Race Committee Wins Inter-Committee Challenge!

After foolishly bragging about our great sailing team all summer, we actually won the regatta!  No one was more surprised than I was, but it just worked out that all the teams had a bad race or 2.  We won race 1 and were last in race two.  We won the final race this morning, moving us to a tie for first overall, and won on the tie breaker.  A total of 8 races were sailed, with each team getting 2 byes.  Not enough boats, even though CYC borrowed 2 from the Goldman Program.  Those were the two boats we got bullets with.

Our team had no skippers, so for the first time since college I stepped up to drive.  After the first race, they couldn't wrestle the tiller out of my hand.  Tim S did the main on Saturday but couldn't join us on Sunday so we taught Amy S how to manage it.  Stephanie L learned about halyards and topping lift and such strings.  The real work was done by our team captain, Karen K.  With energy, strength and enthusiasm, she trimmed jib and kite and set and jibed the pole.  Yes, she was busy.

Captain Karen & RC Chair Janet drink from the Fido Cup

We raced on Saturday morning (SE wind) which was lovely and sunny, then it got a bit cloudy but never rained much on us, thank goodness.  We came in for a big lunch yesterday then back out for more races in a puffy, shifty westerly.  After the races, the competitors gathered and there was too much beer and rum for me, but it seems to have had a worse effect on some of our competition, no matter how slow I felt this morning.

The team rallied behind me and although we were last off the dock we got to the start in time. Today was northerly (again!) and sunny.  We had a nice awards ceremony today at lunch.

We laughed a lot on the boat this weekend.  Sometimes at jokes, sometimes at ourselves and our misfortunes.  I'm amazed and proud that we did so well; it was a great team.  Of course, it is more fun to win!  Each competitor got a great looking and cuddly long sleeve fleece that will make others jealous.  For first place, we each got an embroidered blanket, also quite cuddly.

We tied with the combo team of Mac and Dinghy Committees.  Stations Committee was third.  Our own Amanda A sailed with the Associates Committee and Rick L sailed on the Trophy Committee.  The Race Officer was Darcy Cook and she will write her own blog.  She was assisted by Tom K and Debbie N, with mark setters Lynn L, Chuck N and Scott S.  Sean did the scores and registration.  Jill did the food, which was awesome.  Dwight participated in his first race this weekend, with the Stations Committee.

The trophy is the Fido Cup, awarded to the racing yacht Fido in 1913.  How appropriate!  We'll have all our trophies on display at our Appreciation Dinner, November 23.

Janet B
Photo by Amanda Mason

Saturday, October 5, 2013 - Last RYF

Two races completed. Boats in harbor before storm hit. Two T-10's threatened protests due to windward mark barging. Nothing filed. 

Fleet was 2 J-111, 7 E22, 8 T-10, 6 Sh, 2 L16 and one J70 with Rickover cadets as crew. 4 starts. J70 sailed nicely with Shields.

Wind started at 160 followed by wild shifts from 260 down to 110 due to instability of air. SE wind was not in any forecast. AP went up at first warning as we shifted course by 20 degrees. First legs were square enough. First race went inside out after first leg. We received compliments for not abandoning after first leg. Second race shifts were so wild we Charlied first three sections and withdrew Charlie for last section. 

Scott was great as solo line caller and finish line. He did 75% of the markset decisions and management as well. He called 2 Shields over in second race. This was his first time on line. Nikki was chief recorder, with Stephanie and Peggy (first day). Nikki was also watching me and confirmed my inaccuracies.

Olof and Chris C were very busy at the top with as many as 5 marks in Argo at once. Gaetan and Karen were steady performers at the bottom.

Then there was Rick, timer, sounder, course consultant to Scott, flag trainer, course board trainer so I had to AP once for my timing error in each race. We explained on the radio and had AP down holding delay to only 4 minutes each occurrence.

The sailors were happy, glad to be back before the rain only to be in time to take four masts down in the thunder and rain while  we all watched an supervised. The Belmont bride was forced to have her ceremony inside of Barge #2 but the sun came out for bridal photos on the dock.

Rick L.

Sunday, September 29, 2013 - Autumn Classic - 2nd Day

The second day of the Autumn Classic was another coolish norther.  This 2 day high school event had 20 420s in each of the two divisions and a total of 20 races were sailed.  We raced close to the harbor and coaches brought out the teams swapping in after every two races.

Lynn Lynch repeated from the first day and had Joanne and Janet B. aboard Vanena with Chuck at the top and Mike L. working the bottom of the course.

 

Saturday, September 28, 2013 - RYF

Pretty much a normal day on the RYF scene.  Rick was the Race Officer aboard Carrier with a small but strong team.  It was kind windy from the south.  3 races, Shields, Beneteau 36.7, Etchells

close finish - Split Decision wins!  With husband, wife and all 3 children aboard

trailing the green mark

Saturday, September 21, 2013 - RYF

The morning meeting got off to great excitement because Chuck has a new library card.  What that has to do with the racing, I don't know, but it was fun.

We left the harbor on time, with two people on each mark set (Rick & Karen at the gate and Gaetan and Martin to windward)  and a small but experienced team of Darcy, Janet, Scott, Collien, Nikki and Lisa were aboard Carrier.

NW wind shifting to north (more on that later), usually 12-14 knots but as low as 8 with plenty of 16 and 17.  The waves were 2 to 3 feet, with occasional monsters, but the sky was very blue and it was pretty!

8 Etchells

11 T-10s

5 Shields

2 Luders

about 130 sailors

Pretty, yes- and good sailing, but it was not an easy day.  We set the first race for 335 (or something like that, I'm going from memory) 1.25 and 1.0 and went into sequence.  But we had to postpone before the first start because the P flag did not come down on time.  The timer was interrupted and there was much conversation because several watches had been set off one stopwatch, which we THOUGHT was synched to the GPS, but somewhere a mistake was made.  We decided to keep rolling and were only delayed 5 minutes.  We had 3 OCS on the first start, only 2 returned.

The boat that didn't come back was a past RC Chair, so we decided to give him a professional courtesy by abandoning the race on leg 3.  I'm kidding about that, but we did abandon because the wind shifted and we signaled a change to 350, but the new yellow marks went in at the wrong place.  Seems there was a math problem when calculating the reciprocal.  This is an easy mistake, especially with only one experienced person on the markset.  Unfortunately, the RO and DRO realized it too late, and we were unable to correct it fast enough, although Argo was racing around and doing their best.  Lessons learned:  have those wheely things to help out on each boat, use the chart in Erik's Booklet, check sooner and maybe having extra marks in each mark set boat would give more flexibility.  The sailors were not happy, I'm sure, but they understand and we did not get any unreasonable complaints.

The next race, the re-sail of Race 1, got under way when the boats returned, and when we got the course set up.  The team on Argo had all their marks in the water at point, so there was a lot to pick up.  We considered a longer course, but decided to keep things short and the boats all finished in about 70 minutes.

The last race things got tricky!  After the Etchells started, we postponed and considered abandoning because a 40 degree left shift came in.  Would it go back to the northwest or stay north?  The breeze at the top of the course was 30 to 40 degrees different than the start area for about half an hour.  But it came back and the Etchells did end up with a beat.  After a postponement we started the T-10s, but it was not a pretty picture, as the northwest wind came back.  Several tried to start on port tack but were very early and had to jibe around.  They couldn't lay the skewed line on starboard once they got more than a boat length to leeward.  The best starts were the boats that stayed clean on starboard and then tacked to port,  The line was more square for the final Shields start, which had only two boats left.  One of the Luders had a break down, so they both had gone in.  The breeze came back to the course we'd set at 360 (couldn't find enough zeros for a 000 course).  

Things settled down after that first leg, and all the boats finished, except those that had equipment failures.  We decided that the sailors had had enough bouncing around in the chilly fall like air after the two completed races.  We returned to CYC to watch some America's Cup racing.

The debrief in the bar but upbeat, and Collien was awarded the blue star for her work getting us back on track and then managing multiple postponements on her first day as timer.

Janet B.

Sat & Sun Aug 25 and 25 - Inshore Verve

What a fun weekend we had!

Not that it was easy.  It was challenging and while we didn't get it 100% right, the sailors gave great reviews of the race committee this weekend.

We had the biggest Inshore Verve in recent history:

J 70 - 19
Etchells - 12
Soling - 6
Colgate 26 - 3
J24 - 5
Shields - 4
Luders - 3

and on the B circle:
Laser - 8
Vanguard 15 - 12
Rhodes 19 - 9

Truth be told, it was the weather that made the regatta.
On Saturday winds 8 to 10 from the southeast and blessedly steady, made it seem easy to get 3 races on the A circle and a bunch on the B circle.  But that's what the sailors saw.  Sunday was shifty and although Tom Skilling predicted "gusty", the other forecasts were closer, at 6 to 12 knots.

Race Area A:
Saturday, a nervous Janet B, as Race officer, had great support from Helle and Darcy and never had a concern about the starting sequence due to a dependable timer, Karen M and a supporting cast.  Setting the course was pretty simple because the wind didn't really switch much, although we talked about it every leg.  Bob and "his women" kept things square at the top, while Rick and Joanne raced around the bottom.  An nonscientific poll said that most sailors did not want a fourth race, but it was not unanimous.  They didn't get one, so it doesn't matter.  Warm and sunny with good breeze made it a great day for sailing.

Sunday we had our first Southwester of the season.  It wasn't a blower, but about 6 to 12 over the day, with plenty of shifts.  Chicago's predominate breeze is southwest, but this season, we haven't seen it on a race day.  Hot and sunny, with the upwind view of the city.  Nice!

But shifty. 30 degrees difference between the top at the bottom.  Olaf signed on last minute, Thanks! and helped Helle keep Janet from jumping off the boat as the breeze acted like a typical southwest shifty breeze.  We worked the markset boat teams hard, demanding wind readings, even as they were moving to new locations or pulling marks,  But Bob and another set of women (Mary and Stephanie) kept up a cool conversation on the radio and never missed a mark set or a change.  All marks got in place in time, which wasn't always easy.  On the bottom, we had Rick and Joanne moving the line, squaring the gate and signalling changes.  Just two people- they had a busy day and Joanne drove most of the day.  Not bad, having joined the RC after Mac this year!

At one point the the windward markset had 220 and the signal boat had 250.  In fact, that lasted for a while. So we picked something in between and had a few changes.  We set the third race of the day as a 5 legger.

Almost unanimously, the sailors liked it - another nonscientific poll.  We stuck an extra 5 minutes between the J70s and the Etchells for all races on Sunday, which made the sequence longer, but it was appreciated by both fleets.  On Saturday, the first  few Etchells crossed into the back end of the J70 fleet.  The Etchells seem faster upwind in the lighter stuff but the J70s seem faster downwind.  Either class could start first, but with the same boats again, I would start the Etchells first.  The J70s had a bigger spread from first to last.  Something to consider- it can go either way.

Race Area B
I wasn't on this course, but short staffed, they were pressed hard because running 3 different classes on various courses makes for a merry-go-round of sailboats.  The first sequence goes off, using the "Ollie" for a dinghy start.  The Lasers want a long course, the V-15s love it short and the Rhodes add another dimension.  So the RC is starting one fleet, finishing another and monitoring winds and making changes throughout.  They got in lots of races and all the sailors I spoke with seemed very pleased.  The Race officer there was Lynn with only 2 other people on the signal boat.  I can't imagine how they did it.

Ashore
Nancy A did a great job getting the scores in - emailed from the A course from Melissa. I think Lynn entered the scores from the B course.  B got in earlier, having exhausted both sailors and RC.  Saturday there was pasta dinner, and the usual Verve sponsored cocktails.  Sunday had awards at 4:30 and a very lively bar crowd that drifted out to the docks by about 7:30pm.  I can't say what happened then, but people were pretty happy.

Another successful showing of the CYC RC.  All that training and pressing people into service is worthwhile.  It was fun for me, and I think for all that helped this weekend.  Your service is very appreciated - let's do it again.

Janet B,

Results: http://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=899

Janet B - my photo's too!

Sat Aug 18 -RYF on a Very Busy Saturday on the Lake!

In addition to the J111 Championships, Corinthian Match Race and the Air and Water Show, we did have RYF racing on Saturday 8/17!

Upon boarding and getting underway upon the fair ship Latham, we noticed we had an extra gear bag with a lovely tankini top.  We wondered who would be swimming.   We soon found out the boat boss of the leeward markset was planning to (and did) take a quick dip in the cool Lake Michigan waters after the first race was underway.

We had great weather - for Air and Water Show spectators; but had to AP due to very low winds.   After about a 40 minute postponement, the first race started with wind speed close to Pi.  (3.14159).

The check in process went smoothly while photos were taken of the aircraft doing tricks and acrobatics, we had 7 Etchells, 1 J-70, 4 T-10's, 1 Shields and 2 Luders.

After getting the first race started, and despite bouncy conditions that tend towards seasickness, everyone ate lunch.....chicken curry or chicken curry and no one lost their lunch!  The best part being the fudge stripe cookies.  Love those cookies from the tree house!

Winds picked up in the second race to about 5-6 knots which was great for everyone.   The PRO did hear the DRO's concern for a square course and had the finish mark reset prior to the finish for the second race.  

One lesson learned, confirm that the windward markset boat knows that there is no offset for the short mark.

Finally the quote of the day...."Never leave the wheel when it's in gear."   What happens on the RC boat stays on the RC boat.   I'll never tell.....

Thanks for a fun day on the Signal boat Nick, Janet, Amy and Stephanie!
Joanne G.

Monday, August 12 - Tall Ships Race Start

A unique opportunity to see the ships sail off to South Haven.  Don G. was the PRO and Bob J was the boat driver.  They were assisted by Todd and Lloyd setting marks, Marge and Mimi recording and Janet B doing flags (Todd did that too).  We also had some guest experts from the American Sail Training Association (ASTA), Erin and Patty, who kindly gave us some flags to add to our collection.

It was a fine end to a long weekend of the Maritime Festival, featuring 14 Tall Ships, The Grade 1 Chicago Match Cup event and unofficially, our own Verve Cup.

Saturday, August 9 - Verve Day 2 Circle B

Leftover sloppy waves and not much wind combined to foil the best attempts to get a race off on time.

Can you read the flags - postpone and abandon!  Can you read the body language?

But all was not lost and after a patient (?) waiting period, two square races were run.

Out of Order- Sunday June 8 NOOD Circle C

Sunday is tradition day at the NOOD on some circles. First tradition - the circle C team picture!

Then it was off to the race course in glassy waters. Fortunately, the breeze filled in from 140 and a start sequence was initiated but the wind was too unstable and the start was postponed. A new course of 125 at 1.5 nm and 1.25 nm was set up and all classes were able to start. There was an intentional 5 minute postponement after the T-10 start to increase the separation between that fleet and the J/105s and Beneteau 36.7s that started after them. This reduced most of the mixing between the fleets throughout the race and was well received by the fleets based on comments from a small sample of competitors.

As boats came down the run the breeze had continued to build to around 8-9 knots so all sections were extended to new yellow marks at distances of 1.75 nm and 1.5 nm, allowing for 70-75 minute races for the fleets.

For race 2, the J/111s and J/109s were started on a 120 course while the T-10s and other sections were still finishing. By the time all remaining sections had finished and ready to start, the wind had walked to 110 but the RC was locked into the 120 course the first two sections were sailing towards. The start line was reset square to the wind at 110 but the T-10s had their first and only general recall of the weekend. On the restart, the RC displayed the India flag and were able to successfully start the largest and most stressful section of the circle on their final race. The other sections also started without much incident.

The wind in race two looked left of the course from Carrier’s perspective but the spread of the boats on the beat and the run told a different story about the wind up the course. A wide spread among the boats with plenty of crossing was a great way to end a successful regatta. All were pleased that the light winds, rain and storms predicted just a few days before the event largely never materialized.

Back at the dock, there was one more tradition observed. Helle arranges a champagne toast for her circle, complete with a second team picture. Lots of compliments were spoken, all well deserved, to a true team that enjoyed each other’s company.

Erik S. written then and posted later

Monday, July 29 - NACC Day 3

NACC BLOG Day Three of Racing July 29, 2013

• Wind conditions on the course saw calm seas – 1 to 2 feet, 5 – 7 knots. Winds started at 010 and clocked over to 030. There was one General Recall for the SONAR fleet, and one Charlie, +, Green for the SONAR fleet.

• The RC performed very well. Many thanks from the competitors as they crossed the finish line.
• Thanks to all the RC members who served, and a special  BIG thanks to Lynn and Grant who stepped up to the plate and chased around the course as our single MS boat!

Submitted by Bob J

Sunday, July 28- NACC, Day 2

NACC BLOG

Day Two of Racing July 28, 2013

·      The bottom line - 4 races were completed for the SONAR’s and the 2.4’s; and 5 races were completed for the FREEDOM 20’s. A total of 24 races completed to date for the two days of racing.

·      Wind conditions on the course started with fairly calm seas – 1 to 2 feet, 5 – 6 knots and increasing and the conclusion of racing to over 10-12!

·      The RC performed very well.

·      A big thanks to all the team members for a well orchestrated “well done” for the sailors, and I know on the Signal Boat we had fun!

·      Winds were oscillating around 285 degrees – no change of course was required!

·      P.S. We think we experienced a seiche today!

Submitted by Bob J

Part of the NACC fleet after Day 2

Saturday, July 26 - NACC, Day 1

NACC BLOG

Day One of Racing July 27, 2013

·      The bottom line -  4 races were completed for the SONAR’s and FREEDOM 20’s; and 3 races were completed for the 2.4m

·      Wind conditions on the course started at lumpy, 5 – 6 knots and increasing and the conclusion of racing to over 10-12!

·      The RC members were  able to handle the different challenges very well

·      A big thanks to Lynn for keeping the PRO and the DPRO out of (reasonable) trouble.

·      Winds were oscillating around 305 to 310 degrees

       Bob J

Facebook Group: NORTH AMERICAN CHALLENGE CUP for photos and comments

Saturday, July 20 - RYF

Saturday, July 20, 2013

It was an exciting and beautiful day as I attended my first Chicago Yacht Club racing event. With full sun and a light breeze, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to enjoy Lake Michigan and have some fun in the sun.

As a guest observer aboard the 41 foot twin diesel boat (that interestingly enough used to be an off-shore oil rig tending), it was interesting to see how all the positions on the Race Committee Team worked so efficiently together, like a well-oiled machine. With Liz N. as a first time DRO, JoAnne G. as chief recorder, and Denise K. as flag hoist, it was an impressive first day for all of us.

The first race began at 11:00 am, with the wind at NW 350, and about 3 knots. We watched as it steadily marched to 208 by the end of the day. Our highest velocity was 9 knots, with majority of sailing at approximately 5 knots.

Our race was 8 Etchells on a long - long course, with two boats that couldn’t break the custom of a long – short course apparently. Both withdrew after finishing. It was a mixed variety of one T-10, five Shields, and seven Etchells.

There were a total of three races sailed on Saturday, along with a few valuable lessons learned. Some things we learned were to check flag inventory at the beginning of every day (the Mac crew left out an X ray and Lima flag) and to have our signal flag waving in the correct direction (right side up). Our final docking time was 16:20, with the ending of the day just as picturesque as the beginning. 

Katherine T., RC Rookie  

Look for more PR work from Katherine, who is an intern working on the NACC

Mid Summer Party

Mary M put together a delightful event for the Race Committee to celebrate the mid point of the season and of course, the Mac race.

Thanks Mary, and thanks to all who were there!  Here are some snapshots I took when I remembered towards the end of the party.

    Janet B

Saturday, June 29 - RYF

The forecast for Saturday called for building N winds and waves but both conditions were on the moderate side as the RC set the course up for racing. We chose to go stay closer to harbor than normal given the wave forecast and the slight possibility for weather and set up about a mile SE of the CMRC races taking place at the same time.

    Race 1 started in 7-9 knots and set on a course of 005. During the final minute to a start for the Etchells, two boats on opposite tacks made contact near the top of their masts, resulting in a broken mast for one of them. The disabled boat was towed in by the leeward markset boat while the other boat involved in the incident was able to start about 3 minutes late. As the now 7 Etchells made their way up the first beat, a dense fog rolled quickly down from the north, reducing visibility to just over a tenth of a nautical mile. Starts continued, however, with 4 T-10s, 6 Shields and 2 Luders sent off into the mist.

    The fog began to lift as boats continued up the beat and the signal boat could see the lead Etchells’ spinnakers as they rounded the weather mark located 1.5 nm up the course. For the duration of Race 1 and 2 the wind stayed fairly steady in the 000 to 010 range with some kicks to the right. There was talk about moving to 010 during the races, but the wind always returned enough to warrant no change. Reports from the sailors indicated that the breeze was right shifted as they neared the top of the course, an observation that was consistent to what the RC experienced.

    The Etchells started Race 3 on a 010 course, same distances, but all T-10s and Shields retired before their 3rd start. The two Luders, however, had just came off a tight Race 2, with a rare loss for Bill Simpson, and were game for a third race. They were started almost 25 minutes after the Etchells at 1350.

    By now the breeze was consistently in the 12-18 knot range with 2-4 foot seas, including some occasional 6 footers. In fact, the conditions were such that a sick volunteer was taken ashore off Carrier by Keelboat Director Chuck N. during Race 2, but recovered well once on shore. As will happen with a new course set, the wind, which had been creeping right the first two races, banged left and held rock steady at 000. A Charlie to a new mark at that bearing was made and the final beat and run were square. The Luders, in another heated battle, finished Race 3 around 1455.

    The race committee executed well in somewhat trying conditions, especially late in the day. On the signal boat, a remaining crew of 5 were able to provide quick turnarounds to the sailors while boats were finishing in Race 2. Robin F. handled the flags and was helped by Lisa G’s friend Jason, Rosemary I. recorded, Bob J. drove Carrier and was timer/sounds while PRO Erik S. and DRO Lisa G. called starts and the finish. Marine Superintendent Scott S. and new Interim Race Coordinator Grant E. on the leeward mark boat not only assisted in towed the disabled Etchells to harbor but were fast and prompt in executing directions, At the top of the course, Jeff G. fought off a some discomfort with the help of his crew Cynthia S. and they were fast and accurate in their actions. A really good day that ended with the clouds had mostly gone and a sunny ride back to Belmont.

Erik S.

    

Friday, June 28 - Hamilton Club Trophy, Chicago to Racine

Twelve yachts ranging from 34 to 70 feet raced the 50 miles to Racine in a freshening norther.  One set of RC started the boats at 6:30pm off Belmont, and a skeleton crew (Rick L, Lynn L and Janet B) drove to Racing, set a finish mark using a borrowed boat then took shifts on the sea wall, waiting.

Setting an 8 foot mark can be problematic when away from home and in the dark.  We powered our inflator by plugging in at a friend's boat, but it didn't fit so well in their cockpit.  Got the job done though, and our friends on Endeavor collected the mark after crossing the finish line.

Sometime after 4am the boats began to arrive and continued almost to the 9am time limit.  Two boats withdrew, but finished under power.  The fleet endured light wind, rain and then a heavy beat, perhaps as much as 20 knots.  

This event is part of CYC's Annual Cruise and the racing fleet was greeted by other CYC members from the Cruising Sail and Power Fleets, who had arrived Friday.  A breakfast for all members was held and a day of activities such as kayaking, biking and swimming pool lounging are planned.  Private tours of the local Kringle factory were sold out and a 3 yacht club cocktail tour ends with dinner tonight at Racine Yacht Club.  All boats will head back to Chicago on their own schedule, and an informal delivery/race is expected Sunday.

    Janet B.