Race Report: Laser District 8 Grand Prix 2016

The good folks at Sayville Yacht Club really know how to host a major event!
A weekend of racing, August 20-21, saw a range of conditions in the legendary lumpy waters in the Great South Bay off of Blue Point. Saturday saw gusts of up to 14 kts., dropping down as the day went on. Five races, the 1st three taking about 50 minutes, the last two taking about 30 minutes each.  We sailed in hte sunshine while the cool air blew nrth over Long island & formed monster thunderstorms to the north of us! Lightning flashed & thunder boomed but the sailors stayed in the sunshine.
Sunday saw gusts to 22 kts., with 3 races each taking about 50 minutes. I don't think any competitor escaped aches and pains! Those of us who elected to compete in the Radial Division (most competitors) were no doubt happy to have the smaller rig.

I usually race in smaller events, but if you race, its worth the experience to do a championship event. Get out there and have fun!

Click HERE for full results

 

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Race Report: Laser Master's Atlantic Coast Championships

Thirty-six sailors across the four age divisions raced in the warm (& lumpy) waters off Blue Point. The able Race Committee from Sayville Yacht Club got off four W-L twice-around races in a breeze that faded from 9 knots to about 5. Each 50 minute race (longer for yours truly!) let the fleet spread out - still, there were plenty of crossings between the experienced fleet members... and not much yelling!

Saturday night showcased Sayville YC's famous hospitality. A BBQ, a band, & local Blue Point beer flowing was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Sunday saw a bit more breeze. Two W-L twice arounds and, as the breeze built to about 18 knots, one triangle. (I thought it was a knot or two less, but I checked the weather history.)

For overall scores, the Master's handicap system was used. Straight score for Great-Grandmasters, one point added to each race for Grandmasters, 2 points for Masters, and 3 points for Apprentice Masters, just to keep the youngsters (!) in their place! The legendary Peter Seidenberg dominated. For complete scores, click HERE.

Did you think I'd race and not make a movie?
--Bob

 

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Race Report: Another Great July 4th Regatta

Thirty four intrepid Laser sailors made it to this year's regatta.  The predicted sea breeze came in on schedule right after the skippers meeting, and did so with a vengeance.  To keep it interesting, the wind across the course was filled with shifts and featured some holes and some 20+kt conditions.  Our superb RC headed by Marty Knab, with assistance from Dan Montero, Mary Ann Eddy, and Denise Fenchel and Betty responded with a course that occupied almost the entire width of the bay.  Special thanks to Steve Tedeschi and his drone team which filmed the entire event from circling drones and boat mounted GoPros.  We will circulate a link in a few days, once the editing process is finished. 

Special thanks also to my wife Cynthia and her team in the kitchen--Katie, Maggie, Carlina Alex and Jack for an incredible spread.  Also special cudos to Izzy Rogers, with help from Carlina Rivera for expert scorekeeping and tabulating.

Don't forget that we race lasers here every Friday and we will host the "Almost Labor Day Regatta" on Saturday September 3.

 Congratulations to everyone on a great day of sailing, and special congratulations to the winners.

Bud

NBIBCLRA July 4th 2016 Regatta
Rank	Rig	M/F/J	3 Digits	Skipper	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Total	Final
1	F	M	824	Matt Doherty	4	1	1	3	3	2	14	10
2	R	M	095	Lindsay Hewitt	7	2	7	2	1	1	20	13
3	R	M	813	Rudy Ratsep	1	4	3	9	4	3	24	15
4	F	M	637	Craig Smith	10	2	5	10	2	4	33	23
5	F	M	020	Ted Cremer	5	8	6	7	6	9	41	32
6	R	M	90	Lee Montes	6	15	16	1	5	8	51	35
7	F	M	7	David Berridge	11	5	13	6	8	6	49	36
8	R	M	886	Ryosuke Sakai	2	3	15	15	17	10	62	45
9	F	M	655	Seth Barrows	17	7	2	23	27	7	83	56
10	R	M	194	Jim Vos	25	10	8	11	14	14	82	57
11	F	M	811	Steve Hicks	26	19	19	5	15	5	89	63
12	F	M	085	Tim Culver	12	30	9	4	26	13	94	64
13	R	M	bb	Richard Skeen	21	6	14	8	16	21	86	65
14	R	M	581	Bud Rogers	14	11	18	17	9	18	87	69
15	F	M	195	Geoff Loffredo	13	18	12	14	22	15	94	72
16	R	F	614	Rachel Gruzen	16	14	20	13	12	33	108	75
17	F	M	369	Julian Barrowcliffe	3	16	4	19	33	33	108	75
18	R	M	446	Mark Webber	29	20	11	20	11	19	110	81
19	F	M	ITA	Gabe Hannon	15	17	33	33	7	11	116	83
20	R	J	156	James Vickery	32	12	23	16	18	20	121	89
21	F	M	122	Kevin Quan	23	33	33	12	10	12	123	90
22	R	F	445	Natlya Gontcharova	19	24	10	18	21	33	125	92
23	R	M	399	Graham Hagger	20	21	17	21	19	17	115	94
24	F	M	562	James Rogers	18	25	21	26	20	16	126	100
25	F	M	362	Will Pepi	22	9	22	33	33	33	152	119
26	F	M	822	Arthur Leiz	9	13	33	33	33	33	154	121
27	4.7	J	667	Connor Rust	28	26	26	24	23	23	150	122
28	4.7	F	1	Joan Butler	30	28	25	27	24	22	156	126
29	4.7	F	4.7	Sara Nightingale	33	33	27	22	13	33	161	128
30	R	F	560	Marguerite Koehler	24	29	24	25	33	33	168	135
31	4.7	M	474	Nick Gazzolo	31	27	28	28	25	33	172	139
32	F	M	364	Steve Tedeschi	8	33	33	33	33	33	173	140
33	F	M	165	Douglas Culver	27	23	33	33	33	33	182	149
34	F	M	RWB	Elijah Duckworth	33	33	33	33	33	33	198	165

Race Results: Laser Atlantic Coast Championship - for final scores, go to: http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/12285#_newsroom+results

Race Report: Dr. Hull Regatta, June 4, 2016

The Southhampton Yacht Club once again treated us to a great day of sailing on beautiful Shinnecock Bay, followed by their renowned gourmet BBQ! 10 sailors (some from Stony Brook University's Sailing Team) ran 6 races in 7-12 kts of breeze. The sun managed to hold off the fog enough to get the races in, the shorebound were not so lucky!
Many thanks to our host Kent Rydberg and our PRO Geoff Loffredo.

Race Results: Breakwater YC

Laser Sailors are invited to sail at local venues in the area. These series are low-key, fun race dates,

which are perfect when learning how to sail a Laser or to just shake the rust off from winters lay-over.

Coming Up:    4/9  Spring Fling           Seawanahaka Corinthian YC

                        5/30 Lagoon Regatta     Nyack Boat Club

Save-the-Date:  6/11  ACC's                  Bellport Bay YC 

                        6/25  D8 GrandPrix       Sayville YC 

        7/16  Masters ACC's     Sayville YC

Hello Everyone, some fantastic racing yesterday....   I hope everyone enjoyed the water.... We Had 10 boats come out, and some fickle breeze and current on the course, but we got all six in and no rescues or anyone retiring early.  Id like to thank all those who travelled out to attend,  I hope you enjoyed your visit and will make Sag Harbor and the Breakwater a regular stop on your sailing calendar.  Also thank you to our stalwalt regulars who make it enjoyable to watch and a pleasure to offciate over. Thanks to Dan and Doug for helping out with race prep and making my job much more easier.

 we will be starting out Early Spring series next Saturday (March 5th) and weather permitting continue on through April; Each Saturday, we will rig boats around 1 and first race should go off at 2pm, or when 3 boats are on the course....   I hope you plan on coming out.  Click HERE for sailing instructions.

Race Report: Laser Masters Midwinters - 95 sailors competed in the Laser Masters Midwinters and Midweek Madness regattas held Feb. 6 - 10 at the US Sailing Center - Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL. Breakwater members Bud Rogers, Joan Butler, Rachel Gruzen, Sonja Elmquist, Cris Brodie and Sara Nightingale (with Erik Langendal from Shelter Island) participated with Bud Rogers besting the BYC contingent in both events. 
In-addition to the Breakwater Club members, Laser District 8 sailors: Lindsay Hewitt, Donald Woodworth, Natatalya Gontcharva, and Rysouka Sakai along with frequent D8  sailors, Mike Matan, Paul Clifford, and Jean Yves Fillon of AYC.
A total of 16 races were held on trapezoid courses over a period of five days of racing. Conditions on the Indian River Lagoon ranged from 5 - 25 knots with air temperatures in the low 50’s. Olympic hopefuls and masters world champions were among the competitors. Sailors must be over 35 years old to qualify for masters events. The laser is a singlehanded dinghy that is an Olympic class boat for both men and women.

From left: Bud Rogers, Sara Nightingale, Joan Butler, Sonja Elmquist, Cris Brodie (Rachel Gruzen not pictured)

Rigging boats

Laser sailing in Sag Harbor resumes on Saturday, Feb. 27th at the annual Ice Breaker Regatta hosted by Breakwater Yacht Club and Community Sailing Center. This event is planned to coincide with Sag Harbor’s winter festival, HarborFrost, and sailors and guests are welcome to enjoy refreshments and fireworks at BYC after the regatta. There will be a skipper’s meeting at BYC at 1:00 p.m. with racing to follow at approximately 2:00 p.m. The entry fee is $15 per person. Regular Saturday laser frostbiting begins March 5th. For more information (or if you are looking for a boat) contact Marty Knab at  kankron@hotmail.com or Sean Elliot at sean.elliott@breakwateryc.org.

Hudson River YRA has just posted its upcoming schedule - click HERE for flyer

Laser Frostbiting at Seawanhaka starts Sunday November 1st and runs to April. Registration at 11:30 skippers meeting at 12:00 and first race at 13:00.

Huguenot YC (New Rochelle) invites Laser Sailors to their 13th year of Laser Frostbiting, Sundays November thru April. Click HEREfor NOR.

The News from District 8 Secretary Frank Seckler, as reported in the Winter, 2016 issue of the Laser Sailor

Enthusiasm in District 8 continues to build. This trend is a direct result of efforts by the men and women who have helped to organize the events and help get the word out.

Leading the influx of new inspirations are the following sailors: The celebrities of the East End, Bud Rogers and Ron Kank. Leading Lasers down the Hudson are fleet captain Jon Marshall, Allen Feldman, Andrew Hudson, and Sally Wellens. New York City metropolitan organizers Holly Sears and Tracy Kornrich of Brooklyn, Philip S wanton of Harlem YC in the Bronx , Jason Viseltear of Huegonot YC in Westchestcr and Clemmie Everett of American YC in Rye on the western Sound. On the Eastern Great South Bay we have Tom Colin leading the ACCs' at Bellport, Marguerite and Jim Kohler in Amityville, Wyz Mooney and Eric Johnston in Oyster Bay, Christian Langendal at Shelter Island, Dr Hull and Kent Rydberg hosting the gourmet barbeque each year, Westhampton's John Zambriski, and Steve Kelley of Sayville YC. And, from a far, Mike and Lynn Duran, have continued to lend some assistance from their west coast location. These are only a handful of people who truly help make a difference in Laser Sailing in the district. Thanks to everyone for their efforts!

Laser frostbiting can be a great fun, bring your boat or borrow one! Usually a fleet of twenty or so sailors gets in 7 races a day, Laser frostbiting may be more fun than sitting on the couch watching football.  If you live in District 8,1 would recommend you to try frostbiting a Laser in an area near you! At the time of this article, the weather for the month of November has been spectacular for frostbiting, and I say frostbiting loosely, as many sailors are still wearing a wet suit and going "barehanded and barefoot". Frostbiting is taking place at Seawanhaka Corinthian YC, Manhasset Bay YC, Huegonot YC, Centerport YC, and Breakwater YC each weekend. Kicking off 2016 is the New Day Regatta at Manhasset YC, Breakwater YC's Harborfest in Sag Harbor, and The Spring Fling in Oyster Bay, dates will be posted on www.laserd8.org.

Looking ahead: 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for racing both in and around District 8. We're hosting the Atlantic Coast Championships, The Master Atlantic Coast Championships, The Laser Grand Prix, The Ward Bell Regatta, and NBIBCLRA , all of which will draw large fleets. Our neighbors to the north will be hosting the New England Championships and US Masters. There's plenty of great sailing within a reasonable drive for D8 sailors! Bellport Bay YC is hosting the Atlantic Coast Championships June 10-13, in Bellport. Expect plenty of breeze, a pristine bay, and great sailing. Sayville Yacht Club has hosted many a national sailing events including past ACC's and will be hosting the Atlantic Coast Masters on July 16 and 17.

Last year, NBIBCLRA had 44 Lasers lined up for the 4th of July event, this year they are expecting more than 50 attendees.

The Ward Bell Cup, in honor of the late Ward Bell, former owner of Laser # 102 - the first production Laser which now resides in the Long Island Sailing Museum - and the first Laser District Secretary of Laser D8. The Ward Bell Cup usually attracts about 30 Lasers and is held in August. The Laser District Championship will be held during the Grand Prix event which Sayville YC is once again hosting on August 13 and 14. Because of the venue and the first class support from Sayville YC this event naturally has a heavy turn-out each year. As this is going to print several of our fleets were finishing up their calendars all of which will be listed on www.laserd8.org as they are finalized. Should you have interest in hosting a clinic, regatta or laser introductory meeting for your group or club, please reach out to us on the district web page.

I find this pretty amazing - go to https://www.windyty.com/?surface,wind,now,43.469,-74.180,5 - its an animated wind map that really paints out the wind flow around the highs and lows - and, you can zoom in and out.

'The Frostbiters'

Those of you who sailed when Thurston Smith was filming, will be pleased to see the following . Several members were interviewed and will appear in the film which will be released shortly.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiJypz7wFmk 

A note from Bob - Over the years, every now and then, I get a note from someone asking how to join a race. The short answer - just show up! We'll get you signed in at the site. We don't need advance notice, and we don't hold anyone responsible if they can't make it at the last minute (flashback to last years Southampton YC Regatta, when the alternator on my tow vehicle failed halfway there!) There may be an Invitational or some other event that requires qualifying, check the Schedule, but the vast majority of our events have no pre-registration. Anyhow, just bring your boat to the next regatta that looks good to you and you're in!

Check out District 8's videos at https://www.youtube.com/laserd8

News, events, interesting happenings?  New boat, career change, new baby?  Let me know and we’ll share it on the site!  This site is more than just race reports – it’s a great way for all of the good folks in District 8 to keep in touch.  Just e-mail me your info for posting.

For 2015 News and Scores, click here

For 2014 News and Scores, click here

For 2013 News and Scores, click here

For 2012 News and Scores, click here

For 2011 News and Scores, click here

For 2010 News and Scores, click here

For 2009 News and Scores, click here

For 2008 News and Scores, click here

For 2007 News and Scores, click here

For 2006 News and Scores, click here

For 2005 News and Scores, click here

For 2004 News and Scores, click here.

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