PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 8
Results

Sunday, June 8, 2008

PRO Bill Kleysteuber
Mark Boat Driver Paul Maher
Crash Boat Driver Bryan Lanier
Helpers  Kyra Tallon, Jeff Neurauter

The AccuWeather forecast called for a high of 94 degrees, partly sunny skies, hot and  humid, with winds from the WSW at 8 - 12 MPH.  The river flow was up a bit, after recent rains, at 19,400 CFS (gage height 4.8 ft) and the water temperature was a spa-like 80 degrees.  High tide was at 12:27 PM.

This turned out to be a day of contrasts, making it extremely challenging for Race committee, not to mention the racers.  On the way up to the race course we had a nice southerly breeze, at 8 - 10 MPH, allowing a gentle and leisurely downwind run with chute up to get to the course.  Bill set a nice windward-leeward course of appropriate length, windward mark to the south, and launched the starting sequence promptly at 11:30 AM.  Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately, depending on your viewpoint) there was a General Recall on the Lighting start, and the Lightnings were consigned to the end of the list for the restart.  By that time the wind had started to shift to a westwardly direction, but for almost an hour we had light and variable winds, with the Lightings hanging around the start line waiting for the restart that never happened.

After finishing the Albacores, RC had to reset the course to accommodate the by then northwesterly winds, and then got off three more races on a W3 plan in quick succession before it was time to come in.  However, for the entire remainder of the day we had shifty gusts, just like last weekend, sometimes more southerly, sometimes more northerly, keeping all racers on their toes.  The general wind direction itself changed from NNW at 1 PM to SW by 3 PM, generally at about 13 MPH.

Once back at the dock we wished we had even more breeze as we sweltered in the 95 degree heat and humidity to pack up and put away our boats.   The good news was we didn't need to go to the club to enjoy a sauna -- we got  it right here at WSM!

Eleven Lightings came out, including the long-lost Beedobeat, skippered by John Butler, with Diane Butler and Hayden Smith as crew.  We also welcomed new crew Angie Moran and Valerie Klotz, sailing with Frank; and collegiate sailors Sarah Kellogg, sailing with John Pemberton; and Sarah Evans, sailing with Joe Warren.  9 Albacores, two Hamptons, and 3 Hobies joined in the fun.

Now we start the long hot summer in the Dixie District, to include the District Championships in Annapolis this coming weekend; the Rock Hall invitational the weekend of June 21-22;  the Lighting 70th anniversary regatta in Skaneateles July 4 - 7; the Atlantic Coast Championships, also at Rock Hall July 26 - 27; the Sweet Corn August 2 - 3; the WJMs and North Americans August 4 - 14; and the Duck Challenge August 23 - 24.  And, don't forget the President's/Leukemia Cup on September 6 - 7.  Plus we'll do a PRSA Downriver Cruise sometime in July.  See you out there!

Actual winds at National Airport were:

The high temperature for the day was 95 degrees, at 4 PM.

PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 7
Results

Sunday, June 1, 2008

PRO Yates Dowell
Mark Boat Driver Chris Bolton
Crash Boat Driver Steve Yelland
Helpers  Hakan Topalhan, Keith Strasser, Bob Etheridge, Jacob Donkersloot, John Taylor

The warmer weather of June was a delightful change from the brisker days of April and May.   We had those wacky westerly winds off the airport, averaging about 10 MPH, but with no-wind lulls and sudden gusts,  coming from unpredictable directions, of up to 20 MPH. The river flow was  normal for this time of year, at 11,100 CFS (gage height 4.1 ft), and the water has warmed up nicely to 74 degrees.  Low tide was at 1:25 PM, and we hit bottom with our board down multiple times on the trip back to the marina, and then had to go ask for a chain extender for the hoist in order to get the boats out at the crane.

Yates set a triangular course with the windward mark and the finish line near the airport's storage shed south of Gravelly Point, and the leeward mark close to the channel off Hains Point.  The start line was a bit north of the leeward mark, all helping to maximize the size of the race course.  Yates got off 4 races in quick succession, using an Olympic course plan, and had time to start a 5th, except that dark clouds to the west suggested that it might be time to head for home.

12 Lightings, 8 Albacores, 2 Buccs, 2 Hamptons, and 2 V-15s came out and were rewarded with an exciting day of racing on the river.   Fleet 50 welcomed new crew members Elise Miller, who sailed with Chandler, and Allegra Lee, who sailed with Collin.

Actual winds at National Airport were:

The high temperature for the day was 84 degrees, at 2 PM.

PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 6
Results

Sunday, May 18, 2008

PRO Pat McGee
Mark Boat Driver Red Fehrle
Crash Boat Driver Bob Astrove
Helpers Suzan Humphrey, Doug Kirby, Shelly Kirby, Marian Bruno

PRO  Pat McGee and the Lightning Fleet RC took charge of a most interesting race day on Sunday, May 18.  The AccuWeather forecast called for southwesterly winds  at 16 - 19 MPH and the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms.  The river flow was up, due to last weekend's rains, at 39,100 CFS (gage height 6.1 ft).  The potential strong winds and the likelihood of thunderstorms kept some skippers off the water, but for the 5 Lightings, 3 Cats, and one Albacore that came out it was a most interesting day on the water. Winds never got above 16, and sometime after 1 PM they settled down to 8.  While periods of cold rain could have been discouraging, for the skippers and crew dressed for it the rain was no distraction. With southwesterly winds RC was able to set up a long windward-leeward course in front of the power plant, with the windward mark near the Robbins-Gioa office in Old Town and the leeward mark well north of the green channel mark north of the Naval Research lab.  True, this put some of the race course into the navigable channel, where we had to dodge the Spirit, the Dandy, a big barge, and other large boats  (David called "Starboard" on the Spirit and was answered by five angry blasts of a horn), but we had great downwind legs with chutes up.  For the final windward leg of the third race RC decided to move the windward mark farther south, placing it in front of the Chart House restaurant -- it seemed like it was almost to the Wilson Bridge.  But,  unfortunately, shortly  after the last Lighting rounded the mark, the wind died, not to pick up again until after the race had been abandoned -- and we had accepted a tow home.  What a nice long downwind leg that could have been!  Nabeel, Rick, Bob Wilbur, and David were joined by Collin and crew in their new Lighting Grant Boat, 14120.

Actual winds at National Airport were:

PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 5
Results

Sunday, May 11, 2008

PRO Robert Bennett
Mark Boat Driver Jeff Storck
Crash Boat Driver Scott Snyder
Helpers Jennifer Parrow, Tiffany Bludau, Dennis Harris Sr.

Nabeel and Russ were away at the SSA No Gas regatta, and Colin Kirby was picking up his Boat Grant Program boat in New Jersey.  Red was planning to sail, but discovered before splashing that his forestay was two inches too short and went to West Marine to get an extender -- and by the time he was ready to sail we were back at the docks.  Jeff decided to help the Race Committee -- a good thing, as he was able to perform an on-the water rescue using the Mark Boat.  Other skippers were helping spouses and moms celebrate Mothers Day.  The AccuWeather forecast called for partly sunny skies, a high of 63 degrees, and southeasterly winds at 11 MPH.  The river flow was about average for this time of year, at 14,200 CFS (gage height 4.4 ft), and the water temperature a seasonal 65 degrees.  Low tide was at 8:10 AM and high tide at 1:46 PM. 

However, there was the threat of an on-coming heavy rain / thunderstorm system that actually arrived after we got off the water. Nevertheless,  RC was motivated to set up and run 3 races in quick succession and to get us back to the docks before 3. David lost his jib sheet clew shackle near the windward mark on the second race and fought valiantly to recover, eventually swapping in his unblocked, single-threaded light air jib sheet,  but in the strengthening wind decided to stop racing and come in early, followed soon after by Joe Warren.

Actual winds at National Airport were:

PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 3
Results

Sunday, April 27, 2008

P = PRSA Dues current
F = Fleet 50 dues current
as of April 14

Scorekeeper: Jeff Storck
St Pete Scorer

Thirteen Lightnings got ready to sail on a gray, chilly Sunday morning -- overcast and misty with an air temperature that never made it above 57 degrees --  but Laurie's boat met an unfortunate accident on the crane, resulting in a damaged mast. So an even dozen were out racing in good 12 MPH northeasterly winds.  We welcomed new crew members Jason Suja, Peter Lallas, Mike Crocker, and Luke LaSorde.   PRO Ben Ackerman, with Race Committee members provided by the Catamaran Fleet, got off 4 races before it was time to come in.

PRO Ben Ackerman
Mark Boat Driver Keith Strasser
Crash Boat Driver Hakan Topalhan
Helpers Steve Yelland, Peter Henry, Dave Bergeron, John Taylor, Bob Etheridge, Suzan Humphrey

Actual winds at National Airport were:

High tide was at 1:21 PM.  The river flow was average for this time of year, at 23,000 CFS (gage height 5.0 ft).  The water temperature was 66 degrees, and the high air temperature was 57 degrees, at 2 PM.

PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 2
Results

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The AccuWeather forecast called for cloudy skies, rain, heavy at times, and possible thunderstorms.  AccuWeather got it right!  PRO Daphne Byron evaluated the weather forecast, and with the sparse turnout as of 10 AM, decided to cancel racing for the day.  Good call, Daphne!  Had the weather been better, we would have had Jeff; Pat; Nabeel; David; Bobby; Russ; Red; Rick; Jim, and Frank for sure on the water.

PRO Daphne Byron
Mark Boat Driver Bill Buck
Crash Boat Driver Jim Graham
Helpers Bob Goebes; Diane Goebes; Doug Foord; Mike Russell

Actual winds at National Airport were:

PRSA 2008 Spring Series # 1
Results

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Lightning Class Series Summary