Regattas in November
Fat Boyz Regatta, November 5th, Fleet 413, Newport, RI
This is a classic annual event with the fast folks from 413. Sailing in Newport Harbor is always fun. NOR is posted on the 413 website.
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 $15, and students sail for free. |
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News from around the district
 D7 Championship and Atlantic Coast Masters, Eastern YC
ILCA District 7 Championship and Atlantic Coast Masters Regattas
On October 21st and 22nd, 48 sailors completed a whopping 16 races in challenging conditions. The regatta combined the ILCA District Championships and the Atlantic Coast Masters. All ages sailed together, and we let a team of MIT graduates figure out the complicated scoring.
Saturday brought an easterly, 10-15 knots, waves, and sheets of rain, but that did not stop our PRO, Kate Dailey, and EYC’s Dean of Sailing, Franny Charles, from running nine excellent races for the two fleets (ILCA 6 & 7). Many thanks to the awesome crew of mark boats, finish boats, and judges who pitched in. It was not an easy day on the water with numerous breakdowns among the competitors and water rising in the finish boat. (Yep, the bilge pump was clogged.) The entire RC crew showed that they are made of sterner stuff. They have great skills combined with cool heads, allowing them to pull off an excellent day of racing.
In both fleets, the leaders emerged early, with local fast guy Ben Richardson packing away the bullets in the ILCA 7 fleet, nine of them! His boat is named “Has Ben,” but apparently, it’s a misnomer. Another local favorite, Stein Skaane, known for his prowess in big waves and wind, was in close pursuit all day.
In the ILCA 6 fleet, young hotshot Grayden Mott, currently a sailor at Tabor Academy, set the pace with seven bullets, a 2nd place, and a 7th. (That’s what drops are for.) Oliver Grant, a junior visiting from Newport, was nipping at Grayden’s heels all day with six 2nd, two 1st, and a 6th.
After race 9, everyone headed to the ramp happy and tired and ready to enjoy a hot shower, social hour, and a delicious dinner.
Day two was a different universe: a sunny fall day, a blustery west wind with auto-tack shifts, and flat water. Kate and Franny didn’t let up, running the fleets through seven more races. In the first few, there was carnage on the downwind legs as big puffs rolled off the land and boats capsized this way and that. Lots of sailors were inspecting their foils mid-race! The RC switched to a triangle, and we had a great time reaching around and anticipating the jibe mark.
Thanks to all who participated and pitched in. This was a warmup to the ILCA US Masters, which will be held at EYC in September 20-22, 2024. We handled 48 boats with ease this time, and we’re aiming for 100 at the US Masters!
D7 Championship Results (Full Results)
1st ILCA 7: Ben Richardson
2nd ILCA 7: Stein Skaane
3rd ILCA 7: Chip Terry
1st ILCA 6: Grayden Mott
2nd ILCA 6: Oliver Grant
3rd ILCA 6: Max Dressel
Atlantic Coast Masters Results (Full Results)
1st ILCA 7 Apprentice: Barry Canton
1st ILCA 7 Master: Ben Richardson
1st ILCA 7 Grand Master: Chip Terry
1st ILCA 7 Great Grand Master: Dave Crawley
1st ILCA 6 Apprentice: Elizabeth Newmyer
1st ILCA 6 Master: Bryan Sherbacow
1st ILCA 6 Grand Master: Frank Hennessey
1st ILCA 6 Great Grand Master: Stephen Kosacz
Thank you to our D7 Championship and Atlantic Coast Championship Sponsors
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 provided 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 graciously offered one free clinic tuition to the winner of the 2023 Grand Prix. This is up to a $2600 value! Wow! 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? Southeastsailboats provided a gift certificate of 100 pounds for second place in the Grand Prix.
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. Collie Sails donated a dry bag of goodies and a gift certificate of $75 for third place in the Grand Prix.
Frostbite Sailing Kicks Off!
Cedar Point YC Frostbiting
Frostbiting is underway at Cedar Point YC. Click the link for more information and to join the fun. Here is Steve G's write up of their week two action:
Fresh and Feisty. High Teens to mid-twenties with 30 KT blasts.
Eric Heller’s RC was out on time after a quick drystall double check that we actually wanted to go sailing. The fleet reluctantly followed. The Aeros were on the scene first and started racing. Eventually four lasers showed for the first race Steve G, Steve F, Frederico, and Rikard.
The first race was (W1). It was pretty shifty out of the west (harbor breeze battling sound breeze at high speeds!!!) so there were big rights and lefts all day. Frederico led at the first weather mark after taking advantage of a sizable righty, but flipped halfway down the run for Steve G to take the win.
In Race 2 (T1), Peter had arrived to play, led at the weather mark, then flipped at the wing mark graveyard. Steve G happily led on the blast to the leeward mark until another solid gust literally knocked him over. The others, having recovered, sailed on through. Peter took the win, Frederico was second, Steve G recovered to third and Steve Fisk brought us home.
In Race 3 (T1), Steve G led at the weather mark with Peter close behind. Frederico overtook Peter at the wing mark and Steve opened up a gap on the two reaches. Out of the leeward mark, Steve G took a shift back into the middle, but Frederico and Peter found an Uber-righty to his right. Peter held on for a narrow win over Frederico.
In Race 4 (T1), Steve narrowly led Peter at the weather mark and extended on the second reach. The breeze oscillated 30+ degrees (left this time) on the final beat. This time Steve took the win, with Peter in 2nd. (For a 1,1,2 on the day - great sailing Peter).
Despite the inclement conditions, there was a lot of variations in pressure. You had to get back to vang sheeting upwind in time for the pressure blasts, but there were also plenty of block to block cycles. Cunningham on hard when vang sheeting, then sometimes eased a little in the high teens moments.
Same downwind. It was easy and slow to be carrying too much vang when the pressure was lighter. (High teens!) Vs the mid twenties.
Line bias was always changing as the shifts rolled through so quickly. Even with your head out of the boat, the shift was sometimes way bigger than prior or expected.
We all just kept grinding.
Best, Steve G
Barrington YC Frostbiting, Barrington, RI
BYC's fall and winter program is underway. Join them for Sunday racing through December 17th and starting again February 25th.
2023 PYC Frostbite Series, Falmouth, ME
The Portland YC and the Casco Bay Laser Fleet are hosting their fall series Nov 5, 12, 19 and 26. Contact Chris Morin at 207-807-9243, etchellsfleet27@gmail.comFleet 413, Newport, RI
Starting with the Fat Boys Regatta on November 5th, one of the best winter programs in D7 will be underway. Find out more at the 413 website
Cottage Park YC, Winthrop, MA
The winter Laser Sunday series at CPYC will crank up after Thanksgiving. Great short racing followed by awesome social in the Club.
Looking ahead to 2024
Oh, it's not too early to starting planning another excellent laser season. The December newsletter will focus on the schedule for next year, but several key dates are already set:
The ever-popular Wickford Regatta is set for June 8-9, 2024.
The US Masters will be held at Eastern YC in Marblehead, September 20-22. Our goal is to put 100 boats on the line!
As a warmup to the US Masters, the New England Masters will be held in Wickford the weekend before, September 14-15 |
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2023 District 7 Regattas | Date | Counts towards D7 Gran Prix? | Notes | Under the Rope | April 2 | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA | Pete Milnes Regatta | April 15 | Y | Fleet 413, Newport, RI | NH Seacoast Laser Spring Regatta | Canceled | Y | Dover, NH | Wickford Regatta | June 3-4 | Y | Wickford, RI | Portland Pilot | June 17 | Y | Portland YC, ME | Salty Dog Regatta | June 18 | | Hingham YC, Hingham MA See club site for more information | John Bentley Memorial Regatta | June 24 | | (Championship of Buzzards Bay, Saltmarsh Trophy), Open to all ages. ILCA 6 and 7 rigs usually sail as one fleet for the championship but can be divided if numbers at pre-registration justify it. | True Blue Spencer Evans Regatta | July 16 | | Kollegewidgwok YC, Blue Hill, ME | Duxbury YC Midsummer Regatta | July 22-23 | | Keep checking Regatta Network or back here for the registration link. First gun 2 PM | Helley Hansen | July 29-30 | | Marblehead, MA | Hyannis Regatta | July 29-30 | | Hyannis, MA | Taylor Pond Yacht Club Open Laser regatta | July 30 | | 1 Yacht Club Drive, Auburn, Maine; first start 3 PM. No race to begin after 5 PM. Practice sails OK. Free. Social hour on the yacht club deck after. Contact Peter Garcia 207-754-0443 or petergarcia207@gmail.com to register. | Squam Day | Aug 4 | | Annisquam YC | Taylor Pond Yacht Club Invitational Regatta | Aug 5 | | 1 Yacht Club Drive, Auburn, Maine; pursuit race, fun for all, especially inexperienced racers; one design Laser class for this distance race. First start 3 PM, followed by open air barbecue (bring your own food and beverage); TPYC provided the gill; followed by Tinpanic Steel Band concert and dancing. All free. Contact Peter Garcia 207-754-0443 or petergarcia207@gmail.com to register. | Buzzards Bay Masters | Aug 5-6 | | New Bedford YC, Dartmouth, MA | Malletts Bay Boat Club | Canceled | Y | Lake Champlain, VT | Lake Massapoag Small Boat Regatta | Sept 9-10 | | Sharon, MA | Ponce De Leon Regatta | Sept. 10 | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA | Atlantic Coast Championships (25 GP Points) | Sept 16-17 | Y | Hyannis Yacht Club (Hyannis, MA, USA) | Atlantic Coast Championship Masters | Sept 16-17 | | Hyannis Yacht Club (Hyannis, MA, USA) This event is concurrent with the ACCs | New England Masters | Sept 23-24 | | Wickford, RI | North American Masters | Sept 28-Oct 1 | | New York Yacht Club (Newport, RI, USA) | Fontelieu One Design Regatta | 9/30-10/1 | Y | Cedar Point YC, Westport, CT | Great Bay YC/PSA 2022 Fall Laser Regatta | TBD | | Dover, NH | Oktoberfest Laser Regatta | TBD | | Hyannis YC, Hyannis, MA | District Championship & final day of District Grand Prix, Eastern YC Marblehead, MA | Oct 21-22 | Y | Eastern YC, Marblehead MA | Fat Boyz Regatta | TBD | | Fleet 413, Newport, RI | Turkey Bowl | Nov 19 | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA | | | | | | D7 Gran Prix races in green. Sail as many as you can and win points for great prizes
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