Video highlights of the 31st Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship at Fishing Bay Yacht Club October 13-14.
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31st Chesapeake Masters Championship Results
With 45 Lasers, good wind and great help on the race committee and in the kitchen, we couldn’t have asked for a better weekend at the 31st Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship. John MacCausland from Cooper River Yacht Club came away the overall winner of the 7 race series. John bested masters sailors in various age groups, all over the age of 35, hailing from MI, MA, NY, NJ, OH, PA, VA, NC, MD, and Washington DC.
Racing got off to a slow start on Saturday when the competitors drifted to the race course in a light northerly. 3 hours and a couple blown off starts later the wind finally settled in from the east at 6-8 knots allowing us to sail 3 races in the late afternoon. John MacCausland, Gavin O’Hare (Eastport Yacht Club) and Mike Schmidt (Magothy River Sailing Association) all took bullets in Saturday’s races.
Off the water Saturday night chef Alain Vincey prepared Osso Buco for the sailors, race committee and guests.
Sunday’s racing saw far better conditions with the wind starting around 8 and building to 14 out of the south-south west. The long courses gave the sailors plenty of room to spread out make moves. Sailing his way to the title John MacCausland picked up two more bullets while Gavin O’Hare got another and Bob Tan (Severn Sailing Association) added a bullet to his best 2nd place on Saturday.
Results for each Category:
Apprentice Master (35-44)
1. Gavin O’Hare (Eastport Yacht Club)
2. Dorian Haldeman (Severn Sailing Association
3. Kent Leverich
Master (45-54)
1. John MacCausland (Cooper River Yacht Club) *overall winner
2. Mike Schmidt (Magothy River Sailing Association)
3. Henry Amthor (Hampton Yacht Club)
Grand Master (55-64)
1. Michael Moore (Diego Garcia Yacht Club)
2. Had Brick (Island Heights Yacht Club) *2008 Champion
3. Don Hahl (Brant Beach Yacht Club)
Great Grand Master (65+)
1. Newton Wattis (Surf City Yacht Club)
2. Lindsay Hewett (Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club)
3. Roger Link (West River Sailing Club)
Women
1. Sandy Westphal (Severn Sailing Association)
2. Dorian Haldeman (Severn Sailing Association)
Not only was the competition fierce, but so was the Race Committee. They did a fantastic job all weekend with some tough winds and weren’t afraid to tame the fleet with the Z-flag for all 4 races on Sunday. Big thanks to Rick Klein, Ric Bauer, Sharon Bauer, Catherine Clark, David Clark, Philip Kenny, Ruthanna Jenkins, Ron Jenkins, Mike Dale, Geoff Cahill, Barb Guenther, John Beery, Roger Craver & Becky Dale.
The Laser Fleet members came through as well including Mike Toms, Brad Squires, James Jacob, Alain Vincey, Anthony Burton, Richard Biggs, Frank Murphy & Len Guenther who provided excellent breakfasts and dinners for the sailors.
Thanks again to all of the sailors who came. We look forward to having you back next year for the 32nd!
31st Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship NOR
On October 13-14 Fishing Bay Yacht could would like to invite you to attend the 31st Chesapeake Bay Laser Master Championship. If you’ve never attended in the past, this event has become a must on many Laser Masters’ calendars. Not only is FBYC home to one of the best sailing sites on the Chesapeake Bay it’s also known for one of the best regatta dinners. Add in the breakfast, snacks on the water, plenty of room to launch, easy beach launching, on-site camping or nearby B&B’s and you’ll see why sailors from all over the mid-Atlantic and beyond come year after year. Make the trip. Be part of the tradition. You’ll be glad you came!
New rebuilt Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Trophy
Laser Masters sailors have a completely rebuilt trophy to sail for at the Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship. The trophy features the ceramic plate with a painted picture of Lasers on Fishing Bay. The plate was part of the original trophy presented by Alain Vincey in the early years of the regatta. The new trophy is built like a serving tray with high sides to protect the plate from being broken.
Jon Deutsch and his father Stan built the trophy in a little over a week at the beginning of October and the trophy was unveiled at the regatta in mid-October. Read more about the building of the trophy and view more pictures on Jon’s blog.
30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship Results
Laser Masters sailors from around the bay and beyond descended on Fishing Bay Yacht Club for the 30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship for two days of racing in a variety of conditions. Master Mike Schmidt from Magothy River Sailing Association emerged as the overall champion after 7 races beating Apprentice Master Keith Davids from Mission Bay Yacht Club by just a point.
On Saturday, mother nature delivered winds in the 18-22 knot range with gusts approaching 30 out of the west. While most of the sailors completed the first race, by the later races in the day attrition started to take place in the challenging conditions of the Piankatank River. Most of the fleet opted to sail radial rigs for the day under the rig swap rule that allows sailors to pick standard, radial or 4.7 rigs for each day’s wind conditions and still sail against each other.
Ryan Minth (C-VANE) from Houston Texas, David Schoene (Severn Sailing Association) and Mike Schmidt (MRSA) each had wins in the 3 races that were sailed on Saturday.
After racing on Saturday the sailors and race committee were treated to refreshments and a dinner of Alain Vincey’s pork Osso Buco.
Racing on Sunday saw much more moderate conditions ranging between 5 and 10 during the 4 races. Keith Davids had the best finishes of the day posting 2-1-1-2, but couldn’t overcome the Apprentice handicap to get ahead of Mike Schmidt in the overall standings. Ryan Minth and Ted Morgan also won races on Sunday.
Keith Davids (MBYC) 1st Apprentice
Ted Morgan (SSA) 2nd Apprentice
Mike Schmidt (MRSA) 1st Master, 1st Overall
David Schoene (SSA) 2nd Master
Jacques Kerrest (PRSA) 1st Grand Master
Alain Vincey (FBYC) 2nd Grand Master
Newton Wattis (SCYC) 1st Great Grand Master
Dorian Haldeman (SSA) 1st Woman
Congratulations to all of the competitors. And thanks to the race committee and volunteers who put on an exceptional event. See you back here next year for the 31st!
Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters this Weekend
Over 40 laser masters sailors are set to take part in the 30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship this weekend at Fishing Bay Yacht Club. If you are planning on coming, or still thinking about it – welcome information has been posted to the club website.
30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship NOR
The Notice of Race is up and Online Registration is now open for the 30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship to be held October 15-16 at Fishing Bay Yacht Club. This regatta has been a yearly tradition for sailors over the age of 35 on the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. This year we’re expecting sailors from New England and Texas. Not only will we have great racing on the water, but we’ve got a great dinner planned by none other than our own Alain Vincey.
Fishing Bay Yacht Club is located in Deltaville, Virginia. It’s a short drive east of Richmond VA and under 3 hours from Washington DC. FBYC has beach launching, plenty of room to rig, and space to tent camp. Or if you are not up for camping, there’s a couple motels and some nice B&B’s a short distance from the club. Included in the registration for competitors are a Saturday night dinner as well as breakfast both mornings and after race beverages.
Come be part of the tradition at the 30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship!
Past years:
2010 Write Up Results Pictures
2009 Write Up Results Pictures
2008 Write Up Results Pictures Video
Day 2: Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship
Every recent Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters regatta has been memorable for various reasons and this years edition has been no different. Mother Nature came through again, not with rain, nor high water, but with wind. The 29th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship will be a regatta that the 43 Laser sailors who came to Fishing Bay Yacht Club will not soon forget.
John Bertrand from Annapolis Yacht Club was our overall champion and Masters division winner with just 21 points. Peter Seidenberg (Sail Newport) overcame a few point deficit on Saturday to edge ahead of James Jacob (Fishing Bay Yacht Club) to take 2nd overall and 1st Great Grand Master. James finished 3rd overall and 2nd Master.
David Frazier (Frostbite Yacht Club) was the first Grand Master while Jeff Moore (Southern Maryland Sailing Association) was first Apprentice Master. Karen Long (Severn Sailing Association) was the first Woman.
On Saturday the fleet was treated to winds in the mid-twenties with gusts well over 30 out of the west. The carnage was brutal; more than half the fleet didn’t finish the first race. The long modified gold cup course in the middle of the Piankatank in a short chop was a challenge even for the heartiest of sailors. About a dozen of the sailors took advantage of the masters rig-swap rule allowing them to take out a Radial and sail in the same fleet.
Following that first windy race the fleet went back to the beach at the club while the race committee picked up the stranded, disabled and misdirected lasers scattered around the bay.
A short time later a new course was set inside Fishing Bay that was sheltered a little from the wind, but mostly from the waves and about 30 sailors headed back out for 3 more races. Those who were on shore including some of the offshore sailors sitting out their regatta going on at the same time, were treated to some wild racing not far from the FBYC dock.
Saturday night Alain Vincey’s fabulous dinner of pork shanks the size of two fists kept sailors minds off their wounded bodies and egos. Alain was treated to an ovation when dinner was served and everyone enjoyed great camaraderie typical of Laser Masters regattas.
On Sunday morning sailors were greeted to beautiful sailing conditions- sun and 8-14 out of the south west. 4 more long windward leeward races were sailed and it was tough to find a sailor who didn’t have a smile on their face afterward.
Sharon and Ric Bauer did a great job running race committee in some difficult conditions. And thanks to their help – Matt Lambert, Lud Kimbrough, Barb Guenther, Amy Miller, Jim Lytle, Brad Miller, Ruthanna Jenkins, Ron Jenkins, Noel Clinard, and Mellisa Orndorff.
Fishing Bay Yacht Club would like to thank our sponsor Layline.com and all of the sailors from around the region for coming. We hope they’ll come back next spring for the District 11 Championship and again next fall for the 30th Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship.
Read a write-up from day 1 with some great quotes from the sailors. Complete Results can be found here.
Photos will be available later this week.
Day 1: Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship
With more wind than we knew what to do with 43 Laser Masters sailors took to the waters of the Piankatank River for the 29th Annual Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship at Fishing Bay Yacht Club. Last years winner John Bertrand (AYC) put up 4 bullets in all 4 races to lead the fleet. James Jacob (FBYC) is 6 points behind and Peter Seidenberg (Sail Newport) is one point behind him in 3rd.
The first race was sailed in the middle of the Pianktank river where a long course was set in strong wind out of the west. Several boats sailed out to the course and immediately returned to the club. Many sailors took advantage of the rig swap provision and took out Radials or 4.7 rigs. Out of around 35 starters only 22 finished the modified gold cup course.
“It was epic conditions,” said Dave Sliom from Severn Sailing Association after the first race, “It was very puffy and shifty which made it a lot more challenging than just trying to sail in 30 knots of breeze.”
“In this kind of breeze I would normally be overpowered, yet to my surprise I sailed well upwind, but even better downwind and traded places with James Jacob. I was faster downwind, he was faster upwind and in the last leg he beat me to the finish line,” said 3rd place finisher Peter Seidenberg from Sail Newport.
Craig Hodan from Southern Maryland Sailing Association summed it up as “It was wind on, wind off, 20-30 degree header, lift, auto tack, capsize, repeat.”
Following the first race the fleet was sent back to the beach while the Race Committee cleaned up the carnage and broken boats across the course.
A new course was set in Fishing Bay in more of a lee of the land where 3 more races were sailed. The conditions were shifty and challenging with strong wind at times, but everyone enjoyed the shorter, closer races.
“It was intensely blustery and quite a joy” said Henry Amthor from Hampton Yacht Club.
“I felt comfortable in the breeze in the first race, said day 1 leader John Bertrand from Annapolis Yacht Club. In the last 3 races I did a fairly good job seeing where the next shifts were coming and that kept me in front.”
“The best part was putting two adults on the boat and going back out, “ said one Masters sailor. “We were even afraid to chicken jibe.”
“But we had fun watching everyone else capsize,” said Dorian Haldeman from Severn Sailing Association.”
Around 3:30 the sailors finished up for the day and headed in to make repairs and clean up.
Sixty competitors, volunteers, race committee, and guests were on hand for Alain Vincey’s fabulous dinner.
“It’s a great group and we had a fantastic dinner,” said Dave Sliom.
“It was a beautiful day and it’s great to be down here racing, said David Fazier from Frostbite Yacht Club. Challenging conditions. I think the race committee did a great job to move the course in and give the most sailors a chance to participate.”
Sunday’s forecast is calling for a little less wind.
Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters NOR
The Notice of Race is up and Online Registration is now open for the Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship to be held October 16-17 at Fishing Bay Yacht Club. This Annual Regatta has been held at Fishing Bay Yacht Club for the past 28 years. The event has become a must-do on the Laser Masters circuit for sailors over the age of 35.
Last year’s regatta featured two of the premier masters sailors in the US – both of whom have won world championship titles in the Laser – John Bertrand of Annapolis and Peter Seidenberg of Newport, RI. Last year the event was sailed in not less than 17-25 knots. It was a sight to see lasers flying around the course in those winds and John and Peter battling it out up front.
Not only will we have great racing on the water, but we’ve got a great dinner planned by none other than our own Alain Vincey.
Come for the racing, come for the great food, come for a great time. Hope to see you there!
ILCA-NA District 11 