Fleet 50 2003 Annual Report

The year 2003 is very special to fleet members, especially for the three skippers who have been members for more than 20 years each.  This year is the 60^th anniversary of the fleet, which back in the 50’s, was the largest Lightning fleet in the world with more than 50 boats.  Many of us remember some special event such as the humble origins of the Potomac Cup and the years-long effort of Jim Dillard to create a new state park and boat launch facilities on the river.  As competition increased from other classes the fleet declined during the 60’s and 70’s then ebbed and flowed during the last 20 years--a pattern typical of many one-design centerboard classes.  But, during the last five years, active racing skippers and boats have more than doubled in number.  Our fleet consists of 31 skippers/owners—a level not seen since 1973.  Of that total 25 boats participated in at least one race during the Potomac River Sailing Association’s (PRSA) Spring or Fall series, the Leukemia/President’s Cup, or our Potomac Cup.  We welcomed five new skippers: Jennifer Parrow, Ted Okada, Steve Gregg, Denise Malueg and Sam Zadeh.  We lost one (the Krests) who moved away (but he sold his boat to a fleet member).  We celebrated our 60^th anniversary with a group shot of 16 boats on the last race day.  The fleet has owners who reflect a wide variety of professional backgrounds—military officers, attorneys, engineers, information technology specialists and economists to cite a few.  Arthur Godfrey, a pioneer of the TV talk show was a member in the 50’s.  

The most exciting publicity event for PRSA and the fleet was the article in the September issue of Sailing World about unlikely locations for racing.  Their reporter took photos of the 29 boats that turned out on June 25, and wrote more about us than other low profile sailing clubs.  Nabeel Alsalam, former Fleet Captain and current PRSA commodore, was quoted, as were two other fleet members.   Since PRSA was founded in 1934, it was high time to get some recognition.  While PRSA has no yacht club (the marina is on federal land), it does have race committee boats and dedicated sailors.

The other high point, literally, for the fleet was Hurricane Isabel--a tropical storm when it arrived in the Washington area.  Nonetheless, the 9-foot surge above high tide engulfed the marina.  Boats that weren’t tied down floated off trailers; some trailers with boats tied to them floated to other parts of the marina.  No fleet boats were damaged (many were moved away) and the launch docks escaped major damage thanks to 11foot high piers installed after Hurricane Fran in 1996 demolished the docks.

FLEET CHAMPIONSHIP/PRSA SPRING and FALL SERIES

PRSA’s spring and fall series weighted our fleet championship heavily due to fewer races in the Potomac cup and President’s Cup.  Nabeel Alsalam was this year’s Champ; Frank Gallagher was Runner-up, followed by Jeff Storck in 3^rd place, Pat McGee in 4^th, and Rick Welch rounding out the top 5.

Eighteen boats sailed at least one day in the spring series, and we averaged 12.5 boats, compared to last year’s maximum of 15 boats and average of 8 boats.  Frank Gallagher won; Nabeel Alsalam was runner-up; amazingly only 1.5 points separated them going into the last race day.  Jeff Storck was 3^rd.  In the fall series, 19 boats sailed at least one day and we averaged 12.5—better than the average of 11 in 2002 and considerably better than 9 boats in 2001.  The greatest challenge to the top five was former collegiate sailor and veteran of Buzzards Bay, Thatcher Tiffany, who finished second in the fall series.  Only 1.1 points separated 3^rd from 5^th places going into the last Sunday.  With consistently great sailing Frank Gallagher sand regular crew of Skip Hirsh and Lolita Hart won the fall series.

DOC GILBERT POTOMAC CUP

This event has become in the last three years one of the best-attended races on the East Coast rivaling the storied Frigid Digit. This year 31 boats sailed, which was the 4^th best in the 20-year history of the PC.  Seventeen fleet boats participated—two more than 2001, and last year.  Dick Hallagan from Rochester Fleet 77 won again—he really loves this event; he’s won it 4 times in the last 6 years.   Drew Hudson was the top fleet finisher in sixth place. Tanya Topolewski who sailed with Chandler Owen, wrote a hilarious piece posted on our and on ILCA’s web sites about Chandler’s attempts to jury-rig a repair of a broken main halyard.  Chandler crewed regularly for Doc Gilbert and comes every year from Nashville, TN to sail in this event.  Special thanks go to Rick Welch who was in his second year as chairman of this event.  Thanks also to all the skippers and crew who took on other jobs.  Fleet members do everything and it went off nearly flawlessly, only a broken steering cable in a rescue boat.

LEUKEMIA/PRESIDENT’s CUP

The 21-boat turnout for the Leukemia/President’s cup was the second highest total in recent history.  Eighteen fleet boats sailed--a new record.  Racing was cut short due to very light/shifty winds both days.  John Guth of the Annapolis fleet won the two-day event.  Again this year, the Leukemia Cup raised about $150,000, among the top three of all Leukemia racing events in the U.S.

PRSA SPRING REGATTA

Ten boats participated this year.  Ron Buchanan’s 12-year-old son Mark skippered and they came in 2^nd.  Laurie Duncan came in 4^th; Pat McGee 3^rd and Nabeel Alsalam won the two-day event.  Nabeel wrote a very interesting article on mistakes and how to avoid them at the start, windward mark and selecting the right side of the course.

HELMS REGATTA

This special event held on June 28 features three types of boats: Lightnings, Albacores and Lasers.  Skippers sail in each type of boat with lowest overall scores winning.  Frank Gallagher and Khin Thein tied for 1^st, Bob Wilbur came in 3^rd.

OFF RIVER RACING

Eight fleet skippers participated in several off river events.  Five of us (Gallagher, Hudson, Storck, Alsalam, and McGee) went to the Dixie Districts—which had a very good turnout of 24 boats.  Jamie Brickell won the event.  Congratulations to Nabeel Alsalam and Frank Gallagher and their crews who came in 4^th and 6^th respectively.  Cathy Bleakly, who crewed with Joe Buczkowski of Hampton Yacht Club, came in 5^th. 

The revived Havre de Grace fleet 192 had a great turnout of 21 boats for their August 23-24 regatta.  Steve Constants, of Annapolis, sailing with his 11 year-old daughter won the event.  He wrote an interesting and amusing article about racing strategy (it’s published in the Oct/Nov issue of Lightning Flashes).  Nabeel, with Jennifer Parrow and David Teale, who were crewing, came in 5^th.  Nabeel also wrote about this event; it was e-mailed to fleet list members.

Nabeel and his regular crew was one of 12 boats participating in the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association’s regatta at Wrightsville Beach in mid August.  He wrote a fascinating article (e-mailed to fleet list members) about racing in 3-4’ swells.

Pat McGee, Jeff Storck and Bob Astrove went to Susquehanna fleet’s Sweet Corn Regatta, attended by 22 boats.  Winds were good on Saturday but died on Sunday.  Pat and his crew of Paul Maher and Ian MacLeod took 3^rd. 

Pat, Jeff and Joe Warren went to SSA’s summer regatta on July 19-20.  Winds were a little light on Saturday (but good enough to race) and better on Sunday with temps in the upper 80’s.  Despite the good conditions, the chop beat them up.  Nabeel and Pat, Joe Anderson and Harry Keith went to the Frigid Digit on Oct 18/19.  They took it on the chin in that high-powered event.  Allen Terhune, the reigning North American champion won; Jamie Brickell who won the NA President’s Cup fleet, came in 12^th.  We flat water sailors need to get more practice sailing in the choppy waters at Annapolis.

OTHER EVENTS

Three years ago we revived a downriver cruise tradition (a cruise to Mike and Carol Arnold’s waterfront house) and fleet picnic/volleyball game at historic Ft. Foote Park.  This event is part of the fleet’s goal of fostering an enjoyable social experience for all members and friends who don’t race.  A record of 10 boats, with 35 participants cruised this year.  Something unexpected always happens.  Two Lightning sailors who now live out of the area, but just happened to be at the marina, went with the fleet.  And Denise Malueg provided a ride for TV reporter Jan Fox who was doing a special on boating safety.  (A detailed article was posted on the website.)  

New skipper Thatcher Tiffany gave much time and effort to the Annapolis group “Kids Set Sail” to establish a sailing center and sailing program for disadvantaged District of Columbia kids on the Anacostia River.  Frank Gallagher for many years has been the fleet’s major supporter for the Special Olympics program for handicapped kids.  While we have always assisted new skippers with a Wednesday night practice series, we started a more formal “green” fleet series racing for new skippers and crew who wanted to skipper.  Fleet Captain Jeff Storck and other experienced skippers acted as coaches for the 8 skippers and crew who participated.  They ran special sessions on issues such as “how to steer a boat without a rudder.”   won the series.

When the June 1 Spring race was cancelled due to high winds Pat McGee and his regular crew saw that as an opportunity to practice in 28-40 knot winds!!   They provided onlookers with an amazing demonstration of sailing a Lightning with less that half the boat in the water and docking in these winds.  His superb article, sent as an e-mail, gave readers the feel for what it was like to be screaming all the time. 

And speaking of high winds, Denise Malueg and a friend, who were sailing back from Mount Vernon to the marina on August 16 got caught in a powerful thunderstorm and capsized.  Her detailed story of what went wrong and what to do is on our website. 

In addition to the five new skippers we added the youngest new crew member.  Drew Hudson and spouse Sousan Arafeh have a new son Benton.  Benton was born 4 days before Isabel struck.  If they had had a girl would she have been named Isabel?