These are the notes I took at the meeting held in the Billiards Room in the Clubhouse of the Village on Mount Hope Bay at 1.30 pm on Thursday, August 12th.
In attendance were Bruce Collemer, Bill David, Pat Donovan, Rich Field, Kim Hanna, Rob Hill, Jim Kelly, Manny Kyriakakis, Paul Mercer, Albert Meyer, Bill & Shelley Northup, Will Plante, Bill Raposa, and me.
Apologies for absence were received from Dick Mahoney, Wilkie Marvel, and Ned Popovic
We started with a lunch of delicious sandwiches from Clements accompanied by some equally delicious potato salad and coleslaw from Lees. We finished the meal with some of Kathy’s (my wife’s) homemade brownies.  There was a round of applause for Kathy’s efforts in pulling together the elements of the lunch.
1. Derek welcomed those present and said that the season was going quite well, but he was disappointed with the relatively low attendance for Soling racing.2. The Treasurer’s report was given by Kim who stated that the current paid-up membership stands at 21 for total fees of $550. Membership is now 22 as Will paid Kim at the lunch. The Club had sold some boats kindly donated by some former members and two Soling kits. Our main expenditure this year was the purchase of new buoys etc at the beginning of the season leaving a healthy balance of $1875.3. Fleet Captain’s Report, Solings was given by Bill Raposa. We’ve been unlucky with the Tuesday weather and there’s nothing we can do about that, but we have 17 Solings on the score sheet and typically we have only had 5 to 7 turn up.  We need more boats!    Fleet Captain’s Report DF95 was given by Rob Hill who had taken over from Jim Pascalides mid-season. We thanked Jim for his past efforts and wished him well. The DF 95 fleet is flourishing with guest members frequently racing with us. two of these, Sam Morgan and Don Ouimette plan to join the club next season. There are 20 boats listed on the score sheets plus 3 guests and we typically get 10 to 12 boats racing. Rob said that maybe we could consider a later start, say noon or 1 pm to get better wind conditions. It was left that the Fleet Captains could call for later start times as long as plenty of notice is given.4. A report on the website was given by Paul. The website is going well and appears to be well used, but Paul strongly recommended that the club purchase two low-cost Android Tablets and the Afleet software so that other people in the club learn how to score the events. This was agreed and Kim offered to carry out this task.5. Rob led a discussion on the end of season Regattas. It was agreed that the low-key event structure we had last year would be used this year. The Regattas will be on a no-fee basis, just turn up and race, scoring will be on our usual scoresheets and results calculated by Afeet software. There will be a break for lunch and everyone should bring their own. The results will be available and the prizes will be given before everyone leaves. The prizes will be the usual glasses.Rob offered to run both regattas and this offer was gratefully accepted.The regatta dates are listed on this season’s schedule. See mhbmyc.org if you’ve mislaid your copy.6. Banquet tasks. The Great Room in the clubhouse has been reserved for Sunday, September 19th at 6.30 pm.This is a pot-luck get-together to which wives, husbands, and significant others are invited. We ask each member to bring some food, but beer, wine, and soft drinks will be provided by the club.Bill Raposa “volunteered” to be in charge of getting the beverages, and getting tablecloths, paper plates, cutlery, glasses, and trash bags.  Thank you, Bill.Rob will once again take care of getting prizes. Thanks, Rob.Manny will look after providing coolers and ice. Thanks, Manny. Then we’re all responsible for providing food and, just so we don’t get too much of one thing and too little of another, I’ve asked Kathy if she will co-ordinate the effort.She will and her email is kmelven@gmail.com  Please let her know what you are planning to bring.7. Election of Officers. Steve Morganstern has resigned as Secretary. It was agreed that we continue without a Secretary at this present time.All other officers are willing to continue for another season and there were no opponents,8. Any other business. Bill Raposa brought up the subject of end of season, pulling of marks, storing the box and boat, etc.  As we most likely will continue to race past the official season end, it was agreed to leave the dates and decisions until later.Thank you all for attending,Derek

The hot and very humid weather couldn’t deter 12 members from going down to the cove today, 11 racers and Shelley who kindly kept score. Many thanks, Shelley. The wind was not as strong as advertised, but good enough to propel our boats for a total of eight races. The wind was from a southerly direction and rob set the course: south to the green mark taken to starboard, then north with the line open to the red mark, taken to port, then back to the line. We welcomed, once again, Don Ouimette from the Housatonic Club as our guest and he showed us how it’s done by winning 4 races, finishing second in 2 and third in another to have the overall win today. In second place today was Rich with 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds. The only other race winner today was Paul who also had 2 second places and 2 thirds so Paul finished third overall. Rob was fourth and Kim was fifth. There was a lot of close racing today and lots of fun. The full results are on our website mhbmyc.org

DF95s do battle again next Thursday, August 19th when the tide will be almost fully out.
But, before that, the elegant Solings take to the water on Tuesday, August 17th when the tide will be coming in from a low at 08.50. So get those dust covers off the Solings and go racing.

Stay safe and well and have fun
Derek

Once again we are in the Tuesday Doldrums. It’s uncanny!The wind in the racing period is forecast to be 3 to 4 mph, so rather than float, Bill Raposa, Soling Fleet Captain and I decided to cancel racing today.There will be DF95 racing on Thursday with our club meeting at 1.30 pm.  Please be there.See you then,Derek

A pleasant morning with virtually no breeze meant that just 6 boats were in the water at the start.  Manny was there to look after starting and scoring once again. Many thanks, Manny.The start was delayed slightly while we waited for the promised wind to arrive from the south, but we did eventually hold seven races.  Bill Raposa set the course: head south to take the red and green marks to port and back to the line. As the wind strengthened we ventured farther afield and headed north from the red and green to the northerly red with the line closed. This red was also taken to port and then back to the line.We didn’t use the blue mark because it was resting onshore having been found by Bill Raposa in the stream that runs through the beach last weekend missing its weight.  Until the weight can be replaced, we left the mark in the undergrowth.  We won’t lose it as it has a unique aroma that can’t be missed.OK. Back to the racing. Bill David won four races and was third in three to become the overall winner today.  Kim was second this morning with two wins, three seconds, and one third. Paul had one win, three seconds, and two thirds to claim third place. Well sailed all. Bill R, Jim Kelly and I finished in that order. The full race by race results may be found on our website mhbmyc.org
Former Commodore, Ed Haddad has very graciously and generously donated his Soling, “Sizzlin'”‘ sail number 99 to the club for sale. This boat is in excellent ready-to-race condition. If you are or anyone you know is interested in acquiring this boat, please contact me.
There is rain forecasted for Thursday, so the racing may be canceled.  We have decided to postpone the club meeting that was to follow and move the meeting one week to Thursday, August 12th. Lunch sandwiches etc will be provided.
The next Soling racing will be on Tuesday, August 10th when the tide will be heading out from a high at 10.07.
Stay safe, well, and happy,
Derek

It was a little cooler this morning and a little less humid. The pleasant conditions and an adequate breeze enticed 13 members and one guest to bring their boats to the cove. Manny decided not to race and did a great job keeping score, Shelley also didn’t race but got lots of practice, and John Perkins was trying out the boat he bought from Steve, but couldn’t get radio contact.  We welcomed Don Ouimette as our guest, once again. So we started proceedings with 11 boats competing. As the wind was coming mainly from a southerly direction we adopted a clockwise course with the downwind mark being the red for three races, switching to the blue as the wind changed for the last three. Rich Field got off to a great start winning the first two races. He also got two seconds and a third to finish as the highest placed club member, but the overall winner today was our guest, Don who won the last four races and had one second place and one third. Kim was third today with one second and three thirds with Rob in fourth place. In fifth place was Henry equal on points with Rob, but Rob got the place on the highest place finish rule. The full results can be found on our website mhbmyc.orgA big crowd today and lots of fun

The next DF95 race day will be next Thursday, August 5th when low tide will be at 11.33.
But, before that, we have Solings in the water on Tuesday, August 3rd when the tide will be coming in from a low at 09.48
Enjoy the weekend, see you Tuesday or Thursday or both.Derek

It was very encouraging that nine members brought Solings to the cove this morning, but it was very discouraging that there was no wind to satisfy their thirst for competition.It was good to see everyone and catch up on events and welcome back Bill and Shelley Northup and new member, John Perkins who has bought Steve’s Soling (and his DF95). Shelley brought her DF95, but there was no point in putting it into the water. Apart from Shelly, two other members without Solings were present: Manny who came down to help, and Wilkie who sailed his beautiful “Columbia 42”.  Bill Raposa spent some time in the dinghy, putting in the starting mark and then taking it out again. One other rower was John Perkins who had to fetch his boat back.  I don’t know what happened, but the red light on his transmitter was flashing.  My boat was leaking around the keel mounting, so out will come the keel again.Kim, Paul, Dan, Pat, and Jim Kelly were also there getting their boats wet……slightly!

Let’s try sailing Solings again next Tuesday, August 3rd (tide coming in from a low at 09.48) 
But on next Thursday, July 29th we have DF 95 racing (tide coming in with a high at 1.08 pm)
Stay safe and well, and have fun,Derek

A beautiful summer’s day and a good breeze greeted the10 members and 1 racing guest who made it down to the cove for the later start time of noon. The tide was low and coming in, and the wind was from the northwest. Rob prepared quite a simple course, Head in a northerly direction from the wide start line and take the blue mark to port (not nearly so simple as it sounds), then head south, through the gate formed by the red and green marks and back to the line.We were also visited by Cam Church and John Perkins, who had visited us on Tuesday when he saw no racing. That wasn’t true of today as we held 8 races, all of them close. Dick Mahoney had to leave after 30 minutes and only competed in the first three races. Jim Kelly, Albert Meyer, and Pat Donovan were the victims of intermittent problems with their boats, and Rob got his habitual rowing practice after race three when Jim Kelly’s boat stubbornly stopped working offshore. Rich won three races and had two seconds and one third to finish in first place overall today. There were three other race winners today: Rob won two, Paul won two and Bill David won one.Rob had two second places which got him to second place today. Paul had one second and two thirds and finished third . Bill David also had one second and two thirds and that took him to fourth place. Our guest from the Newport DF 95 group, Ben Hall was fifth with Kim sixth.Close racing and good fun today.  Well done everybody.
The full results can be found on our website mhbmyc.org

The next race day will be for Solings, next Tuesday, July 27th (High tide at 11.28), and the next DF95 day will be Thursday, July 29th (High tide1.08 pm)
Have a wonderful weekend,Derek

The DF95 Series will be changing the start time in an attempt to have a better breeze for racing. Effective July 22nd, the start time will be noon instead of 11AM.

Five members with boats arrived at the shore in very hot, humid, and still conditions.There was insufficient wind to race so Bill David, Dan McHugh, Pat Donovan, Bill Raposa, me, and Manny, who had come down to help, discussed a few topics, solved most of the world’s problems, and then went home.One resolution we did make was that this club will never give up on Soling racing.  Loud cheers!We did have a little excitement when Bill David’s boat which had been floating idly in the water started turning circles.  Bill Raposa swam out and rescued it.  It appears that there was a receiver problem.So on to Thursday when it will be DF95 racing. The tide will be going out with a low at 12.12.The next Soling sailing will be in a week’s time when we’ll face a high tide at 11.28.
Stay safe, stay well and have fun,Derek

DF95s at the cove today. Patiently, 8 skippers waited for a breeze to show up, and it finally did with a SW at about 7 kts. Typical course with that wind direction, Rob sent the fleet to the southerly red and green buoys, taken to port and then downwind to the northern red buoy taken to port and back to the finish line. All six races used this course. Good close racing by all. Paul Mercer prevailed with 3 wins, Bill David had 2 wins and Rob Hill had 1.
Ben Hall made a return visit to sail with us and competed well until he had to leave.
Rob suggested that we consider a later start time as a way to deal with the late arriving breeze. We may try delaying the start of racing until noon. Stay tuned……