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Flying flags is a long standing tradition amongst sailors, with Ensigns and Burgees well known to all of us.  After nations and other political districts, yacht clubs are probably the next group best known for having their own flag (burgee).

10 days ago, we hoisted a Guatemalan flag to acknowledge and show respect for our visiting PanAm sailors from Guatemala.  We're told they enjoyed their visit, though they did not seem very impressed with our water temperature!

This Thursday, at 5:45, we will be hoisting the Rainbow flag, a symbol of pride and diversity, to acknowledge an annual period of recognition and celebration for some of our members.    All are welcome to join.

Bob Hedley, Commodore
Elizabeth Sloss, Senior Vice Commodore
Paul Brennan, Rear Commodore

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Have you got an old prop cluttering up your shop?
Is there an old boom just taking up room?
A stinky old head smelling up your shed?

Stuff left from a race that's just taking up space?

Well bring it all down to the Summerfest Yard Sail!

Tables will be provided.  The "Sail" will take place on the club patio starting at 11:00 am Saturday July 11, 2015.

All are welcome but advance notice would be appreciated if you intend to participate.  Please let us know at

 

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Well the powers of the Universe helped steer the weather gods our way....and we had beautiful clear weather throughout this Summer Solstice weekend.  A large part of the fleet left Friday afternoon, with those leaving early having the best winds.  A big salute to Trinity, Latis, Double Dutch, Portofino and AWAY who beat the strong easterlies on Saturday to arrive in time for the festivities.  Thanks to Eileen from Laime II and Sylvia from Meshuggana for making the traditional Latvian Summer Solstice flowers wreaths to be worn by the women....which were soon adorned by all.  

Everyone enjoyed the varied selection of appies before the main course of BBQ'd bacon-wrapped filet mignon, sauteed mushrooms, grilled potatoes and corn-on-the-cob and served by the hosts Tina and Danno.  Our Cruising Committee Rep, Chris Pappas and "Watson" thanked Tina and Danno for putting on such a wonderful spread.  Thanks also to Chris for helping Danno flipping the steaks and dousing the flames with beer!

After a wonderful dessert, we were all treated to Live Music with a band playing tunes outside on the WYC Patio....which got the crowd singing along, and dancing on the lawn !   Great times had by one and all as the sun set on the longest day of the year.

Sunday, the winds were light...UNTIL we reached the halfway point, where we went from the sounds of a droning motor to the whish of the waves breaking over the foredeck as a 15 knot Northwesterly blew in over the bluffs...all the back to AB's. 

What a great way to welcome in the Summer of 2015...another memorable Solstice Weekend!

Tina and Danno Heimann
and little Watson
SOLITUDE

 

 

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It must have been the first weekend of summer!  There was lots of racing this weekend - something for every taste.

The Canadian Laser Championships were held in Kingston, and ABYC members sailed in both the Laser Standard and Radial divisions.  Most of the competitors in the Standard rig division were from other countries, here to warm up for the Laser Wolrds and/or the Pan Am Games no doubt.  ABYC's Matt Sherar placed 26th (10th Canadian) in the 62 boat fleet. In the 46 boat Radial fleet, ABYC's Sarah Douglas placed 8th, Quinten Beelik 32nd, with Ian Doell 42nd.  I have heard it was a tough regatta - unusually light winds for Kingston, so only TWO races were sailed over the course of the weekend.  Stay tuned to the CORK website, as there will be much more excitement all summer, involving many ABYC competitors, race committee personnel and a judge. 
 
Meanwhile, RCYC hosted their Open Regatta, but not all results have yet been posted.   Murray Gainer and the Lively crew placed 7th in the IRC II division, while Michael Flynn and crew in Starwatch were third in the IRC III division.

On Bravo course, Bart Smit's Nautical Symphony, led the J80 fleet with his crew, including Gitte Fredericksen (I didn't have her last name last week) and Martin Gibb tried his hand at one deign racing in the C&C 27 Mark V division.

In the "old days", third place ties went unbroken, so on that basis Hunter Dejean would have shared the Opti podium.  Alas, she wound up fourth in the tiebreaker, but a great showing on the 42 boat Opti fleet.  Oliver Van Rossem placed 9th, Paul Staadecker 14th, brother Martin Staadecker 18th, Annabel Gravely 26th, Paul Wortman 28th, with Danny Assimakopoulos and Davis Dejean 36 and 37th respectively.  Other competitors included Wyatt Small, Emily Van Rossem, Kate Evans, Taylor Knoll and Amy Glennie.

On course Echo, Aidan Massey-garrison placed third in the 10 boat Opti Green fleet.

The results are in for the Whitby 50, the first of the five races in the 2015 Toronto East Long Distance Series(TELDS).  The race started on Friday evening, June 19th. The course was from the Whitby Yacht Club west to the T2 buoy at the end of the Leslie Street Spit and back again to WYC.   Congratulations to Sam Robbins and the crew aboard Double Time for their win in the spinnaker division.  Graham Toms on the Cat Came Back, was the first boat  to finish and wound up sixth followed closely by Larry Harrison on Merlin in seventh.  Link to the results: http://www.wyc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=405:whitby-50&catid=104&Itemid=467  

 

Upcoming this weekend, ABYC is hosting the 2015 Laser / Laser Masters Great Lakes Championship Regatta.   We are looking for one or two volunteers to help for an hour or so at the beginning and end of each day's racing at the dinghy ramp.  If you can help, even for one of the shifts, please contact me at wendy.loat@bell.net.  Otherwise, come on out and watch the old cronies try to outsmart the young whippersnappers, including ABYC's National Team member, Sarah Douglas.  Just remember, Lasers and radials have a small sail area and the hull of your boat may impede their wind, so please stay well clear of the course.

That's all for this week.

As seen in the ABYC Events book (see page 16) the Singer Long Distance Race, the second TELDS race for 2015, is set for July 4th.  This race is hosted by the Frenchman's Bay Yacht Club ( http://www.fbyc.ca/).

 

The race will consist of single-handed, double-handed and full crewed boats racing in spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions.  As with all TELDS races each boat must have a valid PHRF-LO certificate.  The race will start off the Frenchman's Bay Yacht Club and will sail across the lake to the Niagara Mark, back across the lake to the end of the Leslie Street Spit and then east to finish at FBYC (a distance of approximately 70 miles). Race registration at FBYC is scheduled for Friday evening (July 3rd) and Saturday morning prior to the race. The Skipper's Meeting will be at 10:00 AM and the first gun is scheduled for 11:00 AM.

 

To assist in your planning, please see the following:

 

TELDS link on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/teldsailing/timeline 

 

Singer Long Distance Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1624401677774930/

 

Directions to sail into the Frenchman's Bay Yacht Club: http://www.fbyc.ca

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Contact: Bob Hickson - bobhickson@rogers.com - 416-919-2297

 

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Thirteen of ABYC's Championship Fleet Opti racers attended the RCYC Open Regatta this weekend.  We had great wind on Saturday, getting off five races. Sunday started off with a postponement on shore due to no wind; however, right before the cut off for abandonment for the day the wind filled in and kept building throughout the afternoon allowing for three races.

 

Our team performed very well this regatta.  Hunter Dejean was the top ABYC sailor winning First Girl and finishing in 4th place overall.  She was tied in points for 3rd but lost the tiebreak. Oliver van Rossem also sailed very well coming in 9th overall, with a couple top-three finishes.

 

We had one green-fleeter in attendance at this regatta.  The green fleet completed 16 races this weekend.  Aidan Massey-Garrison sailed a really great regatta placing 3rd overall and winning two races!

 

Laser Canadians were in Kingston this year.  ABYC had one member of the Senior Race Team compete, Ian Doell.  Only two races were sailed and Ian was black-flagged in the first, putting him in 41st overall.

 

Congratulations to all of our racers on a great weekend.  The Opti team will be back at RCYC next week for the YODE Clinic and Regatta.  The Laser team will be racing here at ABYC at the Great Lakes Champs this coming weekend.