Scorekeeper: Jeff Stork
3 May, '10, 20:40
St. Pete Scorer

Race Committee:
Bruce Bingman, PRO
Jeff Storck
Bruce Heida
Becky Mach
John Butler
Cathy Bleakly
Joe Warren
Andrea Caroe
john Hart
Denise Pavone-Brooks
Mike Heinsdorf
Frank Hine
Taran Teague

What a fantastic pair of back-to-back race days on the Potomac, with good competition and great weather.  We had southwesterly breezes at around 10 MPH on Saturday, and southerly breezes at around 12 MPH on Sunday, under mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s -- and NO RAIN!  Congratulations to David Neff of the Selby Bay YC, our class winner, and to Mike Miller from the Fishing Bay YC, our  runner-up. 

We enjoyed sailing with the 25 Lightnings (scores posted separately) on the race course and the gourmet dinner Saturday night.

    
                                          Winds Saturday                                                                Winds Sunday

David Thompson
Chair, Regatta Organizing Committee

At Leesylvania State Park we had early summer weather (sun with moderate winds and waves) and two days of great racing in a fleet of 9 Flying Scots.  25 Lightnings raced with a separate start.  Plan to attend next year for a real treat.

Five races were sailed over windward leeward courses.  Legs were 1 mile long with 3, 4 or 5 legs per race. Current flowed out the river against the wind, causing several OCS's but no general recalls for Flying Scots.  At Leesylvania the river is wide and long.  Marks were set well off the shore and land did not affect the breeze.  Courses and starting lines were square to the wind.  Winds smoothly cycled between 210 degrees to 240 degrees with occasional light puffs.  Racing was immediately in front of the launch site.  Stars for the fleets were David Neff for Flying Scots with three wins, and Ed Adams for the Lightnings.

The site at Leesylvania State Park (550 acres, 10 minutes east of I-95 on the south shore of the Potomac River) is less than 90 minutes north of Richmond.  The park can easily hold a 100 boat NAC's. There are two well maintained boat hoists; several launch ramps; a clean, dry and flat asphalt parking area capable of holding several hundred boats; rest room facilities; large picnic shelters with electric power, lights and water; and an adjacent area with trees for camping.  The park directs power boats to a separate remote parking area that has it's own dedicated launch ramps. Consequently there was no motor boat traffic to deal with in the parking lot or launching operations.  It was easy to push the boat & trailer around the asphalt parking lot, and to and from the boat hoists. Parking spaces were a very roomy 75 feet long and almost a boat length wide each. We easily spread all our stuff out, did not feel cramped, and kept the car parked next to the boat and all our stuff.  The asphalt lot was so clean some Lightning sailors laid their sails out on it and rolled them up (Flying Scot sailors used the adjacent well mowed grassy areas).  Many hotels and restaurants are within a 10 minute drive.  Saturday dinner and Sunday pre-awards lunch were included in the regatta fee.  There were many park rangers about so security was not a concern while we were out on the water racing.

For sailors thinking about going to an away regatta for the first time - Leesylvania is a great way to start off the regatta experience.

Mike & Amy Miller - FS 5861