BFSC Woman's Skipper Race

From the Barefoot Camp ...

Nineteen Ninety Five, Citizen Cup, the Regatta to determine the team that would defend the America’s Cup. Team America3 on the Yacht “Mighty Mary” had a hugh lead over Dennis Conner’s “Stars & Stripes”. Mighty Mary, skippered by Dawn Riley and crewed by an all women team with the exception of the tactician Dave Dellenbaugh. Stars & Stripes ended up winning the right to defend. Sometimes when a boat is far behind another boat, the only course to take is to take a flyer and hope the wind gods bless you. Is that what happened that day when Stars & Strips sailed to the otherside of the course? Or did the one male crew on Mighty Mary make the wrong tactical decision that sailed them into a hole?

It’s ancient history now. But for the BFSC Joan Holcomb Memorial Women Skippers’ Regatta it won’t be a male tactician that makes that decision since it is required that all final tactical decisions must be made by a woman and the boat most be skippered by a woman helms person.

Come out and show the men on Lake Lanier how you can sail a boat fast and make the decisions to race a good race against other women skippers. Regatta NOR and Sailing instructions can be found on the Barefoot Sailing Club web site at BFSC Women Skippers' NOR/SIs

PHRF Championships this Weekend!

Another great regatta is coming up - time to get your crew together for lotsa racing and partying! Please let me know (by email or tel) if you will be racing in this regatta.

If we know you are coming, we'll bake a cake, or something. It's just like Wed nights (fun) with more races and less darkness.

We will have class splits depending on how many non-squares let me know they will be there: sportboat, spinnaker, non-spinnaker, multihulls, cruising, etc. Non-spin boats will have 15 sec/mile added to their PHRF rating if we do not have sufficient boats for a class. The scoring is designed to give everyone a fair chance to win.

There is a giant perpetual trophy (this ain't it) which will have the overall winner's name engraved on it. (i.e., lasting fame)
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

Please let us know (by email or call at 770-965-8500) if you will be racing in this regatta.
PHRF Champ NOR
PHRF Champ Registration Form

DesTopNews Sailing Updates #20

McCarthy takes the Lormand Cup

I remember when I first heard the words. It was several years back. I was racing and battling my old Pearson 26, Mental Floss, against good friend Frank Atkinson and his Santana 20, Shameless. We were in the middle of the Southern Sailing Club's singlehanded event, the Lormand Cup Open, and the only person between him and victory was me. We were at it for some time and after a long fought skirmish, he overtook me to grab the lead. As he passed, in a friendly but triumphant manner he declared, "There can be only one!"

Several years later, Frank's celebratory comment remains fitting, serving as the perfect slogan for the annual event held on the club's home waters of Lake Lanier, GA. This year's race was held this past Saturday, May 12, 2012. Eleven boats showed up to the line for the one man, one fleet, one race, winner take all event. The skippers had the choice of racing under spinnaker or taking a 15 second credit on their rating for sailing non-spin. Most opted for the non-spin option.

The race is conducted under pursuit start rules. The course is declared onshore at the skipper's meeting and each boat is given a predetermined start time using noon as the base. Slower boats get a head start on the faster ones and the first boat to finish the course wins. An incredibly diverse group of boats made up the fleet seeing a rating spread that ranged from 285 for a Catalina 22 to a -81 for the big Reynolds 33 catamaran. Boats playing catch-up had their work cut out for them.

A forecasted easterly breeze is pretty unpredictable on Lake Lanier, but that is what the fleets had to deal with. And for once, what we were told to expect pretty much rang true. Things started a little light, which never favors the slower boats, but the breeze did fill in to a manageable 8-10 knots of pressure and proved perfect to get the boats around the eight mile course.

Top honors went to John McCarthy sailing Iniki, his Soverel 33. Second place went to David Pope sailing Orbit, his Ultimate 20. And rounding out the top three was Mike Krantz on Wimbledon, the Reynolds 33. Congratulations to everybody that came out to help make this a successful event. Final results can be found at the Southern Sailing Club Website, or by clicking here.

Multihull Happy Snaps

I was out of town on business last week and right before I left I received some Happy Snaps of the LLSC MultiHull Regatta that was held last weekend. Playing catch-up, I'm just getting them up now. It looks like they had a great regatta. I love seeing all the A Cats. I GOTTA GET ME ONE OF THOSE! To see the entire gallery, CLICK HERE.
Thanks for the pics John!

DAS FENDERPALOOZA!

The Strictly Sailing Papparazi was out and about a couple weeks ago. And while they didn't come back with any topless bikini shots of girls gone wild, they were able to capture the above Fenderpalooza! It is classic! And to add insult to injury the motor is down and dragging and not a singleone tailtell is flying off the leach of the main. SOMEBODY HELP THIS GUY!
Thanks for the pic, good work!

1995 Laser with double trailer for sale

DesTopNews Sailing Update #19

It's PUMA Mar Monstro in Miami

VOR crawls up the islands

O'Day 272 For Sale

Decisions, Decisions approaching Islands

There Can Be Only One!

The SSC Lormand Cup Open, this is the single-handed event for those that don't need no stink'n crew. One skipper, one boat, one distance race, and one beautiful perpetual trophy which is presented during the annual SSC gala, the Commodore's Ball. This is done full Southern style, from the cheap $5.00 entry fee to the beer and hot dogs, so leave your crew at home watching the Home Shopping Network and come race.

The date for the event is Saturday, May 12th, normal location and texting rates apply.
SCC Lormand Cup NOR
SSC Lormand Cup SI

LLSC PHRF Championships

Another great regatta is coming up - time to get your crew together for lotsa racing and partying!
It's just like Wed nights (fun) with more races and less darkness.

We will have class splits depending on how many non-squares let me know they will be there: sportboat, spinnaker, non-spinnaker, multihulls, cruising, etc. Non-spin boats will have 15 sec/mile added to their PHRF rating if we do not have sufficient boats for a class. The scoring is designed to give everyone a fair chance to win.

There is a giant perpetual trophy which will have the overall winner's name engraved on it. (i.e., lasting fame)

Please let us know (by email or call at 770-965-8500) if you will be racing in this regatta.
If we know you are coming, we'll bake a cake, or something.
PHRF Champ NOR
PHRF Champ Registration Form

DesTopNews Sailing Update #18

SSC Lormand Cup to be rescheduled

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, this Saturday's SSC singlehanded Lormand Cup Open will need to be rescheduled. The date will be Saturday May 12th. The racing authority apologizes for any inconvenience this places on those which planned to participate. Stay tuned for further detals.

New Attractive Price and New Instuments
on the J/29

OMG!

The 2012 SSC Master's Regatta

The Southern Sailing Club's Master's Regatta sponsored by Sail Lanier was a huge success. The event specifically restricted to skippers/helmsmen having reached the ripe old age of 50 attracted more than 20 keel boats at registration. In addition to the normal High Performance and Racer Cruiser fleets, an additional Sportboat Fleet was added to breakout the asymmetrical and multihull boats.

The event was especially honored by a special appearance and participant in the 1960s television icon, Thurston Howell, III. Racing his classic reconditioned Annapolis 26, Restoration; he masterfully skippered his yacht and actually managed, for a period, to hold an extensive lead on the other boats in his class. Perfectly beautiful.

It would ultimately be a tough go of it. While all started, not all would finish. Meteorological conditions being what they are on Lanier, racers were harshly reminded that what looks promising at first, can quickly turn to shit. The unforecasted east by north breeze that started the race should have been a hint, but it was a great start to things; sails were full and pulling hard. About halfway through the race, things quickly started to go light. It would whittle down to patience and perseverance.

The leaders of both the Sportboat and High Performance fleets would finish the entire race. Even though it was very, very close, with no Racer Cruiser boats besting the motor-time of 1630, shortened course provisions were invoked to finish the fleet.

After all the racing was complete, the grassy knoll at Aqualand's "X" dock was full for a successful dirt-up and awards ceremony. Racing, hotdogs, three cases of beer, and some of the very best brownies, all for a stupid $5.00 bucks; racing Ssouthern style, it's the best damn deal on the lake. Thanks to all the participants for a successful event.

Congratulations to the following for a well, hard fought day of racing. In the Sportboat Fleet, it was John Burgess in BB Doll taking top honors. In the High Performance Fleet, it was Dean Holcomb in Rum Runner. In the Racer Cruiser Fleet, after the time deltas were recalculated at the short finish mark, it would be Fred Kempner in Dream'n to round out the competition. Each Master received a $25 gift card to West Marine, complements of Strictly Sailing Media, and Sail Lanier.

Things are heating up ...

Slow going in the VOR

Patiently Waiting ...

DesTopNews Sailing Updates #17

Goodbye Brazil ... Go Fast to Miami

Then things slow down ...

Playing Catch-Up ...

The idea was that while being off location racing the Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week I could keep up with at least some of my Strictly Sailing editing duties. Well, after racing hard all day, the parties, great food, and more than my fair share of Dark n' Stormys, I discovered I just couldn't pull it off with this equipment. There will be plenty of time for commentary on the week's experience. Until then, I have plenty of catching up to do. So let's get started.

Master's Regatta

Let us not forget about this weekend's World Famous Master's Regatta, hosted by Southern Sailing Club. It is the best deal in town for an open regatta commemorating the great ones, the old guys and gals. Actually, it's the only such deal in town. Anyway, the skipper/helmsman must be the ripe, old age of at least 50. That, combined with a $5.00 entry fee gets you a day of racing, a couple of dirt-up beers, a hotdog or two, and probably a world famous cupcake, or brownie, or cookie (whatever the bride has in mind). This year I even plan to open up a Multihull/Sportboat fleet. So come on out, race and have a good time.