat A and advises him that there will be a hearing in 15 minutes, and finds Steve Shepstone to head up the protest committee. Just before the hearing starts, and prior to the 30 minute protest time limit, A's skipper hands the PRO a note complying with Noroton SI 16.2a that he will take a 20% scoring penalty for that race.

Shep convenes the hearing, there are no objections, and the PC takes testimony from the two skippers. The PC finds facts and concludes that Boat A broke a rule (18.3a) and did gain a significant advantage by doing so. How should the PC direct the RC to score boat A? Would the score be the same if the PC found that A did break 18.3a but did not gain a significant advantage?

TEAM RACING:

Team Racing at Noroton is in full swing.

We sail on Tues evenings in Noroton's Ideal 18s, and scrimmage at Noroton in Sonars on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Across the sound, Seawanhaka Corinthian YC is running a Friday evening series in Sonars. Women's sailing programs start next Monday with the Summer Supper Series.

We are signed up for the usual summer regattas and filling out teams to represent Noroton.

Noroton Team Racing is open to all members of Noroton YC and there are events for all levels of skippers and for people that prefer to crew. Team Racing places a great emphasis on good boat handling and small boat sailing skills in fast paced, short course races.

If you would like to get involved, simply send your email address to norotontr@gmail.com and we'll put you on the distribution list. Notes are sent out regularly with updates and announcements about upcoming events. (btw, if you received a note from norotontr@gmail.com yesterday with a link to the 2012 Noroton Team Race Calendar, then you are already on the distribution list!).

If you would like more information please don't hesitate to contact any of the people listed below.

Lee Morrison, Vice Commodore

Howard Seymour & Bruce McArthur - Team Race Coordinators

Clemmie Everett, Sailing Director

FLEET RACING CALENDAR:

Saturday June 9, 9a-4p, Crew Training Seminar

Sat-Sun, June 23-24, Atlantic Coast Championships, Marblehead

Sun. July 1 and Wed. July 4, July 4 Series at Noroton

Sat-Sun Aug. 4-5, New England Championships, Falmouth YC, Falmouth MA

Fri-Sun Aug. 24-26, North American Championships, Rochester YC

Sat-Sun Sep. 29-30, Long Island Sound Championships, Noroton

IMPORTANT LINKS: