November 9, 2008
Week 1 - races 1-6

Races began, after short postponement, at about 2:20, in strong WNW winds ranging form 3-15 knots, and shifts were accompanied by strong gusts. Five boats came out to race, including a few new MRPrams: Rick Zimmerman and his son Jon have some adjusting to do to the new smaller boat, but it is evident right away that they will be contenders this season. Both his new boat (MRP84) "Brainfreeze" and VC Ned Thomson's (MRP 74) are fine examples of craftsmanship, and will hopefully be sailing to mid-century or longer. The new boats are super strong and they don't leak! The gang who put together this new fleet have taken great care in the final finish and assembly of these awkward looking, awful fun boats...bedding all standing rigging to prevent water infiltration at all fastener locations, and sealing the entire hull with epoxy. They are not apparently any faster or slower than the old version, built in '87, but should be easier to care for, and certainly drier than their predecessors.

Mike Meseroll and Rod Rupp came out as expected, ready to race, and put together a great 1,5,1,1,1,1 series to take the early season lead. Ned Thomson and Clare Forlenza sailed a solid series, and took second for the day with a posting of 4,3,2,2,2,5. In third for the day was the ever-contentious team of Janet Davis and John Harkrader, with a 5,2,4,3,4,2 series for the day. In fourth was Rick Zimmerman and his son Jon, with 3,1,5,4,3,3 as their finishes.

Close behind was Dave Kuykendall with boat owner Sharon Borgatti, finishing 2,4,3,5,5,4 for the day. As you can see, the competition initially is very close, as shown by the results. Hopefully there will be several more boats out as the series progresses, with an anticpated fleet of ten to fifteeen.

Submitted by Rob Z.

November 23, 2008
Week 2 – races 7-11

Anyone who postponed their first participation in the series missed a great day to get a smooth start. The weather was mild with plenty of sunshine, steady 5-10 knot westerly winds and little power boat traffic. Five races were run and five boats came to the line for the first three races. John Harkrader and Sue Kerr could not get across the line without mishap for the first two races (outhaul popped off both times). Mike Meseroll and Rod Rupp had no such problems, posting 4 bullets in a row, until in the last race, when they were part of a crowd of boats inexplicably crossing the line in the downwind direction at the start signal, and had to settle for a third. John and Alex Deitz had a good first day, with 4 seconds but, most unfortunately, had to settle for a fourth in the last race, after being forced over the line by a crowd of boats inexplicably crossing the line in the downwind direction at the start signal.

With throw-outs, Mike Mezz has a firm grip on first place, with 9 point in 11 races.  Dave K and Sharon B also had a good day and are securely in second place. Janet Davis is holding third, followed closely by Rick and Jon Zimmerman. Jack Woods made it to the line for the fourth and fifth races, to start his 2008-2009 campaign.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a hot meal including a choice of appetizers, salad, bread and 2 kinds of chili. Thanks to all who raced, patrolled, officiated and made our tummies happy.

John Deitz

December 7, 2008
Week 3 – no races

Bitter cold and strong winds were good reasons to cancel racing on this day. Though the river was sunny and beautiful looking from the warm confines of the main deck, on the water our fearless race commitee measured the wind scuttling across the wave tops at 12-24 knots with higher gusts.

We did manage to enjoy hor'dourves and pigs in the blanket, thanks to June Kingman and her crew, along with a few adult beverages. We also sang happy birthday to Jack Woods (is he man of the year, or something?) and gave him a big card, which we all signed, for his 60th. Too bad it turns out it was his 59th! Oh well, we’ll save the card for next year. Getting up in his years, with all that implies, Jack just might be genuinely surprised once again.

John Deitz

January 1, 2009

New Year’s Day  (non-series race)

 

Cold, windy, and way too early. No sailing that day, but my spies report the conditions did not prevent alcohol from being consumed. A traditional fun sailing event, alas, it was not to be this year; but we have our memories. We’ll do it again in 2010.

JD

 January 4, 2009

Week 4 – races 12-18

 

Another beautiful mild day with 5-10 mph winds out of the W-NW, countering a considerable upstream tidal current. The only drama of the day was the sight of 2 boats just clearing the harbor as the first race got under way. Other than that, no crashes, no equipment failures; just seven good races. Mike & Rod set the pace once again in 5 of 7 races, conceding the bullet only twice, first to sail #16 (a courtesy, I assume, as it was also race #16) and another to Dave K & Sharon B in the last race.

JD

 January 18, 2009

Week 5 – races 19-21

 

After a 10 days of sub-freezing temps and lots of seasonal precipitation, sailors feared the worst when it came time to sail again. While some boats did require vigorous de-icing (with a pipe wrench, in one case), and a small glacier was seen grinding past Janet Davis’ boat, the weather that Sunday was frustratingly mild, with temps in the mid-30s and the river glassy calm. We were this close to scrubbing, when a hint of wind was felt, followed by a wisp and then a breath. In a little while a light but steady breeze was filling in over the river and the racing was on, only about 30 minutes late. The wind came from the N-NW at 5-7 mph, with a slight current and no power boat traffic. We managed to get in 2 -1/2 good races, but the breeze just quit during the third race. We limped back to the club (some paddling was seen) and enjoyed chili and dogs on the main deck. Honors were split 3 ways, with the first race going to Dave K & Sharon B, and the second to Janet D & John H. A dark horse took the third: Tom Davis and Bill Surdovel in their stunning series debut. Also of note: Cheryl and Dave Cook splashed their new late model pram, christened “The Pink Pramther”, for the first time. We now have 10 boats registered, so the competition is getting serious. I may have to start sailing sober!

JD

 February 1, 2009

Week 6 – races 22-27

 

Gusty and challenging. Pramther had 5 bulllets (steroid test results still pending). Jack and Jim went for a swim. Super Bowl-themed lunch featured Tex-mex (for Arizona), brats & pierogies (for Pittsburg). Brats & pierogies kicked butt going away.

JD

February 15, 2009

Week 7 – races 28-33

 

A beautiful, sunny day of exciting racing. Gusty wind out of the north at 12-15 mph, temps around 40, low water with strong up-river current. Lots of sudden shifts, giving everyone a chance to either make up ground or lose it, as luck would have it. The always creative committee tried a new course (T3P,WL4S), a sailboat version of demo derby. Inexplicably, it was adandoned just as it was getting fun. For the series, Mike Mez is comfortably out in first place, with second-place John Harkrader (J. Davis, owner-in-absentia) in hot pursuit. Mardi Gras was the theme for lunch and it was spicy and delicious!

JD

February 29, 2009

Race date moved to April 5 due to scheduling conflict - good thing too, since it was snowing and blowing pretty bad!

 

March 15, 2009

Week 8 - No races due to no wind

 

March 29, 2009

Week 9 - No races due to no wind

 

 April 5, 2009

Week 10 - races 34-40 (Series conclusion)

 Finally a great day to sail, and a chance to close out the series in style. Winds out of the NW, 5-10 mph with gusts to 15, shifty. Nine boats turned out and seven races were sailed. Two races had double-gates (windward and leeward), which made for good fun. Racing was very competitive, with everyone having a mixed score. Jack Woods and Jim Park took on quite a bit of water in the 3rd race and retired for the day. By popular acclamation, Tex-mex made a return engagement as the theme for lunch.

So that’s it for the 2008-2009 Winter Series. We missed an unusually large number of days due to unfavorable conditions, but the sailing and good times we did manage to get in were a blast. We had some new boats with old crews and an old boat with a new crew. Thanks to all the sailors, committee, patrol and of course the people who make the good times happen in the clubhouse afterwards. We hope to see you all at the Fall Awards Dinner, and of course, on the water for the 2009-2010 series.

JD