Soling 1M Series #3

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 

DF95 Series #2

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

Soling 1M Series #2

Six Soling skippers raced in the cove today. With a northerly and northeast wind, Bill Raposa (as RD) set a course out to Red and Blue striped buoy, rounded to port, back the southwest to Orange and White to port,and Red and Black to port as an offset…..back to the start/finish line. The brisk breeze had the races moving quickly, and that allowed for 9 scored races today.
Sam Morgan raced with us and was the dominant sailor until after race #6. He told us he had to leave, and unfortunately that problem denied him the chance to win the day. Great sailing Sam!
The 5 other skippers had a great time racing today, and most races were close finishes and very competitive up and down the fleet.

Soling Series #1

Six Soling skippers came to the cove to begin the Soling racing series. It was a mostly sunny day with a brisk breeze that rotated a bit from West Southwest to Southerly. Bill Raposa set a good start line and added a downwind to the East. Race course from a good start line out to orange buoy taken to port, around red buoy as an offset to port, out to green stripe taken to starboard, over to the red mark added today taken to starboard, and back to finish line. This course remained unchanged for 8 races, except race number was twice around the course.
Several skippers had difficulty with the windy conditions, and it seemed the winter rust on their thumbs was evident. Bill Raposa had to retire his ”Thriller” due to electrical problems, and he kept score after the second race. Paul Mercer, having spent much of the winter racing in Florida, had a spotless day by winning all 8 races.

DF95s will start their 2022 series on Thursday.

Beach work

Tuesday (5/10) was the day we wanted to get the buoys installed, skiff delivered, and beach cleaned up. Weather, however, didn’t cooperate. Too much wind on Tuesday, so Thursday (5/12) is now the date. Volunteers still needed to assist. Let Rob know if you will be joining in the effort! Many thanks, in advance!

Lunch Meeting Notes

May 4 – Good meeting and lunch. 13 in attendance. 

High points:

Elected officers for the coming year. Same slate as current. All agreed to eliminate Derek’s term limits (Ha Ha).

Club is in good financial condition. Sale of boats has fattened our cash balance. 

Annual dues to remain $25. Proposal was made and voted to eliminate the club’s initiation fee.

Weather report and weather cancellations will be posted on the website front page. No need for emails. Posting by Paul will be made by 9am.

Minor adjustment to the proposed calendar. The first week will be scratched. An additional week will be added at the end of the season and the season end regatta will be rescheduled accordingly. Racing starts Tuesday May 17 with Solings. DF95s start Thursday May 19. Both at 11:00am

Beach clean up and buoys will be set on Tuesday  5/10 at 10am. Bill Raposa leading the effort. He and I will review the bottom step situation and remedy if possible. Kim will acquire new buckets for the buoys. John Perkins will donate spare line that he has.

Not much interest in embarking on a formal effort to search for a new or second venue.   Suggestion was made that we investigate the town beach improvements currently underway. Some interest in considering the previous alternate location as a back up (Old Orchard Cove, directly across Rt 24 from Montaup Golf Course). We will discuss further when you return. (I visited the site on the way home and believe this could work. Good site for when we have strong North wind.)

General agreement to operate without a formal score keeper. First over grabs the clipboard, second over calls the sail numbers. I will donate a chair to be stored in the box in the event an available score keeper shows up. Jim Fuller showed some interest in doing this.

Discussed the possibility of introducing the club to the local Tiverton paper with hopes of an article. Kim will follow up on this. Also general agreement that it is a good idea to have at least one loaner boat available – a Soling.

General discussion about the decline in Soling attendance. No formal action taken. Discussed the possibility of reminder emails from the fleet captain (Raposa). Reminder from Henry DiPietro that we can participate with the Newport DF95 group. No interest in arranging away dates with other clubs such as we used to do with Martha’s Vineyard.

General discussion that we need to do more to introduce and coach new members so that they develop higher confidence sooner. All agreed. Assigned mentors was suggested and agreed as a good idea.

End of Meeting

Rob Hill
Vice Commodore