Website Update
A bit long overdue… the website has been updated to a little neater cleaner design. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done a little better than the old design and will render a bit better on mobile devices.
International Laser Class Association – North American Region Secretary
With two of the board members from the International Laser Class Association – North American Region moving up to positions at the international level I’ve been named as the interim Secretary of ILCA-NA. I’m excited about the new role and to work with the board and the perspective I can bring with my web savvy and experience as a local sailor and organizer.
I’ve had a lot of fun being the District 11 Secretary for the past 6 years. I’ve gotten to know so many great sailors around the District and I’ve gotten to help promote Laser sailing in the area. Whether or not I stay on this fall as the ILCA-NA Secretary or move to club leadership positions I think it is a good time to find a new leader for District 11. We’ll take care of that at our annual meeting at the District Championship in September. In the years to come I still plan on sailing many of the same events I’ve been sailing for years as well as running the Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship at FBYC. I’m looking forward to a fun and busy summer!
2012 Orange Coffee Pot Regatta: Video
Here’s a quick highlight video from the Orange Coffee Pot Regatta.
2012 Orange Coffee Pot Regatta: Saturday
Surf City Yacht Club’s 41st Orange Coffee Pot Regatta turned out to be a great day of sailing. We had wind that built from about 10 to the mid- to high teens by the last race. We had a very competitive fleet of 31 boats ranging from pretty elite sailors to those sailing their first Laser regatta. And we got off 7 races. Clay Johnson ultimately won the event taking bullets in all but one race. Granted, he didn’t exactly run away with it, Kyle Rogachenko and Peter Shope definitely gave him a run for it.
My own racing was a little ho-hum and I found myself getting bad starts and on the wrong side of the course more times than I care to remember. I had the speed to stay with the lead pack and in one race I had a stellar start and sailed my way to an 8th. All in all it was fun to make the trip and to sail in the oldest Laser regatta. Thanks to Newt Wattis and Surf City Yacht Club for hosting the event and everything they did to put it together.
2012 Orange Coffee Pot Regatta: Friday
This afternoon I made the trip to Surf City New Jersey to sail the 41st Orange Coffee Pot Regatta. This is the oldest Laser regatta and has been on my list to do for some time. This year the event is also the US Sailing Singlehanded Championship Area C Elimination. Looks like we’ve got a great forecast for wind tomorrow and up to 7 races planned. The competition ranges from reigning North American Champion to first-time Laser regatta with a ~35 boat fleet expected. Should be fun racing tomorrow and thanks to Newt Wattis and his wife for putting me up for the night.
2012 Down The Bay Race: Start
Here is the crew aboard nanuq as we started the Down The Bay Race this morning. PHRF had a bit of a crowded start with some boats wanting to be in other boats space. The wind started out pretty light but we did get a couple hours of good wind as we passed Thomas Point light house. Later this afternoon the wind has died to under 4 and we are currently off Sharky’s Point lighthouse using all of the current we can find to get south.
2012 Down The Bay Race
On Friday the Annual Down The Bay Race starts in Annapolis, Maryland and races to Hampton, Virginia. I’ll be aboard Glenn Doncaster’s Sabre 42.6 Nanuq from Fishing Bay Yacht Club.
Here’s the breakdown of the 39 boats that will be taking part. I’ll be posting updates and pictures as time permits on Twitter: @jondeutsch.
2012 Annapolis NOOD: Video
Video of racing aboard J109 Double Eagle during the 2012 Annapolis NOOD Regatta:
2012 Laser Atlantic Coast Championship: Sunday
Sunday was another light day and we were on the water a long while for just 2 races. At mid-day we got a bit of breeze and got one race in while the wind waned. I had a pretty terrible start and was just never able to get far in moving up.
With just minutes remaining before the time limit we started another race. Determined not to have another bad start, I worked my way up 1/3 of the way from the boat and took advantage of the line sag to get a front line start and quickly punched out. I worked my way out to the right lay line and rounded the top mark in 4th. I lost a boat each on the next two legs. As I rounded the mark to the final downwind leg I lost the main sheet from the blocks and ended up sailing a crippled, jury rigged boat the rest of the way around the course to salvage a 10th.
15-32-21-36-10 finishes put me in 22nd overall which kept me in the top half of the fleet. Eastern Yacht Club was beautiful as was Marblehead. Having heard about Marblehead from Sonar and Flying Scot sailors from my club for such a long time- I’m glad I made the trip.