Beers and Brats after Sailing to welcome back Colorado Travelers!!

Fleet Provided Dinner Tonight!!!

This past weekend, 7 Dallas Laser Fleet Sailors (Griffin Orr, Alex Goldberg, Tim Ponter, Forest Atkins, Eric Roman, Andrew Sommer, and Brian Hannan) traveled to Grand Lake, Colorado to race in the Colorado Laser Championships. DLF and Texas proved once again that we are a force to be reckoned with, brining home 1st (Griffin Orr), 3rd (Eric Roman), and top Master (Craig Berleme from San Antonio)! This is quite impressive given the strong showing of 35 lasers marking the largest Colorado Laser Championship in history. 

Sailors were greeted with cool temperatures in the 40’s Saturday morning, but the hot coffee and warm hospitality of the Grand Lake Yacht Club quickly got things warmed up. Boats got on the water around 10:30 AM when some light breeze filled in out of the south east. This quickly built to around 5-15 knots, just in time for the first race. 

Though there were some hard right shifts just before the start, Griffin noticed American Flags on the south shore indicating a hard left was about to start. By the start, he was unable to make the pin and ended up port tacking the fleet and was launched into a comfortable lead with Andrew Sommer and Alex Goldberg close by. As the top 5 leaders rounded the weather mark, the wind began to fade and a large gap formed between those sailing downwind in breeze and those attempting to make the top mark in a large hole. Those at the top would continue to hold the breeze through the rest of the race with Griffin taking away the win with Alex finishing 4th. 
 

Day 2 promised a forecast of clear skies but variable breeze. Sailors left the dock in no breeze in the hopes that it would eventually fill in…. and boy did it!! The breeze first filled out of the south at 10-15 and shifted hard left just before the gun, providing us with a “Nascar” style race… (Turn left around the marks!).  Griffin finished with a 4 and Andrew with a 5.

Next, the race committee shifted the course to square and set us off again. Andrew and Griffin quickly got in a 1, 2 position and extended away from the fleet. This proved to be one of the messier races with winds ranging  from 10-20 and shifts from just about every direction. I even recall getting it by a 15 knot puff that sneaked up from leeward. (Think about that one… it almost flipped me over). Andrew was cursed by a capsize but was soon replaced by Eric who took second behind Griffin. 

The race committee once again shifted the course to square and we prepped for the last race of the day. The breeze was now a stead 15-25 with puffs in the 30’s. Don’t get me started on the shifts… it was wild! Alex and Griffin got off to a good start near the boat and found themselves up front with Alex first around the top mark. The first downwind leg was actually very mild and drama free. The second started with a monster puff taking out most of the top boats. No lead was certain! Griffin ended with another first, Alex with a 7th and Tim with a 12th. 

Cool July Weather for a Perfect Wednesday Night

Excellent turnout this Wednesday was spurred by light to medium winds and cool temperatures in the mid 80’s. Joining us on the water was Owen, Forest, Tim, Porter, Jen, Mark, Jim, Sean, Diana, John, and Griffin. Running races were the dynamic father daughter duo of Jack and Aubin! Out on the loaners were Sean and Diana who had a blast after being kept onshore the last few wednesdays due to high winds. 

We completed 5 very shifty races with wind out of the east with a start line off Jackson point, weather mark by the bath house and leeward mark off the west shore. Puffs going down the course were often a 40+ degree shift from the previous wind. This made it critical to sail the lift that you are on and to connect the dots to the next puff. 
 

We ended the evening with a fun night at the White Rock Alehouse. It was decided that if their IPA is called the capsized kayak, they need to name their 2X IPA the capsized laser! 

Also HUGE shoutout to our very own Aubin Hattendorf for being the top radial girl at Houston Youth Race Week!! CONGRATS! 

Wednesday Night Fun and Slalom Saturday!

Read down to the bottom for Slalom Regatta this Saturday!!!

Sailors were greeted with 10-15 knot winds from the North this past Wednesday with mild temperatures making for a picture perfect evening. Sailing we had Owen, Forest, Tim, John, Griffin, Greg, and surprise guest, Skylar Bayman! We also had Jamie Weston out on the loaner for the first time with us! Alex and Eric ran four fantastic races for us with extra long windward legs, adding a new element to the racing. 

Owen, Griffin and Skylar (X2) were the race winners of the evening. The racing saw many large shifts as the breeze was coming off the north shore, so it was important to sail to the next lift but not to bury oneself and risk the wind shifting in the opposite direction. One special shoutout to Skylar, who much to the entertainment off the race committee capsized on the downwind leg during a roll gybe. He then proceeded to grind his boat like the young kids “dance”, popping it back up in 5 seconds, hardly loosing any time at all. 

1. Griffin will work with Jody to create a new tie down spec that will be enforced on all dolly stored boats.
2. The fleet will purchase a spool of line and materials to help fleet members comply with the new spec.
3. The fleet will help the Davit Registrar in facilitating inspections and reporting boats that are out of compliance / not tied down properly. 

This is a very important topic not only to prevent damage to our own boats, but also to prevent damage to others. Lasers took out between 1-3 flying scot / corinthian rigs during the storm and we need to ensure that we are doing our best to ensure that this does not happen again from one of our boats.

At long last we have a good wind forecast for a Laser Slalom Regatta. We will start with a free lunch at 1PM this Saturday with races starting shortly after 2. Racing will be held just in front of the clubhouse, so spectating will be epic! Come down and join us for some serious fun!!

NOR: https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/18676/SlalomNOR.pdf

Wednesday Night FUN

This Wednesday we had a very good turnout. Sailing we had Griffin, Alex, Brig, Mark, Mike R., Jim, Greg, Forest, Eric, Dan, and John. The group completed four W2s set up by Owen and Mike M. in excellent conditions. While it was mostly a lightish affair, everyone got to stretch their hiking legs now and again.
Griffin pulled off a “Clean Sweep,” taking all four races. He did this despite some adversity, including being OCS in one race. He was simply the best sailor on the water that evening. He also had the best looking sail with the Gryffindor crest where the Laser symbol normally  resides with a broom and a Golden Snitch taking up much of the bottom part of the sail.  Awesome!  Nipping at his heels consistently were Eric and Alex. There was plenty of action all around the course, making for a delightful evening on the water.

To Eric’s credit, despite showing up late, not only did he break his new sail out of the plastic bag, he also put numbers on the sail, making him COMPLETELY DLF rules compliant! Eric went for quite a spell without using numbers, and he was badgered in the putting them on by Sailor X. Ironically, Sailor X also broke out a new sail; however, he was numberless. When Eric asked Sailor X when he would have numbers on his sail, he replied “I’ll take as long as you did to get numbers on your sail the last time!” Ouch! All in good fun.

It was really great having a real fleet on the water. Come on out!

Summer is Coming

**Spoiler Alert**

This post contains Game of Thrones spoilers, so don’t read it if you are behind on the show.  I got Bill Barr, AG of the USA, to state the conclusions of the report since he was off yesterday.  

“It was fun.  Come out next week.”

Three races, once around were held.  Griffin did his best impersonation of Dany riding Drogon torching the Lannister army in The Loot Train Attack (Season 7, Episode 4 for those keeping score).  He put the foot down and just flew.  Eric and Alex gave him a run one race, but it was pretty much done and dusted so far as who the best guy out there was, and who the best of the rest were as well.

So Griffin’s night was similar to the NK’s in the first half of Sunday’s episode.  The zombies comprising the Army of the Dead were kicking butt and taking names as was the G man.  I wasn’t as fortunate.  I think I know where all the remaining Valerian Steel is – in my boat!  I was slow!!  Sheesh.

We were all soaking wet.  Alex stripped down and pranced about in his underroos.  Was he wanting to prove he’s not like Varys?  All I know is I can’t unsee it…. 

Forest loaded up a boat he will repair Gendry style for the new fleet loaner. Thanks, Forest!

Afterwards, Alex, Eric, Griffin and I went to Lake House.  Hot Pie wasn’t there, but two of his sisters were (they’re really nice!), and they kept us in beer and burgers.  

When the time to leave came, it was raining really, really hard.  Griffin and Eric counted to three to begin their run to their cars.  Eric pulled a Cersei, promising Griffin he would go on three just as Cersei promised Dany she would fight for the living – Eric stayed under cover and Cersei stayed at King’s Landing.  Griffin had a flip flop blow out as he ran, requiring him to double back.  The three stragglers stayed and had another round until the rain lessened.

It was a GREAT night for sailing and cajoling!  Adam, you HAVE to be at the lake next Wednesday as I have to pick your GoT brain.  Please come out, y’all, as the weather is getting better and better.  And yes, SUMMER IS COMING!!

Other Activities

The Laser fleet was active this weekend with Mark and Mike taking the FS Districts and Alex and me taking a distant third.  Congratulations, Mark and Mike!  

Griffin joined Jack at Lake Arlington to sail Aeros in the stout conditions.  Griffin reported Jack had one whale of a death roll which resulted from Jack pulling his board up to clear debris.  “Clean up in Aisle 4.”  But Jack righted the boat, and they had a ball.

One funny occurrence Sunday.  Alex was doing his best to get people to come to WR to sail Lasers.  He was talking to one RCYC sailor who said he refused to sail at WR “because you can do everything right and end up in the middle of the fleet.”  Really?  That’s not what I saw last night!!  WR is a great lake to sail on, and we all need to support the club, our fleet, and our lake.  Buy a CSC shirt!!  Represent!!

How Close is Close?

Yesterday we had five boats participate in consistently windy, shifty conditions. Sailing were Forest, Owen, Alex, Eric Ro., and Griffin. On the chase boat we had Dan, John, and Brig, all of whom had the best seat in the house for some incredibly close racing.

Owen started the night off with a runaway win followed closely by Forest. This race set the tone for what would be an excellent night of sailing by Owen.

The second race was a two lapper, and it was taxing. Griffin did a great job of hiking hard and using lots of boom vang to allow him to sheet out in the puffs, keeping the boat flat and fast. He might not have pointed as high as everyone else, but he was going fast to weather. Downwind he was simply the fastest through a combination of staying in the pressure and sailing the boat aggressively.

Race four saw Eric come to the fore sailing fast and with power. He really didn’t look back.

But this race was far from over! Yes, Owen had a lead, but the pack of Forest, Alex, Eric, and Griffin compressed to the point where they were four abreast reaching the zone at the leeward mark. Eric was on the outside and swung wide to jibe first. Forest had inside overlap on everyone and made his rounding with Alex right on his tail. Griffin rounded next with Eric closely following, and both tacked to starboard. Owen held onto his lead to win the final race of the evening, and the finishes were boom, boom, boom, boom after him.  How close is close?  Very!

Afterwards, Dan joined Eric, Brig, Forest, Alex, and Griffin at Lake House. It was a great capper to a fun evening of racing.

In order to be scored in the series, one must pay their dues of $50. This is been made painless by using……

Alex and Jim did a masterful job on the committee boat setting courses.  Five races, including one two-lapper, were completed just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Speaking of horizon, Griffin did a horizon job on the fleet in the first race, breaking away at the start and going fast.  And when it came to fast, no one was quicker than the Young Wizard downwind.  He stayed in pressure and surfed what waves there were better than anyone.

There were some pretty major shifts out there.  In one race, Forest and Mark went from the outhouse to the penthouse by banging the corner opposite the fleet ahead to spectacular results!  As we all know, the lake rewards being on the right side of the shifts, which are often accompanied by pressure.  It’s the best of both worlds if you get it right!!

Two capsizes were recorded on the evening in the heaviest air first race, with Brig taking a swim while doing a penalty turn, and John must have turned in a decent death roll based on the hooting I heard!  Granted, I had 3 mm neoprene on, but it was not cold at all.

After racing, we retired to Shady’s for some delightful conversation (well, most of it was delightful!).  Jim joined Eric, Alex, Adam, Brig, Forest, and Griffin for a few adult beverages and good food.  When talk turned to Game of Thrones, Brig was banished to the kid’s table with Adam to geek out over the upcoming final season.  TV watching is a sport, you know!!

What a wonderful evening for sailing and friendship.  Dust your boat off and join us!!

With the “A Team” of Eric Ro. and Griffin, ably assisted by their canine companions Zoe and Tiller, running the races, the rest of the group, including Forest, Mark, John E, Tim, Alex, Owen, Brig, and Adam (using one of our loaner boats to great effect!), all had a chance to have their moment of glory. The fleet was extremely close throughout the evening aided in large part by extremely shifty wind, which meant no lead was safe.

The first race pretty much summed up the evening. Tim had a commanding lead starting the last beat to the finish when he didn’t quite sail far enough to a right shift. He could do nothing as three boats sailed right past him! The night was full of similar chutes and ladders – you could go from hero to zero or from zero to hero in nearly the blink of an eye.

Even though the wind was not very strong, we had two capsizes on the evening. Alex scored a perfect 10 on his capsize. At the start of the first race he had the entire fleet pinned when he began a massive roll tack to port. It was a thing of beauty – until he didn’t get to the high side! Hooting and hollering from the race committee boat ensured everyone had a good look of the boat on its side

A special shout out to John E and Adam! John E mixed it up in every race and sailed really well, taking a third in the last race. Adam also strutted his stuff in the last race by being in third place at the leeward mark! That’s what makes this fun!

On the evening we had Mark book ending the five races with wins, and Brig, Tim, and Forest snagging wins as well. Owen was the real winner of the second race; however, he sailed the wrong course. Gotta watch that course board.

Afterwards the crew went to Lake House for some fine dining. Included were Mandy, Karly, Tim, Forest, John E, Griffin, Eric, Alex, Brig, and Adam. One of the waitresses took a real shine into the dogs, Zoe and Tiller, and fed them yummy bacon. My dog imitation was not quite up to snuff to warrant free bacon, alas.

All in all, a wonderful way to kick off the 2019 season. Using  the Three Bears analogy, the evening was “just right!”