After four light-wind races, the eight-legged team of Brennan Blodgett, Leslie Bennett, Jack Bennett and Christine Stebbins (L to R) won the Canandaigua RC Laser Fleet’s first annual Eight-Legged Race on Saturday, July 2, 2011. Team Yost from R.A.M.Y.A placed second with Team Blevins of Canandaigua taking third place honors.
The race results and a photo gallery have been posted.
Four beautiful hand painted Perrier Jouet champagne flutes and an exquisite bottle of bubbly will go to the winning team in the Canandaigua RC Laser Fleet’s first annual Eight-Legged Race!
The current plan is to set a short windward-leeward course and to race twice around the marks. We plan on holding a minimum of 6 races with the goal of finishing 8.
Each team member will sail one leg of the race. Each team member will be numbered 1, 2, 3 or 4, and in the first race, #1 will start the race and to around the first mark, then hand the transmitter to #2 who will handle the second leg and mark and then pass on to #3 and so on where #4 will handle the finish leg and cross the line.
In the next race, we’ll repeat the process, but sailor #2 will start and the process will repeat with the race ending when #1 crosses the finish line. #3 will begin the third race with #2 finishing, etc.
Remember, we aren’t doing the full-blown cookout this week so make your dinner plans accordingly. We are asking that people bring an appetizer to share. As per usual, we’ll have a few boxes of vino on hand.
One of our fleet members who can’t sail tomorrow has provided his boat for use if there are additional sailors who want to put together a team at the last minute. Thanks Dave Kelsey! So, get your team together and come on out and join the fun on the water or on the docks!
The race will start on the waterfront at CYC promptly at 4 p.m. Feel free to come out a little early and practice. We’ll have marks on the water by 3:15.
Give your entry fee of at least $15 per boat to the person holding the scorers clipboard with the collections envelope and make sure they write down your sail number. Since we are not getting any financial help from the yacht club for our starts this season, this money is being saved and targeted towards paying for our year-end awards.
See you on the water tomorrow where we’ll find out who wins the vin exquisite and who gets the plonk.
Start getting your crew trained and prepared for this weekend’s Eight-Legged Race!
This will be a RC Laser relay race where we’ll set out marks off of the south end of the docks at CYC and then announce courses that each have 4 legs.
Each RC Laser with a skipper and 3 crew members (eight legs, get it?) will take turns navigating the race course, passing the transmitter to the next person as the boat rounds a mark. Each person will drive one leg of the race.
Racing starts at 4 p.m. and we’ll try to get in at least 6 or 8 races, depending on the wind and then go calculate the scores to determine the winning team.
Bring $15 per boat as an entry fee that will be used for awards.
We won’t be having a cookout but we are encouraging everyone to BYOB and then also bring appetizers and munchies that could be shared.
We know of at least two people who have said they would show up and be “crew” if someone needs people. If you have an RC Laser and don’t plan on racing, but you plan on being down at the party, please bring it along as we’d like to encourage as many bystanders as possible to try sailing.
In other news, the racing results have been updated.
Both the seven-week Summer Low Point Series and the Women’s Low Point Series are being scored in SailWave and 40% of the races being thrown out. Just because you’ve missed a week, don’t give up! There are plenty of races yet to get your missed out of the scoring calculation!
The Spring “First Place” Series is now complete with Bill Blevins, Gary Schmidt and Jonathan Gorbold racking up the most 1st places with 14, 8 and 7 respectively.
Nelson Habecker came on strong at the end of the series and won half of the races on the final Sunday!
Light winds combined with sloppy boat chop made for difficult tacking, especially out in the open water by the windward mark. Those who pushed their rudders over hard and tacked quickly while feathering out the main faired the best on the last day of racing in the spring series.
The spring series included 352 starters over 44 races.
Next Sunday, the seven-week summer series will begin. It will be scored using the traditional low-point system and all of the sailors will be back on the starting line together again.
In the womens series, Terry Schmidt topped the field yesterday and moved herself into first place overall, followed closely by Missy Porter, Tracy Blevins and Leslie Bennett.
The updated overall 2011 “Batting Average” high point calculation has been posted and it shows Jonathan Gorbold moving to the top of the leader board again over Bill Blevins by a margin of just 9/10,000 of a point!!
You can check out all of the scores on our results page which has been updated to reflect all races to date.
The next special race for the Canandaigua RC Laser Fleet will be the “Eight-Legged Race” which will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 2 at the Canandaigua Yacht Club. Each boat will need a skipper and 3 additional people to help sail as “crew.”
This will be a series of races using multiple marks where each crew member, as well as the skipper, will sail one leg of the race and then pass the transmitter to the next crew members as each rounds a mark of the course. Full details will be posted shortly but go ahead and mark your calendars and then locate and start training your crew!
In other news, several of the women who come out to watch the Sunday afternoon sailing asked if they could have their own race so we’ve started a weekly Women’s Series. Tracy Blevins and Missy Porter are tied for first place after two weeks of racing, followed closely by Terry Schmidt.
The women will race at least once each Sunday during a break in the regular series which will usually happen around 5 p.m. The series will continue weekly throughout the year until Sailor’s Night where we’ll calculate overall low point scores for awards.
We usually have an extra boat or two available if there are any other women who would like to stop by and try their hands on the controls of an RC Laser.
In regular Sunday RC Laser sailing, Bill Blevins has taken the lead in both the overall season high point “Batting Average” scoring as well as in the Spring “First Place” Series.
As many of you know, we’ve implemented a staggered start sequence to spread out the fleet at the starting line where new sailors who have not won more than 3 races get to start 1 minute before the fleet. After winning 3 races, those skippers start 30 seconds ahead of the pack and after winning 3 more races, skippers start at the gun.
Bill Blevins and Gary Schmidt have worked their way to the scratch fleet and very clean air for their starts while David Turnbull, Bill Schmidt and Jonathan Gorbold will now be starting 30 seconds early after winning 3 races. Jack Bennett is only a win away from joining them in the middle start. Everyone else is getting better starts with less stress, bumping and banging into each other on the once-crowded start line.
And finally… stay tuned for more details about our fleet going up to race with the Rochester Area Model Yachting Association in a very unique day of sailing that they are proposing where our RC Lasers will be responsible for completing one leg of a relay race where we’ll be placed on teams with other types of model sailboats!
International RC Laser Class Racing Rules have been approved and published to the RC Laser Class Association web site for members. Among the changes is that “D” sails have been added to the sail options for racing. Class members can visit http://rclaserna.com, sign in and then download a copy of the new racing rules.
Squaw Island Race photos taken by Roger Bardwell, Keith Calkins and Tracy Blevins have been posted and we have links to them on our photo page.
Click here to visit our photo page to check them out.
If you have additional photos you’d like to share, send them to us and we’ll include them in our gallery or link to your page. Thanks!
Jonathan Gorbold congratulated by race director Keith Calkins at the finish. Joan Calkins was recording the finish order of the boats as they arrived back at CYC after the race.
Jonathan Gorbold finished in front of a field of 12 RC Laser skippers who sailed in a two-mile “offshore” race from the docks at the Canandaigua Yacht Club to Squaw Island and back.
Second place went to Gary Schmidt. He was first to round the Squaw Island mark after sailing a course close to shore on the first leg but he got in lighter air and shifty wind a little too far out in the lake near the finish to fend off Jonathan from passing on the inside.
Sharing a chase boat with Gary didn’t seem to hurt Bill Schmidt as he arrived back at the docks in close contest for third place.
After a shotgun start from the docks, this first annual event for the fleet required each skipper to jump in a chase boat and follow their RC Laser in some type of powered watercraft. Kayaks, canoes, pontoon boats and ski boats carried the racers, race committee and spectators.
Sailors agreed after the race that the appropriate strategy would have been to use the big “A” sail. Hugging the shore also seemed to pay off for everyone who took that route rather than heading out to the middle of the lake although the wind appeared to be a little stronger further from shore. The wakes and chop caused by powerboats out on the lake seemed to stall the air in the smaller “B” sails for the RC Lasers that went out as compared to the boats that stayed in close to the shore.
The wind direction was steady and blew from the south. The wind speed at the start was at the low end of the “B” rig and only Jack Bennett chose to sail with his “A” sail. Sail changes weren’t allowed during the race so Jack benefitted from the light air sail almost winning the race before he got lost somewhere in the mooring field as he approached the finish line.
Roger Baldwin (#99) and George Walter in the background navigate their RC Lasers towards Squaw Island on Canandaigua Lake.
Roger Baldwin and Harry Henkel drove up from the Oxford RC Laser Fleet in Maryland to participate. Harry picked up a copy of Stuart H. Walker’s book The Tactics of Small Boat Racing for persevering in the light winds and being the final finishing boat that didn’t drop out. Roger picked up a copy of Chapman’s Boating Etiquette as a prize for being the mid-fleet finisher.
Anne Lambert paddled Nelson Habecker (#54) in to shore after his RC Laser found the big hole with no wind in the lake within sight of the finish docks.
Awards were handed after a cookout for everyone at the waterfront pavilion where everyone walked away with something, including Keith Calkins, our Race Director –in his first duty overseeing a Radio Controlled race in which he did an exceptionally good job– all of the race participants and all of the chase boat drivers!
Plans are already in the works to hold the Second Annual RC Laser Squaw Island Race next year, at 2 p.m. on the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend holiday!
Canandaigua, New York RC Laser Fleet 14
May 28, 2011
Rules: The regatta shall be governed by the rules as defined in the current Racing Rules of Sailing, as amended by Appendix E for RC sailing, prescriptions of US Sailing, class rules of the RC Laser Class of North America and further Sailing Instructions as mandated by the Race Director (RD) who also has the authority during the course of the event to make changes which will be announced to the competitors.
Eligibility: The regatta is open to all RC Lasers conforming to RC Laser Class Rules.
Entry: Eligible boats may be entered by submitting the attached Entry Form prior to the Skippers Meeting on May 28, 2011, with an entry fee of $10.00 per boat.
Location: Canandaigua Yacht Club (CYC), 3524 West Lake Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Race Course: The RD will announce the course at the skippers meeting. The Turn Mark shall be a large yellow inflatable buoy located about 1 nautical mile north of the start and finish dock, near Squaw Island. The race will be from CYC to Squaw Island, around the turn mark, leaving it to port, and then back to CYC.
Start: The south concrete dock will be designated as the starting and finishing dock. This changes Rule E3.7. A two-minute audible countdown sequence will be used and the goal is to begin the race promptly at 2 PM. Boats must be out of the water at the beginning of the two-minute countdown sequence. Boats shall be launched from the starting dock after the start signal sounds.
Finish: A boat is considered to have finished when the skipper retrieves it from the water from the finishing dock after successfully navigating the entire course.
Time Limit: The time limit will be 4 hours. If the first boat has not finished within 4 hours of the start, the race will be abandoned and the party will begin. If a boat does finish within the time limit, all others will be allowed to finish but the party will still begin at 6 PM.
Shortened Course: After the starting signal the course may be shortened with 2 sounds or abandoned with 3 sounds without displaying flags. This changes Rule 32.
Sail Changes: Sails may not be changed during the race.
Outside Help: Rule E5.6 will not apply.
Launching and Re-launching: “Rule 45 is changed to (a) Boats scheduled to race in a heat may be launched, taken ashore or re-launched at any time during the race except between the preparatory and starting signals. (b) While ashore or at the water’s edge or on a chase boat, boats may be adjusted, drained of water or repaired; have entangled objects removed; or have batteries changed.” This changes E4.4. Also see “Chase Boat Rules” below.
Radio Communications: VHF radios are not required and will not be used to communicate changes to the sailing instructions. The RD will monitor VHF channel 9 as well as mobile phone number #585-729-6779.
Protests: It is the responsibility of a right-of-way (ROW) skipper to call a protest against a fouling boat. Please solve your disputes on the water. If there is a remaining protest after the race, see the RD immediately upon finishing.
Marks: You may touch the yellow Turn Mark by Squaw Island. This changes Rule 31. The Squaw Island Turn Mark must be rounded to port. There will be a large orange inflatable buoy placed at approximately half the distance between CYC and Squaw Island. It is not a mark of the course and is only to be used for reference purposes and can be passed on either side. You can even run into the orange mark if you wish. You may also hit the start / finish dock, but do so at your own risk. It is made out of concrete.
Retiring Boats: Boats retiring from the race shall notify the RD as soon as possible.
Scoring: The race will be scored under the Low Point System described in the Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix A and the event will consist of only one race.
Personal Flotation Devices: Rule E1.4 is changed to “When on board a rescue boat or chase boat, each competitor is responsible for wearing a personal flotation device adequate for the conditions.”
Chase Boat Rules:
Prizes: A Crystal Head will be awarded to the skipper who completes the course in the fastest time. Other positions awarded as we find things to give away.
Party: A cookout on the waterfront will follow racing for all skippers and crew.
##
2011 Squaw Island Sailing Instructions (.pdf / .doc file download)
2011 Squaw Island Entry Form (.pdf / .doc file download)
2011 Squaw Island Notice of Race (.pdf / .doc file download)
##
Our Race Director and PRO for the 2011 Squaw Island Race will be Keith Calkins.
See you on Saturday!
We decided to only count first place wins in the Spring Series. Every first place win during the 7 week series, or about 60 races, will garner that skipper a special award (for each win!)
After 3 of 7 weeks, here’s how the skippers are stacking up:
With 7 wins, Gary Schmidt is in the lead. Bill Blevins has 5 first place finishes. Bill Schmidt, one of our newest members, has 3 firsts. Coming in with two each are Jack Bennett, David Turnbull and Jonathan Gorbold. George Walter is on the board with one bullet.
Now, to shake things up even more, we’re going to move to staggered starts for weeks 4 through 7 of the series. Here’s how it will work.
Any RC Laser skipper with fewer than 3 wins will get to start at the one minute mark during our two-minute countdown sequence. Skippers with 3 wins but fewer than 6 wins can start at the 30 second mark. Skippers with more than 6 wins have to start at the normal start time at 00 seconds.
A skipper can opt out of this starting advantage and start with the scratch boats at the 00 mark.
The goal is to help spread out the pack of boats on the starting line as well as to get the field finishing closer together with the fastest boats catching the slower or new boats on the final leg of the race.
The overall 2011 batting averages will still be calculated for every skipper. The latest batting averages file has been updated on the results tab of this site.
The RC Laser “Offshore” Squaw Island Race is this weekend. We are still hoping for additional powerboats to be available at 2 p.m. to carry skippers from CYC to Squaw Island and back. The Sailing Instructions should be finished and posted on this site by Thursday.
