Blue Marsh Sailing Association

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.

This past Saturday was our first race of the year and there were eleven boats out. We know there are a number of boats that haven’t been seen for awhile. Why not make it a point to get that boat out on the lake? This is especially true if you have the time to get up there a little early. There is usually crew available to help if needed. Accuweather is forecasting partly sunny skies, high of 76, and winds 8-16 mph for Wednesday. Plan to begin around 5:00 at the State Hill ramp and head to eat at Ganly’s after the sailing.

Commodore Tony Stajkowski was interviewed for a May 26, 2009 Reading Eagle article. Click below to read the article:
Berks boaters don’t have to travel far to pursue passion

The Blue Marsh Sailing Association has be promoting sailing activities on Blue Marsh and surrounding lakes for almost 30 years.

On April 18, six members of BMSA Team River Rats made a trip to Edgewater, MD and took a kayak tour of the West River, just south of Annapolis, courtesy of the Smithsonian Research Center. The Adairs slept over Friday and Saturday nights with the Vanino’s on Conrad and Barb’s boat, while the Rutolo’s opted to make the round trip drive all in one day.

The weather was absolutely perfect and the scenery was gorgeous. We paddled for about two hours and then had box lunches on the gazebo overlooking the Bay. We saw all sorts of wildlife, including: blue herons, osprey, kingfishers, lion-mantled jellyfish, and a water snake that Barb-the-Snake-Charmer lifted up with her paddle for all to see.

After lunch we drove over the Bay Bridge to check out a launch area for the Spring Cruise and then drove to the Vanino’s boat for happy hour. Conrad entertained us for some time with his amazing sailing stories, including the one about Barb playing Peter Pan while hiking out on Conrad’s catamaran, many years ago.

It was a fun day and a great way to warm up to the new sailing season.

Joe R – Team River Rat

FRIDAY, DEC. 5
6:30 PM
LOWER HEIDELBERG FIRE CO.

DINNER:
HAM – prepared by the Millers
SIDE DISHES – prepared by you at home and brought or all to share
CAKE – provided by BMSA
BEVERAGES – available for a donation, or you may bring your own
SANTA will attend to facilitate our gift exchange, so bring a rapped gift if you want to participate!

Hi Fellow sailors,

We enjoyed a couple nice days of sailing at Nockamixon over the weekend.  Hopefully the hot weather will break by Wednesday as predicted and the thunderstorms will be over so we can go to the Marsh on Wednesday.  If the plan changes we will e-mail.  Plan on getting that boat out-the Regatta is coming up soon.

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