HYC at Marblehead NOOD July 24-26

by Paul Laflamme

The Sperry Top-Siders NOOD Regatta at Marblehead, Mass. is one in a series of nine regattas put on by Sperry Top-Siders and Sailing World Magazine around the USA and sometimes Canada. The Marblehead NOOD Regatta, offers a picturesque venue, top notch sailors in 12 different one design classes and hospitality rivaled only by HYC. Representing HYC this year was Still Lostboys CAN 321 in the International Etchells class, skippered by Paul Laflamme with crew members Mark Perry & Claude Taillon. The trip down was uneventful as was raising the mast and the launch.

The first day for scheduled racing was Friday, July 24, however is was not to be as a North Easter blew in, which created gnarly conditions out on the race course. While watching the weather station at the Eastern Yacht Club the wind was a constant 35 knots with gusts up to 46 knots. Needless to say the right decision was made when at noon: the official word came from the PRO, "No racing, done for the day."

Saturday, was a different story, the skies had cleared and winds were light at the start (5-6 knots) and shifty, the seas had a smooth swells in the 2-3 foot range. As the day progressed the wind picked up to a steady 10 knots and less shifty, however the currents increased by the previous day's storm and the receding rainwater presented the biggest challenge to all the classes. The number of marks touched by boats misjudging the strength of the current created a ballet of pirouettes. Fortunately, yours truly was not one of them. The day ended with 3 races completed and Still Lostboys fighting for respect near the back of the fleet, (16th out of 18 boats). We had our work cut out for us if we were going improve on our performance.

The forecast for Sunday wasn't too promising but I guess the sailing gods were with us as the rain held off and the winds started at about 10 knots and moved to about 14 by the day's end. 2 Races were held (no starts after 2:30 pm) and we managed a 9th in our last race which helped us improve to a finish of 13th overall.

The Etchells class was won by Rob Hitchcock, Greg Hefler and Kent Paisley, who are no strangers to HYC, as they have been up here for the Canadian Etchells Championship. They pass along their regards and can't wait to get back here! The Marblehead event was superbly run from all aspects, race management, hospitality and facilities were top notch, Now I know how visiting sailors feel when they come to HYC.

In closing I just want to say that if you haven't raced in an outside regatta (especially a one design regatta) you should really try it sometime, the competition will make you a better sailor and they are a lot of fun. Even if you don't own a boat, skippers are often looking for crew, give it a try you won't be disappointed!

To see the full results, click on http://www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas/marblehead-ma/2009-sperry-top-sider-marblehead-nood-regatta---final-results-1000074938.html

Interesting Protest at Fruitbowl

By Dave Cobbett
The question frequently arises, within the zone at a leeward mark: “Does starboard gybe boat have rights over port gybe ?” The following Fruit Bowl protest helps settle the question.
Boats B and C are close together on port gybe, with the 3-length zone, and about to round the right-hand gate mark (looking downwind). Boat C is the inside boat, clearly overlapped inside B.
Boat A comes in at a fairly wide angle on starboard gybe, from the left side of the course (looking downwind), entering the zone after B and C. Boats B and C have been overlapped inside Boat A for several boatlengths prior to entering the zone.
Boat A calls “Starboard”, then collides with B(still on port gybe), who in turn is forced into C(still on port). The boats swing momentarily in a counter-clockwise arc.
Boat C rounds the mark, hitting it as he goes, and does his penalty turns.
Boat A protests B, on Rule 10 (starboard over port).

Decision: The Protest Jury disqualified Boat A on a couple of counts.
1 – Rule 14 – Avoiding collision
2 – Rule 18.2.b – Mark Room. The new Rule 18 helps clear some confusion. Under the old Rule 18, if Port (P) entered the zone clear ahead of Starboard (S), P became the right-of-way boat while they were rounding the mark. Having the port gybe boat become the right-of-way boat was very confusing.
Under the new rules, S remains the right-of-way boat, but must give P “mark room” (see Rule 18.2.b). In this case, Boat B, having an inside overlap on A, was entitled to ‘mark room”, as was Boat C. In fact Boat C could have protested Boats A and B…… B for not keeping clear, and A for not giving mark room.
Here, Boat B would have been exonerated for hitting C, having been forced into C by Boat A, which was breaking a rule. Boat C did not need to do penalty turns, since she would have also been exonerated by virtue of being forced into the mark by Boat A, which was breaking a rule.

Wind And On The Water Action For FruitBowl Day 2

While the weather report threatened us with showers - the sun and wind gods again granted the CN Worldwide FruitBowl with another great day for training.

Morning activities kicked off with on land seminars held by each of the coaching teams. Focus of the seminars ranged from boat preparation, to the start sequence and boat handling.

The keen Opti Green fleet practiced starts and buoy rounding right in front of the club for the on land spectators while the sail boards zipped back and forth across the lake.

The 420 and Laser >> coaches work with their sailors on sets and take downs and Sergeant Carmen Denis will need a new whistle after the relentless tacking drills she took the Optimist fleet through! Our Laser Coach, Colin May, jumped into a Laser for a while to give his team some hands on demonstration of coming of the line with SPEED.

Tonight the kids will retire early and get ready for tomorrow’s first day of racing.

First gun at 1000h.

Stay tuned for more updates.

New photos of the regatta added to May’s Studio’s website www.maysstudio.com/store

FruitBowl Update - Day 1 - Thursday - sun, wind, and higher attendance!

With sun and a fresh breeze building on the lake - the CN Worldwide HYC FruitBowl Youth Training Regatta 2009 kicked off this morning.

With 150 participants out on the water FruitBowl 2009 has grown from last year, with increased participation by the Ontario sailing teams and the Québec Navy Cadets. Also new for this year we are very happy to have the RSX Sail Board class join our regatta!

Stephane Locas, our FruitBowl Head Coach and recent Beijing Olympian, got the things underway introducing his team of 8 high performance coaches and outlining the training plan to the sailors.

Coaching teams:
Optimist Fleet: Carmen Dennis, Lauren Laventure, Hannah Kennell
Laser, Laser Radial: Colin May, Taylor Grant
420 and Laser >>: Stephane Locas, Matthieu Dubreuq, Simon Gallagher
Sail Board: Alain Bolduc
Our FruitBowl Coaches are support on and off water by 15 additional coaches attending FruitBowl with their respective teams.

Schedule of events:
Today and Tomorrow: Clinics
Saturday and Sunday: Racing
Tonight: Coaches Corner (come down and rub elbows with Olympians, National and International level dinghy racers!!)
Friday Night: Movie Night in the Woodhenge
Saturday Night: BBQ and bonfire on the beach (yes, there will be 'smores')

Special thanks to our title sponsor CN Worldwide (www.cnworldwide.com), the organizing committee (Helen Hodgson, Danny Olivenstein, Diana Coté, Michelle Jutras-Steiner, Jenny Marten, Pat Patterson, Jean-Luc Gosselin), the HYC Staff, and the many volunteers for getting FruitBowl 2009 underway.

Pictures are available for viewing and purchase via Mays Studio's website.
http://www.maysstudio.com/store/ (select "events" and then FruitBowl)
Many thanks to Linda and David May for coming down and taking some great shots of the kids!

Stay tuned for more updates as our regatta continues.

Comments / questions / special thoughts....

call me at 514-606-6317 or e-mail me at beck_kc1234@hotmail.com

Calling All Dinghy Sailors!

Dear fellow members,

This message is destined to all dinghy enthusiasts whom appreciate the intrinsic value of racing in a confined cockpit with the exhilarating experience such vessels have to offer.

The fleet is seeking your involvement for Thursday evening races and we believe their to be many vessels that simply sit on the beach collecting sand all summer. These boats require regular use and the fleet would appreciate your enrolment on the water, even if you already race on more ample pleasure cruisers during the week.

With only a handful of races completed by mid summer, a new leader could quickly emerge within only a few races. Dinghy racing offers the opportunity to fine tune your skills and hone in on the nature of the sport with another excuse to enjoy another summer sunset.

If you have a dinghy to lend or are without a boat, but would like to sail, please send us your name as we would like to compile a list to aid us in our quest to offer the dinghy experience to all whom are interested.

Thursday evening races commence at 18:00
This weeks forecasts calls for 10 to 20 knots of wind.

Thank you for your enrolment

Oliver MacDonald
Dinghy enthusiast

oliver.macdonald@boehringer-ingelheim.com

HYC Competes in Buffalo J22 Eastern Great Lakes Championship

By Femke le Duc

Last weekend, the three “little rockets” drove in convoy to compete in the fourth annual Buffalo J22 Raw Bar Regatta.

With 43 entries, featuring the rock stars of the J22 North American circuit, it was the first major one-design regatta for Tinker Bell (Cathy Harris, Jenny Marten, Jessa Amos, Femke) and turned out to be a veritable trial by fire. Eight races were sailed over 2 days in winds of 15-25 knots and waves of up to 8 feet – conditions we don’t often practice in on the Lake of Two Mountains.

We had great support and encouragement from the company of our dear friends and husbands on Jazz (Ron Harris, John Marten, Pete Amos) and Springbok (Michelle Jutras, Ryan Beck, Bernard le Duc). From time to time we sailed close to them, but mostly we got to admire their transoms and awesome spinnaker flying. Both teams performed impressively with Springbok placing 26^th and Jazz 13^th. Jazz would have done even better, except for an OCS in the last race which they didn’t hear as their radio was not working.

It was tough and we got bruised, I went over-board but my crew stayed calm and pulled me back in. I’m very proud of our team and the way we handled the multiple challenges. We had some moments of brilliance too – surfing down the rollers and beating Jazz off the start line (Yeah!). We stayed out there, placed 35^th, came together as a team, had loads of fun and won the party. Definitely an experience to be recommended and repeated.

To see more amazing photos go to the Tim Wilkes website http://www.marinephotography.biz/searchlinksJ22E09.html.

And for full results click on http://www.j22buffalo.com/2009results.html

What a Party!

It may take us another hundred years to top the Centennial Celebrations of last Sunday.
The weather Gods cooperated, no doubt with much encouragement from Ed Cowell and the Board of Directors, to enable a truly memorable day to go off with out a hitch.
From the opening of the new Junior Clubhouse which has transformed and rejuvenated Woodhenge, to the fireworks at the end of the day, fun was had by all.
Our thanks go to all the volunteers and staff whos creativity and countless hours of planning made this all possible.

Centennial Celebrations Postponed Until Sunday!

We have learned that weather will not cooperate with our plans for Saturday. The forecast including lightning and thunderstorms producing up to 30 mm of rain would not add to the party atmosphere. Sunday is expected to be clear and beautiful!

The good news is that this gives you more time to prepare for the team race. There is no restriction on who you team up with so grab your buddies and come join in the fun.

Some of the teams already registered
"The New Centurions" - Knot A Clew, Shigawac, Charisma
"Little Rockets" - Jazz, Springbok, Tinker Bell
Aldebaran, Solana, Sherlock

See you all on Sunday!

Centennial Team Race

To celebrate the Centennial of HYC we will be holding a Team Race on Saturday July 11, 2009.
You are invited form teams comprising of any 3 keelboats and to register with the Race Committeevia the Club office or e-mail sailing@hudsonyachtclub.com.
As an added twist the race will be a pursuit race and there will be rolling start signal sequence for all competing keel boats. The start times are calculated based on each type of boats handicap so that in theory we will all finish at the same time!
The scheduled time of the warning signal for the race is 13:25, with the 1st boats starting at 13:30.
The start / finish line will be from the mast on the Webb Pier thus enabling our members on shore to view the race proceedings.
So form a team with your class mates or friends and join in the race of the century!

The Class flags and scheduled start times for each class will be:
Prizes shall be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placed teams .
Copies of the full SI’s are available at the Club.
Should the Centennial Celebrations be postponed the race will be run on Sunday July 12, 2009

HYC Women’s Regatta Sunday July 19th, 2009

Hudson Yacht Club is hosting its second annual
HYC Women’s Regatta on Sunday, July 19th, 2009.
This is a fun and friendly white sail race, as part of the growing initiative of female sailors in the area.

This regatta is open to keelboats with a current SLVYRA handicap and enthusiastic crews must be female. This is a wonderful opportunity for women sailors to meet, share resources and ideas, and have fun!

Notice of Race will be posted at www.hudsonyachtclub.com To register or for more information, please contact Marian Kuiper at sailing@hudsonyachtclub.com or call HYC at (450) 458-5326.

**

Dimanche, le 19 juillet, 2009, le Club de voile d’Hudson sera hôte du HYC Women’s Regatta. L'événement répond à une croissance dans la popularité du sport de la voile entre les femmes de la région, et est limité à la 'voile blanche'.

La régate est ouverte aux quillards ayant un handicap SLVYRA, un esprit enthousiaste et un équipage entièrement féminin. Il s’agit d’une occasion unique pour les enthousiastes de voile féminin à partager leurs ressources et idées, et aussi avoir du plaisir!

L'avis de cours se trouvera sur le site web du Club de voile d’Hudson (www.hudsonyachtclub.com). Pour s'inscrire, ou pour avoir plus d'informations, veuillez rejoindre Marian Kuiper (sailing@hudsonyachtclub.com) ou téléphoner au bureau du Club de voile d’Hudson au 450-458-5326.

Hook Finishes - Request for Redress WS June 30th

Tuesday June 30th was an eventful race with the Race Committee striving to get a race off in between two storm fronts while dealing 90 degree wind shifts. The finish turned out to be more exciting than anyone expected, with 4 boats requesting redress after the event.

Comment on White Sail race June 30
Request for Redress Hearing July 1,2009
Panel: David Cobbett – Chairman, Alan Gray, Frank Clarke

An interesting protest situation ! To review the facts found, as determined by the Protest Committee.
1 – at the Finish Line, the Race Committee (RC) opted to align the Finish Line at right angles to the wind, which at this point was blowing from right to left across the course (as viewed from the leeward mark)
2 – the race was not shortened.
3 – the Course Board indicated that the leeward pin, which was to become the Finish Pin, was to be left to starboard.
4 – several boats, confused by the orientation of the Finish Line and by the Course Board instruction to leave the Finishing mark to starboard, did NOT cross the Line from the direction of the previous mark, but finished in “hook” fashion, thereby crossing the Finishing Line from the wrong side.

Comments:

1 – the RC, while departing from normal practice of laying the Finish Line at right angles to the Course (rhumb line), did not commit an “improper action” as such. To quote ISAF’s Question & Answer Service – Q&A 2009-016, “as long as the line clearly is at an angle to the course from the last mark, the definition Finish gives the correct finishing direction, irrespective of what side the finishing vessel is situated”. All four boats requesting redress felt that the Finishing Line was obvious, even if at a considerable variance from the “normal” orientation.

2 – inasmuch as the race was not shortened, it was evident that the Finishing Line would incorporate the leeward pin as a finishing mark.

3 – relying again on the above Q&A 2009-016, “had the RC issued a sailing instruction that required the boats to cross the finishing line from the wrong direction, that would have been an improper action, and redress could have been considered. See ISAF Case 45”.
By virtue of requiring boats to leave the finish mark to starboard, the RC thereby issued an improper instruction, so four Requests for Redress were considered.

4 – the RC’s intentions were not clear. In questioning the Bosun and the RC Chairman, it appeared that they expected that finishing boats would understand that they were to pass astern of the RC boat, then cross the line. One boat finished correctly according the RRS definition, but was not called over. A couple of other boats tried other tracks, but were not called over either. The RC compounded the problem by not taking the times of the boats in question when they first crossed the line from either direction, plus subsequent crossings.This made it impossible to grant redress, since the Protest Committee had no time basis to work from in establishing a finishing position by way of Redress.

Recommendation:

1 – RC’s should strive to avoid improper instructions, e.g. “hook finishes” or “buttonhook” mark roundings.

2 – There is no longer any ambiguity in the RRS definition of Finish, that being:

“A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark, either for the first time or after taking a penalty under Rule 44.2, or after correcting an error made at the finishing line, under Rule 28.1.”

3 – In the case of a shortened course, the leeward mark is now a finishing mark rather than a rounding mark, and boats must cross the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark in accordance with the definition Finish.

LTM Championship Final Race and Prize Giving Postponed

With thunder and lightening surrounding the Lake and race area last night the decision was taken to postone the final race of this series until next week.

We will meet again next Wednesday July 8 off Oka with our friends from CNDM, CVL and CVMO and return to HYC following the race for the prizegiving.

This series is proving to extremely popular with some 47 boats participating. The full set of current results are available on the club website at http://www.hudsonyachtclub.com/racing_results.html