1st District NewsletterJuly, 2005
TRI-DISTRICT NEAR-BY REGATTA SCHEDULE
July8-101stDistrict Blue Star, Mid, Milford YC
July9-1071st J. Rulon Miller Series, CB, Gibson Island
July 16-17New York State Championship, SL, Seneca Lake
July 23-24Miles River Annual Regatta &
2nd District Blue Star, ES,Tred Avon YC
July 30-31Marblehead NOOD, BH
Aug 6-7Make-A-Wish/Secretary’s Cup, BH
Aug 6-7Sunapee Open (Tri-District Qualifier), SUN
Aug 6-72nd District Green Star, MES, Miles River YC
Aug 13-14Ned Hay, CA
Aug 13-1479th Lipton Cup, Tred AvonYC
Aug 20-21New England Masters, CLIS, Cedar Point YC
Aug 26-28CORK Regatta/Canadian Championship
UPCOMING REGATTA DETAILS
1st District Championship
Combination Blue & Green Star Event
July 8 – 10, 2005
Hosted by the Mid-Connecticut Star Fleet
The First District Championship has enjoyed a good turnout over the years and recently has been running between 20 to 35 boats. Please join the rest of the First District members at this year’s event.
The Notice of Race and entry form are available on the First District web site at
Registration will begin at 5 PM on Thursday evening and continue through the morning on Friday until 9:30 AM. The warning signal for the first race is at 11:30 AM, Friday, July 8.
There is a cookout planned for Friday evening, and always a nice feature at Milford Yacht Club is the Saturday evening dinner.
For more information on how to get to the club, housing, or the event itself see the Mid-Connecticut Star Fleet’s web site at , or contact:
Ben Cesare: 203 952 8294 /
David Bolles: 203 882 9428 /
Schedule of Events
July 7:Registration & weigh-in, 1700 to 2000
July 8:Registration & weigh-in, 0800 to 0930
Skippers’ Meeting, 0930
Races 1 & 2 – harbor start at 1000 and first Warning at 1130
Beer and cookout following racing.
July 9:Races 3 & 4 – harbor start at 0930 and first Warning at 1030
Dinner 1930. District Meeting during dessert.
July 10:Race 5 – harbor start at 0930 and warning at 1030
Marblehead NOOD
July 30 – 31, 2005
Continuing the successful effort to involve First District Stars in multi-class events such as the 2003 Marblehead NOOD, 2004 Larchmont Columbus Day Regatta and the 2005 Greenwich Cup, the First District is proud to be supporting the 2005 Marblehead NOOD at Marblehead Race Week on July 30, 31, 2005.
The organizers anticipate a number of boats coming from both the First and Second Districts, and hope to have another stellar turnout. In 2003, Doug and Bob Schofield bested a 30 boat fleet in Marblehead.That year the Star Class turned heads with the second largest fleet and we hope to better that number this year.
This year the First District has designated the Marblehead NOOD as the “New England Championship,” a distinction which is intended to showcase different regattas around the First District.The Schofields won the NE Championship in Marblehead in 2003. Andy Horton and Brad Nichol won it at Larchmont Columbus Day in 2004.
For those who haven't been to Marblehead, it is one of the top one-design sailing towns on the East Coast with first class yacht clubs and a phenomenal place to sail.
The Stars have been participating in NOOD (National Offshore One Design) regattas in Marblehead and in Annapolis on alternating years. The NOOD regattas are a great opportunity to show off the classic Star to the other one-design fleets.
NOR is available and you may also register at:
Please register by July 6th to avoid a $50 late fee.
The stars will be dry-sailed again on the launching ramp at Eastern Yacht Club.
See you in Marblehead.
Feel free to e-mail me with questions.
Stephen Braverman
mailto:
Secretary’s Cup
MAKE-A-WISH REGATTA
August 6 – 7, 2005
Hosted by Cottage Park Yacht Club & Boston Harbor Fleet
The First District Secretary's Cup is a benefit regatta for the Make-A-Wish foundation. It is a fun sailing event, with a great full club party, with auction, raffle and other surprises.
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June 2005 REGATTA RESULTS
LAKE HOPATCONG CENTENNIAL REGATTA
June 4 – 5, 2005
By Steve Haarstick
About a month ago, I was pleased to learn that I had been invited to sail my Star in the Lake Hopatcong Centennial Regatta. Lake Hopatcong is a small, beautiful lake in northern New Jersey, about 5 miles north of route 80. The yacht club is located on what was once an island in the middle of the lake. With an elevation of 900 feet above sea level, this area began as a summer retreat from the city heat, but most residents are now year round (so I’m told).
Years ago, when I last sailed there (1971 or 1972?) there was an amusement park on the causeway connecting the island to the eastern shore. Now there are large condominiums on both sides of the causeway to the club. Compared to the beautiful turn of the century yacht club facilities, and the “summer cottages” that surround the lake, these modern styled, boxy condo’s really look out of place.
The club and its members went all out to make this one of the best run regattas that I’ve had the pleasure to attend. A reasonable entry fee entitled Todd Schumacher and myself to an unreasonable amount of beer, food, and an open bar Friday and Saturday night.
We left Rochester early afternoon and arrived at the yacht club about 6:30 PM, the last entry to appear. The entertainment for Friday was a series of challenge races between the Star, E-scows, and Thistle sailors on two reproduction “sand baggers” that were recently built to the original plans. These are Gaff rigged centerboard boats with very low freeboard. The bow sprit extends at least 15 feet in front of the plum bow, with the boom beyond the transom by what looked to be a similar amount. I don’t know how the racing turned out, but I’m sure these are exciting boats to sail, scary in a big breeze, I’m sure. Friday’s weather was pretty grim when we arrived: steady drizzle, and temperature to the mid fifties. Our host, Jack Dunnigan took us to his cottage at the north end of the lake in his motor boat that evening, so we could avoid getting lost in route. It was a beautiful cottage right on the edge of a narrow inlet, with a spectacular view from the dock south to the lake.
Thankfully, the sun came out by mid morning Saturday, but the wind didn’t. After several hours of relaxing on the club lawn (and not baking our brains drifting in the boat), the races for the day were canceled. Of course, within an hour, a light southerly wafted up the lake, and boats from the three classes went out to challenge one of the sand baggers to a race around a small island about 1 ½ mile north. Todd and I decided to get directions and drive back to our host’s cottage at the north end, get a shower, and change for the anticipated Saturday night party.
The party was beyond expectations. Tray after tray of hors d’oeuvres, as much steak and salad as you could eat, all served by an army of club staff. The band was great- island music with the big beat! Lot’s of dancing, even a “Limbo” contest! (Of course, I watched, up close).
Sunday was a do or die day. The race committee was not going to blow off any races, and early in the morning things were looking up- a nice 8 -10 knot breeze was filling in from the Northwest. The committee set the starting line in a cove on the eastern side of the lake, and the windward mark well up inside a narrow cove on the Northwest side of the lake. I’m guessing the legs were about 1 mile in length with the course set to be windward leeward, twice around. With 60+ boats on this course (20+ E-scows, 25 Stars, and about the same Thistles), this would be exciting.
We nailed the first start at the boat end, and jumped out on the fleet below us. Seeing John MacCausland, Jr. heading for the right hand shore, we tacked to cover. In no more than 5 boat lengths, we went from first to 15th! Never saw that hole, as a line of Stars rolled over us in their private wind. This was to be the name of the game today. Forget everything but trying to stay in some breeze, no matter what direction it was coming from. At one point on the first beat, I was on starboard looking to leeward at a port tack boat about 50 yards away heading in the same direction! Between us were two Stars flopping around in zero breeze. Somehow we managed an 11th in this race.
The second and last race, I couldn’t decide which end of the line was favored, as the E-scows starting ahead port tacked at the pin just to clear the line. But for our start, the wind has swung right, and my indecision placed us in the cheap seats at the middle of the line. As we cleared to the right again, things just fell into place for a change. Boats that we would have to duck, kindly tacked, leaving us an open lane. We managed to round the mark in good shape, top five, I think, and passed John on the run to round the leeward mark in 1st. Three quarters of the way up the 2nd beat, we crossed John on port with the rest of the fleet well back. That’s when I said to Todd, “I’m not going to tack right in his face”, even though I would never have passed up the chance to do that to his Dad, years ago. We continued past and tacked a couple of boat lengths to windward. BIG mistake!! As soon as I tacked, I stopped in a private hole and watched John sail right up to the mark, round, and was gone. Meanwhile, the boats that were so far behind were now all over me. We lost two drifting towards the offset as they sailed by in a private breeze. Lost another downwind to finish 5th, at least 300 yards behind John, who won this regatta with two firsts! His Dad won this regatta four years in a row back in the eighties, a feat that I would have believed to be impossible.
While the wind was definitely tricky, and often merciless, it was the 500+ (seems like more) motor boats that kept the water in a constant turmoil. I actually saw two large wakes hit each other head on, sending spray five feet straight up! There is nothing quite like nursing your Star up to speed in a zephyr, only to be hit in the face with the wake of a large motor boat passing 10 feet in front of the bow, smiling and waving. No, I didn’t scream at them, they were oblivious to their wake, just having a fun day on the water, as was I - taking water over the bow in no wind, builds character!
While I may need therapy, we did have a great time! I have never been to any regatta where the club members made this kind of effort to provide a memorable and fun regatta!
2005 TOMAHAWK CENTENNIAL
Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
By John MacCausland
This year’s Tomahawk was one not to be forgotten. About a year ago the Murphy brothers thought that it would be nice to have a big event to celebrate their club’s on hundredth anniversary. Many people in their club thought they were crazy, but they put their heads together and went to work.
They invited twenty five boats in each of three classes, Stars,
E-Scows and thistles. They had people travel from far away in each class. In the Star class we had sailors from Nassau, Chicago, Boston and Miami.
They also included many sailors from the past that were there to watch and support the event. They included Buddy Melges, Ronnie Colie, John MacCausland, Sr. and many of the long time members of the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club.
Along with great social events that were very well done, Peter Kellogg provided two 19th Century Sand Baggers named the Bull and the Bear. These boats are exact replicas of the boats that raced around New York City at the turn of the century. Teams from each of the fleets were assembled and competed against each other in the boats on Friday afternoon. It was a great experience to see how the sailors from the turn of the century raced their crafts.
The Murphy‘s, along with all their other work, set up the majority of the fleet to stay with club members from around the lake. This was a good thing as the nights were late and it was nice not to have to get into your car to drive home. We just hopped in a power boat and got taxied to our house.
With all this going on there was not much time for the racing. The weather was great but the wind gods did not help us much on Saturday. With brilliant sunshine but no wind all was canceled. Sunday was another story, somebody must have went to church. We had a nice 6 to 8 knot northwesterly. The committee set a windward leeward course and were able to run two very challenging races to finish off a great weekend. The Murphy’s and all who worked on this deserve a big thank you. I am sure everybody had an excellent time.
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1st District NewsletterJuly, 2005
LAKE HOPATCONG CENTENNIAL REGATTA
a.k.a the Tomahawk
June 4 – 5, 2005
Place / Sail # / Skipper / Crew / Fleet / R1 / R2 / Tot1 / 8184 / John MacCausland / George Iverson / CR / 1 / 1 / 2
2 / 7120 / Jeff Schuhardt / James Favaro / SL / 4 / 2 / 6
3 / 7756 / John Lombard / Mark Sokolich / Mid / 2 / 9 / 11
4 / 7830 / Andy Ivey / Rick Rundle / Sun / 3 / 8 / 11
5 / 7729 / Hyde Perce / Tom Reid / WH / 5 / 6 / 11
6 / 8086 / Jimmie Lowe / Kevin Murphy / N / 9 / 4 / 13
7 / 7709 / Dave Ivey / Bob Restrick / Sun / 12 / 3 / 15
8 / 7369 / Steve Haarstick / Todd Schumacher / SL / 11 / 5 / 16
9 / 7009 / Stu Miller / Jack Winthrop / LH / 10 / 10 / 20
10 / 7998 / Magnus Liljedahl / David Cutler / BisB / 16 / 7 / 23
11 / 7463 / Werner Holtze / Rick Burgess / SL / 7 / 16 / 23
12 / 7824 / Bill Allen / Rick Burgess / WH / 8 / 15 / 23
13 / 7726 / Fred Eagles / Bill McMahon / LHYC / 13 / 11 / 24
14 / 7271 / Bob Westcott / Kevin Westcott / SL / 15 / 12 / 27
15 / 8083 / John Chiarella / Terry Fletcher / Sun / 14 / 13 / 27
16 / 7952 / Ben Cesare / Kim Cesare / Mid / 6 / dnf / 31
17 / 7497 / Kris Wilson / Bud Elsaesser / An / 19 / 14 / 33
18 / 7127 / Bernd Hefele / Karl Hefele / LH / 20 / 17 / 37
19 / 8063 / Bert Collins / Guy Avellon / An / 17 / dnf / 42
20 / 8112 / J Joseph Bainton / Tod Raynor / CLIS / 18 / dnf / 43
21 / 5551 / Don Taylor / Deborah Kelly / LH / 21 / dnf / 46
22 / 6808 / Jack Dunnigan / Terry Comerford / LH / 22 / dnf / 47
23 / 8007 / William Watson / Sam Turvey / CLIS / dns / dns / 50
23 / 7015 / Bill Nutzel / -- / LH / dns / dns / 50
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1st District NewsletterJuly, 2005
63RD ARMS-WHITE REGATTA
Arms Trophy To John MacCausland
White Trophy To Kevin Murphy
June 18 – 19, 2005
Milford, Connecticut
by John MacCausland
This year’s event was started off on Friday morning with a clinic run by John MacCausland, with 15 participants and 5 boats on the water. It was a great success. Instead of the standard measuring of the boats and checking the rig tension on Friday morning, we talked about many of the new developments that have been brought to us from the past Olympics, things such as foil leading edge shape and raising the jib higher than the standard amount off the wind. Also we talked about the ability to have the crew standing off the wind. Along with these topics we also covered what was the equipment that the top teams were using. This was a great way to get all the participants up to speed in the modern Star Class.
After lunch all the boats were put in the water and we had a good session on the water. By the way, it was done in the best breeze of the weekend. John MacCausland was aboard each of the boats and helped with the rig setup, sail trim and general questions that each team had. All and all it was a great day for all who participated.
By the time registration ended Saturday morning we had a small but talented fleet of nineteen boats from the Northeast. The first race was a good light air affair in which Fotis Boliakis and Roman Gotsulyak lead wire to wire and extended their lead at every mark for a commanding win. The second race of the day was characterized by two major wind shifts. The first leg it was hard to the right and the second weather leg it was to the left. Joe Bainton and Tod Raynor figured it out perfectly and lead wire to wire for a decisive win. With this finish Joe and Tod lead the way overall after Saturday.
As usual the Milford Yacht Club and the Mid-Connecticut Star Fleet put on a very nice dinner Saturday night. The day was long and by 9 PM everybody was off to bed.
Sunday started off with more breeze than the previous day. We had a nice 11 to 13 knots from the southeast. As with each of the last two races the leader at the first mark won the race. This time it was John MacCausland and, extending at each mark. John and Kevin sailed in for a comfortable win. Sunday morning was cloudy and by the finish of the first race the sun started to poke its head through the clouds. This was the start of the end of the wind.
Race number two on Sunday started off in very light and spotty air. John Lombard and Brian Sharp lead at the first mark. This race was going to be very difficult to hold your lead. John & Brian did a very good job of staying in front until the last run to the finish. Ben Cesare and Doug Carey slipped by for the win just at the finish line. John MacCausland and Kevin Murphy rounded out the top three in this race securing the overall win. With Ben’s win in the last race he slid into second overall. Joe Bainton with Tod Raynor sailed a very solid event to finish third overall.