Blue Marsh Sailing Association

Babe was one of four boats signed up for the vagabond. My crew was Henry Borneman and we went down on Friday morning. We had reserved a slip for Friday and Saturday night at Baltimore Marine Center a mega marina if there was ever one. We headed for Canton Waterfront Park which seemed to be the closest to the marina. We had never used this ramp and we found the ramp to be very usable but the parking was rather disorganized. Except for a big cruiser which had just came out there was no other boat traffic. We stepped the mast and otherwise prepared the boat for launching right in front of the ramp. We set out for our ten minute boat ride to the marina. The wind was gusting to 30+ knots so we decided to check out the marina and headed to our assigned slip. After signing in and with the marine forecasts calling for no letup in the wind we opted to not sail. We then heard from Donna that due to the weather she and John would not be sailing over from Rock Hall until Saturday morning. She also had heard from Neil and Judith that they were holed up in the Rhode River waiting for better weather to head north and would not be able to join us before tomorrow if at all. With Marty and Isabel not scheduled to come until Saturday we were to be alone for the day. Henry and I walked the waterfront in Fell’s Point and that evening had a nice meal at Momma’s on the Half Shell in Canton. Despite a continuing wind we slept well in our slip. The next morning we showered, ate, and contacted Donna who said they were a couple miles from the entrance to the Patapsco. So under lighter winds we sailed out to meet them. Despite several calls trying to pinpoint their location and sailing beyond the Key Bridge they managed to get by us without our seeing them! On our way back in we hooked up with Marty and Isabel in the waters off Fort McHenry. With the winds dying we decided to return to the slip and take in the Fell’s Point Festival. So back we went to the waterfront for the festival. The festival was composed of booths of food and crafts. Outdoor bars and bands were scattered throughout. There were thousands of mostly young people milling about. We returned to meet up with Donna, her mother, and John on their boat for cocktail hour. Marty and Isabel came over on their dinghy to join us. That night we returned to Canton to eat dinner at a street side café across from Momma’s. Upon returning to the boat we enjoyed the fireworks over Ft. McHenry. Sunday dawned with strong winds again. Donna and John took off early to make their way back to Rock Hall while Henry and I motored over to find Marty but they had already departed. So we motored into Inner Harbor for a look-see and then back to Canton Park. The Park was overrun with bicyclists but again no ramp traffic except us. It was a nice weekend with no rain but too much wind made sailing hard.

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.

Racing on August 28

We only had two boats that were available to race so I canceled this race.  Maybe  next month will be better.

Racing on September 25

This is just not our year!  Mother nature did us in by not sending us any rain this summer.  The Corp of Engineers had to release water to push the salt line back down the Delaware thus drawing the lake down to the point that docks were removed and the ramps closed.  Another race day shot!  A week after the closure the rains came in force filling the lake but the docks are “retired” for the season.  The last race is our annual Turkey race on October 30.  We will have to board our boats without the benefit of the docks but this was always the case when the race was held in November and the docks were never in.  As of this writing five boats are signed up.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed!  Tom 610-223-3593

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!

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.

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

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

May 30, 2009 Race Observations              

The turnout of 11 boats was encouraging- sailing is still an activity in Berks! 

The Ferron family was out in force.  Donna sailed with Sean;  John  and brother Darryl sailed with Lou; and Darryl’s son Dylan and daughter Sloan sailed with me.  Dylan and Sloan were new to sailing so it took a couple races to get the hang of it but soon were doing quite nicely.  Dylan took the tiller as we took in the buoys under sail.  Hope we see more of them this season. 

Marty had to work but that did not deter Nancy from driving the boat up to the lake.  A voice from the past, Larry Bortz, took a day off from his drumming chores to crew for Nancy.  It looks like she has really gotten the racing bug after her win at last year’s Turkey race! 

Confusion seemed to reign in the second race as we called an ABC twice around.  Sean and Jerry, our speed monsters ,  got around in no time flat while the rest of the fleet took forever.  An inadvertent sounding of the horn might have thrown the fleet off.  In any event the poor times were thrown out because of the 25% throw-out rule. 

I am looking for someone who will take over the racing committee.  Jan will not be at the next race due to a class reunion and Joan will be moving soon.  If you can spare one Saturday a month and want a front row seat to the action give me a call.

The change requiring the rounding of the buoy marking the finish line seemed to work O.K.  The change was made to keep all boats moving in the same direction at the finish line whether finishing or just rounding the mark as part of the race pursuant to finishing.

The racing seems to be attracting some observers as well as potential members to the club.

Welcome back to Sam McGuire.  He was a member several years ago and raced then.  He has been involved in work the last couple years and now has a little more time to sail.  He had his son, Nate, as crew.

There was a call to run a race around the island.  I didn’t call it because the wind seemed to be dying and I thought the lee side of the island would be slow.  However on hindsight the wind would have been O.K. and the lack of a chase boat would not have been as much a deterrent because with one rounding the fleet would have been closer together and thus able to provide assistance.  Please give me your thoughts for future race days.

We will be starting our mid-week sailing on June 3^rd.  It’s a great way to get your boat out and your skills sharpened.  If you want on our e-mail mailing and have not been getting them please let me know.  Tom Stoner 610-223-3593 (cell) or tjstoner@msn.com.

BMSA RACING HANDICAPS EXPLAINED
What is this handicap system? How is it calculated? The BMSA handicap is not unlike golf or bowling handicaps which compare current performance against previous performance. In this case performance is calculated by dividing the boat’s actual time to finish by the winning time. Corrected time in a race is determined by dividing actual time to finish by the boat’s handicap. Just like a golfer or bowler whose handicap goes down as his performance improves so does the boat’s handicap go down as the boat’s margin of losing decreases. There is no doubt that a new sailor whose performance improves dramatically will be at an advantage over the seasoned sailor who finishes higher but is more consistent.
Handicaps are calculated based on the boat’s last twelve races. The worst 25% performances are discarded- four total races -one race discarded; eight total races- two races discarded, twelve total races-three races discarded. This actually hurts the new sailor more as his performance should be more erratic. For 2009 new racers will be handicapped for the first four races based on the average BMSA handicap divided by the average Portsmouth number for all boats for which we have a handicap times the Portsmouth number of the new boat. At least the model of boat will be taken into consideration to a degree.
Using this system each sailor is able to see how his performance is changing relative to the group as it is recalculated after each day of racing. The Club champion is determined by totaling for each boat the number of boats beaten plus one for each race. This gives more credit on days when there are more boats competing. The plus one above gives credit to those racing over those not competing. Handicaps will not change after race days not having at least four boats competing but points toward the Club championship will increase for all races.