Wednesday Night Sailboat Racing for 2014

[Big John]

Hey all you racers out there.  Tonight begins the 2014 Season.  Nooooo, not racing tonight.  It is the beginning of the Wednesday night Seminars, where we trot out experts to tell you how to win races on Wednesdays on Clear Lake.  Tonight Alex Crowell will  shed a bit of light on two of the white knuckle moments of a typical sailboat race.  That is, the Start and Mark Roundings.  So come on out to the Villa Capri at 6:30 and find out...

[Flying D]

When does the racing start???

[Deckhand]

March 26th.....But there are two more seminars plus a party before March 26th. Check out http://clearlakeracing.org/
for all the info needed. It was a great talk by Alex from Bahama Rigging on starts and rounding. Should have brought paper and pen.

[Trink]

I'll be presenting the seminar this Wednesday. The topic will be "How to lose a sailboat race", a tongue-in-cheek presentation of what not to do if you want to win a sailboat race. Although I will draw on some personal experiences, the audience will be invited to share their stories as well.

6:30 at Villa Capri, Wednesday March 5

[Big John]

Looks like we'll be upstairs again
John

[Big John]

Did you know that the annual fee for junior sailors, ie Skipper and crew 18 or under on October 1, 2014 is only $100 for the year?  Did you know that the NOR and SI's for 2014 are posted? Do you understand high point scoring?  Did you know that next Wednesday is the third FREE seminar about Sailboat racing AND the last night to claim the reduced rates for signing up to sail all year ($185), that's six series or 24 races?  All the answers on the clra web site www.clearlakeracing.org. 
Big John

[Big John]

Special thanks to Novice Glenn Gratz who noticed that the Clear Lake Entrance buoy is missing.  We have changed our SI to state that a missing fixed mark is replaced by a small tetrahedron nearby.  Don't forget the last Seminar and close of the bargain basement annual registration fees this coming Wed Nite, 3/12/14.  Get your registration done.  There is no time limit on the reduced all-junior registration fee, so you still have a while to kick your teenager into gear and get them out racing this year.
John

[Big John]

Wear your foulies and lifevests tonight, and that's just to go have a drink at Villa Capri

[Big John]

All kidding aside, the Y flag has been promised.  Read RRS 4 and get on out there.

[Deckhand]

Congratulations to all that made it out today. Was not my kinda day! Nice and warm inside Villa Capri....but got a few pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacyphotos/sets/72157642984817653/.

[ChrisK]

Great pics!

[Trink]

Yes, great pictures indeed. Thank you very much!

[Deckhand]

Couldn't help myself with the after-finish line photos. Have to make it exciting ! Hopefully the Day Sailor will be out next week.

[Big John]

From the CLRA facebook page
Please double check the course layout: http://www.clearlakeracing.com/images/2014/courses.pdf
Everyone must round the Villa Capri "West Marine" mark and the small yellow tetrahedron on each lap and for the finish.
Boats that are heading to the Red Nun #14 (or replacement tetrahedron), must sail through the gate on the way to #14, but not returning.
http://www.clearlakeracing.com/images/2014/courses.pdf

www.clearlakeracing.com

[Big John]

Check the web site for clarification of some issues in a new set of Sailing Instructions.  The clarifications were
about the penalty for passing between the turning/finish marks, and the penalty for causing damage.

Junior Sailors note.  You must check in with the race committee each week that you race. Failure to do so cancels your junior registration and makes you immediately  overdue for payment of the regular fees.