GBCA Discussion Forum

BUMP!

Register early and often!!!  Sign up before the 11th and you get a $10 discount off the $60 entry.  Slap on a $5 USSailing member discount and you get two days of racing, parties and stuff for a mere $45!!!

PHRF Spinnaker and One-Design sailors can expect windward / leeward courses around some brand new racing marks that were delivered yesterday.  Non-Spin and GBCA Club Handicap sailors will probably have some races around the Icicle marks (program your GPSs folks) as well as windward / leewards.

C'mon folks, sign up!!!

Thanks for the input Kevin. 

I don't think you have any cause for worry.  GBCA seems to have a good handle on what the racers want, regardless of what class.  Hopefully the wind gods will cooperate.

Registration permits boats to sign up by class.  PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, GBCA Club Handicap, and an assortment of one-design classes. 
In the end, the Race Committee will assign classes (ex., PHRF A and B, or lumping a short one-design class into PHRF Spinnaker) and publish these at/before the Competitors Briefing. 
The Sailing Instructions will contain information relating to the  Class Flags, Starting Order for the First Race of the day, Marks and the Courses.  The RC will signal which course a particular Start will sail for a particular race.
Registration does not permit a boat to sign-up for a particular class AND course selection.  Please refer to registration on Regatta Network for more information.

In the end, the Race Committee will set course marks, distances, and durations that are appropriate for the group of boats in a particular starting sequence.  Beleive me, the RC is sensitive to the opinions expressed by the one-design, PHRF, Cruising, and Non-Spin boats and will set appropriate and competitive courses for everyone.  Keep in mind - "... this ain't our first Rodeo...". 

But please keep the comments and input coming!!!  We want to hear it all and get everyone's opinion.  Without you, the quality and number of events at GBCA wouldn't be what the are today.  Just to beat our own drum for a minute: GBCA runs more races on Galveston Bay than any other organization.  We continue to grow for a reason - we listen to the racers and try harder than anyone to bring new folks into sailing and racing.

Quote from: Christopher on February 02, 2010, 09:06:30 AM

Quote from: BJSailor on February 01, 2010, 08:50:28 PM

The poll referenced indicates that less than 10% of the respondents are in favor of windward/leeward short course racing.  The preference for free leg ...

The problem with the referenced poll is that it asks "For PHRF non-spin/cruising class: What racing course do you prefer?" - almost lumping non-spin and cruisers together as though they are one class.  If only cruisers respond, then non-spins don't get a W/L course.  George being the 10% dessinting vote.  If only non-spins respond, then cruisers may not get their distance/triangle/freeleg courses.

Besides, doesen't the race registration system allow for folks to sign-up for class and type of course they want, if made available?  Then those that form with enough registered boats to get a start should determine the course or courses raced/administered.  Those that don't get enough registrations are shuffled in with others, forming a new class, or given the option to withdraw.  There's your true poll on a given race day.  Just make sure all options are available to register.

Your voices are being heard...

The RC for GBCA is interested in running events that are accepted by the largest number of competitors as well as providing a fun and competitive event for all.  Windward / Leeward courses as well as free leg courses around fixed marks are all options.

The poll referenced indicates that less than 10% of the respondents are in favor of windward/leeward short course racing.  The preference for free leg races is also indicated in many other events that have gained in popularity in the area over the past few years.  LYC's Bay Cup series has been increasingly successful as have the cruising courses set by HYC.

That said, it is probably fair to state that there will be some form and number of free leg courses around fixed marks provided in future races - especially for the non-spinnaker classes.  This doesn't discount that there also may/will be windward/leeward courses in the mix also.  Who knows, the Spinnaker and One-Design classes may find themselves sailing fixed marks too!

GBCA (as well as all the other organizations running races in Galveston Bay) strives to provide the best racing for our competitors that meet their expectations and challenge everyone to enjoy the events, increase participation, and improve the skills of all racers.  Courses will be set for the various classes to attempt to fulfill all these objectives.

Attached are provisional results for the entire Icicle Series.  Congratulations to everyone who braved the conditions!!!

Here are the results from the race yesterday:

Spinnaker
1.  Stinger
2.  Vela
3.  Surprise
4.  Kenai

Non-Spinnaker
1.  Dolcetta
2.  Sebani
3.  Big D
4.  Chinook

SOS
1.  Meehem II
2.  Tenacity
3.  Silver Bullet
4.  Far From Working
5.  Selah

GBCA Club Handicap
1.  Figaro
2.  Makani Kai
3.  Shaken Not Stirred
4.  Curmudgeon II
5.  Katana

Here are cumulative results - as of 23 Jan 10

Quote from: Christopher on January 25, 2010, 08:34:15 AM
Is the "Regatta Results" page going to be updated?  Looks like 2009 data still.
http://www.gbca.org/results.html

Anticipate having 2010 Results (current as of this past weekend) posted soon. 

Notice of Race is posted for the Frostbite Regatta.  

http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubs/gbca.html

$10 discount for early registration (by 11 Feb), $5 discount for USSailing members - register early for only $45!!

The Race Committee is planning on using the Icicle Race fixed marks for the Non-Spin and GBCA Handicap classes and inflatable windward/leewards for the one-designs and PHRF-Spin, but both groups should be prepared for either option if necessary.

Boatshoes Unlimited
Rose's (the original - you couldn't beat the "atmosphere")

Wish we were having this conversation about Fertitaville instead of our favorite local busineses

Just 2 weeks to the first Icicle Series Race.  2 Jan 2001!!!  Come and celebrate the new year with a sail around the Bay.

Check out the Notice of Race for courses and start times

http://www.gbca.org/isinst.html

This is the first race for the GBCA Club Handicap Class so check out the NOR and be sure to contact Kevin Box for those of you sailing in this Class.

As always, the post race party will be at the GBCA Clubhouse.  See you there!!!

Ron,
We should have the NOR posted in the next day or so.  In a general sense, the starts should be between 1130 and 1230 depending on your rating.  See the NOR for the specific start times.

Bee, there's probably no way that we'll change your mind.  But, the dredging / debris crew that was in the HYC harbor after Ike paid particular attention to searching for "debris" with their scoop bucket in precisely those places where boats frequently hit bottom (including your old slip).  We were VERY concerned that debris may have stacked up in those locations.  Don't get me wrong, there was no dredging done.  But there was an awful lot of "bottom" moved in removing debris after the storm.  I don't think depth n the HYC harbor will be a problem.

WOOO HOOOO - Lightnings!  This should be good   The starting area should be fun - Finns and Lightnings along with Level 70s and Big-As* cruising boats.  Anyone want to form a Sunfish class?

Bee, I don't think anyone in this world sailed anything this advanced until this week!  It's an amazing piece of technology. 

I've got a bit of a background in aerodynamics and that served me well in an effort back in the late 80's with another hard sail - even got a number of rides...  Lately, the only real effort in hard sails has been in the A-Cat class.  I was fortunate enough to get an in-depth interview with Ben Hall who sailed a hard sail at the A-Cat Worlds in FL a couple of years ago.  He and I spend a couple of hours both on the boat and at the bar drawing diagrams and talking technical stuff.  His hard sail rig was simple in concept, but complex in construction and new to everyone in trimming.  I beleive Ben finished in the top 25% in that Worlds sailing a hard sail.

Multihulls especially frequently sail at multiples of the true windspeed.  Sailing at a 3.2 multiple is amazing but not unheard of if the boat is on its fastest point of sail.  If I remember correctly, Hydropere (sp?) broke the absolute speed record topping 50kn in a tri with cloth sails in about 20kn true wind.

Whatever...  We'll all see how this hard sail works soon.  I'm curious whether Oracle will actually sail with it in the AC.  Tearing a jib is easy to repair / replace, but breaking the wing will be a disaster.  I hope they have Plan B handy.

I had a tad bit of experience with these in '87-'88.  Easy to set up and sail - difficult to get to go fast.  The hard thing is changing gears.

The basic principal is relatively straightforward.  The hard sail is a cleaner airfoil and the basic lift/drag and angle of attack are relatively predictable.  I don't want to say that any aerodynamic engineer could figure it out, but the theory and practice have been in use for over 100 years.

The challenge is creating an airfoil that is effective and efficient at low windspeeds and is dynamaically adjustable to trim for different windspeeds and directions with height above waterline (we call it twist).  If you'll remember, Stars & Stripes ended up sailing with soft sails for the Cup.