Started talking about Hurricane Irene preparations that will RATTLE Annapolis this weekend

            And continued the ROLL of excitement with the unveiling of the plans & model for the clubhouse renovation to ROLL us into the next 50 years of one-design sailing.

                        AND all while ROCKIN & ROLLIN to the Bridgette Michaels Trio

Sailors took full advantage of a beautiful day both on and even off the water last night. Some even took advantage of being evacuated from office buildings to come down early and get a head start rigging!

Once again a record number of Lasers, Snipes and V15s were out in force, but only two starting fleets were needed so the starting line was

packed with the competitive fleets. The RC’s team of John Quay and Doug Palmer timing was impeccable as the two fleets rolled into starts while the other finished to starboard consecutively. Even the course was set up to perfection as not one mark needed to be moved all evening – well the steady wind had some help with that! After the last few weeks I was prepared with a separate ‘helper’ mark boat with my husband Jason, son Hadlee, and friend Will Fenn on deck to help out. This week as Snipe skipper, Alex Stout entertained us with his pfd etiquette (doggie lifejacket around his neck).

We should though also add some CRACK to the ‘SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL’ as we definitely heard some crunches as fleets passed each other on opposing legs. Ouch!

And, ROCK since the Bridgette Michaels Trio was rocking the deck spectators and sailors after racing to great tunes while V15 crew Ella Schubert and SSA dance troupe (Dorian, Ellie, Steve C. Sandy W. Carlos, Elliott + whoever else they could drag out) boogied to the beat.  You didn’t have a chance to leave as the dance floor covered the exit driveway!

The deck and clubhouse seemed especially upbeat as members excitedly chatted about the future clubhouse renovation model and plan displays. Leo Wilson was on hand (after sailing his Laser of course) to answer any questions and the leftover keg from Sunday night was flowing until the band ended at 9:30pm. If you haven’t been by to see the model yet, contact the office to arrange since it needs to be kept in air conditioning and out of the sun. We will try to make the model and display boards available at all club events and will be available as pdfs soon on the member website.

Thanks again to the Bridgette Michaels Trio for rockin’ the house last night. For more information on the band go to  www.bridgettemichaels.com

RC Support Boat

Alex Stout sails off in doggie pfd

Here was the tally:

22 Lasers

8 Snipes

7 V15s

1 Daysailer

1 Johnson 18

1 Lightning

1 Finn

  1 Jet 14

41 Total

With the dying and clocking breeze boats had to chase the RC to the finish line…
I unfortunately missed the fun this week but after talking to some folks sounds like there are some good stories…
• Cooper the RC boat rotates as Daysailer crew and Signal boat…
• Double-handed ‘adult’ Laser crews…
• Fleets finishing on both sides of the RC boat at the same time!…
• Multiple course changes – legs, lengths, and marks
• Alex & Lorie Stout on the horn with siblings Brian & Wilson on mark boat…
• One-designs needing running lights…
• Great pictures posted on http://tesod.wordpress.com/

Anyway, there are only 3 more TESOD left for the season and the RC crew was still able to get off six races in tough conditions.
You only need 3 more good excuses to leave work early to get out and sail with your family and friends before school and school sports get into full swing.

Remember that after dusk all vessels underway need running lights and I don’t know of any Lasers with them so don’t get a ticket and bring exposure (not positive) to this SSA club event.

Next week – Last Music Night with the Bridgette Michaels Trio www.bridgettemichaels.com

Here was the approximate tally:
21 Lasers
5 Snipes
4 V15s
1 Daysailer
1 Johnson 18
3 420s
35 Total

Over the Rainbow – As

I brought the evenings guest ‘mark boat’ up the Severn River, the crew (though wet from the sun shower) was treated to a beautiful end for end rainbow (one end ON the Navy YPs and the other ON the water right past the shoal pole). And, another one forming above it as we entered the harbor.

Hide and Go Seek – Sailors had to find the starting line and leeward mark hidden amongst the unusual amount and grouped cruising boats anchored in the Severn River

Follow the Leader – The wind had a little fun and continued to rotate from West to South as the sailors had to follow the mark boat dragging the windward mark to try to keep up.

Around the World – The wind continued to clock with lulls and gusts over 90 degrees and from 4-12knots as the fronts on the Eastern Shore battled it out.

Teeter Totter – The final big shift of the evening brought a great puff on and some boats got caught off guard and flipped over while others went into planing mode as they blasted to the finish line.

Simon Says “Breeze on” ,Simons Says “Breeze Off”, Simon Says ‘Hike”, Simon Says “Course Change”, Race Committee Says “we give up – go home”!

The

most fun was seeing all the kids as crew in Laser, Snipe and V15 fleets. If you could even see them…you could just barely see Ella Schubert’s (2 yrs old) and Nathan Finkelstein’s (just turned 3 yrs old ) blonde heads popping out of the V15 cockpits during tacks. There was also one sailor with a really cool shark lifejacket (fin protruding from the back!). So, Look out for the Opti Green fleet in a few years. Even the Race Committee chipped in with Hadlee Walker and friend Anicah Hall (Past Commodore, Griff Hall’s daughter) on the mark boat.

So,

in the end it was a wild n’ crazy TESOD night which the well-worked RC of Ted Morgan, Fuller Moore, Richard Thompson and Doug Palmer were rewarded for their efforts and frustration as they returned to the dock to Dark N’ Stormy’s open window with burgers and salmon grillin’.

Hopefully

next week we will still have some summer coach staff around to give us all a run – and wish them well as they head back to colleges.

Next week – 6pm first gun, Alex Stout PRO.

Last Music Night:

Aug 23 (Bridgette Michaels Trio) www.bridgettemichaels.com

Here was the tally:

16 Lasers

8 Snipes

9 V15s

1 Jet 14

1 Johnson 18

3 420s

38 Total

I showed up at the club at 7pm to a bunch of deck spectators with Dark N’ Stormies in hand to watch the first round of boats heading in from the race course.

PROs,

Tom Sitzmann and Doug Palmer were able to proudly report that they got five good races off per fleet. The agreement on the deck was that the breeze was from 4-7 knots (remember that this was after a Dark N’ Stormy so fish tales do prevail!)

Mike

Higgins, who covered for me was even spotted on the Laser course as he switched off with Ellie Riggs to have a little fun. Demetri Poulos was support on the mark boat to help make this ‘rare’ special occasion happen.

Thanks

to ALL who covered my RC duty this week. But I did still get some SSA work in as myself and able assistant, Trey Burman ran around to hand deliver the hot off the press eSSAy to help save some postage. A SAVE THE DATE Flyer is included for the ‘unveiling’ meeting for the Clubhouse Renovation on Sunday, August 21st at 6:30pm so mark your calendars and come check it out to join in the excitement with the Board of Governors; Hammond Wilson architect, Leo Wilson; and Project Manager, Scott Glass.

Next week – 6pm first gun, Ted Morgan PRO

Last Music Night:

Aug 23 (Bridgette Michaels Trio) www.bridgettemichaels.com

Here was the tally:

18 Lasers

8 Snipes

8 V15s

1 Lightning

1 Finn

3 420s

39 Total

Check out the TESOD Blog http://tesod.wordpress.com/ and chip in…

420 Use for TESOD Policy

Any sailor (includes adults) wanting to take out an SSA 420 for TESOD Must:

· Get permission from the Junior Program Director, Joel

· Sign a waiver form

· Sign out boat & equipment form each use

· Pay $5.00/person Per Night (payable to SSA Juniors)

· Abide by TESOD Sailing Instructions http://tesod.wordpress.com/sailing-instructions/

· No boats shall be afloat without Race Committee on the water

We got a break in the humidity,  extreme temps and t-storms to make for a beautiful night on AND off  the water….

I heard over and over again while out on the water last night “what a beautiful night of sailing”. I felt really sorry for the 2 volunteer race committee PRO’s, regular TESOD Laser sailors John Zseleczky and Dorian Haldeman that they were stuck on the Parker 23’ vs. sailing and enjoying the great breeze.

 The Snipe fleet was out in full force and almost topped the Laser fleet numbers this week. Arthur Blodgett was again leading the pack, but the second tier of the pack was tight as the fleet was honored with their own TESOD starting sequence. The next fleet to start also had equivalent boats on the line with the V15 fleet and 420’s prominent showing of ‘family affairs’ and juniors crews.

 Right after the first start (as per usual) the breeze took a big righty towards Horn Point which meant the mark boat had to pull in its one crew, Hadlee Walker who was cooling off in the towing tube to make the course adjustments. The last multi-class start was at 7:30pm with the Laser sailors heading in to the dock instead (they must have smelled free beer!)

 What could be better??? Live music, free keg and smell of burgers grillin’ greeted the sailors at the dock. Dirk Schwenk and his band were set up in the J24/J22 lot area so those on the deck, stairs, and patio by snack bar could all fully appreciate. THANKS AGAIN to Dirk, his stage crew of family, friends, and band members to volunteer their time and talents for all of us to enjoy. And yes, as Dirk announced we were having more fun than over at EYC – even a friendly game of flip cups was added to the entertainment.

 You can follow fellow club member, Jet 14 sailor, guitar strummin’, singing, maritime lawyer Dirk and his band more at www.dirkschwenk.com

Next week – 6pm first gun

 Last Music Night:

Aug 23 (Bridgette Michaels Trio) www.bridgettemichaels.com

Here was the tally:

15 Lasers

12 Snipes

7 V15s

2 DaySailers

1 Thistle

4 420s

39 Total

The t-storms passed and sucked the wind out with it….

Some hopeful sailors showed up only to be disappointed as the little wind left completely disappeared into nada.

The lot was still busy though as the Junior 420 Race Team packed up to go to the Buffalo Canoe Club in Ontario, Canada for the North American Championships. SSA will be represented by 7 junior teams!

Sailors and RC took full advantage of a rare July evening out on the water with great breeze!

We lost track of the number of races that we ran as the fleets went round and round in continuous windward leeward courses with basically no time between finish horn and starting sequences. The Laser fleet had at least 6 races and the 2-sailed boats were broken into 2 starts as the Snipes and V15 fleets poured out of the SSA basin. A record # of Snipes (11!) made it out to course to battle it out with SSA 420 Race Team coach, Arthur Blodgett with Sean Harr leading the pack each race but not with others close on his tail.

As always there were some young and ‘older’ sailors as well as female sailors out on the Laser course which makes it fun for some good co-ed heckling and puts some ‘money’ on the table as the results brought varied winners to the top of the fleet. Even with the strong opposing current ripping out the Severn the starting line was piled up at the pin end.

The RC watched for the breeze to shift right with the westerly, but it stayed steady and instead continued to die off as the evening progressed. Only to pick back up again as the sailors tacked back into the creek which made for a great ending to another wonderful TESOD evening.

REMINDER: TESOD Sailing Instructions require that all sailors must wear pfds. Yes, it is hot but you have a large pool to cool off in if needed!

See you all next week – 6pm first Gun

 Check out the new TESOD Blog and chip in…

Here was the tally:

18 Lasers

11 Snipes

8 V15s

 1 Jet 14

1 Lightning

1 J18

1 5o5

3 420s

44 Total

Upcoming Music Nights:

July 26 (Dirk Schwenk Band) www.dirkschwenk.com

Through a break in the July 4th Festivities and Junior Race Week came a beautiful night of sailing.

SSA had the best seat in town for the Annapolis Fireworks with the barge setting up directly out in Severn off of the Soling seawall… The anchored spectator fleet had to take second row off to the east into the Severn River so there were not even any anchor lights to obscure the beautiful show of sparkling lights.

I lost count of the number of races that PRO John Quay blasted off, but was able to do a count this week of sailors that were treated to a surprisingly great night of sailing after an extremely hot, balmy and light wind day.

The Snipe fleet was out in full force with the V15 fleet following to make for a competitive start for the 2-sailed boats. And, welcome to the Chadwick Family in their M-Scow. The 420 fleet was smaller this week since the Juniors had just returned from the long tow home from West River Sailing Club regatta. Only, to de-brief again for AYC Junior Regatta held today. The wheels of the out of town trailers are still hot as they will then descend upon SSA tomorrow for the popular Sandy MacVickar Regatta… with ~180 junior sailors ranging from Green Fleet Optis to Laser, Laser Radial, and Club 420’s. That does not even include the support teams of coaches, coach boats, and parents! In light of the previous weeks tragic events, Gary Jobson – President of US Sailing and local sailing celebrity will provide the participants with a presentation at the days awards ceremony.

Even with the easterly breeze and strong incoming current the RC was busy catching some sailors getting pushed over the line early by their competitors. The current at the windward mark did catch some of even the more seasoned the sailors which made for some good ol’ 360 practice and great heckling from the safety/mark boat.

See you all next week – 6pm first Gun

Check out the new TESOD Blog and chip in…

Here was the tally:

15 Lasers

9 Snipes

5 V15s

1 M-Scow

2 420s

32

Music Nights:

July 26 (Dirk Schwenk Band) www.dirkschwenk.com

Aug 23 (Bridgette Michaels Trio) www.bridgettemichaels.com(Bridgette sailed Lightnings at SSA for years)

REGISTER for TESOD Series – Only need one for the whole season!

Fill Out Entry Form available in the clubhouse or on http://www.severnsailing.org/racemanagement/entryform.pdf and put in the TESOD folder on merchandise case in clubroom.
OR you can log on to your http://ssa.sailregattas.com/ account and Go to the ‘TSOD’ page and ‘Enter the Regatta’.

We are still looking for volunteer RC help so contact Nan at office if you can help out.

The RC headed out of the SSA basin in search of a breath of breeze to set up the course. We had a few hopeful sightings and the sailors kept coming so we kept setting up a course with Easterly breeze.

The sailors that made it out for the first 2 guns completed the course, but as we finished the fleets the south-westerly skies loomed darker and darker. I had hoped that the out skirting clouds would at least bring us a little wind to challenge the sailors, but unfortunately we just got glass and finally some flashes of lightning in the distance as we sailed in.

As we all headed back to the safety of the SSA docks pink daisies were scattered along the path by junior sailors and local program instructors in Olivia Constant’s memory and honor.

All the sailors were packed up and under covered when the REAL storm came, which was a doozy. The booming BBQ grill could not even stand up to the horizontal rain showers but the camaraderie continued into the evening which again reminds me that SSA and the sailing community is really a huge family that sails together, laughs together, grieves together and supports each other along life’s path.

… TESOD Blog site http://tesod.wordpress.com/

Here was the Tally (guestimate!)

12-15 Lasers

6 Snipes

4 V15s

10-15 420’s

40

PLEASE REGISTER for TESOD Series – Only need one for the whole season!

Fill Out Entry Form available in the clubhouse or on http://www.severnsailing.org/racemanagement/entryform.pdf and put in the TESOD folder on merchandise case in clubroom.
OR you can log on to your http://ssa.sailregattas.com/ account and Go to the ‘TSOD’ page and ‘Enter the Regatta’.

We are still looking for volunteer RC help so contact Nan at office if you can help out.