Sonar Fleet 1 News: July 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014

SONAR FLEET 1 NEWSLETTER

FLEET RACING:

Sunday July 27:

Ahhh... summer on Long Island Sound. A beautiful SW breeze at 5 kts. Adverse current. Does it get any better? Yes.

11 boats raced. PRO Kevin Sheehan did a great job getting two D1 races in. He tried for a third but it wasn't to be.

Team 605 was fast, really fast. Of four marks (in two races) they were first at three. More importantly, they were first at the finish line in both races.

Team 619 with Lee Morrison, Susan Morrison, Don Vasta and Mark Sullivan (BTW, Mark was a crew training participant this year) finished second while team 506 with Scott MacLeod, Bruce McArthur and Harry Milne finished third.

In Race two, team 772 with Scott Harrison, Warren Costikyan, Adam Westerman and Peter Bang (also a crew training participant) finished second while 506 ended out third once again.

It's no surprise team 605 won the day.

Team 605: Bob Monro, Janet Grapengeter, Michael Rudnick, Ian Monro and the birthday girl Francesca Monro

Second went to team 506 with six points while third was team 454 with Ed Sweeney, Leo Schlinkert, Alec Wiggin and Timothy Sweeney. They finished with eight points.

This ends the first series. Our overall winner for Series 1 is Peter Galloway and Paul Steinborn on Team Fast Forward. Second is TK and team 506, third is team 500 with Bill Jayson, Basil Lyden and Randy Tankoos.

Full results can be found here: http://www.fleet1.org/

SONAR REGATTAS:

The Marblehead NOOD was this past weekend. The Sonar class had 10 boats racing including two from Noroton... Rick Doerr and Andy Fisher.

Local sailor Dave Curtis won the event with 12 points (including one throw out) in 7 races. Second went to Rochester sailor and current world champion Eric Voss. Third was Skip Shumway, also from Rochester.

Rick finished fifth, Andy ended out ninth. Full Results: http://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eid=941&RaceClass=Sonar

Next comes the North American Championship on August 8-10 in beautiful Lunenburg Nova Scotia. It's a long drive but we hear it's worth it. There are currently 24 boats registered including 12 IFDS international crews.

The NOR can be downloaded here. Register at http://www.sonar.org/

Here is the remaining Sonar Class regatta schedule for 2014:

North American Championship, August 8-10, Lunenburg YC, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Atlantic Coast Championship, September 27-28, Noroton YC

FLEET 1 CALENDAR:

North American Championship: Lunenburg YC, Lunenburg Nova Scotia Aug. 8-10
Opti Championship: Nototon YC, August 10 (no fleet racing)
Fleet Barbecue: August 17 after racing
Labor Day Series: Sun-Mon, Aug 31-Sep 1
Kirby Cup: Noroton YC, Sat-Sun, Sep 13-14 (no fleet racing)
Atlantic Coast Championship: Noroton YC, September 27-28
Last day of racing: Sunday October 5

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

SONAR FLEET 1 NEWSLETTER

FLEET RACING:

Sunday July 20th

We set a new record for boats on the line this summer... 18 boats came out to play.

PRO Chris Zaleski ran three races, two D2s and a D1. The weather cooperated too. Sunny with wind out of the east at 14 for the first race. With the tide change, beginning to flood at ~1:00pm, there were plenty of good sized waves to work around as well.

The D2s were about 3.5-4 miles in total. In 14 kts, it only took Team Fast Forward (701) 50 minutes to complete the track. They were followed by Team Spitfire (360) with John Bainton, Doug Stowe, Cathy Hoyt Schulz and Sam Barron-Fox in second and Team 506 with Colin Gordon, Karl Ziegler, TK and Anne Patin in third.

Race two started in 11 kts out of the east. The wind was beginning to lighten up but not the waves. Once again team Fast Forward showed the fleet the way around, finishing the D2 in about an hour. And once again, team Spitfire finished second followed by Team 454 with Ed Sweeney, Art Collins, Leo Schlinkert and Alan DeSantis in third.

By race three, the wind was down to 7-9 still out of the east. The D1 took about 40 minutes to complete. Team Fast Forward completed their domination of the day by taking their third gun. This time followed by team 454 in second and team 506 in third.

Pretty easy to see who won the day. It's tough to beat a boat who has only three point after three races.

Team Fast Forward: Cooper Pellaton, Paul Steinborn, Peter Galloway and Justin Marks

Overall, second went to Team Spitfire with 8 points while third went to team 506 with 10.

Full results and season standings can be found here: http://www.fleet1.org/

This coming Sunday, July 27, is the final week for series 1. We have a close race between Fast Forward and 506 for first place with Fast forward slightly ahead. Team 500 is currently in third followed by team 454 in fourth.

SONAR REGATTAS:

The Marblehead NOOD is this weekend. There are currently 156 boats registered in 10 classes including 9 Sonars. This is always a fun weekend. It's not too late to make plans and register.

After the NOOD comes the North American Championship on August 8-10 in beautiful Lunenburg Nova Scotia. It's a long drive but we hear it's worth it. There are currently 24 boats registered including 12 IFDS international crews.

The NOR can be downloaded here. Register at http://www.sonar.org/

Here is the remaining Sonar Class regatta schedule for 2014:

Marblehead NOOD, July 25-27, Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA
North American Championship, August 8-10, Lunenburg YC, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Atlantic Coast Championship, September 27-28, Noroton YC

FLEET 1 CALENDAR:

Marblehead NOOD: Eastern YC, July 25-27
North American Championship: Lunenburg YC, Lunenburg Nova Scotia Aug. 8-10
Opti Championship: Nototon YC, August 10 (no fleet racing)
Fleet Barbecue: August 17 after racing
Labor Day Series: Sun-Mon, Aug 31-Sep 1
Fleet Barbecue: September 7 after racing
Kirby Cup: Noroton YC, Sat-Sun, Sep 13-14 (no fleet racing)
Atlantic Coast Championship: Noroton YC, September 27-28
Last day of racing: Sunday October 5

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

SONAR FLEET 1 NEWSLETTER

FLEET RACING:

Time to

4TH OF JULY SERIES:

This year's 4th of July series took place on Friday July 4 and Sunday July 6. Friday's forecast looked ominous with a hurricane off the coast and lots of rain predicted. Not many boats showed up. Those that did, eight in all, ended out having three great races in 10-15 knots of breeze and only a little liquid sunshine in one race.

PRO, Commodore Lee Morrison's first race was the Commodore's Race. The top finishing boats were:

First: Team Fast Forward (701)
Second: Team 506 with Scott Macleod on helm
Third: Team 633 with Bruce Kirby on helm

After three races, going into Sunday, Team Fast Forward held onto their lead with a total of six points, followed by Team 506 with seven. In third was Team Spitfire (great to see them out on the line).

Sunday's PRO was KC Hart. KC ran two races, a D2 followed by a D1. With a beautiful forecast, we doubled Friday's turn out with 16 boats starting in race 1. A new high for boats sailing this season.

For the day, the top finishers were:

First: Team 506 with three points
Second: Team 654 with six points
Third: Team 500 with seven.

For the series:

With varying conditions, and number of boats racing over the two days, it was difficult to get consistent finishes. That is for most boats. One exception was Team 506 who won the series with just 10 points over five races.

Team 506: TK, Karl Ziegler, Scott Macleod. Not pictured: Brooks Daley

Second place went to Team 605 who finished with 20 points.

Team 605: Bob Monro, Ian Monro, Francesca Monro, Janet Grapengeter and Michael Rudnick

Third was Team 701 Fast Forward with 21 points.

Full results here: http://www.fleet1.org/

On Sunday, we had four starts for the two races (two general recalls). Onboard with KC was Devin Hart who turned 13 this year.

Devin shot some great video of our starts. The following is a short edited compilation:

SUNDAY JULY 13:

Another great turn out for Sunday's races. Once again we had 16 boats on the line for the first race. The forecast was for 14-18 with gusts in the 20+ range. The reality was boats had trouble getting to the race course in light air. Thankfully the wind picked up a little. The first race was our Vice Commodore's Race, PRO Vice Commodore Peggy Hersam decided to run a D2.

At the finish, the winning team for the Vice Commodore's race was #726 with:

Paul Steinborn, Jr (helm)

Edward Steinborn (jib/bow)

Antonia Fong (pit)

Michael Aingorn (spinnaker)

Second place went to Team 500 while third was Team 632.

For the day, we had three races. After the D2, we had a D1 and a W1. Our overall winner was Team 506 who finished with eight points.

Team 506: Karl Ziegler, TK, Kerry Klingler and JB King

Second place went to Fast Forward with 9 points. Third was Team 500 with 12.

FLEET 1 COOK-OUT:

Our next cook-out is coming up this Sunday, July 20, hosted by Harry and Maribeth Milne. Plan to stay after racing to enjoy each other's company in a (slightly) less competitive environment (depending on how hungry we are).

SONAR REGATTAS:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

SONAR FLEET 1 NEWSLETTER

FLEET RACING:

Sunday June 28

A fleet of 15 boats made it out to the starting line this past Sunday. The following is a write-up of racing by Ed Sweeney:

The wind did not look good from the patio at noon. RC Chair Scott MacLeod sent mark boat Tim Sickinger out to sample the wind on the Sound and at 12:30 we postponed ashore. At 1pm there was a light 3-6 kn southeast wind yet Sailflow still predicted 10-12 kn at 3 pm so the RC decided to head out with a 1:07 pm harbor start. The RC chair was heard to comment “…don’t blame me if this doesn’t work out” as he headed for Volunteer.

Race 1 was a D-1(normal upwind start with port roundings!) and we started in the light southeasterly. Knowing there was a long port tack with the mark a bit to the right, we wanted to sail in clean air in the light breeze so we started 1/3 from the boat and tacked early. (yea!-not over early!) On the way upwind there were a number of holes in the 6 kn breeze. To the south we could see cruising boats sailing in a southerly. All the more reason to stay right. It was a slow drag race with 701 and 605 to the first mark with 701 rounding first in front of us as the wind shifted right slowly. Legs 2 and 3 proved to be tight reaches in the new wind with a parade to the finish.

The wind came in strong from the southwest at 12 kn for Race 2. The RC set a D-2 course. At this point we adjusted things for the increased wind and we were glad to have an experienced 4 man team including Alan DeSantis, Leo Schlinkert and Alec Wiggin. The goal was to start in an open spot near the boat end betting that the boat would open up with the now outgoing tide and increased wind and associated boat speed. Instead what happened was the early boats piled up primarily near the boat. We got to the line with some momentum and found a lane to live in before tacking fairly early into an open port tack lane. It was a drag race to the 1st mark on port tack. Our weight helped to maintain height. I believe we rounded 5th. Downwind we tried to stay in a clear lane and we managed to catch a few waves. The next upwind leg was a slog into the waves on starboard with port being smoother allowing for better height. We rounded the top mark and last leeward mark I believe 5th, with everyone very close. We went for a clean fast rounding and paid attention to the better end of the finish line allow us to pick up 1 boat to finish 4th.

Race 3 was a D-1 in the same 12 kn souwesterly. We started midline with speed in very similar race conditions to Race 2. Again the boats were grouped tightly (surprise?) and we rounded marks 1 and 2 5th. With good boat handling and limited tacks we edged out 2 competitors on the final leg to finish 3rd. Consistency paid off. Thanks to the RC team and fellow competitors for a fun day.

Ed

The top three finishers were:

Team 454: 2, 4, 3 = 9
Team 654: 3, 6, 1 = 10
Fast Forward: 1, 1, 10 = 12

Full results here: http://www.fleet1.org/

Team 454: Ed Sweeney, Alec Wiggin, Alan DeSantis and Leo Schlinkert
Photo: © Randy Tankoos

PETER WILSON'S RULES QUIZ:

Here are some rules questions we can appreciate... and should know.

Leeward mark – How do the rules apply?

Assume the mark is to be passed to port. Yellow and Blue are overlapped at the zone. Blue owes Yellow mark-room and as port-tack must keep clear. At position 4 Blue is rounding the mark correctly and Yellow is not rounding on the required side.

1. Is Blue breaking rule 10 (p/s) but exonerated because she is sailing within her entitled mark-room?

2. Is Yellow breaking rule 24.2, while not sailing her proper course, interfering with a boat sailing on another leg?

Assume the mark is to be passed to starboard. At position 4 Yellow is rounding the mark correctly and Blue is not rounding on the required side.

1. Is Yellow breaking any rules?

Now assume that there are 6 boats on starboard, some overlapped outside Yellow and some behind her, and the same numbers/positions on Blue’s side of the mark.

1. What is the most important rule at play?

2. How the hell do you ever sort this out?

2014 SONAR NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP:

Saturday June 27 - Sunday June 28

The New England Championship, hosted by Falmouth Yacht Club, took place this past weekend.

13 boats representing five clubs raced in this year's New England Championship.

Saturday started slow with a postponement on-shore until about 10:45 am when enough breeze came in from the SE to start a race.

After the first race, the breeze clocked to the SW and built to 12-14. Once things settled in, the RC was able to get an additional four races in. Tired but happy, the fleet sailed in for pizza and beer on the FYC deck overlooking Vineyard Sound.

Day two began with enough breeze to get going at the scheduled harbor start time of 9:00am. A steady 7-9 knots out of the SW allowed the RC to run three more races and have the fleet in by 1:00pm.

The challenge for the second day was the flood tide which can run 2+ knots towards the middle of the sound.

***Heads-up*** For those of you interested in sailing in the Worlds next year... SW breeze, flood tide... in Falmouth that means the current is running with the wind... Stay right. Overstand. Seriously.

Eight races, one discard, and the winner was Alex Meleney out of Vineyard Haven (and Noroton) with 18 points. Second place went to Noroton's Rick Doerr with 20 points while third went to Falmouth YC's Ryan Richards with 21 points.

Full results: http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/7844#_newsroom+results

Channel to Vineyard Sound

SONAR REGATTAS:

Here is the remaining Sonar Class regatta schedule for 2014:

Marblehead NOOD, July 25-27, Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA
North American Championship, August 8-10, Lunenburg YC, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Atlantic Coast Championship, September 27-28, Noroton YC

DUES:

***Last call*** If you want to be scored, and participate in the fleet cook-outs, Fleet 1 dues is $50. If you have not already done so, please send a check made out to "Sonar Fleet 1" (include your name, boat number and partner's names.) to:

Jean Galloway
26 Friendlee La.
Wilton, CT 06897

Just a reminder, fleet 1 dues is separate from SCA membership. SCA membership is required to race in sanctioned regattas like the Atlantic Coast Championship this fall.

FLEET 1 CALENDAR:

July 4th Series: Fri July 4, Sun July 6
Fleet barbecue: July 20 after racing
Marblehead NOOD: Eastern YC, July 25-27
North American Championship: Lunenburg YC, Lunenburg Nova Scotia Aug. 8-10
Opti Championship: Nototon YC, August 10 (no fleet racing)
Fleet Barbecue: August 17 after racing
Labor Day Series: Sun-Mon, Aug 31-Sep 1
Fleet Barbecue: September 7 after racing
Kirby Cup: Noroton YC, Sat-Sun, Sep 13-14 (no fleet racing)
Atlantic Coast Championship: Noroton YC, September 27-28
Last day of racing: Sunday October 5