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Lightning Southern Circuit 2010 		Team McLube

 


The Publisher
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Mar 12, 2010, 11:01 AM

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This is the official thread for the 2010 Lightning Southern Circuit.

The Lightning Southern Circuit consists of three regattas endorsed by the ILCA, the Deep South Regatta at the Savannah Yacht Club, Savannah, GA, March 13 to 14, the Miami Midwinter Regatta at the Coral Reef Yacht Club, Coral Gables, FL, March 16 to 17 and the Winter Championship at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg, FL, March 19 to 21.




ASmithLinton
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Mar 12, 2010, 11:03 AM

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Lay down Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" over some power chords, sample in some Ludacris "My Chick Badder," and patch in a little of Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get it Started (Uh-Huh)," and voila! a soundtrack for the beginning of the International Lightning Class's annual roadtrip regatta extravaganza, the Southern Circuit.

Three events in 10 days, the Southern Circuit takes an international fleet of 19-foot Lightnings (Sparkman and Stephens 1938 design sloop) into a variety of racing venues over hundreds of miles of highway.

Racing starts Saturday, March 13 at the Deep South Regatta on the tricksie confluence of the Savannah and Skidaway Rivers in Savannah Georgia. Monday is a travel day. Tuesday and Wednesday puts the international fleet (minus most of our Chilean friends who had to stay home this year) on Biscayne Bay for the Midwinter Championship in Miami. Thursday is another travel day. The Circuit finishes up on Tampa Bay at the Lightning Winter Championship out of St. Petersburg, Florida.

But just now, many of the competitors are dusting off their Lightnings -- chipping ice perhaps -- and loading essential gear into cars and dufflebags and anticipating a week's worth of tradition, celebration, competition, and quasi-family-reunion as this event -- in its 46th year! -- starts getting started.

With this forum thread, we'll attempt to update with news, anecdotes, photos and results daily for the next 10 days or so, and welcome commentary from those sailing, wanting to sail, or wondering why those people would DO such a thing with a valuable week's worth of vacation.




The Publisher
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Mar 12, 2010, 11:08 AM

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Southern Circuit "don't forget this" list:

o Sunscreen
o Skin so Soft and dryer sheets (for gnats in Savannah)
o VHF radio (and charger)
o ILCA membership cards
o Checkbook
o MasterCard or Visa (for club charging privileges at each yacht club)
o AAA membership (so you don't need it)
o Spare trailer tire
o Life jackets and safety gear (tow line)
o Foul weather gear (so we won't need it)
o "Nice" clothes for the banquet in St. Pete
o "Work" clothes for messing around on the boat
o Tylenol, Advil or pain reliever of choice (aches will find you!)
o Sunglasses, hat, spray top, sailing shoes/boots
o Starting watch, tack tick (recharge it in the sun)
o Lg Ziploc baggies (to keep sandwiches and SI's dry on the boat)
o Fleece jacket, in case it gets cold, yes this can happen even in Florida






Laura Jeffers
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Mar 12, 2010, 12:50 PM

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We are in the Chalet and on the way!! Amy Smith Linton is at the helm with Nick Farina in the co-pilot position. Will is snacking and I am working on the laptop. I love my new phone!! Internet in the car, how wonderfull! Current hull speed is 70 mph and Will has discovered that walking in the Chalet underway is like walking on a J24 when it's blowing 20. Just passed the Museum of Drag Racing and hope to be in Savannah around 8pm. See you all there!


LintonLightning
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Mar 12, 2010, 6:56 PM

Post #5 of 37 (16970 views)
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The Chalet has arrived, after threading our way between rainstorms. See a couple dozen boats in parking lot, it's foggy, seems like a bunch of sailors might be stuck in Atlanta at the airport? Jalepeno's Mexican is the rendez-vous of choice tonight, but I am calling it an early night.


LintonLightning
***

Mar 13, 2010, 9:34 AM

Post #6 of 37 (16919 views)
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Saturday morning in Savannah: the rocking chairs on the porch of the Savannah YC are rocking without human aid. Small dogs are being blown off their rhinestoned chains. The sand-gnats are like tiny bbs.

It's blowing around 20 under cloud-dotted blue skies. The tide is smoking out, and most of the 30-boat fleet has launched.

Word on the street is that the RC will be running windward-leewards abeam of the yacht club. This might mean that the racers will NOT be hoisting a spinnaker mid-windward leg to get around the point. This might mean the traditional dogleg up the other river will not result in a big stack-up at that one piling. This might mean we won't see the stray Lightning making its way through the reeds in an attempt to avoid the current. Wait. Belay that. No telling what these racers will do.

Dave Starck offered a mini-seminar on racing these current-y waters. Advice included the warning of marking the centerboard so that while hugging the shore, one does not run aground with the rudder. He emphasized the importance of not catching a stay or a halyard on one of the channel marks, of not plowing into the docks under the influence of the tide, of not sailing so close to shore that a crew member is forced to hop out and push the boat out of the mud.

Races begin in a half-hour or so...


LintonLightning
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Mar 13, 2010, 1:56 PM

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Top ten: Dave Starck 3 pts, 2 Ed Adams 6 pts, Marcus Eagan 9 pts, Al Terhune 10 pts, Brian Hayes, 10pts, David Spira 10 pts, Will Tyner, 11 pts, John Faus 18 pts, Tom Allen 20 pts, Dick Hallagan 21 points.

Preliminary results: http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/results/2010/socircuit/deepsouth.asp

Two races in big shifty wind, lots of carnage, all safe ashore, racing continues Sunday morning with a single race.





davidlightning
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Mar 13, 2010, 2:13 PM

Post #8 of 37 (16873 views)
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after an uneventful trip to savannah, we sailed two fun races today. a bit chilly, but lots of action and excitement. Bro Joe and Cuz Ellen were very good (of course) on the boat. It was a perfect day to get back into racing. more later.


rufusT
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Mar 13, 2010, 4:53 PM

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Overheard at the Captain’s Quarters

Proud spouse/crew: “We port-tacked the fleet and lead to the weather mark and only the first pack caught us…but then we found out that you know how sometimes, someone doesn’t get the big picture? Yeah, and you can’t GIVE him the big picture? Yeah.”

RC member 1 to RC member 2: “Remember, it’s 9:30 tomorrow for the First General Recall – I mean first start.”

Skipper/swimmer: “When I took off my foul weather gear in the shower, a big bucket of water whooshed out.”

Skipper to RC: “Well no, you couldn’t start a race with all those boats flipped over!”

The owner of two short mast-sections: “Our day? In a word….broke.”

Rescue boat driver to RC: “I could have opened a convenience store with all the stuff we picked up – gloves, coolers, you name it.”

Multiple-boat-owning-family skipper: “Dad doesn’t want it to be a pain in the ass for all of us, just for me.”

Related crew’s commentary: “I’m just psyched to be sailing with Neil Fowler and Ed Adams.” Response: “Yeah, after ONE day.”
Also: “Ed said the Lightning was a lot faster than he thought it was going to be.”

Random conversation: “That bumper sticker is going to get you killed. Which one? You know, ‘Who would Jesus bomb?’ ”

“So we are doing a set-jibe, and as we are jibing, I see that the sheet is boned on tight with the twing on, so I say #$@!, and then grab the twing off, and while I am doing that, the vang catches my life jacket and pins me lowside, so my head is entirely under water. I am tucking and rolling and then I get free, dash to the high side, over onto the board, the boat rights and then we are like CHOO CHOOO!”



The Publisher
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Mar 14, 2010, 6:01 AM

Post #10 of 37 (16723 views)
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Photos from Amy Linton

Davetalk.jpg
Mr. Deep South, Dave Starck, shares some insight with the racers before the skipper's meeting.

Lilcrew.jpg
The newest Deep South competitor at age 3 weeks. Will be working the middle of the boat, splitting the difference between foredeck mamma and skipper dad.

mandown.jpg
Rum front already?

Prez.jpg
ILCA president Brian Hayes. Quote, "23kts out of the west. Hm. I might be getting too old for that."

Tire.jpg
Road warrior: I95 has teeth

WTF.jpg
Boat name: WTF
Attachments: Davetalk.jpg (59.3 KB)
  lilcrew.jpg (35.6 KB)
  Mandown.jpg (58.8 KB)
  Prez.jpg (44.9 KB)
  Tire.jpg (42.8 KB)
  WTF.jpg (50.0 KB)


The Publisher
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Mar 14, 2010, 6:05 AM

Post #11 of 37 (16720 views)
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Photos from Amy Linton

Carn 1
Tommy Allen using flame to unbend a set of spreaders

Carn2
This spinnaker pole should not have that bend or dent.

Carn3
Mast part a and b.

Party
Random partiers
Attachments: Carn1_1.jpg (51.6 KB)
  Carn2.jpg (58.8 KB)
  Carn3.jph.jpg (59.6 KB)
  Party.jpg (41.9 KB)


LintonLightning
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Mar 14, 2010, 8:41 AM

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11:30 the boats are coming back to the dock, Sunday. Marcus and Dave among the first to shore. It's very windy, but with the tide at its height, at least it's a quick hoist out of the water. Results soon.


The Publisher
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Mar 14, 2010, 5:23 PM

Post #13 of 37 (16478 views)
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2010 Deep South Regatta
Savannah Yacht Club - March 13-14

Final results: http://www.lightningclass.org/...t/deepsouthfinal.asp


LintonLightning
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Mar 14, 2010, 6:38 PM

Post #14 of 37 (16437 views)
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Just a few last bits:
Josh Goldman and crew won the fabulous Mid-River award.
The fleet gobbled up some delicious chicken wings and collected their prizes and headed south by around 2:30.
I myself write from Tampa, where I have parked the Chalet and am sad not to be joining the fleet in Miami. A parade of Stars was headed North on I-95; I counted Stars and kept catching up to the Lightning fleet as they went very fast down the road -- but apparently others had to stop more often than the Chalet. Sorry Fausie-baby, I think it was you, I saw you pulled over, but couldn't rein in the big rig to get to the shoulder...
Best wishes to the racers and their friends!


LintonLightning
***

Mar 14, 2010, 6:40 PM

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Oh, and PS to Jay Mueller and Mo Castruccio: it's no fun playing your famous road-trip game, "Kill the Cow," without a co-pilot.


The Publisher
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Mar 16, 2010, 5:47 PM

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Miami Midwinter Regatta
Coral Reef Yacht Club, Coral Gables, FL
March 16 to 17

Day 1 results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/...mi_results_day_1.htm


LintonLightning
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Mar 17, 2010, 6:24 AM

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Even from Tampa, I can hear the caterwauling: "Man, it's never like this here."

Evidently, the racers in Miami don't have the heart to blog the details, but here are a few comments, "Wow! Best venue in North America dished out some crazy conditions!" from Skip Dieball. And from Ryan Ruhlman: "Trailing Terhune by two points. Got to close the deal tomorrow."

I don't know what's crazy about it, I just report what I hear. Anyone else? News? Rumor? innuendo? photos?


LintonLightning
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Mar 17, 2010, 7:10 AM

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Okay, okay, so here's some of the story: Monday, the travel day, was nice, and something over a dozen Lightnings took part in Skip Diebold's on-the-water seminar, picking up speed and boat-handling tips.
41 boats are on the line in Miami, and, according to my informant, there are DOZENS of babies on shore at the event. Repopulating the class from within, perhaps?

Tuesday's racing was in variable and shiiiiiiifty winds out of the northwest. The wind up and down as well as all around...Breeze off land on Biscayne Bay? Shudder. There were many black flagged boats (hence the high scores for some).


LintonLightning
***

Mar 17, 2010, 7:16 AM

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So, after racing the gang came ashore and enjoyed Coral Reef's hospitality minus the traditional Hula-hooping contest. According to Southern Circuit VP Laura Jeffers, folks can get ready to get their Hula on Thursday night in St. Petersburg, the contest to be held, ironically enough, adjacent to the baked potato bar at the club.

After racing, select, battle-fit teams went to the Sand Bar. Apparently, it was bikini-top night. Women in bikini tops drank free. Men in bikini tops were denied admittance.

Today, Wednesday, at local time 10:00, the fleet was on shore. Racing is set to start at 10:30. However, even WITHOUT an AP flying, the racers are united in their optimism: it's grey, utterly still, and no one expects to race right away.

Rumor has it that Carol Ewing will be organizing Wheelbarrow races on the lawn at the Coral Reef YC. I imagine the YC regulars (it's Ladies Day, after all) will get a kick out of this. Skippers will be the wheel, crew the handles. Brian Hayes (skipper, mind you) will be running book on the event from the relative safety of the bar...

Happy St. Pat's everyone.


LintonLightning
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Mar 17, 2010, 12:35 PM

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According to a FB update from Skip Diebold, it looks like no racing today in Miami, so the fleet is streaming North to St. Pete. Green beer (or near-beer) all around!


The Publisher
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Mar 17, 2010, 3:39 PM

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In Reply To
Miami Midwinter Regatta
Coral Reef Yacht Club, Coral Gables, FL
March 16 to 17

Day 1 results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/...mi_results_day_1.htm

After the Lightning Southern Circuit completed their first stop in Savannah, GA on Sunday, they travelled Monday south to the Miami Midwinter Regatta at Coral Reef YC. Forty-one boats were on the water Tuesday for day one of racing in variable and shifty winds. However, these conditions were better than what the fleet saw Wednesday, which proved inadequate for racing, but ideal for other St Patrick’s Day events. After three races, the winning team was Allan Terhune, Jr/ Sarah Evans/ Sarah Mergenthaler, just two points ahead of Ryan Ruhlman in second and Ed Adams in third. Next stop: St Petersburg.

Final results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/...mi_final_results.htm




LintonLightning
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Mar 19, 2010, 5:29 AM

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Friday morning dawns very clear and a bit chilly; 56 Lightnings in St. Pete, perhaps the smallest fleet in recent memory, but as ever deep in talent.

Thursday was a travel-and-recover-from-St.-Pat's-Day, with various class meetings, competitor meetings, baked-potato-bar parties, and --for some hearty souls -- gathering around the Tiki Hut at St. Pete YC.

Brian Hayes did an on-shore clinic, quite well attended, and Nick Tunney and Al Terhune did an on-the-water clinic for more hearty souls. With winds gusting into the mid-twenties, there were some laps swum by sailors, but it's all to the good of the learning curve, so I heard.

ILCA secretary Jan Davis is in town, so we should see plenty of pictures posted on the lightningclass.org site, now that the site is up and running again.


LintonLightning
***

Mar 19, 2010, 12:52 PM

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Friday afternoon. One race in puts Rob Ruhlman, Al Terhune and Ed Adams in the top spots. The breeze looks to be very light, although as a plus, it's sunny and warm! Perhaps that means the sea breeze that we see in Tampa will also be showing up at the St. Pete waterfront. Awaiting news on the fleet to know if there will be/is a second and third race today.


Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 19, 2010, 4:49 PM

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After waiting for 3 hours between races, the race committee did a great job and started race "number 2", but the wind gods had other plans. Race number 2 was mercifully abandoned after two legs. Skip Dieball lead the fleet around the course. Long tow in to the docks.

After racing festivities occurred on the docks with the annual JL "memorial" cocktail party.

Hoping for better breeze tomorrow but the forcast is looking better for a golf day! We'll keep you posted in the morning. Thanks for all the hits, we wish YOU were here!


Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 19, 2010, 8:26 PM

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St. Petersburg Yacht Club
63rd Annual Winter Lightning Championship
March 18-21, 2010
All Boats
Lightnings Class Series Summary, Preliminary Pl B# Crew Subg. From 1 T 1 50 Ed Adams, Neal Fowler & PJ Schaffer Middletown,RI 1 1 2 35 Allan Terhune, Joann Fisher & Rick Bernstein Arnold, MD 2 2 3 57 Rob Ruhlman, Abby Ruhlman & Dave Werley Cleveland, OH 3 3 4 49 Matt Fisher, Greg Fisher & Stu Fisher Westerville, OH 4 4 5 46 Kip Hamblet, Stu Nickerson & Ann Brush Masters Altamonte Springs, FL 5 5 6 25 David Starck, Jody Starck & Ian Jones Amherst, NY 6 6 7 40 Larry MacDonald, Joy MacDonald. & Adam MacDonald Carlisle, ON 7 7 8 52 Marcus Eagan, Marc Eagan & Kippy Chamberlain Madisonville, LA 8 8 9 99 Skip Dieball, Tom Stark & Kristin Medwid Wyandotte, MI 9 9 10 36 Justin Coplan, Joan Hurban & Gary Hurban West Nyack, NY 10 10 11 21 Jack Jones, John Steiner & Tom Doran Masters Henderson Harbor, NY 11 11 12 64 Peter Godfrey, Wayne Knibloe & Kathryn Maloney Grand Island, NY 12 12 13 51 Josh Goldman, Nick Farina & Mandi Markee Westport, CT 13 13 14 72 Paul Luisi, Dale Barney & DR Hodge Middletown, NJ 14 14 15 79 Jim Davis, Christine Davis & Les Lashaway Masters Toledo, OH 15 15 16 39 Warren Emblidge, Mark Grinder & Kevin Cavalieri Buffalo, NY 16 16 17 45 Bill Cabrall, Mariel Yarbrough & Norm Jarvis Centennial, CO 17 17 18 69 Will Tyner, Reese Wilkins & Tim Don'tKnow Chapin, SC 18 18 19 23 Maury Benbow, Bonnie Benbow & Tony Burkhart Masters Yardley, PA 19 19 20 24 Ryan Ruhlman, Nick Turney & Martha Fisher Cleveland, OH 20 20 21 41 Mike Welch, Brian Beaudet & Fred Blackmer Birmingham, MI 21 21 22 22 David Spira, Randy Shore & Ty Whitman Denver, CO 22 22 23 67 Mark Allen, Mark Whatley & Beth Groesbeck Clawson, MI 23 23 24 09 Tom Allen, Jay Mueller & Valerie Tardif-Holly Kenmore, NY 24 24 25 55 Richard Hallagan, Dan Pope & Hendrix TenEyck Masters Fairport, NY 25 25 26 81 Bill Johns, Guilherme Castelao & Kenny Fourspring Palmetto Bay, FL 26 26 27 59 Francis Hanson, Linda Epstein & Ben Powers Orefield, PA 27 27 28 54 Aroldo De Rienzo, Pablo 1 Guzman & Pablo 2 Cervantes Masters Mexico DF 28 28 29 11 John Sawyer, Becky Sawyer & Dan Morton Masters Wilmington, NC 29 29 30 38 George Sipel, Jeff Hagman & John Hagman Sylvania, OH 30 30 31 27 Bryan Hayes, Laura Jefferies & Will Jeffers Milford, CT 31 31 32 14 William Hofmeister, Mandy Hofmeister & Chris LaBorde Masters Nashville, Tn 32 32 33 12 Edward Wagnon, Bryan Bahler & Stewart Forsceco Masters Muncie, IN 33 33 34 16 William Faude, Debbie Probst & Jared Drake Chicago, IL 34 34 35 17 John Faus, Cortney Lee & Jimmy Roe Harvey Cedars, NJ 35 35 36 77 Mark Schneider, Bobby Martin & Erin Kilkline Moorestown, NJ 36 36 37 43 David Watts, Robert Watts & Ian Sanderson Oceanport, NJ 37 37 38 56 Adam Prettyman, Nick Lintunen & Darcy Fuller Essex, ON 38 38 39 68 Joel Humphrey, Molly Hopkins & Rachel Taylor Keego Harbor, MI 39 39 40 66 Glen Carlin, Zac Carlin & Cameron Carlin Masters Safety Harbor, FL 40 40 41 47 George Koch, Libby Koch & Georgeann Craig Masters Southold, NJ 41 41 42 31 Gary Sowden, Monica Trejo & Matthew Princing Midland, MI 42 42 43 29 Pam Burke, Jim Burke & John Coolidge Masters Duluth, GA 43 43 44 32 Rod Ratcliffe, Scott Potter & Lucas Hjelle Masters Southport, CT 44 44 45 19 John Stromberg, Mike Parrow & Lynn Umbarger Troy, MI 45 45 46 37 Chris Princing, Jon Banner & Bill Coberly Saginaw, MI 46 46 47 42 Dick Moyer, John Depenbrack & Chris Brown Oaks, PA 47 47 48 15 Mike Hecker, Gary Reinheimer & Rick Dishaw Masters West Bloomfield, MI 48 48 49 18 Starling Mikell, Kathy Wild & Tom Compton Masters York, PA 49 49 50 02 Bill Buckles, Ed Edgell & Greg Florian Masters Lorain, OH 50 50 51 88 John Bates, Barbara Hill & Michael Barry Masters Lancaster, PA 51 51 52 84 John Garrison, Ray Peters & Norm Burns West Bloomfield, MI 52 52 53 63 George Harrington, Paul Michalowski & Cole Barney Atlantic Highlands, NJ 53 53 54 33 Jeanne Herman, Cal Herman & Kristen Herman New Orleans, LA 54 54 55 28 Trevor Prior, Mike Wertz & Gary Hoffer Biglerville, PA 55 55 56 10 Ian Edwards, Lindy Edwards & Diana Strickler Masters Australia 56 56 57 34 Philip Lange, Jonathan Lange & Bob Muehlenkamp Rochester, NY 57 57

R.C.Chair: Tom Farquhar
Jury Chair: Ann Newton
19 Mar, '10, 16:05
St. Pete Scorer




Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 20, 2010, 6:10 AM

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It's Saturday morning and the action has been postponed for a few hours due to lack of wind. Racing may continue at 2pm if the sea breeze comes in. Stay tuned.


Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 20, 2010, 10:40 AM

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Fleet leaving the dock, 2:30 warning.


Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 20, 2010, 4:06 PM

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Two races completed on Saturday! Results attached. Also included the Master's Division Results. All of the Master's are competiting in both the Championship division and the Master' Division. There are 18 Master Team's competiting. Skipper must be 55 or older and the total crew must be 130 years or more in total.
More commentary later. I'm late for the banquet.
Attachments: LightningDay2.htm (14.0 KB)
  MastersDay2.htm (4.80 KB)


The Publisher
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Mar 21, 2010, 9:38 AM

Post #29 of 37 (13632 views)
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The banquet was a big success Saturday night. Marilyn Maras from Lake Pymatuning, Fleet 36, received the Karl Smither award for her lifetime of dedication to teaching sailing to juniors and racing Lightnings. The George Fisher sportsmanship trophy was presented by Greg and Matt Fisher to Kip Hamblet. More details will be posted to the website in the next few days.Sunday we woke up to strong breezes and a front blowing through Tampa Bay, after the front the breeze settled a bit and the Race Committee was able to get off one race. Results will be available soon. They will not have a second race as their is lightning moving into the area.
--
Jan Davis
Secretary
International Lightning Class Association
303-325-5886
office@lightningclass.org
www.lightningclass.org


LintonLightning
***

Mar 21, 2010, 10:47 AM

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It's raining, sorry to say, so while the racers are tucking their boats back into their hull covers and taking down masts between the odd clap of thunder, let me paste a quick link to the final results:

http://www.spyc.org/...amp;NS=PR&APP=58

Looks like first-time Southern Circuiter Ed Adams (Who, by the way, suggested that EVERYONE buy a Lightning, since they are cheap, easy to haul around, and have an excellent field of competitors. And that was in Savannah!) took the top spot, with Jim Davis claiming the top masters title.

I expect Laura Jeffers and Jan Davis are calculating the Southern Circuit overall results over at the Sailing Center in St. Pete, even as I type in the cozy, rain-free calm of my office. These results, more details, photos, and the like should post tonight.





Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 21, 2010, 11:27 AM

Post #31 of 37 (13586 views)
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The 2010 Southern Circuit has come to an end. Today provided strong winds and some rain. There were many general recalls with the shifty wind conditions. Once racing got underway we had quite a few boats capsizing, including a few on the up wind leg!

Final results for St. Pete Championship and Master Divisions are attached. Overall Southern Circuit Results are also attached.

To re-cap:
St. Pete - Ed Adams, 13 pts, Matt Fisher, 22 pts, Skip Dieball, 30 pts, Marcus Eagan, 32 pts and Larry MacDonald, 39 pts.

St. Pete Masters Div - Jim Davis 17 pts, Dick Hallagan 18 pts, Jack Jones 22 pts

Southern Circuit - Ed Adams 32, Allan Terhune 45 pts, Marcus Eagan 52 pts, Brian Hayes 83 pts and Ryan Ruhlman 85 pts.
Attachments: Lightning..htm (14.8 KB)
  MasterFinal.xls (15.0 KB)
  SC2010.xls (47.5 KB)


Laura Jeffers
**

Mar 21, 2010, 6:26 PM

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Corrected Southern Circuit Results.
Attachments: SC2010.xls (45.0 KB)


LintonLightning
***

Mar 22, 2010, 4:24 AM

Post #33 of 37 (13221 views)
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Jan Davis has posted a nice slide show of photos from St. Petersburg:

http://lightningclass.org/...ocircuit/photos3.asp





Checkmate
*

Mar 22, 2010, 3:39 PM

Post #34 of 37 (12686 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Lightning Southern Circuit 2010 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
The Lightning Circuit is over... Now time for the season

Another circuit has come to an end and if you missed it you missed another great time, the people, the places, and even the sailing. YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDER for next year. 10 days, doing something you enjoy away from work, away from the issues around the house, a total distraction.

Savannah --- A great place to set up your boat for the first time. A place where everyone starts the race with an equal chance of winning for the new sails, expert crews, and slick new boats don't really make a difference.... the race course itself levels the playing field. And the food was great. The town itself is Savannah in every way, but they take Saint Patrick's day pretty seriously.... just ask those under 30 what they thought of the River Walk.

Miami --- A paradise mean for those who sail. While it wasn't as warm and the wind wasn't as predictable the racing was great..... And the food was great.... Every time we go there has to be a dolphin experience, while this year they didn't hit my boat with their tail as they did last year during the last race.... but we did see them. You have to get a hotel within walking distance for everything is there, the food market, boat stores,..... it is all there. What a way to relax.

St Petersburg --- More racing, more food, and more sun.... If you didn't get to talk to people either leaning over their boats, or with a beer before you did there. More boats,more parties and a great dinner. Don't lie... we all enjoyed it. The racing.... well it is sailboat racing... we had every condition you could imagine from drifter to screamers. But, I promise you even those who went swimming in the breeze... they had a good time.

So schedule it! You will have a good time.

I have.....


Weknibloe
*

Mar 22, 2010, 3:43 PM

Post #35 of 37 (12681 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Lightning Southern Circuit 2010 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
Team Godfrey "UPDATE" 3/20/10

Laura Jeffers & Amy Linton encouraged creative Lightning "writers" to post here at Scuttlebutt.
I've had some fun keeping track of our boat and our "Team's" adventures.
This is a "Cut & Paste" of my personal "Team Godfrey" journal entry / Sat AM March, 20
Thanks everyone..., for taking a peek...!
Wayne E, Knibloe [Buffalo, NY]

Hello ALL... "UPDATE: Sat AM [3/20] - "2010 Lightning Winter Regatta [St. Petersburg, FL]

Yesterday [Fri., 3/19] the official race results for whole the day were on the books by noontime. Race #1 got off shortly after 10:00 AM, in a 6-0 knot, NW breeze; and was completed by mid-day. The wind had shifted steadily to the right all morning and required a mid-race weather mark position change from a heading of 315 degrees to 335.

Between noon and 1 PM it subsided to almost nothing. The incoming tide began have more effect on the boats than the wind. The committee boat, set by the current, watched & waited for conditions to settle with her stern pointed “upwind” for part of the long intermission.

The 2nd race which was ultimately abandoned didn’t begin until around 3:00. The wind had shifted a full 180 degrees and was out of the south. After two legs the wind dwindled down to the point where the race committee mercifully determined we were done for the day.

Team Godfrey had good showings in both races: 12th in a fleet of 57 in the 1st race; and was closing steadily on the leaders in the 2nd. That gives confidence for our prospects for the rest of the regatta which was postponed this morning, for lack of wind, until this afternoon at 1 PM.


The Publisher
*****


Apr 12, 2010, 8:37 AM

Post #36 of 37 (7536 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Lightning Southern Circuit 2010 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
Since his tenure amid one design classes earned him the U.S. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award in 1987 and 1991, the pull of professional sailing has taken Ed Adams away from his roots. Here is his story for how he returned:

My journey to the Lightning Class began in January of 2009, in the crowded boarding lounge at Key West airport, after Race Week. The fellow in the adjacent seat looked vaguely familiar, until he introduced himself as Bill Faude.

Bill gave me the 10-minute sales pitch, as we waited to board our flights, and he was effective. The Lightning class really offered all that I missed in sailing. In the past I had owned many boats, including Lasers, Snipes, Stars and J/24s, and I really missed participating in the regatta circuit. Not that I was absent from sailing....but all of my past 20 years had been in as a sailing coach, with very little time on the tiller. I told Bill I had logged 700 hours that year driving a powerboat. He told me to buy a Lightning.

The idea percolated as the economic recession deepened all summer. I found myself with a lot less work, a lot more free weekends, and an even greater desire to get back to steering my own boat again. I considered a number of classes...the Star, the Melges 24, and the Etchells, to name a few. But when it came to most fun for your buck, none came close to the Lightning.

As I poked around the various class websites, a few things were obvious about the Lightning Class:
1) It was perhaps the best organized class in the U.S.
2) The Class invested more effort in building fleets and bring in new sailors.
3) It had great depth of competition.
4) In my region (the Northeast), it had the most extensive regatta schedule.
5) The rules were strictly written, and so used boats should be competitive.

I saw Bill Faude again that fall, motoring up to him as he was sailing in from winning a regatta. I offered to buy his boat from him on the spot (no luck!), and so called Greg Fisher, who suggested I buy Tim Healy's boat. Tim rolled the boat into my garage before the first snowstorm of December. I stood back and marveled at how much boat I had gotten for my money. The quality of the trailer, covers, and molding work from Tom Allen was exceptional. Tom really doesn't charge enough...

I knew from experience that the best way to learn how to sail in a new class was to enlist experienced crew. I was VERY lucky to convince both Neal Fowler and PJ Schaffer to join me for the 2010 Southern Circuit. Most Lightning sailors have raced against Neal and PJ, but few know how much they have accomplished outside of the class. I knew them from collegiate and International racing....both were long-time US SAILING Team members. Together, we were the "Olympic Almosts Club."

The three of us were about 495 lbs together, which I was told was a good weight. Neal did the middle, tracked the shifts on the compass, and handled most of the upwind tactics. PJ, being the "nipper" at age 43, looked for pressure and did downwind tactics. I focused on the rig tune, sail trim and steering, and forecasted the wind trends....what the wind would likely be doing in an hour. This actually came in handy during some last-beat comebacks from deep in the fleet. If you have to wing it out to a side, it's good to have an educated guess.

The nice thing about sailing with talented people is the relaxed division of responsibility. I didn't look at the compass once during the entire circuit. I didn't look aft for breeze on any run. It's easy when you can trust your team.

I was actually surprised that we were fast upwind....especially after I decided to ignore all the tuning guides. We arrived a day early in Savannah and took my new (used) boat out of the covers for the first time. My head was swimming as Neal ran me through all of the control lines and the standard tuning procedure. Tim Healy had warned me that the mast didn't sit straight in the boat.

Sure enough, the mast was hitting one side-chock hard. So I pulled it the opposite way until it was straight sideways....even though this meant the tip of the mast was no longer centered. We sailed that way in Savannah, but for Miami we shimmed one side of the mast butt with a Budweiser can and this removed some of the side bend. In St. Pete, I filed the opposite side of the mast butt, and the offending mast block, and got the mast back in the center of the boat and straight sideways. The boys were great with tackling these, and many other little projects, every day after sailing. My boat was much improved by the end of the circuit.

As for tuning, I decided on Day 1 that moving the mast blocks was simply too hard. And Neal was a big fan of the Greg Fisher tuning method, because it is so simple....Neal says it allows him to think about the race instead of worrying about blocking. After hearing Neal, and trying all the various blocking positions, I decided that 1" of blocking would be sufficient in all conditions. We sailed that way the entire circuit, from 0-25 knots.

We also left the rake where Tim Healy had set it...45", and only adjusted the jib halyard through a very small range, essentially to equalize the load on the halyard and headstay.

But I did decide that the lowers need to be adjusted. We used a 5 turn range from drifting to heavy air. I was told our lowers were probably tighter than average in a breeze, and perhaps looser in light air. But since the lowers are very easy to adjust between races, we didn't see this as a distraction.

We noted in Savannah that Dave Starck had superb upwind speed, and was aggressively dropping the traveler in the puffs, so we emulated that method. But this requires hard mainsheet trim, and I found I couldn't get the main out of the cleat in a panic. So Tom Allen was nice enough to bend my mainsheet swivel arm down. This was a big help.

We also noticed that Allan Terhune had the best downwind speed, so we spent some time trying to mimic his technique. We couldn't match it, mostly because I am too klutzy to sit to leeward. So Neal found a way for me to sit on the centerboard trunk. Again, a big help.

I won't go through the series race by race as I don't have the memory or the patience. But here are some of the things I won't forget about my first Winter Circuit:

1) How everyone came up on Friday in Savannah to welcome me to the class. In all my years and in all my classes, I have never experienced this. This is unique to the Lightning.

2) How much fun the crazy conditions are in Savannah. In the past, I've done frostbite racing in a Sunfish on the Barrington River, and in an Interclub and JY15 at Essex, and river sailing is always a challenge. Don't miss this regatta.

3) How lucky we were with great comebacks. For example, after I had misjudged a downwind layline (again!) in Miami, we were ahead of only a couple of boats. But we hooked the persistent shift on the last beat and finished 7th. This happened almost every day. Neal's mantra was, "Don't sail your drop race." He started saying that before Savannah and didn't quit until we were done in St. Pete. No matter how bad we were doing, Neal and PJ never blinked....the only discussion was "what's the next right move".

4) The size of the party in St. Pete....completely out of all proportion to the number of boats. The family entourage that follows the fleet was surprising. Again, not like other classes.

5) How comfortable the Lightning is to sail. Believe me; I've sailed in a lot of painful boats. And I don't think the answer is to prohibit hiking, as some classes have done. Sailing is supposed to be athletic. But it doesn't have to hurt.

6) How fast the boat is in a straight line, and how slow it is out of a tack. I don't know how many of my lee bows turned into lee sterns. Embarrassing!

7) How easy the boat is to assemble and pack up. And how easily it tows behind a small car. I have a 4-cylinder Honda Element. No comparison to the hassle of traveling with a small keelboat.

8) One race I won't forget was the last....the heavy air finale in St. Pete. It was nice to see that, after a mediocre start, we were able to hike our way back into the top group. Again, I think sailing should be athletic. And watching as one top boat after another capsized around us was surreal. The image of Dave Starck sitting on his baby blue topsides, under a black sky, will stick forever. As we sailed by Dave, Neal said, "We only have to finish this race and we've won." My reply was, "Kite down!"

9) Finally, the diversity of the fleet. You have the kids crewing. Twenty-somethings with their first boat. The 30-40 year crowd at the top of their game. And older guys like me, wishing we were still at the top of our games. Everyone has a great time.

I can't wait until next year.




Bruce Thompson
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Apr 16, 2010, 5:17 AM

Post #37 of 37 (6650 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Lightning Southern Circuit 2010 [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
Bill Faude has also recommended some Chicago guys for the Lightning Boat Grant Program, and through a competitive selection process, they were one of the three winners. http://www.lightningclass.org/...2010/andyCamarda.asp

Andy Camarda & RJ Trejo have some advantages not shown in the resume, they have sisters who race (Andy has one, RJ has 6!). This will allow Fleet 5 to evaluate the idea of using a reduced sail plan to create a boat suitable for three women (who likely do not weigh 495 pounds). By reducing the sail plan a bit, we hope to find the triplehanded equivalent to the Laser Radial, suitable for use as a Women's Match Racing trainer given the shortage of Elliott 6Ms in the USA.

We also have very close ties to the Lightning fleet in Sheboygan, which provided the basis for Sail Sheboygan and the US Sailing Match Racing Center.

Our goal is to provide a top quality raciing boat for young women today and wives & mothers in the future.


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