Hi, me again.
I don't know why I forgot about Rites of Spring, it's a great event (shorthanded in mid-March) and we had lots of sign-ups, good participation last couple years - but I think it is best to keep it white sails only to let the less experienced folks get their feet wet at the start of the season.
I think the potential races have multiple characteristics that we like or not: buoy vs. long distance; party vs. none; out the gate vs. in-bay; included in YRA fee vs. extra fee; normally windy vs. often windless. The "included in YRA" has been one reason I voted for Knox/Bonita, but if the boats won't come it ain't worth it.
I've never made 3-bridge fiasco but it seems to be pretty popular, perhaps we should think about including that one. If we added it to Pete's list we'd be back to 7 races with (I'd recommend) 2 throwouts, remember Vallejo goes both ways.
Or Wheeler is another option, we haven't had any luck getting folks to come out to any winter once-a-month series. Wheeler is one weekend at the end of March, Big Daddy one weekend near the beginning, I guess we gotta choose cos two regattas plus one shorthanded in March is too much.
Jan "Carlos" Grygier
P.S. Just had another thought - how about combining our annual picnic with our last Scombridae Sunday on Sep 23, i.e. hold it at TI and have a big potluck on the beach or docks? Or do folks want to find another weekend to go to Angel Island as we have normally done?
----- Original Message -----
From: Nancy & Pat Broderick
To: Pete Trachy
Cc: List Satanna 22
Sent: 8/16/2007 11:50:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Santana 22] 2008 Spinnaker Series
Pete,
While I think a Santana 22 is a wonderful little boat, it is not an Express 27 or Moore 24.
Pat
On Aug 16, 2007, at 11:30 AM, Pete Trachy wrote:
Double Handed Lightship:
My thought on the spinnaker series was that it would attract the more experienced members of our fleet. Many of them already do some short handed sailing and have ocean racing experience. When I did the DH lightship it seemed like a very appropriate race for the Santana 22. We almost had a one design start with the boats entered. Granted there are days out there when I would turn around and not finish the race. However, the same can be said for Knox/Bonita and it didn't seem to be an issue for that race to be on our schedule. I also would like to point out that both the express 27 and moore 24 classes have very sucessfully included doublehanded racing in their main fleet series. Both fleets see large turnouts for the 3 bridge and the double handed farallones. As a class I believe we have a responsibility to educate less knowledgeable and experienced members. However, I think that we also have to recognize them as adults who can make their own decisions.
Anyway, given our showing last year I would be disappointed not to see it included. I will advocate for it, but if the people taking part in a spinnaker series do not want to see the race included I can live with that.
Knox/Bonita:
I am personally against including this race as only 3 boats showed up for it the last time I did it. It was right in the middle of our white sails series if I remember correctly. I feel that is part of what led to light turnout and it is why I have deliberately chosen races that are not at the same time as any of our ODCA races. This year Knox/Bonita will the be held on the same day as our season closer. I think this is a great race, but the timing is problematic and I do not think it should be considered for the series.
Big Daddy:
I thought this was a great opportunity to get in some close one design spinnaker racing. The fleet has turned out well for the pumpkin in the past, and I thought this race made sense as well. If we don't include the big daddy, I would like to see some other event with multiple races included to keep the series balanced between longer distance races and round the buoys action. The wheeler regatta is one option.
2nd Half Opener:
Not my favorite race, but I could be convinced include it and even show up. it would be nice to have something happening in July. We seem to have had good turnout historically. One additional concern is that it seems Nationals might be within one weekend of it next year, if not a direct conflict.
Throwouts:
Perhaps we should have 5 races in the series and give one throwout? That would let everyone skip there least favorite race and give a little more flexibility for the inevitable scheduling conflict.
With that in mind I would propose:
Big Daddy (course racing on Saturday only)
Double Handed Lightship
Vallejo Race
2nd Half Opener (distance race on Saturday only)
Great Pumpkin (course racing on Saturday only)
With regards to what pat said about the light turnout. I feel that in order to make this happen we really do need a minimum of 5 boats on the line. i think that if a race is going to attract less than 5 it should be canceled. Hopefully this would put the screws on people to really be serious about their commitment to show up or not. I'm open to other ideas here, but I really hated showing up to race against 1 or 2 other boats last year.
I like the idea of a shorthanded series, but am personally not willing to put it together. From prior experiences fleet moral suffers when people are spread too thin and turnout is low. I'd like to see a successful spinnaker series before I extended to try to put together an additional even. However, I would certainly support anybody who wanted to take it on themself. it is something that tom mcintyre and tom montoya over in alameda might be interested in.
Pete
On 8/16/07, Nancy & Pat Broderick <broderic at sonic.net> wrote:
Michael,
There are several other races that are not SSS which might be
interesting and very possible doublehanded possibilities in our boats:
1. Rites of Spring. Some Santanas already sail this OYC early-in-the
season doublehanded race - usually in March.
2. Jazz Cup. One-way trip on Labor Day to Benecia. Much like the
Vallejo races; you just don't turn left into the Mare Island Strait.
However, I'm reluctant to get too much on the racing table. While a
lot of boats have signed up for this year's YRA series, only a few
show up to race. Last year the Santanas barely made the 5-boat
minimum to stay qualified for YRA One Design racing. It isn't the
number of boats that sign up initially; it's the number that sail 50%
or more of the fleet-scheduled YRA Championship races the fleet's
signed up for. That's how a boat "qualifies" and YRA requires a
minimum of 5 boats "qualifying" in order be a One Design Fleet. I
don't think this 5-boat "qualified" requirement is clearly
understood. It isn't the number who sign up; it's the number that
actually race.
YRA is talking about setting up an HDA "small boat" division that
would compete on ODCA closed course (round the buoys) races in order
to keep older 22 - 27 (Ranger 23 through something like Catalina 27)
foot boats sailing in YRA. If the Santanas don't "qualify" 5 boats,
that's probably where they'll end up if they want to sail YRA races.
It's similar to what ODCA has done for the "heavy 30s" - Newport 30,
Cal 29, Cat 30 (PHRF 180) fleets whose participation fell below the
minimum 5-boat requirement. The HDA has the "SF 30 Fleet" that
provides the same thing for boats rating around PHRF 135.
Often the Santana spinnaker races are also very light. While these
races don't count either toward the YRA Championship (the Santana 22
"white sail" races) nor toward "qualifying" for YRA purposes (only
races counted toward YRA championship points count), Race Committees
are understandably upset when only one or two - or none - show up to
race - either for white sail or spinnaker races.
Pat
On Aug 16, 2007, at 9:26 AM, Michael Andrews - MTC wrote:
> Really good input Pat. I wasn't aware that there were so many
> opportunities to race short handed in the Bay but, now knowing there
> are, I would like to see a short handed series made up of just
> those in
> the Bay races.
>> Michael
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