Tag Archives: Frostbite

Old Dominion University Laser Frostbite sailing series announcement

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Hello my dinghy and Laser friends.. It’s was a long hot summer and wild-weather fall. But frostbite sailing time is here at last.

There is some big news to share about the annual Hampton Roads Sailing Laser Frostbite series: This year, Old Dominion University Sailing and its Big Blue Academy will be taking over the reigns to bring the program to a new level.
The Fall “Turkey Bowl” series will run 5 dates beginning tomorrow, Nov. 13 at the usual time and location: 10 a.m. (with first warning at 11 a.m.) to 1:30 p.m., Sundays at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center off Powhatan Avenue in Norfolk There will be a Winter and Spring series to follow..
As in the past, a limited number of charter boats will be available on race day for $10. Also, to cover the cost for Old Dominion, there is a nominal race fee with a discount for those who register for the series.
A big plus this year: Racing will be followed by some coffee or hot chocolate and a debrief with the ODU team that should help everyone improve their skills.
Big Blue will be posting information about the series and results, and I will continue to try to spread the word through our Facebook page at HamptonRoadsSailing group.
Old Dominion Sailing Coach Mitch Brindley has put together a complete NOR and registration form that can be seen at this link: http://www.bigbluesailingacademy.com/frostbiteseries.html
Please register early so ODU can get a handle on fleet size.
Weather forecasts for tomorrow look great for a series kickoff, with light southeasterly winds and termperatures near 60 degrees by afternoon. Perfect to shake off the rust without too much swimming and a chance to get in some close combat without too many crash and burns.
Thanks to all for the patience while we were trying to work out the series. As many of you know, Lisa and I have been running a little RC Sailboat business this year and it has taken a lot of our attention and energy.
Hope to see everyone on the water for a great series.
Robert Suhay

2015 Frostbiting Update

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Frostbiting continues at a number of clubs around the district:
PRSA – races Sunday afternoons through March. Thus far this year 42 sailors have taken part in one or more events and Eric Petersen leads Len Guenther in the series standings More info: http://potomacriversailing.org/laser-fleet/
SSA – Has a two part frostbite series on Sundays – currently are a couple weeks into the second series ending in March. Luke Shingledecker won the Series 1 Standard fleet while Leo Boucher won the Radials.  More info: http://ssa.sailregattas.com/_/ssa/ui/Index.aspx?tabid=576
Corsica River Yacht Club – continues their 19-year tradition of Sunday afternoon frostbiting running from late fall to early sprint out of Ships Point on the eastern shore.  Details at: http://www.cryc.org/frostbitel.htm
Hampton Roads Laser Fleet – Sailing out of the Old Dominion Sailing Center – this group of Laser sailors has been out almost every Sunday since late fall.  Photos, videos and regular racing reports from Robert Suhay can be found on the Hampton Roads Sailing Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/283897676560/ for more info contact Robert: robert.suhay@pilotonline.com

Laser Frostbiting in Richmond This Winter

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For 2014, the Greater Richmond Sailing Association has something new…..a Frostbite Series on Swift Creek! 

The series will take place over four weekends this winter for Lasers and Flying Scots.  Two in January (1/12, 1/26) and two in February (2/9, 2/23) spaced two weeks apart.  We have set some limitations on wind speed and Chesterfield Fire and Rescue has agreed to have a rescue boat on scene for the events should they be necessary.  (Something we DO NOT expect to be necessary.)  Races will be short windward/leeward and in the cove if the winds permit.  Spinnakers (Flying Scots) may or not be used, but with short courses they probably won’t make much difference anyways.

Come out and join us.  This will be fun, with good competition, a chance to learn a lot, and keep your skills honed over the winter.  Please review the NOR .  If any of you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact myself, John Reilly, or Tom Gallagher.

No formal social following each race – survivors encouraged to BYOB for post race thaw around the fire.

Hampton Roads Laser Fleet 2013 Fall Frostbite Race 1 Result

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he six-week fall Laser series kicked off with perfect weather and a great turnout on Sunday. A shifty wind blew 10 to 13 knots out of the northwest, with clear skies, mild temps and water still holding onto a little summer heat – well mostly.

Eight racers turned out and the racing was really competitive and fun. Old Dominion University ace Joe David was a step ahead on the shifts, locking up a string of firsts. Close on his heels was fleet newcomer Dixon Smith, back in the Laser for the first time in two years and definitely right back on the bicycle. Mike Moore mentions he was a star at the Naval Academy and he showed a lot of that form all day, especially on the downwinds were he put shoe to posterior.

Hampton Roads Laser Fleet fall 2013 Race 1

Daniel Blunt was undaunted in his second outing with the Elizabeth River crew and Richard Armstrong, Jim Shook, Frank Patch and Mike and I had some tight battles behind the leaders.

Lisa again took on the race committee duties and got some more great pictures of the racing. Take a look here: https://plus.google.com/photos/106793374418440005415/albums/5936900939500979361

It’s all the more impressive because the very lumpy conditions at the beginning of the day caused a little stomach distress, but with her usual gracious aplomb, Lisa put on a brave face and kept the action going.

Races were held on a short, four-leg, windward-leeward course of about a half-mile with downwind finishes. Races took about 15 to 20 minutes apiece. I can recommend the two-ball, fast-racing format for dinghy racing if you are looking for a lot of starts and snappy tactics. The fast pace also cuts the pain when there is a wide range of speeds through the fleet and gives everyone plenty of chances to fight back and consolidate race lessons.

Thanks to everyone who participated. You guys made it a great Sunday. Thanks to Old Dominion University Sailing for all of your support and help. And thanks to my wife, Lisa, who took care of the committee duty.

Here are the results from 10-20-13: A little water blurred some of the numbers on race one, so if there are any errors, please let me know and I will adjust the series records.

Place /  sailor Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 total
1 Joe David 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 10
2 Dixon Smith 2 2 3 2 4 2 2 17
3 Robert Suhay 1 4 4 3 2 4 3 21
4 Mike Moore 3 3 2 4 3 3 4 22
5 Richard Armstrong 5 6 5 5 5 5 8 39
6 Frank Patch 8 5 6 7 6 7 5 44
7 Jim Shook 6 7 7 6 7 6 6 45
8 Daniel Blunt 7 Dnf 8 8 Dnf Dnf 7 57

Hope to see everyone out next Sunday.

Here are the details for the series again:  Racing is at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center, off Powhatan Avenue in Norfolk, Va.. The center will be opened at 10 a.m., skippers’ meeting at 10:30 and racing will begin around 11 a.m. Racing will finish by 1 or 1:30 p.m.

The six-week scored series begins in earnest on Oct. 20, same time and details as above. The series will run for six Sundays, endingNovember 24 with some awards and such. One note, the ODU Monarchs are hosting a regatta on the weekend of Nov. 3-4, so we will be running without a committee boat unless someone can help us out there.

PRSA 2013-2014 Laser Frostbite Season

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The weather is turning, so it is time to start thinking about the 2013-2014 Frostbite season!

We will follow the same plan as in previous years:

  • Races on Sundays; skipper’s meeting at noon, first warning signal at 12:30, last race starts by 3:30 pm.
  • First race on November 17, last race on March 23, no racing on Dec 29.

We are planning to do a couple of practice days to help newcomers get up to speed. These will include a boat rigging demonstration, a “chalk talk” on starting rules and strategy, and some practice starts out on the water.

I propose the following dates:

  • Saturday, October 27, meet at noon at the Washington Sailing Marina boat launch area
  • Sunday, November 3, meet at noon at the Washington Sailing Marina boat launch area

Please let me know if you plan to participate.

A few miscellaneous requests:

  • If you have a Laser at Washington Sailing Marina, don’t plan to use it over the winter, and would like to rent it out, please let me know and I will send prospective renters your way.
  • If you know anyone who might be interested in racing with us, encourage them to come out for a practice day or to watch the action from the RC boat once we start racing
  • If you have basic computer skills and are interested in donating a bit of time to update the calendar and race committee volunteer list on the PRSA Laser website, please let me know.
  • If you aren’t already on our PRSA Laser e-mail list, if you would like to join, just email: PRSALasers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
  • If you know that you will be racing this season, please make sure that you pay your 2013 PRSA dues. Instructions are located here: http://potomacriversailing.org/dues-rc-duty/

Look forward to seeing everyone out on the water soon!

-Eric Petersen