Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
BYSC D12 Laser Regatta
Friday, March 25, 2011
Laser Districts in Beaufort
Monday, March 21, 2011
Southern Circuit - St Pete
3-18 St Pete
High pressure is camped on us so we have 3 knots or less out of the SE. not a good thing. The RC postponed ashore for 4 hours. I did some blogging reports and got up to date but my #$%! Road runner would not send. We were also postponed indefinitely all afternoon. Washed the boat, argued with the laptop dysfunctional email. Visited the rum party on the main dock SPYC marina and hung out with the NC group: Richard, Mickey, Jack Sawyer, Doug & Katy Sherwood, Rick Essman, John Pelosi and Toby Wells. First time in memory of not getting on the water to sail at St Pete.
Mickey & Richard provided the before dinner hospitality suite in their room complete with hors d’oeuvres borrowed from the Hampton Inn lobby.
Rick is from St Pete, provided great local knowledge for our group, and lead us to a good restaurant a few blocks away for dinner.
We all hope for wind tomorrow.
3-19 St Pete
We are still without wind, 3 knots or less out of the SE. Not a good thing. The RC postponed ashore for 4 hours again this morning. So the NC group and our guide Rick hit the road for Fort Desoto beach. Most of us took a swim, the water is a bit chilly even down here, but it was beautifully clear water. Did some beach walking, not as may shells as Masonboro.
Returned to St Pete and hour before this AP ended to visit the Saturday Street Fair / Market just a few blocks from SPYC. Great food, music, arts & crafts, loads of friendly dogs and people. Happens every Saturday between October & May . We highly recommend it.
Sailing is still stalled due to light wind. The NC group decides to go out anyway for a little light air practice, and we had a pretty good sail with about 10 other boats also out on the water. The RC and the rest of the 57 boat fleet arrived around 3pm and the light wind died. So we waited as the late day breeze finally filled in for one short race. We finished 28th Richard 29th, so we drive 13 hours, spend a bunch of $, sail in a 57 boat fleet and we could still spit on each other as we finish. So…… it must be some sort of CYC magnetic force at work?
The warning signal tomorrow has been moved up an hour to 9 am to attempt more races before the start time limit on a final day of regatta, so we have a really early morning ahead of us. Tomorrow will go on well into Monday early morning as we pack up the boat after racing and drive through to Wilmington non-stop.
John Sawyer 15285
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Southern Circuit Compilation from John Sawyer
Southern Circuit 2011
Miami
This is a very beautiful, sunny place, clear water, wonderful skyline, we enjoyed being out on the water but did not sail well. Some interesting participants are doing the circuit this year.
The team next to us in the boat yard is from Columbia, sailing on mountain lakes, some having an elevation of 9,000 ft above sea level. (Denver is at 5,000) Teams from Mexico, Chile & Argentina are also here.
I arrived around 1pm on Monday and lightning friends helped with removing the bottom cover and stepping the mast. My rock star crew AKA Becky Sawyer and Jack Sawyer will arrive by limo from MIA later tonight.
Tuesday; Lots of frustration on the boat today with the Sawyer team, our decisions did not fare well and we had horrible finishes in all three races today. Wind was ESE all day 12 mph in the morning dropping as low as 5mph in the afternoon. One of those conditions where the morning breeze left a choppy condition as the wind speed dropped. Made some modifications to the boat after racing, showers, dinner at Coral Reef YC featuring Lightning sailors of all ages stepping out with hoola hoops, cold beer, a night of sleep and we will try again tomorrow.
3-16 Miami
Light air again today. After fighting with the traveler control crossing the boat for a few days I finally removed it, this old dog was doing fine without it, and I’ve tripped up on it for the last time. Drilling two holes in the deck stressed out the crew and neighbors but, as explained by Becky, I do it all the time, just part of getting to know the boat well.
We set the bar really low yesterday , we have nothing to protect, nothing to lose. Planned our start to assume a mid line sag and it worked. Got a good start with speed and clear air. We choose to minimize tacks today and continued left up the first beat. Looking OK at the weather mark, but it is amazing how the fleet collapses back in on the first mark, near the front is a big advantage, we are not quite there and have disturbed air. Did OK downwind choosing to round the less crowded left gate mark. Continued up the left with a few other poor soles, who like us lost many, many boats as the right side worked. Re-learn tactics 101: late in the race, splitting with the fleet is a low percentage option, hang with the fleet , get the same wind they get.
So the bar is still low enough for my Basset hound to walk over.
Packed up the boat, cleaned up and headed to South Beach to see the Latest Frank Gehry building, the New Symphony Hall. Very cool, tonights free outdoor movie projected huge on the wall and well attended is Avatar, starts at 8pm, pre movie entertainment: drinks at Maxine’s bistro with the occasional earth Avatar trolling by.
The movie scene was amazing and hard to leave, but we need food and a visit to Berries on 27th before leaving Miami.
3-17 Going to St Pete
We are happy to report that the alligators along alligator alley appear to be doing fine. Becky wants me to slow down for a longer look. But we are on a mission to raise the bar.
Fleet 511 Cape Fear paid its dues thanks to Richard Waldkirch, me & new boat owner Rick Essman . When you see Rick, give him $5. Richard and I are in the construction industry, are therefore broke, and could only cough up $5 each, so Rick added $15.
Looks like this entire circuit is going to be a light air series, Toby Wells is with us for St Pete and is in the cat bird seat due to the low bar thing. According to Toby, I have done a great job of setting the stage for a brilliant performance which occurs upon his arrival.
Laura Jeffers Circuit Organizer extraordinaire, master of activities, her minute to win it team and competitors entertained us all. I did catch 8 pencils at 59 seconds, but not 12. I think my performance was affected by the Malibo Breezes, if you can’t see the pencils you can catch them.
John Sawyer 15285
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Southern Circuit
Southern Circuit 2011
Miami
This is a very beautiful, sunny place, clear water, wonderful skyline, we enjoyed being out on the water but did not sail well. Some interesting participants are doing the circuit this year.
The team next to us in the boat yard is from Columbia, sailing on mountain lakes, some having an elevation of 9,000 ft above sea level. (Denver is at 5,000) Teams from Mexico, Chile & Argentina are also here.
I arrived around 1pm on Monday and lightning friends helped with removing the bottom cover and stepping the mast. My rock star crew AKA Becky Sawyer and Jack Sawyer will arrive by limo from MIA later tonight.
Tuesday; Lots of frustration on the boat today with the Sawyer team, our decisions did not fare well and we had horrible finishes in all three races today. Wind was ESE all day 12 mph in the morning dropping as low as 5mph in the afternoon. One of those conditions where the morning breeze left a choppy condition as the wind speed dropped. Three races today 1 mile+ weather legs made it a long day on the water. Made some modifications to the boat after racing, showers, dinner at Coral Reef YC featuring Lightning sailors of all ages stepping out with hoola hoops, cold beer, a night of sleep and we will try again tomorrow.
Not all boats are as bummed as we are of course, Martha Fisher crewing for Ryan Rhulman is in first place after three races
Monday, March 14, 2011
J24's on Lake Lanier
From Chip TillThe District 8 J/24 Circuit kicked off it's 2011 Season this past weekend at Lake Lanier Sailing Club just north of Atlanta, GA. A group of (14) boats were in attendance made up of a strong local contingency including (2) Teams from Georgia Tech in addition to several out of town traveling boats from Burlington/Goldsboro/