GBCA Discussion Forum

Spring is approaching!  That means Lakewood's Bay Cup I is coming up - March 4th!
The NOR is at:
http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/13893/BayCupI2017NORFINAL.pdf

On line Registration:
http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/13893/BayCupI2017NORFINAL.pdf

Come on out, let's go sailing!
-Bob H.

I need crew for my 34' S2 10.3. Any experience level OK.
Contact me at rdhunkins@verizon.net

The revised sailing instructions are posted.
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_notice_board.php?regatta_id=13109

https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/13109/2016MixedDoublesSIs.pdf

The only significant change is the starting sheets. We had some additional competitors enter and the Cruising club fleet handicaps have been updated to reflect changes  as of Rum Race #7.

I received this notice this morning and was asked to pass it on to GBCA. If you are going to Bay Cup II, check it out!
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This year Banks Sails has generously donated a gift certificate to
HMR with a $5000 value towards a sail.  Additionally, North Canvas has donated a gift certificate to HMR with a $2500 value.  The plan is to raffle these items by selling 100 x $100 tickets.

When a person purchases the ticket they decide if they want it to go for the sail or the canvas.

These tickets and other HMR merchandise will first be offered for sale this Friday at the LYC Member Mixer. 

At the Bay Cup II Skipper's Meeting on Friday they can go upstairs to the Commodore's Room and purchase merchandise including clothing and raffle tickets?   The items will also be for sale at the HMR 101 Session on Saturday.

Just a friendly reminder that we did away with the restriction on luffing for the Icicle and Rum Races, and the Sailing instructions no longer have the words describing that restriction.
The Board discussed this at length last year and found that we had a difficult time understanding all the cases where the luffing restriction would or would not apply and so we decided we should just adhere to the RRS as written.

If you are not that familiar with the Racing Rules of Sailing, please educate yourself! There are many good publications and websites out there that can help. We also have many people  in the area who are very knowledgeable and love talking about the subject.

That being said, please exercise discretion with your luffing during these races especially with boats that are not in your fleet. Rapid course changes near others can alarm people and create hard feelings. We tend to get competitive out there, even though this is supposed to be a "fun" race. We're here to have fun and make friends, not enemies.

Thanks,
Bob H.

Registration is open for the ever popular Conundrum regatta!
We have instituted a perpetual trophy - The J. Kevin Box Perpetual Conundrum Trophy, to be awarded to the first boat to complete the course.
Otherwise, everything is the same as last year, with the exception that we will have no missing marks! Please review the Notice of Race.

Notice of Race:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/12307/2016ConundrumNOR.pdf

Registration:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=12307

Registration for the performance cup is now open!
Go to http://www.GBCA.org and look under "Performance Cup Regatta" for the Notice of Race, the Registration link, and to see who's racing.

Hope you'll all come out for a great regatta on March 19th and 20th!

We're having some trouble with the events calendar page on the web site. Until we sort it out, you can download a copy of the calendar in PDF format here:
http://gbca.memberlodge.org/resources/Documents/2016%20Galveston%20Bay%20Inter-Club%20Sailing%20Calendar.pdf

GBCA received this recently and if you have an interest in other handicapping systems, you may find it worthwhile to attend.
-Bob H.


To: All Sailors and PHRF Certificate Holders


The Galveston Bay PHRF Committee invites you to a discussion of rating rule options and a presentation of the Offshore Racing Congress'  "ORC Club Rule"

We are pleased to have Mr. Dobbs Davis of Annapolis Md. make the presentation and lead any discussion of various rules.

Dobbs, who is the head of ORC's promotion and development, is a well known professional sailor, having participated in virtually all  of the worlds major races. He is an International Measurer for multiple rules;  a prominent journalist, and a popular  panel moderator.

The purpose of this gathering is not to replace PHRF, as there will always be a PHRF fleet on Galveston Bay, but to offer information providing options for a scientific and more precise method of handicapping and scoring races for those who so desire.

U.S. Sailing has recently reached an agreement with ORC to administer their rules in the US, and issue their Certificates upon receiving the minimal confirming measurements done locally.

Please plan to join us on:

Wednesday  January 27                         Lakewood Yacht Club
Refreshments beginning at 6 PM           Presentation at 6:30 PM
       

Here we are, in SE Texas, and the Sailboat racing continues!
The 2016 Icicle Races, sponsored by Cruzan Rum are starting in January!
Please thank Cruzan for again sponsoring the races!

This will serve as a virtual Skippers' meeting.

The Sailing Instructions are posted here:
http://gbca.memberlodge.org/resources/Documents/2016%20Icicle%20Series%20Sailing%20Instructions.pdf

Changes from last year are noted as Red text in the SI's. The most significant changes or things to be reminded of are below:

1. The instructions about luffing other boats ARE GONE. The normal 2016 RRS apply here.
Play nicely with each other, don't force anyone into a steel and concrete range mark and don't hit anyone, (or anyone's boat.)

2. We're subdividing the spinnaker sprit class: Spinnaker Factory Sprit and Spinnaker Aftermarket Sprit. It's spelled out in the SI's. The three Spin fleets will have three separate flags. This is an experiment. If you own a aftermarket Sprit boat, please get your fellow sailors to come out so we know there's interest. If there isn't enough interest, we may be obliged to go back to the 2015 divisions for the Rum races this summer.

3. If any mark has gone missing, yachts will round the coordinates given in the SI's. (Take a picture of the mark wreckage and the ship that did it, too!)

4. We've clarified the fleets that use PHRF ratings and those that use the club handicap. Note that GBCA does not administer PHRF ratings. If you want to sail in the PHRF fleet, you need to get a rating from the good folks at PHRF-GB. Please go to www.PHRFGB.com

5. The purpose of the GBCA Club Handicap is to give cruisers and less experienced racers a fleet to sail in. The GBCA club handicap is not a PHRF rating, although it is applied in the same fashion. Don't confuse the two. If your Club rating drops below your PHRF rating, then congratulations; it's probably a good indication you should change to a PHRF fleet. If you are one of our well known racers and want to sail in the Club handicap, The GBCA board may assign you a lower handicap than the PHRF rating for your boat.

It is VERY important for club handicap racers that you to provide the time for your finish to us so we can adjust the ratings.  We will try to make the ratings change a little more than they did in 2015. Your Fleet Captain was a little too conservative and will try to do a better job this year.

6. All boats must fly a flag during the entire race. Please fly it prominently!

7. If you are the first boat, or think you are, please provide the next four boats to finish behind you so that we can score the races. There is a form attached to the SI's that should work for this purpose. Please write legibly. If you can't make the after race party, you can e-mail the results, or send them via text message to the Fleet Captain: 281-216-4082 rdhunkins(at)Verizon(dot)net. Please do this as soon as possible so we can award the prizes.

8. The Last Icicle Race is the Judge Smails Memorial Regatta - Get out your blue coats, White duck trousers, ascots and Captain's Hats!. Gophers and golfing equipment are optional. A prize will be awarded to the boat with the best crew decked out in this garb.

We're looking forward to seeing you all out there!

-Bob Hunkins, 2016 Fleet Captain

One of the tetrahedrons used from the Fall regatta is still on the bay, located near the spillway park in San Leon. Tramp could not get to it since it's in about 4' of water.

We're looking for someone with a shallow draft power boat who can help us recover it.

The notice of Race is posted and registration is now open.
NOR:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/11129/2015OffshoreNOR.pdf

Registration:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=11129

This event is designed to introduce the novice skipper or crew to the fundamentals of proper sail trim. Topics for discussion include: How sails work, boat, sail and wind terminology, sailing in different wind conditions and points of sail. Attendees spend about 3 hours in a class at the GBCA clubhouse and then may go out to race in the Rum Race that afternoon.

After racing, we will return to the GBCA office for the Rum Race after-party with refreshments, stories and awards.

If you have a boat but have never raced, we have just the fleet for you. The Club Handicap Fleet is designed for the sailor who doesn't have racing sails, doesn't have his diver's number in speed dial, doesn't want to unload the blender, bimini and barbecue pit before every race, but who has his crew tighten up the jib sheet if gets within hailing distance of another boat. Come to the Seminar and race in the Rum Race that afternoon.

The Seminar starts at 09:30 and will be over by 2pm, to allow time to get to boats. Lunch and soft drinks/water will served. All of this for only $10.00!

Registration is available at:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=10804

Attention utes! er...Youths! Now's your chance to order your parents and some other old people around on a boat! The notice of race and registration for the GBCA junior regatta is now open!

NOR:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/?/r?/10768/2015JuniorsNOR.pdf


Register here:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/?/applet_registration_form.p?

See you on July 25th!

It's that time of the year again! The 2015 Rum Races, sponsored by Cruzan Rum are coming!
Thanks to Cruzan for the sponsorship of our most popular racing series!

This will serve as a virtual Skippers' meeting.

The Sailing Instructions are posted here:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/2575/2015RumRaceSI.pdf

Changes from last year (noted as blue text in the SI's):

1. The rules about luffing other boats STILL APPLIES, but it note that it does not apply at rounding marks. The normal RRS of sailing apply here. (Refer to the three boat length zone)
Bottom line- Play nicely with each other, don't force anyone into a steel and concrete range mark and don't hit anyone, (or anyone's boat.)

2. Mark J is still gone, (much in the way that Francisco Franco is still dead). We noted that mark M54 has a large pipe protruding above the water (sometimes) in the area and mark M53 that we used for The Conundrum is missing. So, we are using Mark M55. We verified its location during the womens' regatta a few weeks ago. If it has gone missing since then or goes missing, yachts will round the coordinates given in the SI's.

3. The Starting time is moved up one hour, to 3:30:00 pm for boats with a 285 rating. All others move up by the time calculated from a 14.4 mile course. The course distance has lengthened and we think that moving the starting time earlier will allow people to get to the festivities in a more timely fashion. Last finish time of 21:00 is the same as last year.

4. The bearings and distances to the M55 mark from E and Channel mark 2 are, of course, different.

Other things to be reminded of:
- All boats must fly a flag to be scored. (white, dark, white over dark or orange)

-All Cruising Club class boats must hand in their finish times recorded to the second after the race, either on paper or electronically to me rdhunkins(at)verizon(dot)net.
-Cruising Club handicap fleet boats will have their ratings adjusted based on their finishing times for each race. I hope no one will try to sandbag: You are expected to sail as well as possible.

- The first boat to finish in each of the five classes must record their finish and the next four finishers, and turn those into me or one of the other club officers at the clubhouse afterwards.
- If the first place boat does not turn in the finishes, They will be disqualified and ineligible for a prize and points. The second place boat must then turn in the times, and so on. If you are not first, it's a good idea to note the your finish time, and the finisher ahead and behind you so you can still get prizes in case the first place finisher fails to do his duty.

That's it. I'm looking forward to seeing you all out there! Here's to summer time!

-Bob Hunkins, 2015 Fleet Captain

Can anyone recommend a good fuel polishing/fuel tank cleaning service in the area?

Offshore racers and cruisers
GBCA is partnering with TMCA to run an offshore race from the Galveston Jetties to Sabine Pass on May 22nd.
The NOR is available here

The cost to enter the regatta is free, but we ask that you register for the TMCA spring fling at Pleasure Island Marina in Port Arthur, Texas.

The passage across Lake Sabine should be deep enough boats with draft of 6' and less. For those with a draft greater than 6', there is the Sabine Pass Port Authority Marina on the Sabine ship channel. TMCA is arranging for transport to and from Pleasure Island, and you can arrange for docking there through TMCA.
More information on the Spring Fling is at the TMCA Spring Fling website.

A basic information flyer and point of contact for questions and docking at Sabine Pass Port Authority marina can be found here
Waypoints for crossing Sabine Lake are here

Hope you'll come out to the Spring Fling!

The Conundrum, to be held Saturday April 18th, 2015, will be one day of long distance bay racing - with a TWIST!  You get to choose how you will go about the course!  AND - at the request of the GBCA Cruising Club, we've added a class for you!  This is a single hand or double hand competition.  Three boats required to form a class.

NOR: click here

Registration: click here

See who is racing: click here
 

Racing to be followed by the usual festivities at the GBCA lounge and deck, replete with the customary rum, mixers and nourishment.

The Race Committee assignments are coming together, but I'm short one person for one day.
I need someone to drive the weather mark set boat, a Ranger on Sunday 3/22.  You should be off the water by 2 or 3 at the latest. You'll have one other person on board to help pull and set marks; you need to be able to position the weather mark and offset at a given bearing and distance to the signal boat using GPS and compass.
Please contact me if you can help!

Thanks,
Bob Hunkins
Fleet Captain, 2015

I'm in need of 4 people who can sail on Leopard, an S2 10.3. for the Bay Cup I (March 7th) and hopefully for future races, too.

No experience required, just a willingness to learn, and the ability to pull on the lines.

Contact me at rdhunkins(at)verizon(dot)net.

Thanks,
Bob Hunkins