Regattas in October and November
Oktoberfest Laser Regatta, October 8th, Hyannis Yacht Club
We all missed the opportunity to sail in Hyannis when Lee decided to pay a visit, so here is your chance to sail on the Cape. Entry fee is $30 and includes racing, a shirt, and a meal. There will be a cash bar available following racing.
Register at this link
TOWFER ALERT!!! ONE FEE, TWO REGATTAS! COULD IT BE TRUE?
District 7 Championship AND the Atlantic Coast Masters Championship, October 21-22, Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead, MA
Yes kids, it's true. K-Mart isn't the only operation with a blue light special. The Atlantic Coast Masters Championship, which was unfortunately cancelled when Lee rolled through, has been rescheduled to run concurrently with the District 7 Championship. Sign up for one regatta and compete in two, plus a great dinner on Saturday included in the registration fee of $85. If you are coming from afar, read the NOR regarding possible charters. This is a once-in-a-lifetime bargain to sail in iconic Marblehead, but that's not all. Housing is available for those savvy sailors who register soon, so be a cool kid and click the link below.
All ages will sail together (multigenerational fun). Those over 30 will also be scored in the masters event. (MIT graduates are working on the scoring system at this very moment, eating cold pizza and scribbling equations.)
The D7 Championship is a sanctioned ILCA event offering Grand Prix points. For youth sailors, its a great stand-in for the cancelled Atlantic Coast Championships. For those over 30, be advised that Eastern YC will host the 2024 US Masters next September, so this is your chance to scope out the venue.
Of course, we all know the most important reason to come is to sail with your friends and make some new ones.
Register at this link
Fat Boyz Regatta, Early November, Fleet 413, Newport, RI
This is a classic annual event with the fast folks from 413. Sailing in Newport Harbor is always fun. Check out the 413 page for finalized dates and further information.
Turkey Bowl, November 19th, Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead, MA
This is the grand finale of the Marblehead fall frostbite season. The winner goes home with a turkey, and we all go home with good memories after a crisp day on the water, a social hour, and prizes. Just show up that day. 11 AM is a good time to arrive. Registration is a whopping $15, and students sail for free. |
|
News from around the district
W3 a.k.a. Wicked Windy Wickford
Wickford is officially renamed W3 Wicked Windy Wickford. It blew for the June Wickford Regatta, and it blew again for the New England Masters. 43 master sailors launched from North Kingston Beach in 15-20 knts with bigger gusts, rain, and steep chop, just what we pay the big bucks for. If you weren't careful, it was easy to plant the top of your mast in the mud. Oh the shame until you could hose it off!
Apparently if your name is Peter, you go fast. After 5 races, Peter Shope took top honors followed by Peter Vessella with Rob Hallawell rounding out the top three. See the full results here. Most importantly, thanks to Skip and Barbara and the whole WYC team for another great event, including Saturday's yummy dinner and endless beers.
ILCA 2023 Masters North American Championship, New York Yacht Club
Others with the requisite experience and insight have provided a proper analysis of this spectacular event. Frankly, as a mid-fleet sailor in my local waters, I only saw the top sailors for a few minutes after the start. Then they morphed into tiny dots on the horizon during each of the 9 races sailed over 3 days in 10-20 knots. You know what? It didn't matter. The top sailors are nice people, happy to chat on shore, friendly and welcoming. If you are on the fence about attending these big events, don't be. You will have a blast and learn a tremendous amount. Yes, the top sailors will dust you on the course, but then they will have a beer with you at the bar. Here are my key reasons why you should sign up for the next big event:
1. Sailing with over 100 boats is a beautiful thing. White triangles spread across Newport Harbor from the prestigious NYYC campus to the Newport Bridge and beyond. It made me feel part of a tribe. That sentiment began on shore. There was a tangible comradery as I rigged next to Olympic sailors. Despite our disparate skill levels, we share a love the water, an appreciation of the accessibility of ILCA sailing, and, apparently, the taste of energy bars gulped down between 30 to 50 minute long races.
2. You will meet very interesting people. NYYC hosted a family-style, seated dinner that intentionally mixed the sailors. I chatted with folks from all over the country, including a gentleman named Joe Van Rossen, Masters Legend (75 or over) who rubbed shoulders with Bruce Kirby, the designer of the laser. It's a great memory I will cherish, and I hope I'm still sailing when I reach 75. Impressive!
3. Sailing a long course offers learning opportunities you will never get in short-course racing. Short-course sailing is a blast and fits in our busy lives, but I learned so much more at this event because every choice I made had bigger consequences, and there was time to see those consequences play out. Currents, shifts, wave patterns, and tactical moves by the competitors around me were easier to understand than they are when crammed into a 15 minute race. In other words, yes, I should have gone right on day 3. Now I get it.4. You will have a great sense of accomplishment that will outlast your sore muscles. I remember turning the final windward mark of the last race on the last day and thinking. Yeah, I did it. I am too tired to remember my name, but I did it!
I sincerely hope you will take the next opportunity to sign up for a big event. It makes you an automatic winner.
Click here for the 2023 NA Masters results. Many thanks to the Co Chairs Tom Dailey and Ray Walsh, and the entire NYYC membership and staff who hosted a flawless event. Kudos to PRO Stephen Jefferies and the NYYC RC for running 9 excellent races in challenging conditions.
 
Thank you to our D7 Championship and Atlantic Coast Championship Sponsors
New sponsor: US One-Design!
US-ONE DESIGN has one goal and one goal only: to outfit the world’s one design sailors with the gear they want and the gear they need! Located in Cape Cod, Ma, US-ONE DESIGN is owned and staffed by experienced one-design sailors. Whether you’re a gear-head looking for that extra edge, searching for a PFD that doesn’t get caught on the main sheet or simply trying to avoid shrinkage while frostbiting, we got you covered! We understand your needs because they are our needs!
US One-Design is generously providing gift certificates for the rescheduled Atlantic Coast Masters Championship.
The International Sailing Academy (ISA), located in La Cruz, Mexico, just north of Puerto Vallarta is renowned for its excellent instructional staff, including Olympic champions and highly experienced Olympic coaches, but it's more than just big names. ISA offers a systematic process for learning to sail an ILCA at the highest levels. Its curriculum is appropriate for beginners and experts, juniors and masters. All this is offered at an excellent facility with dependable winds that start light in the morning then build as a reliable local thermal kicks in for the afternoon. Sailors practice in all conditions throughout the day. Additionally, ISA offers virtual coaching. ISA has graciously offered one free clinic tuition to the winner of the 2023 Grand Prix. This is up to a $2600 value! Wow! All you need to do is cover travel and lodging and get ready to turn on your ILCA afterburners.
CARIBWIND offers excellent laser training in Playa Cabarete, a beautiful north coast town in the Dominican Republic that combines the best of tourism and water sports with friendly Dominican culture. Cabarete Beach is a two mile stretch featuring plenty of opportunities to sun and swim while enjoying food and drink at beachside restaurants. CARIBWIND offers ILCA clinics for all levels with experienced laser coaches and Olympic sailors. This is hands-down, the best place for big wave sailing. After you delight in the towering rollers driven by the Trades, CARIBWIND staff will help you put away your boat so you can stroll down a gorgeous beach for a meal and a beverage. Not too shabby. There is a lot to do, so bring the family. CARIBWIND is providing three $300 discounts to their clinics which will go to midfleet sailors in both the Championship and Grand Prix.
If you want the best rigging for your ILCA, go no further than southeastsailboats. Owner Max Hunt makes beautiful custom rigging at an affordable price and has a full selection of laser gear, plus you get to say that your rigging comes from the United Kingdom. How cool is that? There will be a gift certificate to southeastsailboats in excess of 100 pounds for second place in the Grand Prix. ( I secretly want this one as I have some of Max's rigging, and it's awesome.)
Colie Sails is 100% focused on small boat sailing and has an excellent selection of ILCA equipment. Owner Clay Johnson, an excellent sailor and very helpful guy, will set up up with what you need. This shop is a great source for ILCA sails and is widely known from their custom boat covers. A gift certificate of $75 will be awarded to third place in the Grand Prix.
Our sponsors have done their part. Now it's time for you to do yours. Register for the D7 Championship and Grand Prix Finale, October 21-22 at Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. Click this link! |
|
|
