2005 U.S. Laser Masters Championship Start of race 3 at the 2005 US Laser Masters Championship at Severn Sailing Association.

Notice of Race

2010 District 11 Championship

• Saturday, August 28th, 2010 - Sunday, August 29th, 2010
• Corsica River YC
• Centreville, MD

Sixty-one Lasers and Radials were on hand for the 2010 Laser District 11 Championship at Corsica River Yacht Club August 28-29. The 42-boat standard rig fleet was won by Scott Houck of Annapolis Yacht Club. Posting 2 bullets and a 6th in 3 races, Scott finished just ahead of his nearest competitors Kyle Swenson from Fishing Bay Yacht Club and Mathew Schofield of SSA/AYC.

Gary Prieto from Old Cove Yacht Club was the first place Radial sailor in the 19-boat fleet. Following Gary were Sarah Stubbs from American Yacht Club and Stefan Kuehn from Old Cover Yacht Club/LISOT.

The conditions on Saturday were a bit challenging. After a 25 minute postponement on shore the fleet was sent out to the mouth of where the Chester River meets the Corsica River. The north wind was light, but a long ¾ mile leg race was started. As the fleet got closer to shore and as the wind lightened and as the ebb current got stronger the fleet really started to spread out. Those who seemed to catch the pressure and shifts in the middle of the course got ahead while those on the sides suffered in less wind. By the time most of the fleet was sailing downwind, the wind and current were running the same direction at nearly the same speed. The RC thankfully set a very short change mark and shortened the course just above the gate mark. Even with the shortened course, nearly half of the fleet was unable to finish in the time limit.

The Radial race was abandoned. The sailors sat on the water for 1 ½ hours before racing was called for the day.

In the evening the competitors were treated to a great fish-fry dinner by Corsica River Yacht Club in their awesome new pavilion. That was followed by a short District 11 meeting. Afterward everyone hung out by the pavilion, near the tents or down at the boats at the dock.

Sunday saw slightly better conditions generally, with 5ish knots out of the south – a better direction for the wind in this area. The Radials were up first as they did not get a race in yesterday and since the Standard Rig fleet kept getting general recalls they got to watch almost all of the Radial race before finally starting their race in light and shifty conditions.

Another race was run for the Radials before the course was reset for what would end up being the final race for both fleets. Once the final race was started the wind let out almost entirely as most of the Standard Rig fleet was reaching the windward mark. With so little wind, it really became a matter of who got furthest out of the current in order to make headway to the gate where the course was ultimately shortened to. The final radial race was shortened at the first windward mark.

Despite less than ideal wind conditions, everyone at Corsica River Yacht club did a fantastic job putting on the event. From the race committee to the food to the beer truck to the breakfast – we can’t thank CRYC and all of their helpers enough. They truly made this an event we won’t soon forget. And congratulations to all of our winners.

Event Photos can be found here.

Photos from the event including pictures of the winners are here.

2010 Laser District 11 Championships

Laser Fleet

Sailed: 3, Discards: 0, To count: 3, Entries: 42, Scoring system: Appendix A

Laser Radial Fleet

Sailed: 3, Discards: 0, To count: 3, Entries: 19, Scoring system: Appendix A

Special Recognitions:
PRO: Fitz Turner
Regatta Chair: Nicholas Place
RC Boat: Craig Wooters
Mark Boat: Norman Davidson
Chief Scorer: Andy Wood
Patrol Boats: Sandy Downes, Ben Heilman
Onshore Prep: Pam Nicholas

Added: 8/29/2010 20:00:16 by Jon Deutsch
Updated: 9/03/2010 12:14:38 by Jon Deutsch