2009 Statue of Liberty Race

The shortened, Around the Statue of Liberty race was a blast. The winds were 15, gusting to 20+ from the West. A reach up and reach back. Mega gusts inside the harbor. We had choppy confused seas as we were going from the end of Sandy Hook to the Verrazano Bridge. Little worse when we returned because of the angle. Double trapped way back on the boat with the hulls jumping over the waves. Sometimes the mainsheet and traveler were both out as far as we could let them, then right back in and right back out again. Googles made life a little easier.

About 38 boats entered the event. Mike Easton and Tripp Burd on a Nacra F-18 Infusion took the lead right off the line. Brandy and I held second for the first third of the race, gave it up, took it back briefly, then gave it up again. The racers were turned back just before the Statue on orders from the Coast Guard. Most of the competitors saw the mark boat but a few didn't and got chased out from near the Statue by the CG or Marine Police.

Not as many boats flipped as I would have expected. A Hobie 20 pitchpoled in NY Harbor, yuk. A Prindle 19 lost it's skipper when his trapeze line broke. The boat flipped about 100 feet away and he swam like a madman as it was drifting diagonally across his path. He just barely managed to intercept it. We struck a log on our daggerboard while doing 15+kts. Several competitors had an exciting crossing with a big orange Manhatten ferry. The bow decks and railing on the side the catamarans were passing were packed with people. They probably couldn't believe a sailboat could move so fast.

In the end Mike and Tripp smoked the fleet with their Infusion. They took three perpetual trophies, Line Honors, 1st Elapsed and one I can't recall. They also have the new course record but for the abbreviated course. Chris Titcomb and Nate Titcomb hold the full course record.

All in all it was a good day for the Nacras and New England sailors.

Elapsed:

1st -Michael Easton & Tripp Burd - Nacra F-18 Infusion

2nd - Doug Kirby & Andy Herbic - Nacra 20

3rd - Rick Bliss & Brandy Wood - Nacra 20

4th - Nacra 20

Rick Bliss

Hampton Beach Regatta 09

The surf wasn't much of an obstacle on the way out to the race site Sat but it came close to spoiling the day for a few sailors on the way in. A couple of boats took some mean broadsides. Results will be posted on the NENSA.org website soon.

Sat racing photos

Here are some photos from Sunday after the racing was cancelled due to heavy surf and rough seas.

SAKONNET CHALLENGE 6/13/09

11 Nacra F-18's competed in this reagatta. Mostly Infusions. Results and a story should be posted soon on the new www.NENSA.org website.

The Hampton Beach Regatta is coming up this weekend June, 20th-21st. All types of beach catamarans are invited. Set up starts late Fri afternoon at the race site which is located just north of the sand castle displays. There's an opening in the wall right where the beach road splits off. Volunteers will be there to unhook your trailer and tow it onto the beach. That will resume on Sat morning. Drop the boat and trailer and then park elsewhere.

TYBEE 500

Day 1 - Water start within sight of the the dock. One boat (reportedly John Casey) was over early and didn't restart. Probably a 20 minute penalty. We got a report 45 mins ago that they were 24 miles away. Breeze is beautiful here on the beach. Coming in about 12-14 kts from the SE. Frank just spotted the first, second, ok 6 boats now (4:02 pm) from the 9th floor of the hotel. They're coming fast, approx 16 kts, with the spinnakers up. I have to run down and catch some boats.

First in with a fairly large margin was Team Royal Orange with Steve Lohmayer and Jay Sonnenklar on a Nacra 20. They made a smooth landing with their spinnaker flying. Next boat in was Mischa Hemskeerk on a Hobie Tiger and then John Casey on a Hobie Tiger. Hard to post finishes right now since I was there on the beach catching and dodging boats. Lot of action. Todd Hart flipped over 40' in front of the line just as Easton and Trip Burd approached the beach. They were pushing hard to beat out another boat off their starboard bow. Things got tight as the Hart sailors and ground crew struggled to pull the boat over the line while it was still on it's side. I think they may have beaten out Mike and Trip by inches. Only a few problems with boats today as two spinnakers were torn, a few daggerboards and rudders were dinged (mostly at or near the finish) and one rudder casting was broken. They tell me the SPOT locators worked beautifully, at least on the Royal boats. Never got the chance to check the computer.

One Day before the RACE.

The boats and teams are ready to go. Work went on until midnight tonight on a few of them. 24 teams this year with a lot of talent. One female skipper. Forecast is for 5-14 on Monday from the southeast then south and finally west. Probably dropping off to very little as darkness falls. I heard someone say about 110 miles tomorrow. The Islander Resort has been a great place to set up for the race. Lots of room. A water start rather than LeMans due to a depth problem. Almost a full moon low tide. Reefs everywhere for the first 20 miles. SPOT locators on many boats. Link over to the SPOT site from the Tybee 500 website from what I've been told to see where the boats are throughout the day and maybe night. I know more tomorrow about the locator beacons. The fleet consists of Nacra 20's , Nacra F-18 Infusions and Hobie Tigers.

2009 PRELIMINARY SAILING SCHEDULE

SOme things will most likely change as time goes on - Very preliminary

2009

May 16-17 Madison Regatta, CT -

June 13-14 Sakonnet Regatta - Jim Zellmer & Frank Keefe

June 20-21 Hampton Beach Regatta - Scott Malcolm

July 4th ?? - Statue of Liberty -

July 11-12 Lipton Cup, Quincy, MA - Rick Bliss

July 10,11,12 Newport Regatta (F-18's) - Todd Riccardi

July 18-19 Sebago Lake, ME (A fun sail or regatta ?)

July 25-26 Pine Point Regatta., ME

July 31, Aug 1,2 possible - Hyannis Regatta (F-18's) Dino Garbero

Aug 1- 2 Home Port Regatta, ME - Darrell Prescott

Aug 7,8,9 BBR (F-18's) - Michaell Easton

Aug 15-16 New England 100 - Newport - Todd Riccardi

Aug 22-23 Sebago Lake, ME

Sept 5-6 Pine Point II, ME - Craig Hackett

Sept 19-20 Roton Point Regatta, CT (50th anniversary) - Mike Smith

NENSA MEETING 2/7/09

The meeting was held at New England Catamarans with 16 people present.

1. Chris Titcomb reported that NENSA has $2277.69 in the treasury. Down from last year. Less than $100. was made from the Sakonnet Regatta. Unknown amount was made from the Learn to Sail because many expenses haven't been figured. Some dues were collected at the meeting - That amount is unknown.

2. Craig Hackett offered to check and see how much it would cost to have a new website set up and then report back to us. Todd Williams will do the same with his webmaster. NENSA will possibly change from West Host to a new less expensive server.

3. Michael Easton suggested we needed more events at sites with younger sailors. He mentioned Newport, the BBR and Hyannis etc. He also suggested we have a boat loan or rent program to make boats available for guest sailors.

4. Todd Riccardi was nominated and voted in as Publicity Coordinator.

5. Dino Garbero spoke about having masters classes or some other similar type break in classes. It was discussed but didn't seem to have much support due to the low numbers of people turning out at events. Barbara Corbeil concurred to some extent with Dino.

6. Rick Bliss spoke about some of the difficulties of running a Learn to Sail. Michael Easton volunteered to run it if it could be done at Squantum Yacht Club in Quincy, MA. Scott Malcolm agreed saying that New Bedford was too far for Cranne members to come to help for one day. Rick said he would ask Jen Cague if she would contact the BSSC. Rick said he would contact the Squantum Yacht CLub. A date wasn't set but we agreed to try to make it the weekend before the Sakonnet Regatta.

7. The Sakonnet Regatta will be run the weekend of June 13-14th. Jim Zelmer volunteered to run it and Frank Keefe agreed to assist.

8. Scott Malcolm has much of the preliminary work done for the Hampton Regatta for June 20-21st . He needs help on site though. Barry Moore, Frank Keefe and Rick Bliss all volunteered to help on the beach for set up and boat hauling but two of the three plan to race. One of Chris's friends said he could get a power boat and driver. Scott needs help on the committee boat (Babs Corbeil volunteered to help but he needs more.) He also needs beach help to register people, move boats, etc.

9. Todd Riccardi spoke about the Sail Newport Regatta (July 10,11,12) and asked if we wanted to be in that. There was a positive vote for that with a request that he check to see if they would allow an open class.

10. The Lipton Cup is the same weekend as the Newport Regatta. July 11-12th. It was left on hold waiting for the outcome of the Newport Regatta decision. It was felt that we should support the Lipton Cup if possible because they have been very supportive to us for many years.

11. A motion was made that we hold the NE 100 out of Newport this year. Motion carried to try it for one year. Todd Riccardi will inquire at Sail Newport. Aug 15, 16th.

12. Craig Hackett reported on a vote taken by Cranne members that the Sebago dates would be used for fun sails rather than racing for this year. Some significant Cranne members have moved away recently and the regatta staff is down.

13. Michael Easton will check with the BBR organizers to see if they will allow an F-18 class.

14. Dino Garbero will check with the Hyannis Regatta organizers to see if they will allow an F-18 class.

15. John Harmuth reported on the Madison Regatta which will be held May 16-17th.

16. Votes were taken for new officers. Those voted in are listed below.

Commodore - Frank Keefe
Co-Vice Commodore - Michael Easton
Co-Vice Commodore - Rick Bliss
Secretary - Jen Cague
Treasurer - Chris Titcomb
Publicity Co-ordinator - Todd Riccardi

Rick Bliss
Past Secretary

2008 NEW ENGLAND 100 -AUG 9th and 10th

NEW ENGLAND 100 DISTANCE RACE

Finishes both days were very close overall.

Results: Elapsed times added for both days.

Overall Winner- Chris Titcomb (despite stopping to fish - caught a lure he couldn't get rid of.)

Open/Nacra 20 (4 boats)

1. Chris Titcomb N-20 (15:51:26 corrected time)

2. Joe Valante N-20 (16:08:58 corrected)

3. Mike Ferrara/Todd Riccardi N-20 (16:18:09 corrected)

4. Richard Espinosa/Hugh Folsom H-18SX (DNF Sat)

F-18 Class (7 boats)

1st - Sandra Tartaglino/Burd F-18 Infusion 9:57:03 (15:56:49 Corrected time)

2nd - Bill Bartlett/William Bartlett F-18 Infusion

3rd - Rick Bliss/ Brandy Wood F-18 Infusion 10:03:07

4th - Tyler Burd F-18 Infusion 10:03:10

5th - Jim Zellmer/Nora Zellmer F-18 Infusion 10:03:57

6th- Mike Easton/Tripp Burd F-18 10:05:08

7th -Rex Denton/Greg Ferrara F-18 Infusion DNF Sat

Thanks to Todd Williams for setting up and running the event and to Frank Keefe for helping out.

F-18 INFUSION PHOTO

FIVE more new Infusions in New England this year.