HYC Elissa Regatta 6-7 April

[BJSailor]

It's time again for the Elissa Regatta!  HYC has scheduled a super dynamite event with dinners, parties, bands, and much fun!  Mark your calendars for 6-7 April.

Here's a link to the page where you can find registration
http://www.houstonyachtclub.com/Racing/RaceSchedule.aspx

There are a couple of new things this year:
-  A pursuit line will be set up near HYC for those not looking for the hyper-competitive excitement of your typical windward / leeward races
-  A racing line will be set up down in the Seabrook area of the Bay for the larger PHRF and one-design racers.  Close for those in Clear Lake with longer races tailored to that crowd.

HYC wants to encourage everyone to come on up for the Competitors Briefing on Friday evening, dinner and party and more on Saturday, and the awards excitement on Sunday.  Special arrangements have been made for any boat that wants to spend the weekend in the HYC harbor, so reserve your space early!

This will be a circuit stop for both the J/24s and the J/70s. They're expecting J/22s, J/80s, J/105s, and J/109s too.  There are also plans for Vipers, PHRF spin (windward / leeward and pursuit) PHRF non-spin (pursuit), A-Cats (if they guys are healthy), Lightnings, Ensigns, and whoever else can make a 3 boat class.

More details to follow.  So, stay tuned!!!!

[BJSailor]

Quick update on the Elissa Regatta this weekend (6-7 Apr) at HYC. 
First gun both days is 10:30.  In addition to the Pursuit line, the One-Design line will be set up off of HYC.  The PHRF line will be south of Red Bluff and northeast of Seabrook #2.  To make it convenient for everyone to plan on where to launch and keep boats, here's the tentative plan on which fleets will race up by HYC (One-Design line) and which will be near Seabrook #2 (PHRF Line):

-  One Design Line
   Viper
   Ensign
   Lightning
   J/22
   J/24
   J/70

-  PHRF Line
   J/80
   J/105
   J/109
   PHRF Spinnaker

-  Pursuit Line
   Pursuit spinnaker
   Pursuit non-spinnaker
   PHRF non-spinnaker

If there are additional classes they will be assigned to the line that's most appropriate.  The One-Design line will be set up to cater to circuit racers and fleets that will have races lasting 45-60 min. and the PHRF line will be set up for the larger boats and have courses set up for races of 60-75 min. Obviously, the PHRF line will have longer legs set up for boats of lower handicaps and the One-Design line will be more for smaller circuit racers looking for the max number of races.

Cranes and trailer storage should be plentiful at HYC, there are two large cranes for keelboats as well as a third crane for centerboarders.

As of this evening there are 59 boats registered with more to come!!!  Many of the J/Classes are holding circuit events at the Elissa, so the turnout of these classes should be pretty big and competitive.  The Pursuit Line has also got a very large number wanting to do the tour of the upper Bay.  Setting up to be a great weekend with super racing, entertainment, dinner, auctions, and lots of fun!!

[BJSailor]

Seventy boats, so far!!!

[Deckhand]

What a day on the water! John and I were signal boat on Tramp for HYC's Elissa Regatta ( Seabrook Line). Brian Hawbolt was the PRO with Denise Christensen and Kathy Tulloch helping on flags, timing and what ever was needed. They did a great job! Dwight Bengtson and Ann Apel were the markset boat and did a great job of keeping all the marks in place. John took pictures today and here is the link. ( Still loading up, so keep checking back) http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacyphotos/sets/72157633183514928/ Looks like tomorrow will be another great day.
Scott

[BJSailor]

John and Scot, Tramp is the best RC boat on Galveston Bay.  Not just the platform, but the folks aboard.  Thanks for the help as Signal Boat for the PHRF line on the Elissa.  It's always a pleasure and fun to be aboard.  All I had to do this weekend was honk horns.  That's because Tramp and crew were so well prepared and experienced.

THANK YOU:-)

Brian