2004 SEASON RECAP
The season officially began on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The Laser fleet was slow to get started and had their first two races on June 20th. Thereafter they raced whenever the wind and regatta schedule permitted. The lead changed three times during the season and only 2.76 points separated first and second place when the season ended. The Laser fleet completed 15 races with 7 skippers competing. Mark Newman won the season so now there is a new name on the season trophy.
The Sunfish fleet started its season on the first day, sailing three races and ended up completing 19 races for the season (about twice as many as in past years) with 5 skippers competing. The Sunfish fleet began using a different starting procedure in 2004 to generate interest in racing. Basically, the winner of the first race started the next race 10 seconds after the starting signal, and as long as that same skipper kept winning, started each subsequent race another 10 seconds further back. As soon as some other skipper won a race that skipper started the next race 10 seconds late. This closed the gap between the competitors and the season ended with only 9 points between first and second place. No competitor won more than 2 races in a row and each competitor won at least 1 race.
THE 2008 RACING SEASON
Racing will take place beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoons again this year with no starts after 4:00 p.m. The fleets will be given separate starting sequences. According to the KYC regatta schedule there are 16 non-regatta Sundays available for racing this season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. That means a lot of races are possible this year. We may even be able to squeeze in a few races after regattas.
The course sailed is generally a single triangle with marks rounded to port and with the start/finish line in the middle of the windward leg but check with the Race Committee or the fleet to be sure. We encourage Junior Sailors to join our fleets. Our fleet members are always available to help with boat rigging and tips for racing and rig tuning are freely given.
It would be nice to have a lot of skippers of all ages competing this year. If you don't have a Laser or Sunfish there are 2 Lasers and over 10 Sunfish available at the Yacht Club. If you have a boat, please join us. Big fleets are big fun!
The Laser fleet has a very special perpetual trophy with a good story behind its creation. The Laser and Sunfish fleets used to race on Saturday mornings and then meet for coffee & bad carb load-ups afterward. The Laser fleet decided during one of these after-race sessions to put the artistic talents of its members to work on coming up with a season trophy. Soon the trophy design was sketched out on a paper napkin. The trophy became a reality when three Laser sailor/artists joined forces. Ceramic artist Allen Bennett crafted a celadon, Laser bas-relief ceramic globe. Pewter artist Leon Fontier designed and made a pewter top and sides. Woodworking artist Bruce Bozman made the base. It's awesome!
The Sunfish fleet has been slow to
get a perpetual trophy but promises that it will have one soon.
It will be a plaque with the Sunfish logo on the top left, "Sunfish
Fleet Season Championship" on the top right, and the year
and top 3 finishers on each row below. The trophy will then be
on display in the Clubhouse along with the Laser trophy.