GBCA Discussion Forum

The GBCA Board of Governors met to discuss the impact of COVID-19 to our sailing community and agreed to postpone the Performance Cup Regatta scheduled for 4/5-April. While news continues to change daily, it is prudent to comply with the current recommendations and guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Galveston County Health District (GCHD).

The J. Kevin Box Conundrum Cup on the calendar for 18-April will be addressed by the board as a separate event in the coming weeks.

The NOR will post next week.

Running of the event is still to be determined.

Yes, GBCA is working with Clear Lake Racing Association to host and promote the winter seminar series.  If you missed the first two seminars given by Dave Christensen, you are already behind the game.

The next seminar will be 7pm March 11 at Villa Capri given by Pedro of UK Sails about how to use your sails. 

So, you bought new sails to stay competitive. Has your sailmaker gone out with you to help you get up to pace? Have they shown you the differences between the last generation and this generation of sails (yes, they do change)? Are you wanting that slight edge to gain an advantage on that windward leg?

Now is your chance to ask one of our local sailmakers how to trim sails and any weird questions one may have...

Just think, if you can gain 2° of point you could gain a little over a boat length every 1000'!!!

Registration is filling quickly with early registration approaching THIS Friday!!!!

NOR: https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/20174/NOR.pdf

Registration: https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=20174

By popular demand we have shifted the format back several years...  2-days of racing... 2 race lines (Windward/Leeward and Handicap), party... GBCA style...

Gary, you're incorrect. Boats are converting to an a-kite because sailing with an a-kite is much easier to manage with limited crew. When I was on PHRF, we came up with the A-Kite matrix to help encourage people to race with a spinnaker when they have limited crew. What I have seen, many of the boats converting to an a-kite fall into the Racer/Cruiser Spinnaker Class. I'm sure there are a couple that are in the Racing Spinnaker Class, not not many. The thought that a Morgan 42 with an a-kite should compete comparatively with a sprited J Boat is ridiculous. If you have to jybe once, the benefit of an a-kite sailing closer to the wind loses it's benefit. Does an A-kite perform better at particular wind angles, yes, just as a symmetrical should perform better in some angles. As you are aware, a symmetrical spinnaker can sail 10 to 15 degree lower. You are right that if the rum races were W/L course, the question would not be asked because there would not be any more Rum Races... many people would not attend them. In the end, it is supposed to be a fun series with a fixed course.. therefore each race will be different. Tell me the wind and course, I'll tell you who should win. That's handicap racing.

Quote from: Tye Dyed Gary on February 10, 2020, 07:43:38 PM
  I also agree that low point scoring would be more fair. BUT, you need to look at how the spinnaker classes were divided for last summer's Rum Races and this years Icicles. One class has 25 to 40 boats and the other with maybe 5 or 6 boats.
  To avoid this disparity in classes, maybe we should return to a Asymmetrical and Symmetrical Spinnaker classes vs over or under sail displacement area. This would even out the classes a little better, and not add another class. This would also have boats with the same aspects of sail competing against each other, vs what we have now, that favors asymmetrical spinnakers.
     

the High point works best when all places are counted... High point is best with long series races with large variances in participation and it rewards placing better in a larger class.

When you state that the Racing Spinnaker class favors the asymmetricals, are you discounting the class was won by a J/24 this year... with the new class separation?

We are looking at making an adjustment to the scoring... we realize the challenges and working to build something substantial. stay tuned...

There are only 6 SPOTS LEFT for Saturday's Commodore's Ball... And you do not want to miss this one..

Registration: https://gbca.org/event-3628041

Venue: HYC (Best view of Galveston Bay)
Band: The Line Up (Need I say more?)

NOR is published and registration is open for Performance Cup Regatta.

https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=20174

This will be a 2-day event with Windward/Leeward, Triangle-Windward/Leeward, and distance courses. At least two lines are expected. We are expecting ORC, PHRF, Club Handicap, one-design, level classes, and multihulls.

With the lack of participation and interest, the doubles has been merged with the Conundrum.  I really want to find a date for Singlehanded, but unsure.

Amendment to bump finish time cut off to 4pm is posted

We are working through weeding out duplicate entries.

If you happen to notice a duplicate, please email me and we will address it. In order to help consistency; when entering your boat info, please make sure the same email address is used and boat name is consistent. We believe with the split of the Cruising Club, the system "got confused" and duplicated some entries. We believe we have worked these bugs out. We still encourage everyone to use RaceQs as this has helped clarify some finishing confusion in the past.

Please find the race finish detail here: http://racing.gbca.org/

Gary,

Thank you for reminding us who are working full time how much free time you have.

You can find the schedule of races on the GBCA calendar, found under the Events tab. Luckily, they are scheduled as they have been in the past; each Saturday in January and the fifth race negotiated around the Commodore's Ball.

With your excessive amount of spare time, I appreciate you hosting the first social....

Quote from: Rmiller1 on December 05, 2019, 10:18:46 AM
Also- I know it's a lot to ask on short notice, but the NOR says "1 long or 2 shorter" races. Would it be possible to do 2 races for the PHRF Spin fleet- one distance, and one windward/leeward? The fleet looks like it's going to have some huge variety in terms of boat designs and it would be pretty cool to do a mixed series.

If that doesn't work for this regatta (and it probably won't), it might be fun to try next season.

I appreciate your ideas and enthusiasm. Having a W/L course does not fall with the style and culture of this event.  As discussed in the annual meeting, I plan to ramp up Performance Cup and implement a few different ideas that have been bouncing around for a few years. One idea is to have a short Fall series that leads into Chili Chase...

I would be interested in sitting down with you for a lunch to discuss your ideas for next year and how we can get more J-24s out.

It has been corrected and late fees have been waived for this event.

Still time for registration....

Quote from: MCasonJr on November 05, 2019, 06:00:47 PM
Been out of the racing scene for about 5 years, but new personal circumstances and new job is affording me more free time and I would like to get back on the water. 

I've raced many different classes from 420's to super 70 class.  I started racing in 1997 at Texas A&M Galveston and have done every position from fore deck to Owner/Helmsman.   Willing to assist on my days off with anything including help maintaining and boat tuning on non-race days.

Current weight is around 220# if class rules dictate max crew weight.

Hold current EMT-A certification and CPR card in case of a medical emergency on board.

If you want to race on a big boat, look at the forum for Brian looking for crew.