LMSA represented in the British Virgin Islands during NOOD Championships

The Lake Monroe Sailing Association of Sanford Florida, host of the annual Kettle Cup Regatta, is proud to announce the up to the minute success of the Commodore and his hand-picked crew in the NOOD REGATTAS NOOD Championship November 9-13, 2012 ~ British Virgin Islands. After the first day of racing I am pleased to report, after deciphering the cryptic message I received from Andy Forrest, that Fisk, Paulie, Carlton, Aggie, Diane and Andy, have won one race and finished second in the other two races. As of late Saturday those scores had our LMSA team in First Place.

I have some information from the Sailing World NOOD Championship website, http://www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas/nood-championship/nood-in-the-bvi

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This year’s Caribbean NOOD Championship competitors are:
Fisk Hayden (San Juan 21 Ole Yeller, St. Petersburg NOOD)
J Michael Honeysett (Beneteau 40.7Wiki Wiki, San Diego NOOD)
Chris Doyle (J/22 The Jug 4 1, Annapolis NOOD)
Ben Colwell (F-18 Rum Line, Seattle NOOD)
Tom Weber (Beneteau 40.7 LaTempete, Chicago NOOD)
Charlie Pendleton & Jim Raisides (Rhodes 19 Bight Me, Marblehead NOOD)
Scooter Simmons (J/105 Blackhawk, San Francisco NOOD)

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Fisk Hayden is the current commodore of the Lake Monroe Sailing Association and member of San Juan fleet 29. His crew for this adventure includes; Paulie Kaiser, Fisk’s regular crew member, Aggie and Carlton Brown, Fleet 29 Captain and SJ-21 National Association Vice Commodore, respectively, and Andy and Diane Forrest, normally some of Fisk’s most significant competition in the Lake Monroe Sailing Association.

These next few paragraphs are copied from the instructions given to the competitors. I thought it might be nice to pass this information along so that you might get an idea of the grueling schedule our heroes have to endure to represent our club in this national competition.
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From Sailing World Editor, Dave Reed.
The first day is bouy-racing near the base: ace PRO Peter Reggio will keep the courses short and tight so you can mix it up and test your short tacking skills (tack wisely, my friends). After a few laps we’ll reach over to Cooper Island and grab moorings. I highly recommend a dinghy trip to the reef for snorkeling (I’ll be leading the charge!) The restaurant at Cooper is typical island fare, should you not want to get involved with cooking.

For the following morning, I recommend a rise-and-shine departure. Put your most hungover on the helm while everyone sleeps for the short motor to The Baths. It’s the BVI’s most popular destination, for good reason, so give yourself plenty of time to check it out. From there we’ll send you off on my favorite distance race up to the Bitter End. The outcome surprises me every time.

At the Bitter End YC, you’ll tie up to the docks, plug in, restock your ice, and send your most willing (or unwilling) crew to the Laser racing for some good ol’ fashioned short course battling. Dinghy heckling is strongly encouraged, and if we’re in early enough, go ahead and take out some of the BEYC’s other toys (Hobie Waves, etc.). At the conclusion of the Laser racing your humble race committee will be parched from a long day working on the mothership and computing scores, and we therefore require each team to present a round of their boat’s signature Mount Gay Rum cocktail for tasting. A winner will be announced at the evening’s feast.

Onward the next day, we’ll go the long way ’round the backside of Tortola to either Cane Garden Bay or Jost Van Dyke, swell dependent. Take a spin out to Sandy Cay or over to Jost for a dip in the hot springs (check your guide on how to get there), or park and relax. If it’s a sandy dance floor you seek, head over to Great Harbor to hit Foxy’s (usually quiet this time of year, though).

The final leg takes us on a grueling passage through Great Thatch current, and onto Norman Island. A mandatory snorkel stop at the Indians will be in order, followed by a trip to the Caves at Norman. We’ll leave plenty of time in the schedule for it all. The final party will be held on shore at Norman, and then, should history repeat itself, it’s to the Willy T for more than you can possibly handle.

If you’ve extended your charter, wise move. . . carry on. If you’re returning to base on Wednesday, an early rise will get you back with plenty of time.

A few personal recommendations for first-time charterers:
1. When you arrive at the base, your first order of business should be to get a spare cooler from the dock staff (they can be hard to score), but are critical for keeping beers in the cockpit handy.

2. If you’re provisioning your own boat, divide and conquer. Two super markets will have everything you need: one’s a 10-minute walk, the other (Bobby’s) has an arrangement with the base: they’ll van you to the store and wait for you.

3. The masks and snorkels at the base are well-used community snorkels…if you’ve got your own quality snorkel, bring it. The available fins are fine.

4. Waiting around the charter base for any reason is torture. The squeaky wheel gets the check out done. Find your boat briefer and make it happen ASAP. Get off the dock, and out of the harbor.

5. Make it personal – bring your yacht club burgee to fly, or state flag, hometown colors, whatever you have that tells the world where you are from.

See you in the BVIs, and safe travels.

Dave Reed
Editor, Sailing World

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We have the highest of expectations and even higher hopes for our team!
-wb-

Rum Race 10/31/12

The last Rum Race of 2012 with a minimum turnout of only five boats. It is Halloween, I suppose that trick or treat thing may be an issue for some people. As for myself I am out of state, and communication is reduced to a few guided electrons. The contestants are under the false impression that the scores are correct but I was given some erroneous information so the scores that are posted in the email are the correct ones. There were some clever costumes, well at least one.

 

Rules knowledge was called into question, I think calling starboard when you are actually leeward my be covered under fair sailing…

I heard there was plenty of wind, and butt dragging causes rounding up on a Laser

barely 10 days until our illustrious leader and his hand picked team represent LMSA in Tortola on the 44 footers.

Wish I was sailing, but this week has some alternative activities that require attention.

I’ll be back…

Rum Race 10/24/12

Rum Race 10/24/12

And they’re off…  The Laser II is out front with the Hobie 18 rapidly overtaking. The Laser is next followed by the Viper, and the Scorpion is trying to dig its way out from under the Catalina 25 genoa. The unique sail plan of the Sea Pearl tri comes into view and then the first time Rum Racing JY 15 is sneaking in from the back.

The San Juan 21 Swamp Boogie Queen is resting comfortably on the trailer, as is Mike Padgetts Eloise, while I make these observations from Wolfy’s deck. In spite of the past few weeks of work on SBQ in preparation for just such an opportunity to sail, the outer bands of Hurricane Sarah were adequately discouraging. I have come to a profound realization concerning the justification of my actions. I realized that “I want to” or “I don’t want to” is all the justification I ever need to convince myself that my choice is the correct one. I am aware that many people seldom have that conflict. I suspect that those people spend less time considering potential opportunities or consequences than I do. It is OK, everyone sails their own race, whether they know it or not.

The recent mods to the Swamp Boogie Queen: the newly custom fabricated keel cable pulley, the blazingly fast and fair keel,  the trunk fairing, aluminum gasket, fiber gasket, new ultra-light spinnaker pole, rerouted spinnaker sheet and blocks, freshly pressure washed interior, and resealed transom, would just have to wait for a little better weather. The green blob on the radar screen extended from well off shore through Lake Monroe. The rain ended up being less than expected as did the wind. About thirty minutes into the race Bob’s Mon Cheri sat motionless halfway to the rounding as the clouds opened up. The planing boats and Hobie 18 managed to finish eventually under cloud cover so complete it seemed to even darken Sanford’s light pollution.

At Wolfy’s, the conversation turned to helping Frank look for the ideal boat, and repeating some of our old stories to friends of Tom Dyll who had come to sail with us. It was later than usual that the competitors turned in elapsed times which resulted in the Laser 1 and Laser 2 finishing respectively and ahead of the Viper. Myaisland, the Hobie 18 finished 4th and our new server Ardele drew 4 out of the bin and Bruce Pemberton won the Malibu Red.

Next week on Halloween is the last Wednesday evening Rum Race for this year. We are still considering options for continuing a Wednesday evening get together of some kind for Daylight Deficit time. Please, feel obligated to offer a suggestion.