Blue Marsh Sailing Association

MAY 2010 RACE RECAP

Well we got the new racing season off to a start although a very slow start! The first gun was around 11:00 and we quit at 2:00- three hours of racing. What did we have to show for it? Two (count ‘em, folks), two ABC races! It took so long to do them that I actually thought we had done three races! But it was a day on the water and being overcast we didn’t get sunburned.

The Memorial Day weekend took its toll on the number of participants as we only had five boats show up. With the very light winds Armando had a distinct advantage in his Surprise. He showed the way by taking both races.

RACE RESULTS FOR REGATTA 2010

We had a turnout of seven boats on a day which saw light winds for the first race but continued to build slowly throughout the day. We ran two short ABC races then were able to get in two ABCAC races. However it didn’t matter what we ran as Jerry Nichols with Russ Witzke as crew physically won all four races losing the third race on handicap. Mike and Kristel Adair after a fifth place in the first race got their act together to finish 2,1,2 in the last three races. Joe Rutolo and crew Rick Crump stayed close enough all day to use their handicap to cop third place. All in all it was a fun day of sailing. Maybe next month we will get a couple more boats out as the word gets out that this is a great opportunity to enjoy our sport. Our thanks go to the committee- Jan Stoner, Anna Grace, Lou and Betty Brown, Muriel Meier, and Marian Borneman for a job well done.

Racing July 31, 2010

We had only three boats show up for this race day. I guess summer has too many activities begging for our time. In any event it was a strange day-gusty one minute dead the next. This resulted in some boats moving nicely while others were dead in the water. It was never certain who was going to win until the finish gun sounded. The winds were generally from the east which required starts using the finish line. We ran three CBA’s and one CBA twice around. Newcomer Tom Stone in his Flying Scott with crew John Ward won two races on adjusted time to take first overall. Armando Antonini with crew Russ Witzke was second and Tom Stoner with crew Henry Borneman finished third. All boats won at least one race on adjusted time. Our thanks again to the committee Jan Stoner, Ron and Cathy Alesin, and Muriel Meier for their good work.

VAGABOND RECAP AUGUST 14-15

Our vagabond to Oxford, Maryland to see the log canoes racing on the Tred Avon came off as planned. However we were able to entice only two boats to make the trip- Tony and Mary Stajkowski on Coventina and Rom Hrabak and myself on Babe. Conrad and Barb Vanino drove down to join us for dinner Saturday night. Our trip down on Saturday morning was uneventful. We made a quick stop in Galena to pick up permits for the ramp at Bellevue. Bellevue is a good ramp although it has limited parking. We got lucky with returning fisherman in late morning. We spent Saturday sailing the Tred Avon taking in the sights of the log canoes and the one design races going on everywhere. We entered Town Creek to find our slips at Hinckley Marina. We were assigned to the floating docks alongside the swimming pool.

Saturday night we went exploring – first the Tred Avon Y.C. who threw open their facility to all comers. It was fun walking the docks to chat with a crew from one of the canoes and to walk the yard checking out all the one designs. Opting to eat at Schooners we headed over to find the waterside bar and restaurant jumping with live music and lots of people enjoying the weekend festivities. After the walk back to the boats it didn’t take long to hit the sack!

Sunday was overcast with strong winds. The one designs were out in force and the log canoes ran a race of attrition. Of the dozen and a half canoes only nine ventured out and one promptly capsized. The eight canoes ventured out of sight onto the Choptank to start and run their race. The finish line was set up on the Tred Avon and when they came back in sight for the run to the finish there was only three still sailing and one of those capsized on the run up the river! After having sailed up and down the Tred Avon about eight or nine times we decided to call it a day and head in. We managed to get the boats knocked down for the trip home before the rains came down while we had lunch under the pavilion. It was a fun weekend and I’m already looking forward to the fall cruise to Fairlee and Rock Hall September 10-12. Start making your plans!
Tom Stoner

Oops!  We haven’t been telling our story to the world like we should if we want them to know we still exist! BMSA actually has been pretty busy this spring and summer.  We have had non-sailing social events- GPS Rally, Water Safety Festival, off season dinner, and picnics but I want to briefly address our sailing activities here.   We started the season with a race on May 29.   Memorial Day weekend and light winds held participation down to five boats.  We managed to get in two short races in three hours! Our next sailing event was our Spring Cruise June 11-13.  Four trailerable sailboats put in at the Turner Creek ramp on the Sassafras River and sailed down to Still Pond.  Fortunately it was a short distance as winds were light.  We were joined by three cruisers and the cocktail hour erased our thoughts of the poor sailing day!  The second day winds came up and the trip to our next anchorage Warton Creek was a quick one.  We even did a little daysailing after lunch.  Sunday’s return trip to Turner was made under a following wind which didn’t set any records but kept us moving.  Our second race was our annual Regatta on June 26.  We had a good turnout of seven boats.  Winds started light but built over the day and we got in four races.  The Regatta party was held poolside at the home of Conrad and Barb Vanino. This was followed by a vagabond to the Elk River July 17-18.  Thirteen members made the trip.  While they did get in some sailing their paramount interest was trying to keep cool in the temps that were in the high 90’s.  Our race on July 31 finished a poor second to the many other summer activities as only three boats showed up to race.  The winds were very dicey as they shifted, dropped off, teased us by freshening only to drop off again.  We did manage to get in four races and were able to practice our starts from a new direction as the winds were generally from the east instead of the normal west.  Future sailing happenings include three races all on the last Saturday of August thru October, a vagabond on August 14-15 to the Tred Avon to sail among the log canoes, and the Fall Cruise on September 10-12 which will feature a fun race from the Annapolis Bay Bridge to the Francis Scott Key bridge.  We also meet when possible during the week (usually Wednesdays) for a little fun sailing on Blue Marsh with dinner after at Ganly’s.  Come join us!

Racing

BMSA members launch their boats at the State Hill boat ramp at Blue Marsh Lake on the last Saturday of the month beginning 29 May and ending in October with the Turkey Race. Race start time is 11:00 AM SHARP. Don’t have a boat? Contact BMSA for membership information and opportunities to crew on member boats.

Spring Cruise

The BMSA Spring Cruise is 11-13 June at Still Pond and Worton Creek Marina on the Chesapeake Bay.

June Regatta and Picnic

Join BMSA members on 26 June for a sailing regatta followed by a picnic.

Blue Marsh Water Safety Festival

Not going on the cruise? Consider attending the Blue Marsh Lake Water Safety Festival held Saturday 12 June. BMSA will have a table at the festival.

SOUTH RIVER VAGABOND RECAP- August 11, 2009

Four boats, Lily, Coventina, Allegro, and Babe made the trip. Forgot the names? In order Bob Ciferri with crew John Ward, Tony Stajkowski and crew Mary, Joe Rutolo and crew Ron Bukowski, and myself and crew Henry Borneman. In short it was an almost perfect two days with no rain day or night, and winds gentle but fairly steady on Saturday and an all day wind that increased from 5 knots to 20 knots by the time we got out on Sunday afternoon. Our entourage of three boats (Bob had taken Lily down on Wednesday for some sailing with his son and met up with outside the South River on Saturday) made the trip in good time without problems. We sailed out the South River with the wind on our nose and with the turn into the West River giving us a more favorable wind direction we were able to sail all the way without the motor. After getting settled into our slips at the Pirate’s Cove Marina we enjoyed a cocktail hour aboard Lily recounting the day’s sail. Pirate’s Cove has an excellent restaurant and we enjoyed a variety of entrees from their extensive menu.

Sunday dawned sunny and hot with wind. We had a good breakfast at the marina and headed for home. Headed was the word for the day as we went up the South River in increasing winds. Tack after tack finally got us back to our starting point at the Pier 7 Marina at Route 2. Some of the other boats were not as lucky having to shorten sail or motor to get back. Everyone agreed that the vagabond was a success from the good sailing and camaraderie it provided. Our excitement did not end however until after we had crossed the Susquehanna at Columbia. The high winds of an approaching storm buffeted us just as we started across. That along with the following torrential downpour reminded us that Mother Nature always has the last say!

Tom Stoner 610-223-3593

FIFTH RACE RECAP –SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

The day started breezy and the winds just continued to build.  The first three races averaged slightly over 15 minutes and we finished with a circumnavigation of the island in 36 minutes!   Ray Hemphill with crew Ron Gebeau and Armando Antonini grabbed first place honors with two firsts, a second, and a third.  Bob Ciferri and crew John Ward continued his drive toward the Club Championship for the year by garnering second place with two firsts, a third, and a forth.   Lou Brown and crew Russ Witzke took third even though they retired at the end of the third race.  Our racing program continues to be a monthly sailing event of interest.   Our thanks go to this week’s race committee Jay and Jane Moyer, Jan Stoner, Carol Clark, and Kristel Adair.  Our last race of the season will be our annual Turkey Race to be held on Saturday, October 31.  Even if you haven’t been racing consider coming out to see what it’s all about- you might even win your Thanksgiving turkey!  This race day consists of one race of five laps around the island.  Have a question? Contact Tom Stoner, Race Chairman 610-678-0683 or tjstoner@msn.com.

FOURTH RACE OF SEASON RESULTS- August 30, 2009

Our original Saturday race date had to be scratched for weather reasons.  While we would have been dry the previous day’s rain resulted in Blue Marsh closing to prevent flooding downstream plus the wind was nonexistent.  We were able to reschedule to Sunday but lost three boats and the whole committee.   Thanks to Mike Gent, Mary Stajkowski, Willard Smith, and Betty Brown for their last minute committee work.  The day was sunny, dry, and very windy with gusts.  It was a day to have an agile crew!  Armando, sailing alone, can attest to that as he battled all day to keep from capsizing and bailed at every opportunity.  Ron Hrabak, crewing for Bob Ciferri, fell overboard when he went forward to free a fouled line but Ron was wearing a life jacket and Bob demonstrated good man overboard skills in retrieving him.  Lou Brown and crew Russ Witzke were on top of their game as they won all four races on corrected time.  Tom Stoner and crew Henry Borneman sailing the other Mariner battled the winners all day but had to settle for second place.  Joe Rutolo with crew Michelle tied Bob and Ron for third.  The windy conditions provided great sailing and enabled us to sail longer races including a circumnavigation of the island.  On a humorous note the Corps sent a boat out to retrieve debris that might have floated into the dam from the runoff and they picked up one of our race markers only returning it when they realized there were others just like it!  Are they really that shabby? 

Tom Stoner- Race Chairman 610-223-3593

RACE DAY RECAP July 25, 2009

Mother Nature is smiling on our race program as she slipped a sunny windy day in the middle of all this gloomy, rainy weather we have been having.  Seven boats showed up to do battle.  The 10-15 knot winds that were predicted did not show up until the last race and during our post race social.  However the first three races had light winds with occasional gusts.  The many wind shifts kept us adjusting sail settings and were a constant wonderment as to who they would favor next.    Bob Ciferri , with crew John Ward, continued his winning ways taking overall honors.  Lou Brown, with crew Russ Witzke, and Joe Rutolo and crew Michele tied for second.  I, with crew john Pittman, came in fourth.  The handicaps are starting to tighten up as the four races had four different winners on adjusted times.  Our thanks to the race committee Jan Stoner, Jay and Jane Moyer, and Ron Hrabak for their normal fine job.   A special thanks to Jay Moyer and John Pittman who helped many of our sailors to retrieve their boats.  Tom Stoner, Race Chairman  610-223-3593    

RACING RECAP June 27, 2009

The weather gods are looking down fondly on us as they gave us an almost perfect day for sailing.  I feel sorry for those who were unable to make it.  I was a little disappointed in the turnout of only six boats especially since we had eleven for our inaugural race last month and this was our annual regatta.  But the racing was close and spirited with the good winds which were sustained all day.  The committee reported that a number of people came up to inquire about the racing and there were quite a few folks sitting on the bank enjoying the show. 

Our handicap system rewards improvement and it showed with Bob Ciferri and crew Rick Crump capturing first place overall.  Ray Hemphill, with his normal crew Ron Gebeau and the addition of Sean Hollis as an advisor, improved his standing and came in second.  Tony and Mary Stajkowski have been coming on strong as of late and finished third.

Each boat’s handicap is an average of its race results calculated by dividing its actual finish time by the winning time.  Slower boats can win by reducing their margin of losing and faster boats win by increasing their normal margin of winning- it’s that simple.  But regardless of who’s winning the important thing is learning and having fun.  That’s happening so let’s see you out there next month- July 25.

Tom Stoner- Race Chairman 610-223-3593