Annual Vanguard Sailing Center of Rhode Island Boat Swap & Sale Saturday, April 17th!

The Annual VSCRI Boat Swap & Sale
Saturday, April 17th from 9-6PM
Vanguard Sailing Center
200 Highpoint Avenue
Portsmouth, RI (401) 683-0400
Map

The actual swap portion, which will be a silent auction, will be held from 9AM to 1PM. Everything in the store will be on sale all day. If you are not looking to buy or sell a boat this is the perfect time to get you and your boat geared up for the... season.

Want to sell your boat? Bring in your Opti, Laser, 420, V15, or Sunfish that you’d like to sell between April 12th and April 16th and the VSCRI staff will help you assign a starting bid for your boat. The boat will be placed in the Boat Swap silent auction on April 17th. Once sold, you can receive 100% store credit or 85% of the sale price in check or cash, VSCRI takes a 15% commission. If your boat does not sell simply take home at the end of the day. Last year every boat sold!

Want to buy a boat? Come at 9AM to check out available boats, bidding will start at 10am and closes at 1PM. Stay around until the auction closes to find out if you’ve won, make payment, and take away your boat. If not present you will be contacted by 6PM.

Frostbite series starts this weekend at the BYC in Marion, MA

Frostbiting begins at the Beverly Yacht Club this Sunday, April 4th and ends on May 30.

Starting time is 10:00am.
The format is 5 or more short windward/leward races, ending just after 12:00pm. Racers are allowed to leave their Laser at the BYC as long as they removed before June 1st.

Entry fee for the season is $25.

Any questions, contact Chris@collingsmarine.com

The Pete Milnes Regatta - April 25th!

The Pete Milnes Regatta is scheduled for April 25th, with the skippers' meeting at 11 a.m. and the first race at noon.

To encourage participation from outside the fleet, Fleet 413 of Newport, RI would like to offer a 50-percent discount for any out-of-fleet, out-of-state entries, $10 instead of $20 (you must meet BOTH to qualify, not be a regular fleet member for 2009-10, and live outside of Rhode Island.) Food, beer, and great racing. All for $10 (and gas money to get to Newport).

For directions to Sail Newport 

Tuesday Night Laser Sailing in Bristol, RI

Do you have a Laser sitting around gathering dust? Do you put your Laser away after frostbiting all winter? Come join us for Tuesday night Laser sailing in Bristol, RI.

Racing begins on May 4th!

Click here for more information

NOR is posted for the Wickford Regatta

Check out the Laser D7 website for upcoming regatta schedule, results and NOR. The page is a little boring and monotone but we will get around to changing that.

For now, get pumped up and signed up for the Wickford Regatta May 22-23!

Registration
NOR

Registration is now open for the 2010 Wickford Regatta! (May 22-23)

For those of you who were here last year, the process is almost the same except that you must use Pay Pal. After the success of last year's event, we will be having more classes and thus more boats this year. That is all good but it will put a strain on accommodations. We will do our best to find housing for everyone, but we might fall short, so don't delay! Get your registration in and contact our housing volunteer ASAP. You must register before housing will be arranged. For those who prefer hotels, this will be the URI graduation weekend, so book early!  

On the Alpha course I420 and C420's will share the area with the Lasers and Radials. We have further refined our race management protocols to insure that we will be able to keep the action moving so that everyone will get lots of racing with minimum down time.  

The Bravo course dance card will be pretty full this year. A-Cats, Foiling Moths, and Viper 640's will be joining the 505's and I-14s. The early rumour is that Bora Gulari, 2009 Moth World Champion, will be coming and attracting many more Moths to his bright light! They will be fun to watch. The Bristol A-Cat fleet will be there, too. The Vipers are a late addition, and are full of enthusiasm about joining the Bravo course action!

Bring it on!!!
Skip Whyte

Register here

Area A Eliminations (June 19-20)

Area A Elimination
US Singlehanded Men's and Women's Championship
June 19-20
New Bedford Community Boating Center - Saltmarsh Trophy

2010 US Singlehanded Men's and Women's Championship FINALS
Pensacola Yacht Club
July 29-August 1
Laser Men's division and Radial Women's division

Complete Championship details can be found at:
http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USSinglehandedChampionship.htm

Any questions on the event:
Area A Committee Member:  John Bentley

Final Report from the Asia Pacific Masters

Final  report from Peter Seidenberg:


The regatta is history now. We had one race, as per schedule, giving us 10 in total and two throw-outs. The wind was light, W 5-6. The left side paid due to teaser backings, especially on the second windward leg. I recognized that and played the left side, but not boldly enough and lost a promising second place half way up the second beat and finished the race in 7th pace. The young Thai who had been 2 points behind me in 5th place overall won the race and managed to trade places with me. My second GGM position was never in doubt, though. In the Standard fleet, Colin Dibb from Australia finished 4th in that race and retained his 5th place overall as top Master. 


Final Results

Report #5 from the Asia Pacific Masters

 "Tafelmusik", Thai-style, at the banquet after the opening ceremony. 

Race day #4  report from Peter Seidenberg:


We had two races today in almost perfect conditions: NW 8-10 in the first race, and 12-15 in the second. The wind was very steady, with a moderate foul ebb current flowing. Both sides paid slightly at different times. My finishes were 9 and 5, and Wilkins' were 7 and 9. I picked up 2 points on him, but that still leaves a difference of 15 points, too much to make up in tomorrow's last race, especially against this 10-time Masters world champion. Colin Dibbs consolidated his lead in the Standard Masters fleet and is out of 4th place overall by only 2 points. 

Report #4 from the Asia Pacific Masters

Race day #3  report from Peter Seidenberg:


Well, the Thai fishermen were wrong after all - the beautiful southerly wind did come to an end last night. Today started out with a soft easterly which gave up the ghost shortly after the start of both fleets causing the race to be abandoned. It then came up again from the North, oscillating somewhat and slowly backing to the West where it arrived at the end of the day. The wind speed never exceeded 4 knots. It was a frustrating day for most, including me. The race committee was patient and ran two races in which the position of the windward mark was changed both times. I had a 23rd in the first race and a 10th in the second. Keith Wilkins, had a 24th and a 5th. He increased his lead over me from 7 points to 17. Any ideas of mine to win the GGM division have vanished, and I have now embarked on a 2nd-place preservation mode. The good news is that the other GGMs have fallen back further, and I have consolidated my 4th place overall. In the Standard fleet, Colin Dibb dropped to 5th place overall, but is still best Master. Unfortunately, the club is slow in posting the results on their website-click on the link below


Royal Varuna YC home
Results

Report #3 from the Asia Pacific Masters

Race day #2  report from Peter Seidenberg:


We had pretty much the same conditions as yesterday: S 18-15, with ebb current against the wind. In view of the forecasted  weather change for the next two days, the race committee decided to run 3 races today, all on course #1. Thus, we have half of the intended 10 races in the bag, and with it, a throw-out. My finishes today were 4, 8, and 5. Unfortunately for me, Keith Wilkins continues to produce solid finishes of 3, 3, and 3. He is now 7 points ahead of me. I'm still in fourth place overall and second in the GGM division.

The 29-boat Standard fleet is, like the Radial fleet, dominated by young Thai and Malaysian sailors. Top Master is Colin Dibb from Australia in fourth place overall.

There are two other US sailors here: David Hillmyer in Standard and his girlfriend Donna Steele in Radial, both from Sarasota.

Tomorrow's forecast calls for light winds from the North which is reportedly disputed by the Thai fishermen on the RC boat who predict a continuation of the South wind for at least one more day. I hope they are right.

Report #2 from the Asia Pacific Masters

Race day #1  report from Peter Seidenberg:

We had two races today in S 20-15. There was a strong south ebb tide current flowing which caused a general recall in each of the two fleets and even a black flag start in the Radial fleet. The current, against the wind, created bigger waves than warranted for the wind speed we had. Course #1 was used in both races.

This regatta is not only the Asia Pacific Masters, but also the Asia Pacific Open Championship. There are some very good young sailors here from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and other countries. The points for all age divisions are extracted from the overall positions without re-scoring. It is, therefore, important to place well in the overall fleet.

I had a sixth in the first race, and a fourth in the second, placing me in fourth overall. My main GGM competitor, Keith Wilkins from the UK, a multiple Masters world champion, had two thirds and is in third place overall. A young Thai sailor, with two seconds is in second place, and a young Malaysian sailor, with two firsts is in first place overall.

Tomorrow's wind is predicted to be pretty well a carbon copy of today's.

Report #1 from the Asia Pacific Masters

This comes to you from Thailand where Peter Seidenberg is competing in the Asia Pacific Masters at the Royal Varuna Y.C. in Pattaya, south of Bangkok.

From Peter: Well, it is happening now - the regatta is upon us. Today, Sunday, was the practice race in S 15. The 3 p.m. start was about half a mile from the beach. It couldn't be more convenient! This and the warm water and the waves is what I enjoyed so much here at the then Masters Worlds in 1984. My 26-year old dream to come back here has come true! 

The 59-boat Masters fleet is about equally divided into Standard and Radial. The Radial Great Grand Masters field the biggest fleet with 20 boats. The Standards are started ahead of the Radials by 5 minutes. There are two possible courses: triangle-windward-leeward, with finish on a reach to the committee boat; and triangle-windward-leeward-triangle, with finish on a reach to the committee boat. For today's practice race, course #1 was chosen. 

The race went well for me, with a first in the GGM division. I made my move on the second beat, sailing high and fast. Two races per day are planned over 5 days, with one discard after 4 races and two after 10.

Peter coming in from a successful practice day

D7 and The America's Cup....

Celebrating the big win!  

(photo by Gilles Martin-Raget)

Congratulations to Scott Ferguson of D7 for his part in bringing home The America’s Cup!  For the last 2.5 years Scott has been busy managing the rig program for BMW Oracle Racing. The last 10 months leading up to event were especially demanding, as it was in that time that the rig program shifted into a full on wing program. During those 10 months, Scott was able to take a 10-day respite to compete in the Laser Master Worlds, which he won, before returning to San Diego to continue on with the BOR wing.  Not only was Scott one of the engineers behind the wing but he also sailed aboard the trimaran during the practice days helping the sailing team to understand and get comfortable with the monster wing. He will tell you that although this was probably the toughest project that he has ever worked on, it was also the coolest!

Yes, Scott admits that he has been envious of all his laser “masters” buddies at home competing in all the midwinter events and he has taken notice of the marked improvements of many, especially Peter Shope and John Bertrand! Needless to say, he’s totally ready to get back into his Laser and might show up at the Masters US Nationals in May. He also knows full well that he’ll probably get his butt kicked! 

Scott can be seen aft and center with the white hat and grey gear.

(photo by Gilles Martin-Raget)

Photos of Fleet 413 by Onne Van der Wal

Earlier this year Onne Van der Wal came out and shot some photos of
the Laser fleet. Here's a link to the gallery!

http://vwdmigration.businesscatalyst.com/laser_frostbiting.html

D7 Juniors Rock-It at The 2010 Laser Midwinters

The 2010 Laser Midwinters East was held at the Clearwater YC (February 17-21) bringing in 198 sailors from 30 countries. The event was highly competitive and D7 was well represented.  The first day of racing began with a choppy and chilly, 15 knot Northerly eventually dropping down to a 6 knot drifter which set the stage for the remaining days- ultra light and shifty.

Amongst the competitors were two top 10 finishers in the Radial fleet from D7. The Radial fleet had a total of 90 registered sailors, which after day one were broken out into a Gold fleet and a Silver fleet. In the Gold fleet OJ O’Connell sailing out of Mystic River and representing FAST finished in an impressive 9^th place overall! In the Silver fleet finishing in 10^th overall was Callie Naughton of Eastern YC.

The Standard fleet also had 90 registered sailors out of which only 12 were juniors. Only two juniors made it into the Gold fleet and the top junior was Lucas Adams of Sail Newport finishing in 41st. In the Silver fleet was Matt Gowell of Conanicut yacht club with a 9th place overall.

For more insight into the regatta check out Clay Johnson’s blog and John Bertrand’s blog

For final results: Standard Gold, Standard Silver, Radial Gold, Radial Silver and 4.7

2010 Florida Laser Master's and the Green Jacket goes to....

Peter Seidenberg, winner of the 27-year-old Green Jacket

The Florida Laser's Master Midwinters was held  on February 13-14th at the Palm Beach Sailing Club. Below is the report back from winner, Peter Seidenberg.


The regatta began on Saturday after a 2-hour postponement on shore due to very strong and gusty W winds with potentially dangerous consequences on the ocean. Sailing on the inland waterway was out of the question. We left the club after the wind had veered to the NW and calmed down to about 20 mph. We had 2 races in NW 18-15 mph. Half the fleet sailed Radial, including me.

On Sunday, we had 4 races in NNW - N 5-10 mph, also on the ocean. On the result sheet, the order of the last two races is mistakenly reversed. My DNF happened in the last race when it became apparent to me that I could not finish better than 9th from the previous day. 

For the record, I have to say that I only won because of the Masters age handicap system. Without it, I would have been third overall, behind Mike Matan and Peter Shope.


Click here for the results

Trading Places... at the 2010 Florida Masters Mid Week Madness!

(The Two Peters...Peter Seidenberg and Peter Shope)

The Master's Mid Week Madness, held on February 10-11th, drew 44 sailors to the Palm Beach Sailing Club with a good turnout from District 7. Peter Shope of D7 snatched first place beating Ari Barshi of the Dominican Republic by one point...sweet revenge after losing to Ari in a tiebreaker for 2nd place at the recent Caribbean Laser Midwinters.

According to news from Fran Seidenberg, the conditions were great and there was never a lack of wind. On the first day the breeze got over 20 knots and half the fleet switched over to Radials which is the beauty of Master's regattas-you can switch rigs from day to day.

D7 had four finishers in the top 10!

Click here for the scores

65 competitors at the 2010 Masters Midwinters East!

65 Masters showed up at the 2010 Midwinters East!  Wow, now that's my kind of retirement community!

Peter Vessella (former D7 and fleet 413 sailor) takes the big win at the 2010 Masters Midwinters East. In 2nd place was John Bertrand by just a point and just behind him in 3rd was D7's Peter Shope.

Also from D7 in the top 10 were Peter Seidenberg (are you surprised?) in 5th and Mike Matan in 10th. Peter also took home 1st place GGM...again, no surprise!

Apparently, it was quite a battle between the top three and the 65 competitors got-it-all as far as sailing conditions!

Check out  John Bertrand's Blog for a great re-cap of the event.

See the scores and who was there at the event site:  US Sailing Center.

2010 Cedar Point Y.C. Ski & Sail Regatta!

The Cedar Point YC Laser Fleet invites you to a Ski & Sail Regatta.

All sailors welcome, all fleets welcome.

The skiing competition will be held on Saturday, March 6th at Bousquet Mountain in Pittsfield, MA with the Laser racing on Sunday, March 7th at the Cedar Point Y.C. in Westport, CT.

Click here to download the information:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ggvktt0zj2i