Canandaigua Lake RC Laser Sailing

Sunday September 13th Gary Schmidt unveiled his fall Bills mascot boat for the remainder of the year.  After watching the Bills win there first game of the season, as luck would have it, in the water it went and never looked back in race one.

In total there were five races and five different winners. I believe that the course layout may have had something to do with it. Acting PRO Jonathan Gorbold was determined to find a windward and leeward leg. The course was south, then east, then west, then south, then north, and then south to the finish. Thank God it was only once around!  I do know that with all the sail trimming I had used up most of my battery life. I also know I had to do a lot of rowing to pick up all the marks laid out for the course.

So, after a very cool and shifty wind day it is Gary in first place in the fall series (“RESULTS“), the Buffalo Bills undefeated in the AFC  (1-0) Go Bills!!!) and Anna Gorbold now racing her own RC #44. (Go Anna!!!)

Next Sunday will be week 6 of our series and will once again be off the south dock CYC beginning at 4PM.

See you on the water!!!!

The Admiral

There seemed to be plenty of wind a hundred yards off shore but very seldom did it come our way.  What started out to be a south wind quickly turned into a light north wind which turned out to be fine.  we all just started on the opposite side of the line and went in the opposite direction.

Jonathan Retrieves Rudder

Before the racing started Anna was curious to see if the rudder for her boat would float if it were to become detached from her boat.  Jonathan was nice enough to go swimming to retrieve it. (Nope doesn’t float)  We managed to muster 5 races with as many as 10 boats in a race.  Jonathan (PRO) being concerned that with the light winds there would be much foaling at the marks decided to act as referee. If he called a foal on you a tack and a jibe was to be completed before the next mark. 

No need for a foul call though,  all boats rounded the marks in an orderly fashion and gave  plenty of room.

Midway through the series it is Gary Schmidt who leads with Jay Niggli  a close second.  “Complete Results”

There will be NO RACING Labor Day weekend so that we might enjoy holiday but we will be back to work Sunday Sept. 13th for week 5 of the series.

Enjoy the holiday!!!!!!

See you on the water!!

The Admiral

The day began early with all the preparations being made. Seven boats entered the water at noon for the 2.3 mile race across the lake.  The chase boats were power boats, canoes, and kayaks.  Keith Calkins (race director) laid out the starting line and did the countdown. Six boats took a course of east and then south while one boat (Jay) took a course of south and then east.  At the finish first in 1 hour and 11 minutes was Jonathan Gorbold  followed 1 minute later by Jay Niggli. Bringing up the rear in 1 hour and 28 minutes was the Admiral (Nelson Habecker).

The complete order of finish over was:

1. Jonathan Gorbold #62
2. Jay Niggli #81
3. Terry Schmidt #71
4. Gary Schmidt #59
5. Jack Bennett #005
6. Nelson Habecker #54
7. Mary Schmidt #652 DNF ( engine problems)

The Atkins were well prepared to receive us as we pulled our boats from the water for a short rest before the elimination rounds began.

A course was set a bit off shore where we could get the best wind and competitors were shuffled in and out with their boats to compete in the elimination rounds.

First up:

• Neil Atkins #172 defeating Anna Gorbold #62A
• Anne Lambert #272 defeating Neil Atkins #172
• Anne Lambert #272 defeating Mary Schmidt #652 (more engine trouble)
• Nelson Habecker #54 defeating Anne Lambert #272
• Nelson Habecker #54 defeating Jack Bennett #005
• Gary Schmidt #59 defeating Nelson Habecker #54
• Gary Schmidt #59 defeating Terry Schmidt #71
• Gary Schmidt #59 defeating Jay Niggli #81
• Jonathan Gorbold #62 defeating Gary Schmidt #59

to win The 2015 Atkins’ Hospitality Regatta.

Awards were handed out to the top three finishers and all the female participants for putting up with the guys. 

We all then settled back to enjoy all the strip steaks prepared by our hosts and all the side dishes and deserts contributed by all.

“Many Thanks”  to all that help to make this happen, our hosts Maggie and Neil, our race director Keith, chase boat staff Anne, Anna, Cathy & Mike, Barb & John, and to everyone else that took the time to enjoy the racing.  “Event Photos”

The Admiral

Gary Schmidt
Back to his winning ways

After missing out on week one with an electrical malfunction Gary was able to rebuild his boat with new servos and score 2 bullets out of 4 races.

After two weeks of the Fall Series it is Gary Schmidt and Jonathan Gorbold who are tied for first with Jay Niggli close on their heels.  Just a touch further back is Anne Lambert in forth.

It was hot!!!!! without much wind, but the boats managed to keep moving (although at a very slow pace).  I (The Admiral) decided to loan George Nicks my boat for one race so I would stop pulling my hair out trying to get to the mark and doesn’t it figure that the wind comes up and he cruises to a victory.  I immediately took my boat back and the wind died.  All we have proved is that my boat likes wind to race fast or it simply doesn’t like me.

Quickly approaching on Saturday August 22nd is the Atkins’ Hospitality Elimination Regatta.  I know that the many racers are looking forward to it and final plans are in the works.  If you believe that you may be coming please let us know.  The deadline is quickly approaching.  ( Maggie at [email protected] or Admiral Nelson at [email protected])  For more info “click here”

Good Luck to all this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Admiral

Maggie & Neil Atkins will be hosting their Annual Hospitality Elimination Regatta which will include great company, a great meal and drinks for all.  The address is 4314 Deep Run Canandaigua, NY 14424.  This is just off of East Lake Rd.

The regatta will begin promptly at 12 Noon off the south dock at CYC.  A starting line will be set and the start may be upwind or down depending on the wind direction that day. If you do not wish to race across the lake but would like to participate in the elimination rounds you will need to arrive at the Atkins’ home by 2PM.  If you are a fleet member in good standing and would just like to attend the party you are asked to arrive by 5PM for all the festivities and awards.

There is no participation fee for this regatta, but please RSVP by Tuesday August 18th  to Maggie at [email protected] or

Admiral Nelson at [email protected] so that we know how many Sailors to expect.

If you are planning on attending and would like to contribute by bringing an appetizer, a specialty dish, or desert please inform Maggie at (585) 396-9973 or [email protected] to help coordinate her efforts.

Regatta Rules:

• You are required to have a chase boat to follow your RC across the lake.  If you do not have one -Please let us know prior to Thurs August 20th so we can help.  We will make every effort to find you a boat or help you team up with another chase boat.
• A finish line will be set somewhere close to the Atkin’s dock which you will be required to pass through in order to finish the race across the lake.
• If you have been awarded a handicap in our regular series racing you may continue to use it at the start of the race across the lake.  If you have not been awarded a handicap you may not petition for one.
• Racing from CYC to Maggie & Neils home will determine your placement for the next round i.e.  ( 1,2,3,4,etc) .  (If your boat wins the across the lake race you are guaranteed at least  second place. You may rest until your challenger has been determined through elimination.)  If you do not race across, you may still participate in the regatta by bringing your boat by car to their home or using a boat already on location. You will be placed at the bottom and will have to earn your way to the top.  Those that do not race across the lake will race by drawing names with the winner moving on to the next elimination round.  This will continue until only one remains. This boat will then race against the lowest placed boat of those that did race across the lake. The winner will progress to the next round until a winner is determined.  If by chance no boats complete the race across all racers will be at the bottom and elimination for all will be by drawing names.
• A course will be set to the approval of this year’s race  committee  and a race will consist of a minimum of 4 legs (2 laps).
• Racing will end by completing the elimination races or when the hosts ( Maggie & Neil ) determine it is time for all of us to leave.  If all the elimination races have not been completed at that time the order of finish will be whatever your placement was at the time races were cancelled.
• The very coveted 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (gold, silver, Bronze) place awards will be presented to those who will have earned their place in history.

• 

  1st               2nd                    3rd

  These races will not be included in the Overall High Point Series or Fall Series, but it would be a shame not to participate…Hope to see you there!

   Admiral Nelson

SATURDAY AUGUST 1ST

The weather could not have been better for the 2015 Squaw Island Regatta.  By 2pm the wind was out of the west at anywhere from 2 knots to 15 knots depending on where you were on the lake.  The support staff were all on time and the chase boats were ready.

Richard Phelps donated his jet ski while Dave Kaye donated his dingy complete with motor and comfort chair.

The ideal wind caused us to lengthen the course to approx. 3 nautical miles (Squaw Island and back 1&1/2 times) which took 1 hour and 47 minutes for the winner to complete.  And after all that time and distance the first place boat was just 2 seconds in front of the second place boat that was just 8 seconds before the third place boat.  Great racing by all!!!!!!  Except Jay Niggli who unfortunately lost his keel to the deep blue sea while trying to remove weeds while enjoying a small lead in the race.

The final results were:

Nelson Habecker
The Admiral
First Place

Gary Schmidt
Second Place

Terry Schmidt
Third Place

Anne Lambert, George Nicks & Jack Bennett
First Place Team Boat

We had Hots, Hamburgs, and Sausage along with all the fixens that were contributed by all to make it a very full filling afternoon.  All retired for the day to prepare for the last day of the Summer Series.

SUNDAY AUGUST 2ND

It was an exact reply of Saturday.  Plenty of wind out of the south had us all changing from A sails to B sails and back.  Anne Lambert was able to score 2 bullets out of 6 races which ensured that she would capture first place in the series.  Jay Niggli (with a borrowed keel ) was also able to score 2 bullets that insured his second place finish.  Finishing in third place was Nelson Habecker (renamed The Rear Admiral).

Click RACE RESULTS for all the scores.

The Fall Series begins August 8th 4pm on the south dock. See you on the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Rear Admiral

Kick off August with the RC Laser fleet by coming out to sail in the 5th Annual Squaw Island Offshore Race Saturday August 1st.

This 2-mile race requires skippers to sail their radio controlled sailboat up the lake to a mark at Squaw Island and then back to a finish line at the club. It was one of the more fun but challenging sailing events we have held in past years.

Registration can be done online or can be handled Saturday starting at 1pm at the concrete dock on the CYC waterfront. Skippers will need to figure out their mode of transportation on the water to follow their boats up the course and back. We are getting close to the event, so if you need a ride and don’t have one, please let us know asap and we’ll do our best to find you a chauffeur.

If you have a powerboat and would be willing to take spectators or skippers for a ride on Saturday afternoon, please show up at 1:30 to be paired with a sailor.

Our Race Director, Keith Calkins, will hold a skipper’s meeting at 1:45 pm.

Racing will begin shortly thereafter with an on-the-water start this year with a line set somewhere in the vicinity of the south end of the mooring field. We’ll attempt to have a start line set so that we have a windward start and so that onlookers from shore will get a good view. The finish line will  be crossing the start line  in the opposite direction from the start.

• Notice of Race
• Sailing Instructions
• Online Registration
• 2013 Results
• 2013 Squaw Island Pictures
• (2014 cancelled due to lake power boat restrictions)

We will have a cookout following the race. The fleet will provide meat and rolls but you can bring beverages, sides, salads or deserts to share.

Prizes for this year’s race will be:

1st Place: Celebration for 4

2nd Place: Celebration for 2

3rd Place: celebration for 1

There will also be an award for the first team boats that finish. (If you share a chase boat with another racer and both finish the race before any other shared case boat, that team will be awarded a medallion and a BIG $$$$$$$ prizes.)

Great summer day at the races for RCs.

We had warm breezes mostly from the west which forced us to have downwind starts and huge wind holes at the windward mark for most of the races.  The race course was what I would call an inverted modified Olympic course.  Downwind to the leeward mark, up to the windward mark, out to the jibe mark, down to the leeward mark and back to the starting line finish.  After 6 very competitive races the scores were tallied and the results were:

• Anne Lambert 3 bullets
• Bill Schmidt 2 bullets
• Mary Schmidt 1 bullet

Complete “RESULTS”

Next Sunday will be week 7 of the 8 week series and the following Saturday we will hold our annual Squaw Island Regatta. Please check our  web site www.rcsailors.com for details.

See you on the water

The Admiral

The weather forecast called for 6 knot winds from 4-6 pm , but what we got was a great deal of powerboat chop.  Waves with no wind makes for very focused sailing.  After 2 brutal races (The first won by Gary Schmidt and the second won by Terry Schmidt) we postponed to see if better wind was on its way.

Anne Lambert, while currently enjoying first place in the Summer Series, decided it would be refreshing to take Dave Kaye for a ride on his jet ski while we wait.   “Results”

Anne Lambert with Dave Kaye

Anne Lambert dumping Dave Kaye

Anne Lambert without Dave Kaye

After a few rooster tails she did come back to see if he was ok.  “Yep still breathing”  At that point it was decided that we would wait until next week for wind.

Our next attempt will be Sunday July 19th south dock CYC 4pm.

See you on the water.

The Admiral

June seems to be the month that is a crap shoot as to whether we can race or not.  Twice this month we have found ourselves sitting under an umbrella or under the hatchback of a truck waiting for the wind to usher away the persistent rain.    Eight racers showed up yesterday in hopes of wind, but after a one hour postponement (held at the club bar) it was obvious that the weather was not going to improve.  Racing was cancelled and dinner was ordered.

We have managed to get in 13 races over the two Sundays in June that we did have wind which was an improvement over last year.  July things start getting a little hotter which helps bring that late day runoff of wind that lasts till the sun goes down.

There is no racing the 4th of July weekend so that most of us can play longer with our bigger boats, but then we will race the next four Sundays to complete our Summer Series on August 2nd.

Saturday August 1st the RC Fleet is having its 5th annual Squaw Island Regatta and cookout.  Notice of race and sailing instructions can be found on our web site blog at www.rcsailors.com .  We welcome anyone who has a powerboat or jet ski to join us by being a chauffer for one of our racers. If you are interested please contact me (Nelson Habecker at 585-201-0514) to pair you up.