Regatta results 16 September

Sailing at NYCC for the first fleet race this year, we entered one varsity A/B pair and one JV boat in the regatta. Here is the report from the regatta organizers:

    Sailors were met with a beautiful clear day on the Lafayette River with temperatures in the 70's. Breezes were NNE 10-15 mph with gusts higher and some oscillations to the east.

    On the varsity course, twenty-four teams from 15 schools completed 5 W4/W3 races in each division. Norfolk Collegiate Team 1 took first place, followed by Christchurch School Team 1 in second place, Christchurch School Team 2 in third place and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in fourth place.

    The JV competition saw twelve teams from 9 schools complete 6 W4 races. Norfolk Academy Team 1 took first place, followed by Norfolk Academy Team 2 in second place, Poquoson High School Team 1 in third place, and Walsingham Academy in fourth place.

Here are our varsity results:

Our A/B pairs and their finishes (out of 24 boats) were:

A1-2, 5 Jake/Mark 24, 24, 23

A3-4 Matt L./ Matt M. 23, 22

B1-2 Maggie/Sabrina 23, DNF

B3-4 Charlie/Sabrina 8, 13

B5 Charlie/Maggie 15

Charlie's 8th out of 24 was the highest place we've had all season.

In the JV fleet of 12 we entered one boat. Here are the results:

Races 1-2, 5-6 Zach/Tyler 11, 11, 12, 12 

Races 3-4 Gus/Oliver 12, DNF

As the day wore on we were definitely getting closer to the pack. The JV racing ended at 1:00 p.m.

CCS regatta report 9 September

We had eight team members race at Christchurch on Saturday September 9th. The conditions started around 10-12 knots but by the time racing concluded had built to 15-20. This was certainly more wind than we had sailed in all season and our technique was sloppy at times (including a couple of capsizes.)  The results were less than spectacular. Below are the scores for Crusaders 1 (the juniors and seniors).

The skipper/crew combinations and finishes (of the 11 boats)  were:



A1-6 Jake/Mark DSQ, 8, 4, 5, 5, 8
B1-2 Matt/Gus 4, 8
B3-6 Josh/Gus DSQ, DSQ, DNS, DNS

Note that Jake's DSQ was for not passing through the leeward gate. Josh's scores were counted as DNS/DNQ due to having Matt leave early for the retreat. Sailors cannot compete on different "teams" and Josh was sailing in A division for Crusaders1

Here are the finishes for Crusaders2 (the sophomores and freshmen):

The skipper/crew combinations and finishes (of the 11 boats)  were:

A1-6 Josh/Oliver 7, DSQ, 11, 9, 7, DNF
B1-6 Maggie/Tyler 11, 10, 9, 9, 8, 10

Stop and go drill

We're still working on boat handling and seamanship skills. One skill needed when racing, especially before the start in fleet racing and at turning marks in team racing is the stop and go drill. Key points are identified in the video:

1. The safety position is about 60-70 degrees off the wind (if you point straight into the wind to slow you need to bear off before the boat stops.)
2. Make sure both sails are luffing completely. If the boom is hitting the shroud you're too far off the wind -- head up until the boom comes off the shroud.
3. Get going again by trimming. If you stay 60-70 degrees off the wind you are only close reaching (not beating) and the sail should not be all of the way in. If you come up to a beat both sheets need to come in tight.
4. If the hiking stick seems too long you need to slide forward and out. Your tailbone should be on the rail and your "front" leg should be against the traveler bar. The skipper should tell the crew to place their weight to balance the boat. In light air they should be sitting to leeward.
5. Trim the main using both hands. swing the hiking stick (not the tiller) as you trim in. Keep the sheet under the hiking stick so that the excess falls between your legs. Your "aft" hand is always on the hiking stick and your forward hand is on the sheet.
6. When on the other tack the forward hand still has the sheet and the aft hand has the hiking stick. Make sure you switch hands when tacking and jibing. You need to become ambidextrous!

First session at the Sailing Center

We finally got to attend a session at the Naval Station Sailing Center. Unfortunately, Thor had other ideas. In fact, as we were getting off the bus the siren went off. We spent the session as a "chalk talk" in the classroom primarily discussing team racing. Thanks to Mr. Suhr for acting as our escort.

We expect to get some water time tomorrow!

Light air mothing

We had a short session with Maggie, Zach, and Matt back in some classic moths. I shot some short clips with the goPro. The first clip shows all three sailing downwind in 3-5 knots of wind.

The second clip (in two parts) shows each gybing and the importance of sailing any boat on her lines.

The third shows each reaching. Sail trim and weight placement make a huge difference in light air!

Try outs for skippers

On Monday August 14th, six students demonstrated their skills in classic moth boats. The breeze was light and shifty but when weight was correctly positions the lightweight boats responded well. Each student also performed a capsize and recovery. As the session was ending, the wind stopped, the rain started and we all stayed a bit damp!

Organization meeting for the 2017 fall season

On Thursday, May 18th, we had a short organizational meeting for the upcoming fall sailing season. The following points were emphasized:

(1) All team members need to have completed a school physical. Physicals are being given today at 3:30 as have been advertised for the past few weeks. A pre-physical is required. See the trainer.
(2) All team members must be academically eligible (GPA>2.0). Also note that team membership is very time intensive with ~20 hour/week occupied with practice and regattas. You need to carefully manage studies and extracurriculars.
(3) All team members must be able to commit to the regatta schedule. The schedule has not been published for 2017 yet, but should be similar to last fall's schedule, i.e., most weekends beginning the Saturday after Memorial Day and running through the first weekend in November. If we only have two skippers and one is unable to make s scheduled regatta the team will forfeit participating that week. Yes, I do hope to have more than two skippers so we can have a reserve or two.
(4) All team members must provide a personal flotation device, preferable a Type III.
(5) The team is not a learn-to-sail opportunity. All skippers should be experienced dinghy helmsmen. "Experience" should include participating in fleet races. Boats can be anything from Optis, Sunfish, Lasers, or double-handed dinghies (420s, FJs, etc.) Experience in keel boats only is less useful. Crews should have experience, but it is not absolutely required.
(6) Potential team members should take advantage of summer junior or open regattas to hone skills. Local regattas include Fishing Bay Yacht Club junior regatta on June 24/25, Hampton Yacht Club junior regatta on June 29, and Norfolk Yacht & CC regatta on June30/July 1. Club races (Wednesday night races, for example) are also good. Even one on one match racing can be beneficial.
(7) The anticipated dates of try-outs are August 14, 15 with practice starting on August 16th. Practice last year was M-F from 4:00-6:00. While the exact dates, times, and location are not firm for this coming year, we hopefully will be able to follow a similar schedule.

A roster of students who are expected to participate is:

Sabrina Savage
Jake Kiggans
Matt Lassalle
Matt Marsh
Gus Gustavo
Oliver Hudson
Tyler Kurtz
Charlie Schoening