“Quality and Quantity.” College race management is the MASH unit of race committee work. It’s fast and dirty with a minimum of formality. One person with one small and nimble boat can run perfectly good and efficient college races. A second boat is needed for team racing, big fleet races that require a Port-line boat, and windy days that require an extra safety boat. The trick is to start the first race the moment the fleet gets outs and run the second race the moment the last boat finishes the first. During the race, this nimble “committee boat” (“crash boat” is probably a better term) blasts around moving marks one and a half legs ahead of the fleet to keep the course square for the likely variable wind. Right after the start, cast off the start boat anchor and adjust the gate so it is directly downwind from the windward offset mark, the proper length (about six boat lengths), and square to the wind. Once the fleet rounds the windward mark, adjust the mark and the offset, then go back down to the start/finish line and adjust for a good final leg. [Read more…] about College Race Management 101, by Ken Legler
Blog
Venue Profile: St. Mary's College
by Ken Legler
St. Mary’s College of MD, Horseshoe Bend on the St. Mary’s River
The sailing conditions of St. Mary’s College of Maryland on the St. Mary’s River are superb for college sailing. The river is lined with scenic estates and farmland. The area is best described as bucolic. The river runs seven miles North from its mouth on the Potomac to Horseshoe Bend where the river turns West, then Northwest to its head another two miles up. The Bend creates a circular sailing area directly in front of the Teddy Turner Waterfront with a nearly one mile radius. As such every wind direction allows for ample space but with protection from any large waves. The current is gentle with a bit more at the entrance to the Bend on the south side of the racing area. An additional course area is just around Church Point at the opening to the South and can see more waves and a steadier wind in Southerlies. This South course in Southerlies can have some geographic shifts toward either shore but not too close to shore where it gets lighter. This area also gets used in Southerly winds but in any other wind direction they prefer to sail inside the Bend for great viewing from The James P. Muldoon River Center. If the course is set just outside the opening formed by Church and Pagan Points, the current can have enough push and variation to be worth noting and playing. Otherwise current is rarely a factor this far up the narrowing river. [Read more…] about Venue Profile: St. Mary's College
Downwind Boatspeed, by Clinton Hayes
Sail1Design would like to welcome the newest member to our Airwaves team, Clinton Hayes. In College, Clinton went north to attend the University of Vermont. While there, he lead the team as they qualified for their first ever National Championships and was their first Coed All-American in 2008 and 2010. In the summer of 2008 he was fortunate enough to be a Lightning Boat Grant Recipient where he sailed all the major regattas and gained valuable knowledge about sailing opportunities after college. [Read more…] about Downwind Boatspeed, by Clinton Hayes
Judgement day: Five nations qualify for Red Bull Youth America´s Cup
Five of the best youth sailing teams in the world have qualified for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup 2013 following a grueling two-week Selection Series in San Francisco. The 12 crews, from 11 countries, were pushed to the limit as they fought for the right to compete in September’s races. The teams proved their mettle in challenging winter conditions on San Francisco Bay, one of the most challenging race venues in the world.
[Read more…] about Judgement day: Five nations qualify for Red Bull Youth America´s Cup
Club Profile: Sail Black Rock
S1D Club Profiles are part of Sail1Design’s ongoing prject to profile great sailing clubs and programs throughout the country. Want your club profiled? Get in touch with our Club Profile Manager!
Sail Black Rock – Bridgeport, CT
Location: Black Rock Harbor, Bridgeport, CT
Number of Members: 40+
Fleets: FJ, Laser, Rhodes 19
Sailing Opportunities: High school and college sailing
Mission and History
Sail Black Rock is located in Black Rock Harbor in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Founded in 2011, this unique sailing center is a rapidly expanding conglomeration of high school and collegiate teams that have joined together in an effort to enhance their personal development in the sport of sailing. The organization currently has more than 40 members from the sailing teams at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, and the Aquaculture Science and Technology High School in Southwestern Connecticut. [Read more…] about Club Profile: Sail Black Rock
A Closer Look at Navy's Sailing Venue
By Ken Legler
Navy hosts the largest college regattas in the country. With their armada of multiple fleets of dinghies they can run events with four divisions on the water all at once. Their Navy Fall Invite and Truxtun Umstead regattas each put 80 dinghies on the water. Their location puts them within a ten hour drive of the bulk of four conferences as well. [Read more…] about A Closer Look at Navy's Sailing Venue
