TELL TALES (Dec. 9, 2009)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Lucas Galarza who turns 13 on Friday and becomes a Red Fleet skipper.

SCHEDULE:

Dec. 12 – Jim Pique Memorial Regatta (all day)

Dec. 19 – Winter Series, race 3

Dec. 26 – Optional sailing (1000 to 1500)

Jan. 2 – Optional sailing (1000 to 1500)

Jan. 9 – Winter Series, race 4 (hs, SP4, St. Petersburg)

Jan. 16 – Winter Series, race 5 (hs, SP5, Coral Gables); 16-18 – Opti Team Midwinters, St. Pete

SCHEDULE COMMENTS:

1.      As nearly everyone knows, we scrubbed sailing last Saturday. There was too much rain and too little wind at first and then too much wind. And there was the annual Christmas Boat Parade to prepare for and participate in. We waited until the last minute – too late for some folks – to make the decision and for those we did not call in time, we’re sorry. We normally do not cancel for inclement weather but Saturday was beyond the pale. It pushes our Winter Series back a week, but we have bad weather days built into the schedule.

2.      This Saturday is our annual Jim Pique Memorial Regatta, which will run from 0800 to 1600. Our sailing instructions are listed below.

3.      Our third Winter Series race is slated for Dec. 19 and then we have two Saturdays of optional sailing. Sign-up sheets are posted and we need six for each day to have sailing.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS: (Virtually the same as those for the Crow’s Nest Regatta in October)

1.      An informal registration (no forms, but we take attendance) will begin at 0800. A skipper’s meeting is scheduled in the Pram Shed at 0900. The race committee will run as many races as possible in the morning, break for lunch, and have more races in the afternoon.

2.      Members of the Venice Women’s Sailing Squadron (also known as the Bitter Ends) will provide lunch at Higel Park for sailors, coaches and race committee members only.

3.      No race will start after 1600. Dr. Mark Bills, Venice Yacht Club rear commodore, will present the regatta awards and the Fall Series trophies, at about 1645.

4.      The start-finish line, for most races, will be between a faded red flag on the RC boat and an orange buoy. Both classes will sail a modified trapezoid course. All marks (orange buoys) shall be rounded to port. The Portsmouth Division will sail two laps, with a closed gate, while the Optimists will sail one lap. The last race of the morning and of the day will be to Higel Park. The finish line will be between the RC boat and the Higel Park dock’s east end.

5.      A three-minute sound signal sequence, with flags, shall apply. There will be rolling starts for Portsmouth, first, and all Optimists, second. Class flags will be Portsmouth, blue; Optimist, Opti flag. The “I” flag may be used if a general recall signal becomes necessary at any time.

6.      Although all Optimists will race as one fleet, the Green Fleet and the RWB Fleet will be scored separately. If seven races or more are completed, each skipper’s worst score will be deducted from his or her total series score. Awards will be distributed thusly: Green, five; Portsmouth, four and RWB, three. Some special prizes may be presented as well.

7.      You haven’t won a race if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors.