Old Dominion University Laser Frostbite sailing series announcement

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

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

Hampton Roads Fall Sunday Series Video

Clip from the Hampton Roads Laser fleet who started their fall series today:

Fall series at ODU Sailing center runs through the first week of December.  Racing starts at 11.  Email robert.suhay [at ] pilotonline.com for more info.

NOR for the Hampton Roads Sailing fall 2014 laser series

Dear Hampton Road Sailing friends,

I am pleased to announce that the Sunday Laser racing series at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center will return this year. So break out the gear and mark up the calendar.

The first regatta is set for two Sunday’s from now, Sept. 21. The series will run on Sunday’s through the first week of December with a break on Thanksgiving weekend (Sunday, Nov. 30). Race time is set for 11 a.m. to 1:00-1:30 p.m. (that seems to be working for everyone) The Old Dominion boathouse will be open at 10:00 a.m. for changing and rigging up.

The racing is free.

One of the keys to the continued success of this series has been the support of the Old Dominion University Sailing and I am pleased to say that charter boats will again be available for use on race day for a nominal fee of $10 which helps support Big Blue sailing. Charters are available race day on a first come basis, or with prior arrangement for those who need to travel far.

This year, we have been asked that all racers sign a waiver form for the college. I have drawn one up and attached it to this email, but copies will be available at the regatta.

I am really looking forward to a great season this year, and I hope you are too. The weather and water are still quite warm and the weekends have been delivering on the wind of late, so let’s hope that continues. I have received emails from several potential newcomers to the fleet this year, and so am looking forward to the size of our racing fleets growing this year.

Again, I look forward to seeing old friends and new ones out on the water this year. We are looking to build on the success of our previous years together and continue to make improvements to the course and race management, so please keep your ideas and suggestions coming.

Hampton Roads Laser Fleet 2013 Fall Frostbite Race 1 Result

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.

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.

Laser clinic at Old Dominion University in early December

Robert Suhay from the Hampton Roads Laser Fleet is taking a quick survey on behalf of Old Dominion Sailing head coach Mitch Brindley about a one-day Laser clinic in the first full weekend of December.

Mitch is trying to gauge how much interest is out there for a clinic and whether it would be preferable to hold the clinic on Saturday or Sunday.

The clinic would be run by Mitch and the Old Dominion University coaching staff and would involve classroom time and on-the-water drills weather permitting.  The fee for the one-day clinic would be $75.  Bring your own lunch.  Debrief snacks and drinks will be provided at the end of the day.

Could I get a simple show of hands of who is interested and whether Saturday or Sunday would be better? A quick email would do.

You can also direct questions directly to Mitch, at mbrindle@odu.edu or mbrindley@collegesailing.org.

Thanks very much for helping out with this. Should be a great event to cap the fall season.

Hampton Roads Sailing fall 2013 laser and dinghy series

It’s been a great summer, so let’s keep the momentum going and head out for some great dinghy racing with what I think we can now safely call our annual fall Laser and dinghy classic.

The Sunday Laser and dinghy race series resumes with a tune up race on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center. 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. so there is still time to catch the games or get the chores done.

There will be a one-week by-week due to a prior commitment, then the racing gets into full swing starting Oct. 20, same time and details as above. As suggested by several of our regular crew, the series will run for six Sundays, ending November 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.

Mitch Brindley, head coach at ODU, has given the green-light for the series, so there will be Lasers available for charter for competent sailors. There will be some changes, though, this year, in order to help ODU keep their Laser fleet more tidy and organized. There are four boats set up for full rigs (the four on the top shelves) and four rigged for Radial sails (on the bottom rungs). Mitch has asked that we keep the boats standardized as they are in the racks.

With four full rigs for use this year, I will ask those wishing to charter a boat each week to send me a message so we can allocate boats fairly. I also have a spare hull at my house that I can trek down for use and I am pretty sure with a little advance warning we can muster enough for all those who want to sail. (At least, I will do my very best to get everyone out on the water) And those wishing to use my backyard (two blocks from the sailing center) as a depository during the regattas are still welcome to do so.

As in the past, the charters are done on a first come, first serve basis. Cost is $10 per regatta (thanks Mitch for fighting inflation).

A note for newcomers: Fall and winter are beautiful times on the water, but it is going to get cold and with that, comes risk. The series annually attracts a wide range of abilities, but we ask that participants have at least fundamental skills in dinghies and proper attire for the temperatures.

We look forward to another great year and hope everyone can make it out.

robert.suhay[at] pilotonline.com
Robert Suhay

Post it on the fridge:
Sunday laser series
Place: Old Dominion University Sailing Center
Time: 10:30 skippers’ meeting
Start: 11:00
Finish: No races start after 1:30
Dates: Tune up Oct. 6; a by-week, then 6-regatta ODU series on Oct. 20 and 27, and Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24 with awards and a toast.
Racing is free. Laser charter is $10 per regatta (limited number available so drop me an email)

Hampton Roads Frostbite – 1/13/13

Hampton Roads had a nice and foggy day of frostbiting with a good turnout this weekend.  Check out the photos.

Some Like it Cold…

Check out this feature in the January edition of Spinsheet magain about Hampton Roads Fleet Captain and organizer Robert Suhay:

http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf

Page 67

NOR Hampton Roads Sailing Fall 2012 Laser series

It’s been a great summer, but now it’s time to dust off the westsuit and booties and get chillin’.

The Sunday Laser and dinghy race series resumes this Sunday, October 28, with a tune-up at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center. 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 ro 1:30 p.m. so there is still time to catch the games or get the chores done.

Mitch Brindley, head coach at ODU, has given the green-light for the series, so there will be Lasers available for charter for competent sailors. There are eight boats, and six full rigs. Charters are done on a first come, first serve basis. Cost is $10 per regatta. I also have a spare boat at my house if we run short.

A note for newcomers: Fall and winter are beautiful times on the water, but it is going to get cold and with that, comes risk. The series annually attracts a wide range of abilities, but we ask that participants have at least fundamental skills in dinghies and proper attire for the temperatures.

The series will open (in the tradition of last year) with an away-game at Fishing Bay Yacht Club for their annual End-of-the-season Frostbite. So many of our southern bay regulars commit to that great regatta and excellent club. If you haven’t been there, it’s worth the trip and Jon Deutsch is a great host.

The series picks up again at ODU on the following Sunday, Nov. 11, and will continue through Dec. 9.

We look forward to another great year and hope everyone can make it out.

Please feel free to contact me at robert.suhay@pilotonline.com and be sure to spread the word.

Robert Suhay

 

Post it for the fridge:
Sunday Laser series
Place: Old Dominion University Sailing Center
Time 10:30 skippers’ meeting
Start 11:00
Finish: No races start after 1:30
Dates: Tune up Oct. 28; (Away game opener Nov. 4 at Fishing Bay Yacht Club – NOR available at Laser District 11 website); ODU series Nov. 11, 18, 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. Race starts at 11 a.m. Finish by 1 to 1:30