These races will be governed by the “rules” as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing.  The races are open to Lightnings and Flying Scots.  The entry fee is $95 for Lightnings and $85 for Scots.  Six races are planned.  If all six are sailed, a sailor’s best 5 are scored.  Otherwise, all races are scored, and 1 race constitutes a regatta.

Sailors may also carry a handheld VHF radio aboard.  The race committee may announce their intentions to start a race on the radio and count down the last 5 seconds to various flag signals.  The race committee may also announce the sail numbers of OCS boats, although possibly after a significant delay.

Allan Terhune of North Sails and multiple time North American champion in the Lightning and Flying Scot classes will lead a multi-faceted racing clinic. On Saturday he will help sailors with questions tune their rigging. After the skipper’s meeting he will lead a discussion among the top sailors on how conditions of the day will affect their trimming techniques and strategy.  After racing, during Happy Hour, he will lead a debriefing of the same sailors on how those techniques and strategies worked. 

Furthermore, any sailor who wants will be paired with a top sailor – a “mentor system”.  In the parking lot, their boats will be next to each other so they can chat about tuning, etc.  On the water, they will meet up between races to discuss how things went and what might be done to solve any problems.

FRIDAY, May 6

You may arrive Friday, setup, and go sailing.  To avoid I-95S rush hour, try to get there before 3:30 or after 7:00.  You may drop off your Lightning anytime before park closing at dusk.

The Fleet will provide PB&J and bread in the registration pavilion Saturday and Sunday mornings if you would like to make your own lunches OR sandwiches can be pre-ordered on Friday (for Saturday) and on Saturday (for Sunday) from the marina snack bar using this form

SATURDAY, May 7

Registration from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. The entry fee covers park entry and launch fees; dinner for skipper and crew; bagels/donuts & orange juice; DYI peanut butter & jelly fixings, and 3 regatta T-shirts.  (Park entry fee is for one car; each additional car is $5.00, payable to the State Park.) 

Skipper’s meeting on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Warning gun at 12:00 Noon Saturday, 3 or 4 planned races.

Following the races on Saturday is Happy Hour with Yuengling  and a better-than-ever dinner with gourmet menu (steak or salmon, vegetables, salads, and deserts) in a covered pavilion and that beverage of choice:Yuengling.

Extra tickets for Happy Hour & gourmet dinner $10.

SUNDAY, May 8

Warning gun at 10:00 a.m.; 2 or 3 planned races & awards ceremony with hot dogs and Yuengling  following.

DIRECTIONS

For Google maps or a GPS use 2001 Daniel K Ludwig Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191.  Take Exit 156 off of I-95 (approx. 14 miles south of the I-95/495/395 interchange aka the mixing bowl) and follow Route 784 East.  Once on the exit service road, look for small brown signs for Leesylvania State Park.  You’ll merge onto Rt 784E/Dale Blvd; go about a mile; turn right (south) onto Rt. 1; go 1 mile;  take left onto Neabasco Creek Road; go 1.5 miles; turn right into park.  Once in the park and after passing under the railroad bridge, look for the second parking lot with the cranes and just north of the park store. 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Lodging—Fleet 50 members cordially offer space and breakfast.  For details contact Frank at 703 560-6863 or frankjgallagher@gmail.com. On-site tent camping at Leesylvania State Park next to the regatta pavilion is available with restrooms and showers nearby.  Overnight RV parking near the pavilion is allowed. 

Inexpensive motels include Super8 – Dumfries (703 221-8838); Sleep Inn – Dumfries (703 445-0900).

NEED CREW?

Every year we have been successful in helping to line up crew for skippers who are short of crew.  We have a long list of people interested in crewing.  So if you’d like to come to the regatta but possibly are short of crew, call our Director of Crew Matching, Jeff Storck at  571 422-2444 or theoretically@verizon.net. Please call early so that we can lock these crew people in.

WHO’S COMING?

If you are even thinking about coming, please contact Rick Welch at richardvwelch@gmail.com, the Regatta Chair, and let him know. Better yet, pre-register here. THANKS!

2011 Regatta: Lightning Scores    Flying Scot Scores

2010 Regatta:  Lightning Scores     Flying Scot Scores

2009 Regatta: Final Scores. Photos

Results from 2008 - Lightnings   Photos 

Results from 2007- Lightnings   Photos 

2006 Flashes Story by Nabeel

Last updated 05/11/2011