S Y S C OF O STARTING LINE - syscosailing.org

SMALLYACHTSAILINGCLUBOFOREGON

STARTING LINE

August2019

Deadbeatonastormydouble-rainbowThursdaynightTwilightseries.

AUGUST 2019

From the frontANNA CAMPAGNA - COMMODORE

CONTENTS

Atpresstime,wegointothelastnightoftheweekdayracesfortheyear.Ithasbeenaverybusyend-of-summerforusracers.SYSCOvolunteersransomeflawlessraces,andpulledoffthreeterrificBBQs.TheDualBridgeDuel/ColumbiaCrossingsCupwasasoaker.Wehadarecord7/8inchofrainfalluponit!YourRearCommodoredoesarecaplaterinthisissue.

Ahandfulofbiggerboatsenjoyedtheweek-longDeltaCruise,andtheSt.HelensRaceandCruisehad21competitors.Geronimogotlinehonors,followedcloselybyPHRF,Levelandone-designboatsYeah,Baby,OneMore,EdgewalkerandKestrel.Yourcommodoreandherskipperonourbigboat,Mira(PacificSeacraft34)motoredalltheway,whilefishingandcookingandtakingphotographsoftheslow-movingdownrivercruise.

Aconvivialpot-luckensued(myfavoritekindofdinnerparty!),finishtimeswerereportedandrecordedasbestIcould,andthecovetedSYSCOglasseswerehandedout.Welookforwardtotwonew-formatSeptemberweekendraces,andmypersonalfavoriterace,theRCYCLongDistanceRacetoSt.Helens.

Abigthank-youtotheSYSCOBoardandalloftheRaceCommitteefolks,fromourclubandothers,wholendtheirRCboatsandtheirtimetomaketheseeventshappen.

PhilCampagnaskippersMira,trollingforsalmonundermotor,aheadoftheracerslookingforwindjustafterthestartoftheSYSCOSt.HelensRace&Cruise.

Geronimo is the first to find the breeze after the start of the St. Helens Race & Cruise, and she worked it all the way to get line honors.

Phil enjoys a Pacific Rain in a cheezy cozy someone accidentally left onboard Mira at the St. Helens dock - river booty!

ThursdaynightracersroundingtheleewardmarkduringtheTwilightseries.

AUGUST 2019

From the frontANNA CAMPAGNA - COMMODORE

CONTENTS

Icametotherealizationthatoursailingseasoniswindingdownwhenweweredoingthescoringinourheadsafterthesecond-to-lastThursdaynightrace.ThereisONLYONEMORERACEintheSYSCOSummerTwilightSeries!OurJ/24,BiteMe,isinclosecontentionwithDeadbeat,nowbeingtiedfortheseriesat7pointseach.Itisablissfulrivalrybetweenveryexperienced,competitivesailors,onethathascarriedonforthelastseveralyears.Wewonthefirstseriesthisyear,theywonthesecond.Thestakesarehigh.Welovetheseguys,butwecursethematthesametime.

Ourclosestcompetitorforthirdplaceis10pointsout.Nottodownplaytheracingabilityofalltheotherboatsinourfleet—WhiteTrashhasbeenathreatinseveralraces;StrangeBrewcanreallymesswithyourwindandtakeyoudown;Dinohassomefabuloussailors,butwithoutthe“LuckyShirt”thisseasonseemstobelacking;RushhashadsomeAMAZINGstarts(perhapstheirslowspeeddownwindisduetothefactthattheyareusingBiteMe’sold“Rasta”spinnakerfrom2005—itismostlikelyfullofholes…butweLOVEseeingthatred,green,andgoldchute!);OneMorealwaysseemstobehavingagoodtime,butdriftsdowntonext-to-lasttoooften;ExitStrategyhas6DNCs-possiblyduetothefactthatWesleyDameronisSYSCO’snewNewslettereditorandhehasnotimelefttorace-butwestillcheereverytimeweseeheronthestartingline;Frankly,thenewestboatinthefleet,promisestoturnoutfortheSeptember7thOneDesignrace,andPhilandIwillbeaboard,crewingandcoaching.

Butbacktothatsecond-to-lastThursdaynightrace.BiteMehadaso-sostartinlightwind.Wewereneck-and-neckwithDeadbeat,ourfavoriterival.Theseguysarereallygoodsailors.Theybeat

ustothewindwardmark,butwewerenippingattheirheels.StrangeBrewdistractedusandforcedustodefendourairbysailingtoChina(theWashingtonside).Deadbeatgotsomeseparation,andwasnowsailingupthemiddleoftheriver.Thentheygotlaunchedbyabeautifulpuff.WewerefightingwithBlainonthelight-airWashingtonsidewhileournemesiswasgettingaway.Ourtactician,AndrewHaliburton(12thintheMasters’DivisionatLaserWorlds2015,andwinneroftheTranspacNavigator’sTrophyfor2019-themanisaweapon),hadanideatogetBlainoffourback.

HewhisperedtoPhil,ourskipper,“Slowlybringinyourmaintoclose-hauled.”Close-hauledisaveryS-L-O-WwaytotrimyourmainwhenyouarerunningupriverandthewindisNorth-Northwest,butPhilcomplied.WegassedStrangeBrewtothepointwhereshesimplystoppedmoving,andwewerepropelledslowlyupstream.Brilliant!

Strange Brew can be a formidable threat, and is practiced in the art of messing with your air.

AUGUST 2019

From the frontANNA CAMPAGNA - COMMODORE

CONTENTS

ButnowDeadbeatwashalfwaytotheleewardmark.Weknewitwouldbeimpossibletocatchher.Ourcoursewastwotimesaround.Onthenextdownwindlegweagainmagicallygottrickedintosailingwherethewindwaslight-onWashington(thinkaboutit-thewindiscomingfromthenorthandgetsblockedbyallthosecondos-notgoodwindoverthere).JeffandJennonDeadbeatseemedtohavealeadofahalfmileonus.AndrewandIlookedateachotherjustbeforetheroundingmarkandconcludedthatallthewindwasontheOregonside.PLUS,there’scurrentreliefifyougototheshallowsofOregon.Weroundedthemark,poppedthechuteefficiently,and“tookaflier”—thatis,wehadtodosomethingcrazyifwestoodachanceofcatchingDeadbeat,whowasagainmovingnicelyupthemiddleoftheriver.

Wedidn’texactlybangtheshore,butwewerein12feetofwater,whileDeadbeatwasin60.Thewindclockedsofarnorth-northeastthatweraisedtheJibandtookdowntheChute.WewonderediftheysawusslowlycreepinguptheOregonside.

Here’swheretheBiteMecrewgotLaser-focused.(Sic)Andrewwasconstantlylookingatthesailshapeandthetelltales,andcoachingJosh,ourtrimmer,inhissoothingSouthAfricanaccent,“Bringitin.”“Letitout.”“Bringitin,justafewclicks.”“Letitout”“Phil,Mainin!”“Easemain.”“Josh,in.”

“Anna,verydelicately,moveyourweightforward.Gottagetthesternoutofthewater.”

WemiraculouslycaughtuptoDeadbeat.Weroundedthelastmarkoneboat-lengthahead.AftergettingsettledbackontheupwindrailIlookedbackatPhil.Hisheadwasboweddownandslowlyshakingbackandforth.“Whatjusthappened?!”hesaid,andlookedupwithabigsmile.Ontothefinishwithahorn.Weloveyou,ournemesis,Deadbeat,andalltheJ/24s!Youguysmakeusbettersailors,andyoumakethissportsomuchfunforus.

TuneintonextMonth'sNewslenerfortheexciongconclusiontotheBiteMe/DeadbeatRivalryfor2019!

Andrew Haliburton, with his constant trim feedback and tactician banter, is a lethal weapon. (left)

Deadbeat crossing in front of Bite Me… (right) Photos by Anna Campagna

AUGUST 2019

TheDualBridgeDuel/ColumbiaCrossingsCupliveduptoexpectationsofbeingmemorableandofcourseabitwacky.AbigthankstoNatPowningandhiscrewforbeingRConJunoviaandkeepingusentertainedaswewerewaitingforwind.

Theracestatedoutinnowind,essentiallydriftingacrossthestartinglinewitheveryonesailingwest(youcouldn’tmakeanyheadwayeast),headingforthe“2”buoywithagoodmixtureofone-designs,cruisersandPHRFboats.ThewindpickedupfromazephyrtoalightSWbreezeallowingboatstoroundthemarkandthenmaketheirwaytoeitherOregonorWashingtonsidestoseeifanyshoreeffectwouldhelpout,slowingworkingtheirwaybacktothemiddleofthecourse.

Inthemeantime,verydarkcloudsweregatheringinthedirectionoftheairport.Underthetime-wornsailoraxiom,ifyouwantwindheadtothestorm(aslongasthereisnothunder,lightningorfunnelcloud).SeveralboatsheadedtoBroughtonBeach,ignoringthefewboatsskimmingalongRyan’spoint.Itpaidoffasthewindslowlybuiltto10mphallowingabeamreachwithchutestotheturningmark.

AsintheOklahomamusical,wherethe“windcomesrightbeforetherain”,theraincame,lightatfirst,abitstrongerthedeeperthefleetgottothemark,andthenadelugeofBiblicalproportionsforthelastlegofthecourse.

Nolightningorthunder,justraininbuckets,butfortunatelythewindheldandmostofthefleetfinished.Turnedout,wereceivedamonth’sworthofrainin24hoursandlivedtotellaboutit.AnotherDualBridgeDuelforthememorybank.

From the rear - Dueling the elementsMICHAEL MORRISSEY, REAR COMMODORE

“I'm pretty sure Nat is still out there somewhere on Race Committee…” ~Flying Frog

AUGUST 2019

From the rear - Dueling the elementsMICHAEL MORRISSEY, REAR COMMODORE

CongratstoMistywhoreceivedlinehonors!

You can see the raindrops bouncing off the surface of the river as Breakaway takes down her sails. Photos by Anna Campagna

Nat Powning, PRO, announces the standings at the post-race BBQ at Tomahawk Bay.

AUGUST 2019

Neighbor’s Commentary For SYSCO - Guest Submission

Our new neighbor is an avid boater,

MOTOR

STYLE.She says: I get the boat all prepped, dog on the top look-out and we head out on the

Columbia for the evening.

Up ahead I see the Sailboats.

Gorgeous and graceful.I leave lots of room, driving far to the side of the sailboats to pass them. I proceed slowly and just about get even with the sailboats...

When all of a sudden, one sailboat turns and heads toward me. THEN if one sailboat turns, one by one every sailboat turns, and they

ALL ARE HEADING

TOWARD ME! HOLY #$@&!—I think “What do I do now?” I want to leave them lots of room. But they are all coming my way!

So – I turn tail and motor the other direction on the Columbia. I do love to watch the sailors. But, I’m

sticking to motoring.Sailing looks too complicated for me!

—SubmittedbyJanBurkhardt PhotosbyDenaKent DesignbyAnnaCampagna

AUGUST 2019

Racing reportGREGG BRYDEN - RACE CAPTAIN

InterFleet Mentoring? Jacqueline Pitter, OCSA Vice Commodore/Ranger 20 Fleet Captain

Thunder Pig sailing in the 2017 Twilight Series. Photo courtesy of Dena Kent.

Smoothsailing.That’swhatwe’vebeenhavingallseason.Ican’ttakecreditfortheexcellentracingputonbySYSCOvolunteers,butIwilltaketheheatformakingsafetyapriority.

CertainJ105sandMelgeswererecentlydisqualifiedoverabargeinteraction.Whilethebargecaptainmayhavebeenabithornhappy,IhavetobacktheRaceCommittee’sdecisiontoDSQtheboats.It’sonlyfairtotheotherboatsthatclearedtheshippingchannel,possiblylosingtheirposition,whenthefirst5hornsweresounded.

Mostofussailorsarenot100toncaptainswithbargeexperience,sowecannotsecondguesswhysomebargesleanontheirhornsearlyandoften.Theyarebig,movingfastdownriver,andhavenowheretogotoavoidboatsinthechannel.

Thisissimple:justheadoutofthechannelassoonasyouhearahorn.

Speakingofsafety,didyouknowourOCSAracingrulesincludeSafetyEquipmentRequirements(SERs)?IntheCorinthianspiritofself-refereeingandindividualcaptain’sresponsibility,SYSCOisnotplanningtoinspectordisqualifyboatsrelatedtoSERs,butacompetitorcouldfileaprotestandwouldwin.

Besidescompliancewiththerules,theSER’sjustmakegoodsafetysense.TheSERslistbasicsafetyequipmenteveryboatshouldhave,likeradios,firstaidkits,bailingbuckets,horns,fireextinguishers,andthrowropes.

TheseSERsweredevelopedforusbyourcommunityofverysmart,seasonedsailors.Pleasefollowthem!Dotakealookatthechecklistandfillinanygapsthatapplytoyou.Perhapsfleetscanhaveaninspectiondayandhelpeveryonecomply.

Whileyouareatit,aCoastGuardAuxiliaryVesselSafetyCheckisnotabadidea.YoucangoHEREtosetoneup.

ThereisalotofgreatSYSCOsailingaheadthisyear.I’mespeciallyexcitedaboutthenewOneDesignRegattaandMatchRacingcomingupinSeptember.Thefleetshavehonedtheirskillsallsummerwhichissuretomakeforsomegreatracing.

SYSCOOne-DesignRacesSeptember7&21-details

SailWell,SailSafe.

RC GreggAugust dredging in front of McCuddy's Marina removed a pesky sandbar. Photos by Anna Campagna

AUGUST 2019

Post Season regattas

!9

Saturday,Sept.7

Therewillbeamulti-raceonedayregattafocusingon4-5shortracesthatwilltestyourstartingandboathandlingskills.

Theregattaisopentoallboatssailingattheone-designlevel.

Theremustbeaminimumofthree(3)boatstodesignateaclass.

Firstwarningsignalisat13:00hours.

Additionalraces(upto5races)willberunforallclasses.

ThestartingsequencewillbenotedintheOCSAEventNoticeBoard.

SYSCOhasarrangedforsomepost-seasonOne-DesignRegattasontheColumbiaRiverbetweentheI-5andI-205bridges.

• EachoftheseregattasarefreetoSYSCOmembers.($30fornon-members.)• AllentrantsmustbecurrentOCSAmembers.

Learnmoreabouttheseraces,andregisterhere:https://sailpdx.org/notice-board/

Saturday,Sept.21

Therewillbeamulti-raceonedayregattawith3MatchRaceswithineachfleet.

TheMatchRacingeventisopentoallboatssailingattheone-designlevel.

Theremustbeaminimumoffour(4)boatstodesignateaclass.

Firstwarningsignalisat13:00hours.

Apre-racemeeting(location:TBA)willbeheldat10am.

Thestartingsequencewillbedeterminedatthepre-racemeeting.

HereislinktoaYoutubevideoonMatchRacing.

Whilethevideogivesagoodoverview,itcanbeabitintimidatingifyouarenotfamiliarwiththetacticsofMatchRacing.

Remember,theemphasisontheeventwillbegettinganewsailingexperienceandhavingfun,andapre-raceseminarwillberuntogivesomegeneralrulesoftheroad.

hUps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V9l2WRqcSw

Match racing

AUGUST 2019

Complete list of

Upcoming eventsSept14OWSA"CrazyWigs"BeerCanRace

Sept14&15RCYCLongDistanceRace

Sept7&21SYSCOOneDesignRaces

!10

We NEED your photos! Please include captions and names.

email:[email protected]

Bite Me was first to round Mark #1 (a.k.a. Bouy 2) on the Dual Bridge Duel. Photos by Wesley Dameron

The Kestral crew on high alert as they prepare to round the Windward Mark during the Tuesday Twilight series.

AUGUST 2019

SYSCO Board Meeting minutesAUGUST 5TH, 2019

ATTENDEESGaryBruner,JeffEastes,LynnEastes,GreggBryden,AnnaCampagna,BruceNewton,BillSanborn,ScottStevenson,MichaelMorrissey,MikeStainsby,ArniePolk,PatsyEby,JanBurkhardt.

CALLTOORDERThemeetingwascalledtoorderbyCommodore,AnnaCampagnaat7:00pm

RACINGREPORTAnchoringCommitteeBoats:TherehavebeenseveralincidentslatelyinvolvingdifficultyanchoringCommitteeboats.ArniePolkdescribedhisdifficultieswithanchoringduringarecentrace.Currentandwindmadefordifficultanchoring.Arniehadtokeeptheboatingear.Hehaddroguesoutbuttheywerenoteffective.

Panchohasabiggerdroguethatisavailable.WhatelseshouldwebecarryingonPanchoforcommitteeboats?TheconsensusofthegroupisthatequipmentistheresponsibilityoftheskipperforthevolunteerCommitteeboat.SYSCOshouldnotbeloaninganchorsandberesponsibleforanchoringequipment.

Action:GreggtodevelopachecklistofminimumequipmentforCommitteeboats.• Wehaveonly2-3boatsthatstepupand

volunteertheirboatforCommitteeboat.Notfairtothosewhodoitoverandover.

• Severaleventsarecomingup.WearelackingracecommitteeboatsforDuelBridgeDuelandtheRaceandCruisecomingup.

• PoorattendanceatShortHandSoaker

• GaryBrunersuggestedcheckingboatstoseethattheyhavetherequiredsafetyequipmentsuchasbucket,radio,anchor,etc.MikeStainsbysuggestedthatatthebeginningoftheseason,theyreceivethesafetyrules,signitandsenditback.Greggfeelsthatthisistoodifficult.TherewasmuchdiscussionaboutthefactthatSYSCOisnotanenforcementagencyforsafetyequipmentandtheresponsibilityforsafetyequipmentrestswiththeskipper.

Action:GreggwillputalistingofrequiredsafetyequipmentintheSeptembernewsletter.GreggsuggestspushingenforcementdowntothefleetlevelandnothavingSYSCObetheenforcers.

• MichaelMorrisseystatedthatthereisaworkingcommitteethatiscoordinatingSeptemberracingeventsOnthiscommitteeisMichaelMorrissey,CraigGarrison,DennyDamore,DerekPolzin

• September7th:Onedesignrace• September21st:Matchraceevent

(cont’d)

Sunset from McCuddy’s. Photo by Josh Raymond

AUGUST 2019

Sysco Board meeting minutes - cont’dAUGUST 5TH, 2019

MEMBERSHIPREPORT:JANBURKHART116members.JaniscoordinatingwithRaceCommitteetomakesurethatalloftheparticipantshavepaid.Jansuggeststhatattheendoftheseason,gettingreadyfor2020,werevisitwhatpeoplegetforSYSCOmembership.Considerpullinginotherdiscountsformembers.

TREASURERREPORTWehaveinourbankaccounts:Checking$7748.43Saving$5128.88.Wereceived$600fromRegattaNetwork.Thereis$5200allocatedfortrophies.JimShawandGaryBrunerwilldoasurveyofthemembershiptoseewhatpeoplewantinthewayoftrophiesandprizes.Greggsaysthatitispossibletoputpeople’sshirtsizes,etc.inRegattaNetwork,however,JimShawsaidthatshirtswereextremelydifficultlasttime.

Action:Surveywillbecomingoutwithinthenextcoupleofweeks(MichaelMorrissey)

NEWSLETTER/WEBMASTER/MARKETINGREPORTWesleyDamerontookoverthenewsletteranditisnowbeingdoneinadifferentplatform.WilltrytogetitoutinthenextfewdaystoadvertisetheDuelBridgeDuel.BoardmembersencouragedtogettheirarticlesdonewithinaweekoftheBoardMeeting.Websiteseemstobeworkingwell,exceptforCommodoreemailnotworking.RaceCaptaindoesnotworkeither.

Action:AnnawillcontactKevintofixtheemails.Marketingteamhasworkedwithamarketingexpert(Holly)tofigureouthowtomarketthe“GrowtheSport”event.Lookingtowardaninternnextyear.

OTHERBUSINESSGaryBrunerisliaisonwiththeCRYA(ColumbiaRiverYachtAssociation).CRYAtriestocoordinatecruisingschedulesofallofthegroupsontheriversothatmultiplegroupsdonotarriveatacruisingdestinationallatthesametime.CruisingcalendarsareputtogetherAugust1stoftheprioryear.Basedonthis,OCSAputstheirdatestogetheralittlelate.

Action:GreggwillsenddatesforSYSCORaceandCruisefor2020toGaryBrunerforplacementintheCRYAcruisingguide.Ofnote,thereisanewvendortotakeoverSandIslandmanagement.

Panchoreplacement:JeffandThomashavebeenshoppingonCraigslistforreplacementboatsforPancho.Proposingayear-endassessmentofthehulltodetermineifitneedsreplacementsoonerorlater.IntheeventthatsomethinghappenstoPancho,wewillbeoutsignificantmoney(approximately8-10K)forareplacement.WearealsoopentosomeonedonatingaboattoSYSCO.

Howdowegettothelevelofmoneythatweneed?Wejustneedaboat,notthemotorandtrailer.Doweneedtoselloffwhatwehaveinthetrailerandmotortoraisemoremoney?

Action:Annawillcontacttheotherclubs(includingColumbiaCrossings)toseeiftheyhaveanyleadsforboatsorgetdonationstheydonotneed.

MEETINGADJOURNEDAT8:10PM

Exit Strategy crew can’t seem to race, but they can apparently drink just fine. Photo by Jacob Camargo