s y s c of o starting line - syscosailing.org
TRANSCRIPT
SMALLYACHTSAILINGCLUBOFOREGON
STARTING LINE
August2019
Deadbeatonastormydouble-rainbowThursdaynightTwilightseries.
AUGUST 2019
From the frontANNA CAMPAGNA - COMMODORE
CONTENTS
Atpresstime,wegointothelastnightoftheweekdayracesfortheyear.Ithasbeenaverybusyend-of-summerforusracers.SYSCOvolunteersransomeflawlessraces,andpulledoffthreeterrificBBQs.TheDualBridgeDuel/ColumbiaCrossingsCupwasasoaker.Wehadarecord7/8inchofrainfalluponit!YourRearCommodoredoesarecaplaterinthisissue.
Ahandfulofbiggerboatsenjoyedtheweek-longDeltaCruise,andtheSt.HelensRaceandCruisehad21competitors.Geronimogotlinehonors,followedcloselybyPHRF,Levelandone-designboatsYeah,Baby,OneMore,EdgewalkerandKestrel.Yourcommodoreandherskipperonourbigboat,Mira(PacificSeacraft34)motoredalltheway,whilefishingandcookingandtakingphotographsoftheslow-movingdownrivercruise.
Aconvivialpot-luckensued(myfavoritekindofdinnerparty!),finishtimeswerereportedandrecordedasbestIcould,andthecovetedSYSCOglasseswerehandedout.Welookforwardtotwonew-formatSeptemberweekendraces,andmypersonalfavoriterace,theRCYCLongDistanceRacetoSt.Helens.
Abigthank-youtotheSYSCOBoardandalloftheRaceCommitteefolks,fromourclubandothers,wholendtheirRCboatsandtheirtimetomaketheseeventshappen.
PhilCampagnaskippersMira,trollingforsalmonundermotor,aheadoftheracerslookingforwindjustafterthestartoftheSYSCOSt.HelensRace&Cruise.
Geronimo is the first to find the breeze after the start of the St. Helens Race & Cruise, and she worked it all the way to get line honors.
Phil enjoys a Pacific Rain in a cheezy cozy someone accidentally left onboard Mira at the St. Helens dock - river booty!
ThursdaynightracersroundingtheleewardmarkduringtheTwilightseries.
AUGUST 2019
From the frontANNA CAMPAGNA - COMMODORE
CONTENTS
Icametotherealizationthatoursailingseasoniswindingdownwhenweweredoingthescoringinourheadsafterthesecond-to-lastThursdaynightrace.ThereisONLYONEMORERACEintheSYSCOSummerTwilightSeries!OurJ/24,BiteMe,isinclosecontentionwithDeadbeat,nowbeingtiedfortheseriesat7pointseach.Itisablissfulrivalrybetweenveryexperienced,competitivesailors,onethathascarriedonforthelastseveralyears.Wewonthefirstseriesthisyear,theywonthesecond.Thestakesarehigh.Welovetheseguys,butwecursethematthesametime.
Ourclosestcompetitorforthirdplaceis10pointsout.Nottodownplaytheracingabilityofalltheotherboatsinourfleet—WhiteTrashhasbeenathreatinseveralraces;StrangeBrewcanreallymesswithyourwindandtakeyoudown;Dinohassomefabuloussailors,butwithoutthe“LuckyShirt”thisseasonseemstobelacking;RushhashadsomeAMAZINGstarts(perhapstheirslowspeeddownwindisduetothefactthattheyareusingBiteMe’sold“Rasta”spinnakerfrom2005—itismostlikelyfullofholes…butweLOVEseeingthatred,green,andgoldchute!);OneMorealwaysseemstobehavingagoodtime,butdriftsdowntonext-to-lasttoooften;ExitStrategyhas6DNCs-possiblyduetothefactthatWesleyDameronisSYSCO’snewNewslettereditorandhehasnotimelefttorace-butwestillcheereverytimeweseeheronthestartingline;Frankly,thenewestboatinthefleet,promisestoturnoutfortheSeptember7thOneDesignrace,andPhilandIwillbeaboard,crewingandcoaching.
Butbacktothatsecond-to-lastThursdaynightrace.BiteMehadaso-sostartinlightwind.Wewereneck-and-neckwithDeadbeat,ourfavoriterival.Theseguysarereallygoodsailors.Theybeat
ustothewindwardmark,butwewerenippingattheirheels.StrangeBrewdistractedusandforcedustodefendourairbysailingtoChina(theWashingtonside).Deadbeatgotsomeseparation,andwasnowsailingupthemiddleoftheriver.Thentheygotlaunchedbyabeautifulpuff.WewerefightingwithBlainonthelight-airWashingtonsidewhileournemesiswasgettingaway.Ourtactician,AndrewHaliburton(12thintheMasters’DivisionatLaserWorlds2015,andwinneroftheTranspacNavigator’sTrophyfor2019-themanisaweapon),hadanideatogetBlainoffourback.
HewhisperedtoPhil,ourskipper,“Slowlybringinyourmaintoclose-hauled.”Close-hauledisaveryS-L-O-WwaytotrimyourmainwhenyouarerunningupriverandthewindisNorth-Northwest,butPhilcomplied.WegassedStrangeBrewtothepointwhereshesimplystoppedmoving,andwewerepropelledslowlyupstream.Brilliant!
Strange Brew can be a formidable threat, and is practiced in the art of messing with your air.
AUGUST 2019
From the frontANNA CAMPAGNA - COMMODORE
CONTENTS
ButnowDeadbeatwashalfwaytotheleewardmark.Weknewitwouldbeimpossibletocatchher.Ourcoursewastwotimesaround.Onthenextdownwindlegweagainmagicallygottrickedintosailingwherethewindwaslight-onWashington(thinkaboutit-thewindiscomingfromthenorthandgetsblockedbyallthosecondos-notgoodwindoverthere).JeffandJennonDeadbeatseemedtohavealeadofahalfmileonus.AndrewandIlookedateachotherjustbeforetheroundingmarkandconcludedthatallthewindwasontheOregonside.PLUS,there’scurrentreliefifyougototheshallowsofOregon.Weroundedthemark,poppedthechuteefficiently,and“tookaflier”—thatis,wehadtodosomethingcrazyifwestoodachanceofcatchingDeadbeat,whowasagainmovingnicelyupthemiddleoftheriver.
Wedidn’texactlybangtheshore,butwewerein12feetofwater,whileDeadbeatwasin60.Thewindclockedsofarnorth-northeastthatweraisedtheJibandtookdowntheChute.WewonderediftheysawusslowlycreepinguptheOregonside.
Here’swheretheBiteMecrewgotLaser-focused.(Sic)Andrewwasconstantlylookingatthesailshapeandthetelltales,andcoachingJosh,ourtrimmer,inhissoothingSouthAfricanaccent,“Bringitin.”“Letitout.”“Bringitin,justafewclicks.”“Letitout”“Phil,Mainin!”“Easemain.”“Josh,in.”
“Anna,verydelicately,moveyourweightforward.Gottagetthesternoutofthewater.”
WemiraculouslycaughtuptoDeadbeat.Weroundedthelastmarkoneboat-lengthahead.AftergettingsettledbackontheupwindrailIlookedbackatPhil.Hisheadwasboweddownandslowlyshakingbackandforth.“Whatjusthappened?!”hesaid,andlookedupwithabigsmile.Ontothefinishwithahorn.Weloveyou,ournemesis,Deadbeat,andalltheJ/24s!Youguysmakeusbettersailors,andyoumakethissportsomuchfunforus.
TuneintonextMonth'sNewslenerfortheexciongconclusiontotheBiteMe/DeadbeatRivalryfor2019!
Andrew Haliburton, with his constant trim feedback and tactician banter, is a lethal weapon. (left)
Deadbeat crossing in front of Bite Me… (right) Photos by Anna Campagna
AUGUST 2019
TheDualBridgeDuel/ColumbiaCrossingsCupliveduptoexpectationsofbeingmemorableandofcourseabitwacky.AbigthankstoNatPowningandhiscrewforbeingRConJunoviaandkeepingusentertainedaswewerewaitingforwind.
Theracestatedoutinnowind,essentiallydriftingacrossthestartinglinewitheveryonesailingwest(youcouldn’tmakeanyheadwayeast),headingforthe“2”buoywithagoodmixtureofone-designs,cruisersandPHRFboats.ThewindpickedupfromazephyrtoalightSWbreezeallowingboatstoroundthemarkandthenmaketheirwaytoeitherOregonorWashingtonsidestoseeifanyshoreeffectwouldhelpout,slowingworkingtheirwaybacktothemiddleofthecourse.
Inthemeantime,verydarkcloudsweregatheringinthedirectionoftheairport.Underthetime-wornsailoraxiom,ifyouwantwindheadtothestorm(aslongasthereisnothunder,lightningorfunnelcloud).SeveralboatsheadedtoBroughtonBeach,ignoringthefewboatsskimmingalongRyan’spoint.Itpaidoffasthewindslowlybuiltto10mphallowingabeamreachwithchutestotheturningmark.
AsintheOklahomamusical,wherethe“windcomesrightbeforetherain”,theraincame,lightatfirst,abitstrongerthedeeperthefleetgottothemark,andthenadelugeofBiblicalproportionsforthelastlegofthecourse.
Nolightningorthunder,justraininbuckets,butfortunatelythewindheldandmostofthefleetfinished.Turnedout,wereceivedamonth’sworthofrainin24hoursandlivedtotellaboutit.AnotherDualBridgeDuelforthememorybank.
From the rear - Dueling the elementsMICHAEL MORRISSEY, REAR COMMODORE
“I'm pretty sure Nat is still out there somewhere on Race Committee…” ~Flying Frog
AUGUST 2019
From the rear - Dueling the elementsMICHAEL MORRISSEY, REAR COMMODORE
CongratstoMistywhoreceivedlinehonors!
You can see the raindrops bouncing off the surface of the river as Breakaway takes down her sails. Photos by Anna Campagna
Nat Powning, PRO, announces the standings at the post-race BBQ at Tomahawk Bay.
AUGUST 2019
Neighbor’s Commentary For SYSCO - Guest Submission
Our new neighbor is an avid boater,
MOTOR
STYLE.She says: I get the boat all prepped, dog on the top look-out and we head out on the
Columbia for the evening.
Up ahead I see the Sailboats.
Gorgeous and graceful.I leave lots of room, driving far to the side of the sailboats to pass them. I proceed slowly and just about get even with the sailboats...
When all of a sudden, one sailboat turns and heads toward me. THEN if one sailboat turns, one by one every sailboat turns, and they
ALL ARE HEADING
TOWARD ME! HOLY #$@&!—I think “What do I do now?” I want to leave them lots of room. But they are all coming my way!
So – I turn tail and motor the other direction on the Columbia. I do love to watch the sailors. But, I’m
sticking to motoring.Sailing looks too complicated for me!
—SubmittedbyJanBurkhardt PhotosbyDenaKent DesignbyAnnaCampagna
AUGUST 2019
Racing reportGREGG BRYDEN - RACE CAPTAIN
InterFleet Mentoring? Jacqueline Pitter, OCSA Vice Commodore/Ranger 20 Fleet Captain
Thunder Pig sailing in the 2017 Twilight Series. Photo courtesy of Dena Kent.
Smoothsailing.That’swhatwe’vebeenhavingallseason.Ican’ttakecreditfortheexcellentracingputonbySYSCOvolunteers,butIwilltaketheheatformakingsafetyapriority.
CertainJ105sandMelgeswererecentlydisqualifiedoverabargeinteraction.Whilethebargecaptainmayhavebeenabithornhappy,IhavetobacktheRaceCommittee’sdecisiontoDSQtheboats.It’sonlyfairtotheotherboatsthatclearedtheshippingchannel,possiblylosingtheirposition,whenthefirst5hornsweresounded.
Mostofussailorsarenot100toncaptainswithbargeexperience,sowecannotsecondguesswhysomebargesleanontheirhornsearlyandoften.Theyarebig,movingfastdownriver,andhavenowheretogotoavoidboatsinthechannel.
Thisissimple:justheadoutofthechannelassoonasyouhearahorn.
Speakingofsafety,didyouknowourOCSAracingrulesincludeSafetyEquipmentRequirements(SERs)?IntheCorinthianspiritofself-refereeingandindividualcaptain’sresponsibility,SYSCOisnotplanningtoinspectordisqualifyboatsrelatedtoSERs,butacompetitorcouldfileaprotestandwouldwin.
Besidescompliancewiththerules,theSER’sjustmakegoodsafetysense.TheSERslistbasicsafetyequipmenteveryboatshouldhave,likeradios,firstaidkits,bailingbuckets,horns,fireextinguishers,andthrowropes.
TheseSERsweredevelopedforusbyourcommunityofverysmart,seasonedsailors.Pleasefollowthem!Dotakealookatthechecklistandfillinanygapsthatapplytoyou.Perhapsfleetscanhaveaninspectiondayandhelpeveryonecomply.
Whileyouareatit,aCoastGuardAuxiliaryVesselSafetyCheckisnotabadidea.YoucangoHEREtosetoneup.
ThereisalotofgreatSYSCOsailingaheadthisyear.I’mespeciallyexcitedaboutthenewOneDesignRegattaandMatchRacingcomingupinSeptember.Thefleetshavehonedtheirskillsallsummerwhichissuretomakeforsomegreatracing.
SYSCOOne-DesignRacesSeptember7&21-details
SailWell,SailSafe.
RC GreggAugust dredging in front of McCuddy's Marina removed a pesky sandbar. Photos by Anna Campagna
AUGUST 2019
Post Season regattas
!9
Saturday,Sept.7
Therewillbeamulti-raceonedayregattafocusingon4-5shortracesthatwilltestyourstartingandboathandlingskills.
Theregattaisopentoallboatssailingattheone-designlevel.
Theremustbeaminimumofthree(3)boatstodesignateaclass.
Firstwarningsignalisat13:00hours.
Additionalraces(upto5races)willberunforallclasses.
ThestartingsequencewillbenotedintheOCSAEventNoticeBoard.
SYSCOhasarrangedforsomepost-seasonOne-DesignRegattasontheColumbiaRiverbetweentheI-5andI-205bridges.
• EachoftheseregattasarefreetoSYSCOmembers.($30fornon-members.)• AllentrantsmustbecurrentOCSAmembers.
Learnmoreabouttheseraces,andregisterhere:https://sailpdx.org/notice-board/
Saturday,Sept.21
Therewillbeamulti-raceonedayregattawith3MatchRaceswithineachfleet.
TheMatchRacingeventisopentoallboatssailingattheone-designlevel.
Theremustbeaminimumoffour(4)boatstodesignateaclass.
Firstwarningsignalisat13:00hours.
Apre-racemeeting(location:TBA)willbeheldat10am.
Thestartingsequencewillbedeterminedatthepre-racemeeting.
HereislinktoaYoutubevideoonMatchRacing.
Whilethevideogivesagoodoverview,itcanbeabitintimidatingifyouarenotfamiliarwiththetacticsofMatchRacing.
Remember,theemphasisontheeventwillbegettinganewsailingexperienceandhavingfun,andapre-raceseminarwillberuntogivesomegeneralrulesoftheroad.
hUps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V9l2WRqcSw
Match racing
AUGUST 2019
Complete list of
Upcoming eventsSept14OWSA"CrazyWigs"BeerCanRace
Sept14&15RCYCLongDistanceRace
Sept7&21SYSCOOneDesignRaces
!10
We NEED your photos! Please include captions and names.
email:[email protected]
Bite Me was first to round Mark #1 (a.k.a. Bouy 2) on the Dual Bridge Duel. Photos by Wesley Dameron
The Kestral crew on high alert as they prepare to round the Windward Mark during the Tuesday Twilight series.
AUGUST 2019
SYSCO Board Meeting minutesAUGUST 5TH, 2019
ATTENDEESGaryBruner,JeffEastes,LynnEastes,GreggBryden,AnnaCampagna,BruceNewton,BillSanborn,ScottStevenson,MichaelMorrissey,MikeStainsby,ArniePolk,PatsyEby,JanBurkhardt.
CALLTOORDERThemeetingwascalledtoorderbyCommodore,AnnaCampagnaat7:00pm
RACINGREPORTAnchoringCommitteeBoats:TherehavebeenseveralincidentslatelyinvolvingdifficultyanchoringCommitteeboats.ArniePolkdescribedhisdifficultieswithanchoringduringarecentrace.Currentandwindmadefordifficultanchoring.Arniehadtokeeptheboatingear.Hehaddroguesoutbuttheywerenoteffective.
Panchohasabiggerdroguethatisavailable.WhatelseshouldwebecarryingonPanchoforcommitteeboats?TheconsensusofthegroupisthatequipmentistheresponsibilityoftheskipperforthevolunteerCommitteeboat.SYSCOshouldnotbeloaninganchorsandberesponsibleforanchoringequipment.
Action:GreggtodevelopachecklistofminimumequipmentforCommitteeboats.• Wehaveonly2-3boatsthatstepupand
volunteertheirboatforCommitteeboat.Notfairtothosewhodoitoverandover.
• Severaleventsarecomingup.WearelackingracecommitteeboatsforDuelBridgeDuelandtheRaceandCruisecomingup.
• PoorattendanceatShortHandSoaker
• GaryBrunersuggestedcheckingboatstoseethattheyhavetherequiredsafetyequipmentsuchasbucket,radio,anchor,etc.MikeStainsbysuggestedthatatthebeginningoftheseason,theyreceivethesafetyrules,signitandsenditback.Greggfeelsthatthisistoodifficult.TherewasmuchdiscussionaboutthefactthatSYSCOisnotanenforcementagencyforsafetyequipmentandtheresponsibilityforsafetyequipmentrestswiththeskipper.
Action:GreggwillputalistingofrequiredsafetyequipmentintheSeptembernewsletter.GreggsuggestspushingenforcementdowntothefleetlevelandnothavingSYSCObetheenforcers.
• MichaelMorrisseystatedthatthereisaworkingcommitteethatiscoordinatingSeptemberracingeventsOnthiscommitteeisMichaelMorrissey,CraigGarrison,DennyDamore,DerekPolzin
• September7th:Onedesignrace• September21st:Matchraceevent
(cont’d)
Sunset from McCuddy’s. Photo by Josh Raymond
AUGUST 2019
Sysco Board meeting minutes - cont’dAUGUST 5TH, 2019
MEMBERSHIPREPORT:JANBURKHART116members.JaniscoordinatingwithRaceCommitteetomakesurethatalloftheparticipantshavepaid.Jansuggeststhatattheendoftheseason,gettingreadyfor2020,werevisitwhatpeoplegetforSYSCOmembership.Considerpullinginotherdiscountsformembers.
TREASURERREPORTWehaveinourbankaccounts:Checking$7748.43Saving$5128.88.Wereceived$600fromRegattaNetwork.Thereis$5200allocatedfortrophies.JimShawandGaryBrunerwilldoasurveyofthemembershiptoseewhatpeoplewantinthewayoftrophiesandprizes.Greggsaysthatitispossibletoputpeople’sshirtsizes,etc.inRegattaNetwork,however,JimShawsaidthatshirtswereextremelydifficultlasttime.
Action:Surveywillbecomingoutwithinthenextcoupleofweeks(MichaelMorrissey)
NEWSLETTER/WEBMASTER/MARKETINGREPORTWesleyDamerontookoverthenewsletteranditisnowbeingdoneinadifferentplatform.WilltrytogetitoutinthenextfewdaystoadvertisetheDuelBridgeDuel.BoardmembersencouragedtogettheirarticlesdonewithinaweekoftheBoardMeeting.Websiteseemstobeworkingwell,exceptforCommodoreemailnotworking.RaceCaptaindoesnotworkeither.
Action:AnnawillcontactKevintofixtheemails.Marketingteamhasworkedwithamarketingexpert(Holly)tofigureouthowtomarketthe“GrowtheSport”event.Lookingtowardaninternnextyear.
OTHERBUSINESSGaryBrunerisliaisonwiththeCRYA(ColumbiaRiverYachtAssociation).CRYAtriestocoordinatecruisingschedulesofallofthegroupsontheriversothatmultiplegroupsdonotarriveatacruisingdestinationallatthesametime.CruisingcalendarsareputtogetherAugust1stoftheprioryear.Basedonthis,OCSAputstheirdatestogetheralittlelate.
Action:GreggwillsenddatesforSYSCORaceandCruisefor2020toGaryBrunerforplacementintheCRYAcruisingguide.Ofnote,thereisanewvendortotakeoverSandIslandmanagement.
Panchoreplacement:JeffandThomashavebeenshoppingonCraigslistforreplacementboatsforPancho.Proposingayear-endassessmentofthehulltodetermineifitneedsreplacementsoonerorlater.IntheeventthatsomethinghappenstoPancho,wewillbeoutsignificantmoney(approximately8-10K)forareplacement.WearealsoopentosomeonedonatingaboattoSYSCO.
Howdowegettothelevelofmoneythatweneed?Wejustneedaboat,notthemotorandtrailer.Doweneedtoselloffwhatwehaveinthetrailerandmotortoraisemoremoney?
Action:Annawillcontacttheotherclubs(includingColumbiaCrossings)toseeiftheyhaveanyleadsforboatsorgetdonationstheydonotneed.
MEETINGADJOURNEDAT8:10PM
Exit Strategy crew can’t seem to race, but they can apparently drink just fine. Photo by Jacob Camargo