Sunday, April 26, 2009

Flying Scot Lake Eustis Update

Club racing resumed last weekend at Lake Eustis, after a break occasioned by regattas and unfavorable weather. We had a great turnout on Saturday, April 18 (eight boats), with three boats competing on Sunday, April 19.

Ron Baerwitz and I were enjoying the truly wonderful hospitality of Fleet 168 at Davis Island or we would have been there as well. Since I wasn’t there, feel free to e mail any details you have and I’ll share them with the group.

Also, welcome to Martin Zonnenberg, our newest fleet member, who joined us for the first time this weekend. Martin is the new owner of FS 5690 which he recently acquired from Don Browning. We hope Martin will sail with us often.

In the first race on Saturday, it was Jack Bazner and Joe Lobato on 3387 finishing first, with Chris Erichsen on 5339 in second and Ray Laguna on 5770 in third. In the second race it was Chris crossing first on 5339, Ray second on 5770 and Brian Meyer third on 5239.

On Sunday, the first race saw Francois Simon in first on 3362, Chris in second on 5339 and Brian in third on 5239. In the second race, Chris was first on 5339, Francois followed in second on 3362 and Brian finished third on 5239. In both races, Dave Chapin was awarded a third for working the chase boat.

Complete results are below and will be posted on our Fleet 150 website

Sunday, April 19, 2009

DIYC - District Regatta

Our District Championship Series wrapped up this past weekend at DIYC. The fifteen boats was less than we had hoped for, the April date pulled some competitors to other events, a big loss for them.

We had a great day of racing Saturday thanks to the weather and Eric Robbins and his very capable crew. The races where conducted in a top notch, professional manner, square line, fair beats, well done! We got in four races Saturday in a shifty Easterly that was really up and down in terms of velocity.


Here is the wind chart for Saturday, pretty good from the east all day except the lull around 2:30


Sunday started off promising, but the 8k South Easterly faded around start time and so we did the Tampa Bay Driftathon. Mother nature put it to us as a nice South Westerly filled in quite early around noonish as we where stowing the boats away!


Sunday's chart shows the lull between about 10 and 12 am, unfortunetly the RC abandoned at about 11:30

Evidently all the gray-hair-geezer-smack-talk had Ron Pletsch all riled up as he was a man possessed, winning two races, the regatta, and the masters trophy! This despite trading paint with multiple fixed objects! Last and this years District champ Jim Egan with Richard Elsishan crewing sailed well for second place with Andy Hayward and David Clement in third.

We also qualified two teams to advance on to the Mallory Cup semifinals, well done Dean Bell with Judy Hanlon and Joe Blouin with Rich Riddle! Full results are up on the DIYC website

Great eats post race from the great DIYC staff filled us up after the long day on the water!

I must say that this event would not have happened if not for the efforts of Leslie Fisher. A brief rundown: The budget, the dinner arrangements, registration, hats, the trophy's, the keg, the packets, and she prepared all 22 Race committee meals! Above and Beyond! Thanks!! www.mastheadsailingear.com

Jim's second place finish was more than enough to secure the District crown for the second year in a row,with our District Governor Dave Thinel in second, Ron Pletsch third and John Domagalia in the forth spot. Congrats to all! Final District Standings are here

That's all well and good, but how about the future?

Our next fleet 168 event will be held May 9th in Apollo Beach at the Tampa Sailing Squadron's Commodore's Cup regatta. We have a special reduced One Design entry fee of $ 25 which includes keg beer and two dinner tickets, how can you beat that?? For those not familiar with TSS, this is a really cool do it yourself club with a primo location. We will race windward/leeward's out in the bay off Apollo Beach.
Let rock TSS with a great show of force, we plan to make a race down there a annual event. www.tampasailing.org

Fleet 168 has also been invited to attend the School's Out Regatta May 23/24 at DIYC. We are working with organizers for a Saturday only event again with a very modest entry fee.. more details to follow.