Thanks for the congrats. It was a great event.

The Stowe Yacht Club hosts two events, back to back, in early June – Region 1 J Boat
Championship followed by the Green Mountain EC 12 regatta which has become the Region 1 EC 12 Championship. They have been doing this one for many years, and I’ve done it maybe 12 years including traveling from Chicago to attend.  It’s a great time in a beautiful location.
The regatta location is the pond behind the Commodores Inn in the valley below the ski resort. The hotel hosts us, handles food and serves as regatta central. The owner of the hotel is a well recognized blue water big boat racer.
Stowe is renowned for light air which frustrates many first timers. But it’s a good learning experience and the racing atmosphere is decidedly relaxed.

This year was very unStowe like. Heavy air and cold. The J’s were first up, Thursday and Friday. Cloudy, rainy and 10 to 12 wind. We used full A rigs in day 1, barely under control. Most of us reduced sail on day 2. I used a B+ main and a full size jib which proved to be very fast but still mostly controllable. At one point, my boat was leveled by a gust, sails underwater, and I feared my 65lbs of ballast would dislodge inside the hull and sink the boat. A long minute and the boat slowly righted. Also dismasted in a collision near the end of day 2. Managed to put things back together and finish the regatta. The other boat weighs 100 lbs.
AMYA President Chuck Millican took 1st. I took 2nd.

The Green Mtn was held Sat and Sunday. More of the same weather. Cool, a little rainy and 12ish wind. A rigs Saturday. 12 races. Some breakdowns as the rigs overpowered the boats. Saturday night, temps dropped to mid 40s in the valley, snow showers on the mountain. Sunday morning, very brisk temps, NW wind 12 to 15 with higher gusts. Lots of black holes on the pond. Mostly B rigs which still over powered the boats in the gusts. The day was a real battle up wind to keep the boats moving. Lots of knock downs. Nine races on Sunday.
We had 13 boats both days. I used new sails both days from Ct. sailmaker Brian Kerrigan.  They worked superbly. The fleet was not as strong as is usual for Stowe, so the start line was a little soft allowing me to get my preferred pole position most of the time. Being windward boat gave me a huge advantage in the gusts both days. Off the line quick and in clear air, I could feather the boat upwind at will to keep it upright and driving. The boats below me generally didn’t have the room to deal with the gusts. Of the 21 races, my three throw outs were a 12, 5 and 3. I won 16 of the 21 races. A real testament to Brian’s sails. They just powered the boat forward both days. 
I stayed with pretty much the same track both days, trying to be windward boat throughout. Paid off handsomely. Dominic Bonanno from NJ took 2nd, 40 pts behind and Chuck Millican took 3rd, 9 pts behind Dom. You walk the course at Stowe, and I figured we covered 15 miles up and down the pond during the 4 days. A real treat and a good time for all.
As I write this, I’m on my way to Chicago for the Santa Barbara Nat’l Championship Thur and Fri and the J boat National Championship Sat and Sun. Certain to be a competitive 4 days.
See you next week.
Rob

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the fish were jumping and the Solings were sailing. A really nice Summer’s day.  This morning there were nine boats in the water at the start and eight races were run. Shelly Northup was there to support Bill and Robert Chappelle came along to spectate but was roped in to keep score. Thank you, Robert. There was quite a stiff breeze from the northwest which made setting the start line quite difficult for Bill Raposa. The start line was close to shore and close to parallel with the beach just offset with a jaunty angle. The course was out from the shore to the northern red mark, then downwind to the southern red mark, all to port then back to the line. The final race was run twice around.

It was Bill David’s day with six wins and nobody else came close to his 9 points. We use the low point scoring method remember and Bill Raposa was second with 25 points and Paul Mercer third with 26 points. 

The full results and all the news can be found on our website, mhbmyc.org

Let’s do it all again next Tuesday, June 21st when the tide will be coming in towards a high at 3.07 pm.

But before that, next Thursday, June 16th it’s the turn of the DF95s when the tide will have just turned from a high at 10.22.

Stay safe and well, and have fun,
Derek

A very hot start to the day enticed 8 members with the promise of spending an hour or so standing in cool water. However, the wind promised in all the forecasts was nowhere to be seen. We waited patiently and eventually, we saw the wind on the water in the distance. When it arrived from the northwest it was instantly strong and gusty. Bill Raposa arranged the course to head NW from the line, around the green mark then the pin, and finally, the two reds, all taken to port.  The course and conditions were such that three boats retired before the first race started: Pat had sail servo malfunction and Bill Northup and I had boats that stopped operating owing to an excess of internal water!So 5 boats set off on the first race which Paul won. He then went on to win the next four. So he had five wins out of the six run today to easily take the first position overall. The only other race winner was Bill Raposa who also had two seconds and one third which meant he was in second place overall.  In joint third place were Dan and Kim who came tied on every tiebreaker. And finally, Bill David, usually one of the leaders, had one second place and one third, but after the third race also retired with water in the boat.Congratulations to all the survivors. it was one of those days: Challenging but still very enjoyable.As always, the full results can be found on our website mhbmyc.org
The next time Solings race will be June 7th when the tide will be coming in with a high at 2.41 pm.Before that, next Thursday, June 2nd the DF95s take to the water again and don’t forget that Robwill hold a clinic at 10.00. Always informative and helpful. High tide that day will be just about our start time of 11.00
Now, to repair and check those boats,Have fun.Derek 

For the first time this season the weather conditions were conducive to DF95 racing and seven members agreed and brought their boats down to the cove. One of them was a new member, Curtis Rencurrel.  Another new member, Arlow Sampson came along to spectate with his wife.Please give them a big welcome. Bill Raposa also stopped by before the racing to say hello.The wind was strong, gusty, and chilly from the southwest which presented quite a challenge for our brave competitors over the eight races run this morning.Henry DiPietro got off to a flying start by winning the first race. He also had two second place finishes and three third places to finish third overall.But the real battle today was between Rob and Paul.  It was very close, exciting racing with Paul winning four races and Rob winning three.However, Paul had two second places and Rob had four which was just enough to give him first place overall today…..by just one point! The only other sailor to get into the top three places was Wilkie who finished in third place four times and ended the day with fourth place overall. Kim was fifth, Albert sixth, and finally, Curtis who only raced three races before succumbing to mechanical problems. His boat provided Rob with his only rescue of the day.The full results can be found, as always, on our website mhbmyc.org
The next race in the DF95 series will be next Thursday, June 2nd when the high tide will be just about our start time of 11.00
But, before that, on Tuesday, May 31st it will be the turn of the Solings for their third race day of the season. The tide will be going out from the high at 09.37. Racing starts at 11.00

Lots of friendly, competitive fun today.

Stay safe, well, and happy,
Derek