It had looked like all was going well for the regatta across the lake to the Atkins’ home.  The wind was out of the west at 3 to 4 knots and the chase boats were ready.

The regatta entries were:

• Mary Schmidt #88
• Jack Bennett #005
• Terry Schmidt #71
• Richard Hallagan #55
• Jonathan Gorbold #62
• Nelson Habecker #54

PROs Sue Bennett and Keith Calkins were on station and sailing instructions were given.

At the start #54 was called over early, not so much for crowding the line, but, for having his chase boat start across the lake first.   Better to follow your boat than show the way.

The further across we all got the weaker the wind.  At about the halfway mark, one hour later, we all concluded that the ice was probably melting and if we wanted a cold one ( which we all did), just pick up your boat and head in.

A scoring method was established to determine a winner if the wind returned but it never happened. Just as well cause the food and accommodations at the Atkins’ was superb.

Many thanks go out to Maggie & Neil for all that they do to make this a suberb event.

The trophies will be held over until next year when we hope to have the ice chests refilled.

THE ICE CHESTS

Reminder:

We will be holding our week 5 summer series races on Sunday July 14th from 4:30pm till 6:30pm on the south dock at CYC.

Last year’s winner (Jonathan Gorbold) will be racing to defend his title as Across the Lake Champion for the third straight year tomorrow ( Saturday July 6th). Entries need not register but do need to be at the starting line precisely at 1:30 PM.  As it stands right now the weather is for winds out of the west at 5 to 6 knots by 2pm and a slight chance of thunder storms late in the afternoon.  We will take the advise of our race committee if it looks like storms could erupt during our race and if cancelled we will simply move all racing to Maggie’s home for elimination portion of the regatta.

Bring a fast boat and extra batteries if you feel you will need them.  Awards will be handed out at the completion of the regatta and before the wonderful hospitality of the Atkins is spread amongst us.

See you on the water!!!!!!!!!

Admiral Nelson’s chase boat

Final plans are being made for the Atkins’ Hospitality Regatta which will be held Saturday July 6th.

Rain or shine whether there is racing or not the Atkins’ are committed to hosting us.

If conditions are right for racing, the start line will be the south dock at CYC and the finish line will be 2.5 miles south east  at 4314 Deep Run Canandaigua, NY 14424 (Maggie & Neil’s home).  This is just off of East Lake Rd.

The race will begin promptly at 1:30 PM off the south dock at CYC.  A starting line will be set and the start may be upwind or down depending on the wind direction that day.  I will make every effort to acquire a chase boat if you are planning on racing across the lake.  I will also arrange transportation before or after racing to pick up our vehicles.  I suggest that you either leave your vehicle at CYC or at Deep Run park before racing begins.

If you do not race across you can still enter the elimination rounds of racing at Maggie and Neil’s home.  As long as you win in the elimination rounds you keep racing to improve your position.  Once you are eliminated or declared the winner it will be time to sit back and enjoy the hospitality of Maggie and Neil.  They always do a superb job at entertaining and feeding this group.

I do ask that you please  RSVP (Yes or No) Maggie at matkins@frontiernet.net or Admiral Nelson at eal@onecommail.com (cell phone 585-201-0515)so that we may know how many to expect.

If you are planning on attending and would like to contribute by bringing an appetizer or desert please inform Maggie at (585) 396-9973 or matkins@frontiernet.net to help coordinate her efforts.

“OTHER NEWS”   I have adjusted and updated our calendar for racing times on Sunday afternoons by 30 minutes to allow for the afternoon Sharks, cruisers, and J boats to get off the water.  The new time will be 4:30PM – 6:30PM thru October 6th.  I hope that this change does not cause any problems for anyone.

Saturday, July 6th, Maggie & Neil Atkins will be hosting their annual Hospitality Elimination Regatta which will include a great meal and drinks for all.  The address is 4314 Deep Run Canandaigua, NY 14424.  This is just off of East Lake Rd.

The race will begin promptly at 1:30 off the south dock at CYC.  A starting line will be set and the start may be upwind or down depending on the wind direction that day.

There is no participation fee for this regatta, but please RSVP Maggie at matkins@frontiernet.net or

Admiral Nelson at eal@onecommail.com so that we may know how many to expect.

If you are planning on attending and would like to contribute by bringing an appetizer or desert please inform Maggie at (585) 396-9973 or matkins@frontiernet.net to help coordinate her efforts.

This year’s format has been changed from previous years to an elimination series format.  Here’s how it works:

Rules:

• You are required to have a chase boat to follow your RC across the lake.  If you do not have one we will make every effort to find one or ask that you team up with another chase boat.
• A finish line will be set somewhere close to the Atkin’s dock which you will be required to pass through in order to finish the race across the lake.
• Racing from CYC to Maggie & Neils home will determine your seeding  ( 1,2,3,4,etc) .  If you do not race across, but bring your boat by car to their home, you will be seeded at the bottom and will have to earn your way to the top.  Those that do not race across the lake will be grouped in the lowest seed and will race with 50% moving on to the next elimination round.  This will continue until only one remains who will then race against the lowest seed of those that did race across the lake. The winner will progress to the next seed until a winner is determined.
• A course will be set to the approval of this year’s race  committee ( Keith Calkins and Sue Bennett ) and a race will consist of a minimum of 4 legs (2 laps).
• If you have been awarded a handicap in our regular series racing you may continue to use it.  If you have not been awarded a handicap you may not petition for one.
• Racing will end by completing the elimination races or when the hosts ( Maggie & Neil ) determine it is time for all of us to leave.  If all the elimination races have not been completed at that time the order of finish will be whatever your seeding was at the time races were cancelled.
• The very coveted 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (gold, silver, Bronze)place awards will be presented to those who will have earned their place in history.
• 

  1st 2nd 3rd

  These races will not be included in the overall high point series but it would be a shame not to participate…

  

  THAT’S ALL FOLKS

   

Last week concluded our spring series of racing .  The order of finish for Jefferson Cups was:

• First: Jonathan Gorbold
• Second: Jay Niggli
• Third: Nelson Habecker

Awards for the Spring Series will be handed out on October 19th (Sailors Night) at CYC.

For the complete order of finish and scores – click on  Results.

Sunday, June 9th, we will begin an 8 week summer series which will take place at CYC south dock.  Starting time is scheduled to be 4PM rain or shine.

“The way I see it is that everyone is now tied for first and you are going to have to sail well to take that spot away from me.” The Admiral!!!!

Winds were out of the north at 18 to 23 knots, it was chilly and cloudy most of the day. Once out on the lake there were white caps and puffs you could see coming 500 yards away. Just perfect for a 2 mile RC race.  We cancelled the idea of Jay using his canoe and Anne refused to kayak me behind her so it was decided that pairing up would be the best solution. I could hear the girls whispering on the other side of a J-24 that the winds were strong and they thought they would do better if the girls were all in one boat. (Something about not having to “put up with the guys”). And so the stage was set:

Girls would use Jack’s boat driven by Leslie Bennett. On board would be Maggie and Terry sailing with Anne on board to coach.

The guys would be Jonathan and Jay driven by Anna in Sue Raymond’s boat, Dick Hallagan in one of our club crash boats driven by John Wright, and Neil and myself in the other crash boat driven by Mike Weber.

Girls were off to a fast start and maintained their lead- Halfway through the race Coach Anne called for Female “F-O-C-U-S” as the men were in sight.

Maggie rounded the island mark first–which was no easy task– Wind Conditions were strong and swirling– forcing more jibes than tacks.

Jay was next to the mark-but he got hung up with the winds.

Terry managed to edge out Jay and round the mark 2nd.

Maggie was way ahead down the stretch-so far ahead of her crash boat it was hard to tell her point of sail–but she kept sailing!

Next sighting was Jay on the west coast — enjoying a more controlled and fast  inland sail- So It was Maggie & Jay and then Jay & Maggie  as they approached the south dock around the mooring field. Other boats were quickly catching up as they approached the finish of the race.

The Finish causes change in rules- The outcome may have been different if the boats didn’t have to come out of the water-

1. Surely Terry would have been Dry

2. Jack’s Boat would have fewer dings.

3. And Maggie with her competitive racing skills and being the lady she is would not have had to give way to anyone.

Therefore Next year’s rule change will be that boats must cross start line to finish-and need not come out of the water.

You just can’t put 2 chase boats in the same spot- and that was the closeness of this Race– It was a Splashy- Photo- Finish!

Squaw Island Video  This video is rated PG.  I can’t believe that there was no adult language.

The official order of finish was:

First Place
All The Roses plus $20

1. Jay Niggli in 1 hour and 20 minutes

Second Place $10

2. Jonathan Gorbold 1 hour and 21 minutes

Third Place $3 each

3. Scored a tie between Maggie Atkins and Terry Schmidt 1 hour 21minutes and a little

After watching the video our race director determined that while both boats were at the dock together he was not sure if any rules were broken by Terry going into the water to retrieve her boat instead of retrieving boat in the expected manner ie: using a lifter.

5. Dick Hallagan

6. Neil Atkins

7. Nelson Habecker (myself ) The way I see it is that if I am in the top 7 there probably wasn’t 8 boats.

We then dried ourselves off and retired to the pavilion for an afternoon cookout.  Due to the speed of the race Jack Bennett who was to bring the potato salad to go with the Hots and Hamburgs arrived at 4:30 .  Just in time for the awards.

2013 Squaw Island Photo Gallery

Tracy Blevins wins (2) and Bill wins (1) after toting their RC’s up from Virginia and dusting off the spider webs.  It is obvious that neither of them have lost their touch. We got off (8) races in two hours with 14 RC’s participating and neither of them finished in double digits all day.  It just goes to show you we a courteous bunch and will give a little extra room at the start and the marks for visitors. (Maybe not)

There will be no RC Racing this coming Sunday.  Instead we will be hosting our annual Squaw Island Regatta at CYC.  The entry fee is $15 and can be paid at the dock after 1pm. Skippers meeting at 1:45 and a 2pm start.

Please check your batteries before you enter the water.  There is nothing worse than being miles from the nearest battery pack in a race.

Current Entries are:

• Jonathan Gorbold (defending champion)
• Jay Niggli (almost defending champion)
• Nelson Habecker (yet to finish this damn race)
• Neal Atkins
• Maggie Atkins
• Terry Schmidt
• Anne Lambert

Don’t forget that Sunday June 2nd will be the final races of the spring meet.  As it stands right now Jonathan Gorbold has a 10 point lead over Jay Niggli for the 1st and 2nd spot but it is much closer for 3rd, and a Jefferson Cup award on sailors night, between Bill Schmidt who has a 2 point lead over Nelson Habecker who has just a 6 point lead over Terry Schmidt.  It should make for very good racing and strong language so don’t miss it.

See you this Saturday for the Squaw Island Regatta and Cookout which follows.

For complete racing results click here

Why not kick off the Memorial Day weekend with the RC Laser fleet by coming out to sail in the 3rd Annual Squaw Island Offshore Race this weekend?

This 2-mile race requires skippers to sail their radio controlled sailboat up the lake to a mark at Squaw Island and then back to a finish line at the club. It was one of the more fun but challenging sailing events we have held the past two years.

Registration can be done online or can be handled Saturday starting at 1pm at the concrete dock on the CYC waterfront. Skippers will need to figure out their mode of transportation on the water to follow their boats up the course and back. We are getting close to the event, so if you need a ride and don’t have one, please let us know asap and we’ll do our best to find you a chauffeur.

If you have a powerboat and would be willing to take spectators or skippers for a ride on Saturday afternoon, please show up at 1:30 to be paired with a sailor.

Our Race Director, Keith Calkins (who thought we were crazy last year but has learned we are actually crazy every year) will hold a skipper’s meeting at 1:45 pm.

Racing will begin shortly thereafter with an on-the-water start this year with a line set somewhere in the vicinity of the south end of the mooring field. We’ll attempt to have a start line set so that we have a windward start and so that onlookers from shore will get a good view. The finish line will again be at the concrete dock area.

• Notice of Race
• Sailing Instructions
• Online Registration
• 2012 Results
• 2012 Squaw Island Pictures

We will have a cookout following the race. The fleet will provide meat and rolls but you can bring beverages, sides, salads or deserts to share. We should be finished in plenty of time to allow CYC members wishing to attend the wine tasting at the clubhouse later in the evening to make it there on time.

Prizes for this year’s race will be:

First Place:

Your Own Roses

Plus

Second Place:

Third Place:

Big bucks are at stake       So don’t miss it

On a day when “C” sails were the choice of all  and the wind came and went from every direction Neil Atkins was able hold off a challenge from Anne Lambert to win the last race on Mother’s Day.  Our PRO (Anna) did her best to set a good course but it was the “Wind Gods” that determined who would fly and who would die all day.

Please note the following:

• Racing next week will again be Sunday 4 – 6 pm at the south end of the docks  CYC.
• Tracy and Bill Blevins have traveled up from Virginia for the weekend and have RCs’ in hand.
• The Squaw Island Regatta and cookout will be held on Saturday May 25th.
• There will be no racing Sunday May 26th.
• Sunday June 2nd will be the last series of races for the Spring Meet 4-6pm at CYC.

See you on the docks.