PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 8
Results

Sunday, June 6, 2010

     * skippered by Bruce Heida 

PRO Nathan Marsh
Mark Boat Driver Barney Harris
Crash Boat Driver Bill Buck
Helpers  Glenn Daigon, Peter Kuch, Erica K.

Actual winds at National Airport were:

10 AM    SSW  10
11 AM    SSW  13
Noon      SSW  13
1 PM      SSW  14
2 PM      NW    29
3 PM      NW    13
4 PM      NW    16
5 PM      W       10

The river flow was below normal for this time of year at 6,210 CFS (gage height 3.5 ft).    Low tide was at 10:34 AM.  The high air temperature was 88 degrees at 1 PM.

The AccuWeather forecast called for mostly cloudy skies, a high of 91 degrees, and westerly winds at 19 - 22 MPH.  A few thunderstorms were possible, some severe.    Actual winds were from the SSW at 13 MPH up until 2:00 PM when a front came through, kicking up 29 MPH winds with gusts to 45.  PRO Nathan Marsh and his crack Albacore RC set up an Olympic course with the leeward mark close to (but outside) the channel near the green channel mark off East Potomac Park, and got off four races in quick succession.  All but 4 boats had retired by the end of race 3 and were back at the docks before the front came through. For the four (Nabeel; Rick; Pat; and Peter Lallas) there was a wild ride home after race 4, but they all made it back. The 7 Lightnings were joined by two Buccs, an Albacore, and a Hobie.  A strong thunderstorm with multiple air-to-ground lightning strikes boiled up over the Anacostia as boats were coming in after race 4, making for a scary scene, but fortunately, no damage.  

PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 7
Results

Sunday, May 23, 2010

     * skippered by Bruce Heida 

PRO Frank Gallagher
Mark Boat Driver Mladen Karcic
Crash Boat Driver Brenna Copeland
Helpers  Steve Parsons, Ryan Vear , Maryann Gallagher, Rose Singarella

Actual winds at National Airport were:

10 AM    E     10
11 AM    ENE 13
Noon      NE   8
1 PM      NE   14
2 PM      NE   13
3 PM      NE   13
4 PM      ENE 10
5 PM      ENE 10

The river flow was slightly above normal for this time of year at 12,400 CFS (gage height 4.2 ft).    Low tide was at 11:45 AM.  The high air temperature was 73 degrees at 3 PM.

As Becky Mach described the day, if May 9 was Papa Bear (too strong); and May 16 was Mama Bear (too weak); then today was Baby Bear (just right)!  The AccuWeather forecast had called for rain for most of the day with ENE winds 8 - 10 MPH, and we were delighted to see that the rain held off while the wind forecast held up.  PRO Frank Gallagher and his Lightning-provided RC set up an Olympic course with the windward mark near the navigable channel, the leeward mark near the airport shore, and the reach mark far enough north to require a close reach on both the approaching and the departing legs, and ran 4 races in quick succession -- an O-2 and three O-3s.  The four Lightnings were joined by 3 Hobies, 3 Albacores, and a Bucc and had a most enjoyable day on the water. 

PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 6
Results

Sunday, May 16, 2010

     * skippered by Bruce Heida 

PRO Bob Astrove
Mark Boat Driver Doug Dixon
Crash Boat DriverJohn Hart
Helpers Katie Dixon, Carolyn Dixon, CJ Fisher, Rose Singarella

Actual winds at National Airport were:

10 AM    NE 10
11 AM    NNE 8
Noon      NE   9
1 PM      NE   3
2 PM      Var   3
3 PM      Calm
4 PM      ENE 6
5 PM      N     9

The river flow was well below normal for this time of year at 6,630 CFS (gage height 3.6 ft).    High  tide was at 10:24 PM.  The high air temperature was 75 degrees at 5 PM.

Sunday was a day when the weatherman promised much and delivered so little.  The forecast was for partly sunny and pleasant conditions, a high of 76 degrees, and winds from the northeast at 8 - 10 MPH.   We did have nice 10 MPH breezes as we were splashing our boats, and they held up on the way up to the race course, although after 11 AM some noticeable no-wind holes opened up, one of them capturing 15228 well south of the race course, delaying her arrival until Noon.  PRO Bob Astrove and RC crew had set a windward-leeward course along an ENE axis, with the windward mark close to the deepwater channel and the leeward mark close to the airport shore, and got off one race before the wind died.  At 2 PM the N flag went up and boats were towed back to the dock. 

Nabeel attempted to bring a ringer aboard -- "Toes," a cat who can sail a boat, but was later convinced that that would be an unfair advantage, and in the end decided to leave her ashore.

Collin decided to take Frank up on the downwind leg, and also captured Nabeel in the process, allowing Bruce to fall in behind Rick for a second place finish.

We welcomed Peter Lallas on his first excursion on a PRSA racecourse, and his new crew Mike McGill and Kevin MacDonald, and Erin Bloom, who sailed with Collin, and Ana Sofia Ramos, who sailed with David and Catherine, who unfortunately was DNS for the one and only race of the day.

PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 5
Results

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Lightning Class Series Summary

PRO David Thompson
Mark Boat Driver Jim Dillard
Crash Boat Driver Bob Astrove
Helpers Charles Gilbert; Cathy Bleakly; Patricia Snow; Matt Rhodes; Carrie Nguyen

Actual winds at National Airport were:

10 AM    NW 20
11 AM    WNW 20
Noon     WNW 21
1 PM      NW 17
2 PM      W 23
3 PM      WNW 21
4 PM      WNW 21
5 PM      NNW 23

The river flow was  below normal for this time of year at 7,790 CFS (gage height 3.7 ft).    Low  tide was at 12:14 PM.  The high air temperature was 62 degrees at 3 PM.

Two days of strong northerly winds had pushed a lot of the tidal Potomac River water south, and that, coupled with low tide around noon, made for the lowest water level we have ever seen on the river at the marina. The mud flats adjacent to the airport pier were actually above water; a windsurfer was seen walking his rig upstream in chest-high water in the middle of the channel; the ribs of the sunken wreck were two feet above the water surface.  The AccuWeather forecast had called for sunny skies, with winds from the NW at 15 - 20 MPH, and gusts to 25, and they got the sunny skies part right, but the wind turned out to be stronger and gustier than predicted.

Bruce Heida, with Lisbet Kugler and Becky Mach, splashed Jeff's boat, but not before getting the marina staff to find the crane hoist extender, enabling them to crane-launch the boat into the extremely shallow water.  Nabeel, with Stefano and Craig, ramp launched. Peter Lallas also splashed, with his crew, one of whom had never been on a sailboat.  Two cats and Four Albacores also splashed.

After the Skippers meeting, and after finding and inserting the third drain plug for the 19 skiff that PRO David Thompson had forgotten to insert (prompting a "Hey we are sinking" call from Jim Dillard) RC left the dock heading for the race course, intending to set a long windward-leeward course as far north as we possilby could.  Bobby and Cathy went upriver first to set the windward mark, and on the way up called in to report gusty wind conditions and two-foot waves.  David, Patricia, Matt, and Carrie in the Bayliner, and Jim and Charlie in the 19 followed, but needed to take the long way down the channel to stay in deep water.

On the way up on the DC side of the river, and nearing the Anacostia, we saw Bruce and Nabeel coming back south, having prudently each made a decison to not try to race.  David at that point decided to call the race and hoisted the N flag; Bobby and Cathy informed the Albacore that had made it up the river that racing was canceled, and escorted her down to the powerplant, then towed her the rest of the way in.  Jim picked up Nabeel and Bruce also in front of the powerplant and towed them in.  John Taylor and Marc Carre both capsized out in the river but got their boats up without outside help, however Marc subsequently got hung up in the mud flats and needed a tow back to the docks.

Our hats off to Bobby and Cathy who endured the rough conditions all morning and who performed rescue and escort as needed, and to Jim and Charlie who helped as well.  And to Nabeel and Bruce who made good decisions regarding not racing in these conditions.  Peter Lallas unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) never got away from the dock, because his tiller had disappeared from his dry-slipped boat within the past two weeks. 

A day on the water to long remember, if you were there.

PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 3
Results

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Lightning Class Series Summary

8 Jun, '09, 11:44
St. Pete Scorer

Scorekeeper Jeff Storck

PRO David Thompson
Mark Boat Driver Joe Warren
Crash Boat Driver Joe Kimak
Helpers Catherine Calvin, Barb Thompson, Tarey Lea, Michael Scott

Actual winds at National Airport were:

• 11 AM     S 5
   Noon     S 9
  1 PM      S 9
  2 PM      S 7
  3 PM      S 12
  4 PM      S 20
  5 PM      S 16

The river flow was well below normal for this time of year at 7,030 CFS (gage height 3.6 ft).    Low  tide was at 1:02 PM.  The high air temperature was 75 degrees at 4 PM.

Seven Lightnings came out along with 4 Hobies, 3 Albacores, and a Laser on a day with a NOAA forecast of heavy weather arriving sometime after 2 PM (which it did, but north and west of DC).  Before 2 PM, the winds were predicted to be from the south at 8 - 9 MPH under cloudy skies, with a high temperature of 75 degrees, and that's exactly what we got, except that the clouds dissipated by the end of the first race.  PRO David Thompson and RC set up a windward-leeward course and got off three races in quick succession, finishing the 3rd race at exactly 2:00 PM, then sending boats home to ensure a safe ride and retrieval at the cranes before the heavy weather hit (which never did here, except that winds increased to 20 MPH after 3 PM).  We welcomed Chris and Jenna Kozel, sailing their new boat 14395, String Theory, but with sail number 13717;  Mark and Katie Boaz, sailing the Potomac for the first time this season; also Alex Thomson, sailing with Will Fillippe and Brian Ganji in Red's boat, with sail number 14932; and Mike Goudy, sailing with Pat and Paul.

PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 2
Results

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Lightning Class Series Summary

8 Jun, '09, 11:44
St. Pete Scorer

Scorekeeper Jeff Storck

PRO Yates Dowell
Mark Boat Driver Keith Strasser
Crash Boat Driver John Taylor
Helpers Ben Ackerman, Marc Carre, Jim Antonovich, Janet Loneragan

Actual winds at National Airport were:

• 11 AM    WNW 15
   Noon     NW 13
  1 PM      NW 13
  2 PM      NW 18
  3 PM      NNW 14
  4 PM      NNW 20
  5 PM      NW 14

The river flow was  below normal for this time of year at 9,150 CFS (gage height 3.9 ft).    High  tide was at 11:26 AM.  The high air temperature was 58 degrees at 4 PM.

10 Lightings and 3 Albacores came out.  Yates Dowell and the Hobie fleet set up a triangular course and got off three races in quick succession, and we were all back at the docks by 3 PM.  We welcomed new crew Jessica Hovick, a W & M graduate, who sailed with Pat; Chris Kozel, new owner of 14395, String Theory, who sailed with Red; Rick Walsh who sailed with Frank; and Carolyn Dixon, daughter of Doug, who sailed with Bobby.

PRSA 2010 Spring Series # 1
Results

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Lightning Class Series Summary

8 Jun, '09, 11:44
St. Pete Scorer

Scorekeeper Jeff Storck

PRO Erich Hesse
Mark Boat Driver  Scott Snyder
Crash Boat Driver Tom Berlin
Helpers Nathan Marsh, Farley Will, Mike Heinsdorf, Emily Maher, Hailey Maher

Actual winds at National Airport were:

• 11 AM    SSE 9

•  Noon     S 9

• 1 PM      SE 5

• 2 PM      ESE 3

• 3 PM      SSE 6

• 4 PM      S 8

• 5 PM      SSE 10

The river flow was slightly below normal for this time of year at 12,500  CFS (gage height 4.2 ft).    High  tide was at 7:09 AM and low tide at 1:42 PM.  The high air temperature was 75 degrees at 4 PM.

What an outstanding day, weatherwise, for the first race day of the 2010 season -- sunny skies, a high  of 75 degrees, and gentle breezes made for Bermuda shorts attire and fun conversations.  Erich Hesse and his ace Albacore RC crew got off three races in somewhat challenging wind conditions -- a 9 MPH southerly at the start of the first race, but dying off to an ESE at 3 MPH at 2 PM, then coming back up later in the afternoon, reaching 12 MPH at 6 PM, well after we were off the water.  The river flow was slightly below normal for this time of year, at 12,500 CFS (gage height 4.2 ft) and the water temperature was 62 degrees. Low tide was at 1:42 PM; High tide at 7:31 PM.  Eight Lightnings came out, along with 3 Hobies, 2 Albacores, and a Flying Scot.  Patrick McKnight and family did a day sail, making 9 Lightnings on the water. It doesn't get much better than this!

Winners Perspective - by Frank Gallagher

The First Sunday ...

I think it helped a lot that Maryann and I got the boat rigged up and went daysailing a week ago…just being in the lightning for awhile helps transition from winter laser sailing…and yeah, winter laser sailing helps keep you sharp.

We launched Sunday, sailed across the flats and did the 2 person bow-walk to get thru, then threw the bag and did our usual 50 jibe practice on the way up to the course….pretty much we got most of the bad stuff out of the way…..got out timing down and felt much better by the time we got to the start line.

Southerly breezes are always confusing to me….we tend to get seduced to get too far to the middle of the river or the Haines point shore…eventually we settled down and started banging the Virginia shore….just better breeze most of the time I think..

We had a couple of leads that we couldn’t hold….Rick was just too tough in the 1^st one …right on our heels till he finally got us near the finish….

In the second race we had a huge lead….but just died with the bag up as Jeff came roaring up from behind…I really freaked…grabbed the spin sheets from Brenna and did another ½ dozen jibes myself as Jeff got closer and closer…finally he pased us and we got some steady wind and held off the rest of the fleet….it was brutal….sorry Brenna and Mladen…it wasn’t my finest moment….but I’m better now….after a couple electro shock therapy sessions….in the last race Nabeel was…..well , Nabeel was Nabeel …just gone…!!!

So we ended up with 3 seconds…enough to win the day…but remembering that everyone on the course was ahead of us at one time or another and many times faster too…!!!