Monday, October 31, 2011

David Frazier wins the Maine Laser Championship!

From Tom Jamieson


The Maine Laser Championship (MLC) series concluded on October 16th with the "Hippo Cup" in Thomaston, ME. The five month, best three of five regatta series brought in 44 different sailors from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusets and Connecticut. The overall winner was David Frazier of Granby, CT with a dominating score of three wins. In second was Hank Thorburn of Harpswell, ME with 1 second and 2 thirds, third was Gary Orkney of Stongington, CT. with a second, third and fourth, in fourth was Fred Boursier of Warren, ME. with a second, a third and a fifth, and fifth was Tom Jamieson of Belfast, ME. with a third, a fourth and a ninth. Sally Sharp of Enfield, NH won the women's division and Jack Giblin of Marblehead, MA won the youth division. All of the regattas were one day affairs featuring 3 to 8 short races and wonderful hospitality.

The first regatta of the season was held at the Portland Yacht Club on June 26th, under the capable direction of PRO Jack Zinn. Jack bailed us out at the last minute after our other regatta site fell through. Thank you Jack! Six races were held in light to medium winds. Ed Rowe of South Portland convincingly beat 14 other sailors to win the event. Syd Sewall of Hallowell, ME finished second, Hank Thorburn or Harpswell, ME finished third, Stu Nickerson of Portland, ME was fourth and Fred Bousier of Warren, ME was fifth.

The second event was held on July 16th at the Thorburn family farm on scenic Clarks Cove in Harpswell, ME. The first race started in medium wind but built steadily through the afternoon. By the last of eight races all he 22 sailors were exhausted. One of the college age competitors was heard to say "I don't know how these old guys do it, I'm exhausted". Another challenge was the tide which was pushing competitors over the starting line early. PRO Hank Thorburn, tried all manner of strategies to keep competitors back but needles to say general recalls were the norm. First overall was David Frazier of Granby, CT followed by Jack Zinn of Falmouth, ME in second, Tom Jamieson of Belfast, ME in third, Gary Orkney of Stonington, CT in fourth and Stu Nickerson of Portland, ME in fifth. After the racing we were treated to a great dinner.

The third event was held on August 20th outside the harbor entrance to Belfast, ME. The event was part of the "Belfast Marine Heritage Festival" that also included rowing races and a boat building competition. PROs Sandra Squire and Margie Spencer-Smith took the thirteen Laser sailors through 6 races in a steady medium wind. David Frazier showed no mercy as he won five out of the six races and threw out of second. Hank Thorburn finished second in four races and won the last to finish second overall. Fred Bousier was third, George Hazelton of Rockport, ME was fourth and Syd Sewall was fifth.

The fourth event was the "Loon Cup" held on September 17th on Lake Cobbosseecontee in Manchester, ME. PRO Syd Sewall grappled with light and wildly shifting winds and managed to salvage three races for the day. The racing was so close that one point separated the top four boats at the end. After it was all hashed out Duane Delfosse of Windam, ME won a the tie breaker for first over Fred Boursier. And Gary Orkney won the tie breaker for third over Tom Jamieson. Stu Nickerson finished fifth. Our hosts, the Cobbossee Laser Fleet did a fantastic job with the dinner afterward.

The final event was the "Hippo Cup" at the head of the Saint George River in Thomaston, ME. on October 16th. It was an exciting day of racing with gusty winds of 10 to 25 mph. PRO Peter Clapp gave the fleet a variety of courses including the "Harry A" which involved sailing a second reach from the reaching mark to the starting pin and down to the leeward mark. Needles to say there were some wild crashes and in one race Hank Thorburn crossed the finish line while capsized. David Frazier finished first overall with Gary Orkney second, Hank Thorburn third, Stuart McNeil was forth and Tom Whitmore was fifth.

Unfortunately, no team was able the win the Maine Team Championship trophy. In it's inagural year, the trophy was to go to the best combined score for a team consisting of one adult man, one adult woman and one youth. The mounted Laser transom was created and donated by Laser sailor Nick Robinson of Castine, ME. The MLC advisors put up the trophy as an incentive to get more women and youth interested in Laser sailing. But it was not to be, no team could come up with the necessary members this year, so the trophy was awarded to the Thomaston Laser fleet as they were the only Maine fleet to have three member compete in at least three events.

Maine is a beautiful place to sail and we invite all sailors to come next year and bring their families.

Overall Results

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Marblehead Frostbite report - week 6

14 year old Bryce Andreasen leading the fleet


Report from Tom Dailey


Week 6: Richardson Wins in 5-8k Right-Trending Easterly/Southerly


In a day of firsts, four different skippers won heats before Ben Richardson prevailed in the seven races series on Sunday. Gene Ho won his first race, as did 14 year old Bryce Andreasen (pictured), marking the first time a junior (under age 18) won a race in the three-year history of Laser Frostbite sailing at Eastern yacht club. Young Andreasen also led the fleet at several marks in different races, showing flashes of speed and smarts that make him a name to watch in the four remaining weeks of the season. Veterans Sam Altreuder and Richardson were the other winning skippers. On the day Richardson won with second-place finishes in the four races he did not win. Andreasen’s antics were just good enough to beat Wayne Colahan and Spring Champ Stein Skaane – all within one point. Phil Smith sailed consistently with the top group in claiming top Corinthian (top finisher who had not previously won the day), and Gene Ho’s strong finish secured his position as the day’s top Gypsy (finisher from outside Essex County).

Proving again the futility in predicting this ocean’s breeze, a lovely 6-8k westerly at 1000 veered 100 degrees right, settled in a range for a couple of hours before bolting right again, as the last race was finished in a southerly. Without postponement, the race committee kept the races coming, moving the marks between every heat. Racing continues for another 4 Sundays, until just before Thanksgiving. The fleet loaner boat is available this weekend, contact tom.dailey@gfk.com if interested.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Cedar Point YC Fall Regatta - November 5th

CPYC Frostbite Fleet


Cedar Point has a large and competitive Laser fleet so this should be a fun regatta! The NOR is posted so sign up!


NOR

Friday, October 21, 2011

Opening day for Fleet 413 & Winthrop Sailing-November 6th




Winthrop Frostbite Sailing Club -  November 6

Join the Winthrop Frostbite Sailing Club on opening day, November 6, for short course racing followed by pub food and drink at the Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop, MA.   Racing will begin at 1:00 PM, but  plan to arrive at or before 11:00 AM.      Details:



Newport's Fleet 413 -  November 6


The NOR/SI for the 2011-12 season are attached. They'll also soon be online at 


This is also where you'll go to register online. However, DO NOT REGISTER YET. We're still in the process of clearing out last year's data. I will let you know when registration is officially open. 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Marblehead Laser Frostbite: Week 5: Shope Wins Day 5; All Safe as Many Capsize

Andrew Burton, doing it the hard way.


Report written by Tom Dailey:

Peter Shope bested Ben Richardson and the rest of Marblehead's Laser fleet on a windy day that offered 30 knot winds smack dab in the middle of the harbor. Shope, the only skipper not to capsize, used the same dry technique this summer to beat Richardson in the 1:1 final of the 2011 St. Francis Heavy Weather Slalom. A few days later Richardson would claim the Laser World Championship (Apprentice Masters), setting up the rematch in our harbor Sunday.

But Marblehead hero Richardson, found ashore as 3 races started, sang that he had retired to 'save lives' as the winds increased. Denied their showdown, spectators bobbing on moorings ringing the shore were buoyed by Shope's pledge to return one day. On the Lasers themselves, there were no capsized smiles: top junior and lady, Christina Magnosa commented: "It looked worse than it was, and if there were another way to learn to sail on a windy day... but, there just isn't, is there?"

Racing resumes this Sunday with the first heat at 12:30. Race days continue until November 20th.

For more information contact Tom Dailey at Tom.Dailey@gfk.com

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Sail Newport Presents... a night with Puma & Rambler-hurry and get your tickets as they are going fast!

Puma as she prepares to for the start of the VOR
Rambler 100 overturned at Fastnet Rock

Get your tickets now, as this event will sell out!

Come listen to Ken Read talk about Puma and her crew as they ready to get started on the first leg of the 2011-2012 VOR in less than a month. Also hear Jerry Kirby's first hand account of what it took to survive the ordeal at Fastnet Rock. Lastly, get an update from Sail Newport's Brad Read about Newport's preparation for the America's Cup World Series.

As it was so well put by fleet 413 fleet captains, Stu Streuli and Dave Reed, "If you've seen the Kenny/Brad/Jerry Kirby show before, you know it's not to be missed, if only to see how much fun they make of each other."

Purchase tickets here
Tuesday, October 18th at 6:00 pm
Jane Pickens Theater
Newport, RI
$30 per Adult for Non Sail Newport Members
$25 per Adult for Sail Newport Members
$200 for 10 Tickets -- Sail Newport Members only
All local youth sailors under 18:  FREE

For more information contact Katie Barker or call 401 846-1983

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

October Regattas

Last Blast Regatta (October 8th)
Quannapowitt YC, Wakefield, MA. NOR

NH Seacoast Regatta (October 15th)
Great Bay YC, Dover NH. NOR

Maine Championship (October 16th)
St. George River, Thomaston, ME NOR

Duane Delfosse wins The Loon Cup


                                    




Report/photos from Syd Sewall:

The Loon Cup ....we sail off of a small island connected with a dirt causeway on Lake Cobbosseecontee west of Augusta, ME. It's a beautiful lake, and we often are entertained by Loon and Osprey calls, as well as passing by herons and eagles. 


This year's race was on a beautiful but light day. We got in two reasonable W5 type races with a shifty northerly 3-6 kn before the wind died completely. Occasional ripples showed up briefly for the next hour to tempt us to start, but nothing was sustained. Then a consistent S-SW showed up, and we had one more race in 1-5 before hitting shore for a cookout. Results and a photo attached....we had great attendance, with only a half dozen from our local group and the rest from "away".  


The last event in our "Maine Series" is in mid October in Thomaston.