The Mass Bay Sailing Offshore Season Championship for 2003 concluded with an abandonment of Jubilee Yacht Club's Phil Small Memorial Race due to pea soup fog and light winds. It is unfortunate that the last race of the season ended on such a disappointing note. The winners of the five racing classes and two cruising classes included many familiar names with repeat winning performances in Class A, Class B, Class D and Class G. Attendance at the other 14 Mass Bay qualifiers was consistent with past years in most regattas and disappointing in a few events. The rainy weekends at the beginning of the season may have been a factor but only a small percentage of the boats that participated in the weekday twilight series in Mass Bay came out on weekends. Class D and Class E boats were able to sail in two qualifying events in the PHRF NE Championship when agreement was reached to guarantee that Mass Bay splits for each class would be honored.

The regatta attendance is summarized below:

Â	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class D	Class E	Class F	Class G	Total
JFK Regatta	2	5	2	4	-	0	4	17
CYC Summerset	4	8	1	2	-	1	2	18
Chapman Bowl	0	6	2	0	-	2	4	14
EYC Hospice	7	11	3	3	-	8	3	35
Constitution Cup	0	8	3	3	-	0	4	18
EYC Annual	9	10	3	3	-	3	5	33
BYC Beringer	5	10	5	5	-	19	6	50
Scituate Invitational	0	3	2	2	-	0	1	8
HYC Bill Gray Mem.	1	4	5	1	2	1	3	17
PHRF NE	-	-	-	-	12	8	-	20
PHRF NE	-	-	-	-	12	7	-	19
JYC Weekend	3	8	2	5	5	3	4	30
HBPHRF Chowder Cup	0	3	3	4	1	4	7	22
MYC Fall	5	6	3	5	-	7	3	29

The encouraging news is that sixteen Class A boats, twenty-nine Class B boats, sixteen Class C boats, twenty-four Class D boats, ten Class E boats, forty Class F boats and twenty Class G boats started in at least one Mass Bay qualifying event. This is a total of 155 boats that have entered an event, assembled crew and crossed the starting line in their particular class.

More charity events such as the Race for Paralysis, Wednesday Child, the Hospice of the North Shore, the Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta and the new Flip Flop Regatta are being organized and attracting boats that may not otherwise enter a regatta series. Pursuit format races such as the S. S. Crocker Memorial Race on the North Shore and the Great Chase Race on the South Shore have been extremely successful over recent years with attendance approaching and exceeding 100 boats. The PHRF NE Championship is another one hundred plus boat event that includes many Mass Bay members who do not necessarily compete in the Mass Bay Offshore Season Championship. On any given Wednesday or Thursday night in Scituate, Hingham Bay, Boston Inner and Outer Harbors, Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead and Salem/Beverly there are another 150 different boats entered in twilight series, some of which fly spinnakers and in other series that are strictly cruising canvas.

The reason I cite all of these statistics is to pose the question whether the Mass Bay Season Championship is outmoded and whether support should be redirected to other events that attract the most participation. If you have an opinion one way or the other, please give me your views by email at jfgraul@comcast.net.

Finally, congratulations to the Season Championship skippers and crews of the following boats:

Class A: KATABATIC and SCHERHEREZADE
Class B: GOLDENEYE, HOT SPUR and STATIC
Class C: GOLD WATCH and SAILSMAN
Class D: WILDWOOD FLOWER, FALL LINE and POCITO
Class E: BARRA, RASCAL and STRESSED OUT
Class F: ATLANTEA
Class G: NONPAREIL, BLIXTEN and AKEEPAH

Jody Graul
VP Offshore

2003 Offshore Schedule

The 2003 schedule has been completed. It includes weekend club PHRF races, charity events and some fun pursuit races. Notices of Race for weekday events are also included. Whether you sail on the north shore, south shore, inner or outer Boston Harbor, Mass Bay clubs have scheduled a very full season. If you race on Wednesday or Thursday evenings, let the lawn grow an additional day or two and try some of the weekend events. Click Offshore Schedule.

Season Championship

The centerpiece of the Mass Bay Offshore sailing season is the Season Championship for PHRF sailors. The Season Championship consists of qualifying events (click Season Championship Events) listed on the schedule for five racing classes and two cruising classes based upon PHRF ratings. A yacht's highest scores in its best six qualifying events determines the first, second and third place winners for the season in four racing and two cruising classes. New this year for Class E (racing ratings 171+) is its own series of events consisting of the best four of six scheduled qualifiers. For more detail on the minimum number of races and the "travel requirement", consult the center pages of the 2003 Mass Bay Offshore Year Book or click Season Championship Information.

2003 Mass Bay Offshore Year Book

The Year Book, which contains all necessary general/event sailing instructions will be mailed on April 4 to all PHRF certificate holders from 2002 for the following fleets: Cape Ann, Jubilee, Salem, Marblehead, Nahant, Boston Harbor, Constitution, Hingham Bay and Scituate. Because third class mail is used, you may not receive your book until the middle of the month.

PHRF New England Championship is also a Mass Bay Qualifier for Class D and Class E

With the success last year of the newly introduced two day format for racing yachts with ratings of 150+, the organizers of the PHRF New England Championship and Mass Bay Sailing have coordinated their efforts and announce that the PHRF New England Championship will be a Double Q for both Class D and Class E. Yachts with racing ratings of 141 to 170 will be guaranteed their own class and start. Similarly, yachts with racing ratings of 171+ will have their own class and start. For more detail, click Season Championship Information.

Participation in the PHRF New England Championship will also count as the travel requirement for Class D. Mark your calendars to be in Marblehead on August 23 and 24.

BERINGER BOWL

Fifty is such a nice round number and that was the number of boats starting in the Beringer Bowl on July 18, 2003. Unfortunately, two boats were OCS ending their quest for fame and fortune even before it began. The weather was rainy but wind continued throughout the night allowing most boats to complete their respective 45.7 or 41.9 mile courses in eight to nine hours. Class A had five boats with HARD EIGHT, CLADDAGH and KISMET finishing in the top three spots. HARD EIGHT was the Mass Bay Sailing Boat of the Day (night?).

Class B has ten entries with GOLDENEYE, BOADICEA and HOT SPUR taking top honors. Class C top three of the five starters were GOLD WATCH, BELLATRIX and INDRA. Class D was won by a south shore boat WHIRLWIND, followed by BLAT NA MARA and DREAM CATCHER.

In cruising classes, Class F had nineteen boats entered with SOUTHERN DREAM, ARES and MAGIC placing in the top three spots. Class G winners were NONPAREIL, FACET and ALEIDA of the six boats entered.

Five boats, BOADICEA, WILD THING, GOLD WATCH, TUMBLEWEED and ALEIDA, sailed in both the Chapman Bowl and the Beringer Bowl. The multiplier of 1.25 can only be applied to one of these races for Mass Bay scoring purposes.

EYC ANNUAL REGATTA

Class A showed its class with nine starters in the EYC's Annual Regatta held on July 4th off Marblehead. KISMET, HARD EIGHT and KATABATIC topped the field in its 10.7 mile course. Class B had ten starters with SHADOWFAX, HOT SPUR and GOLDENEYE finishing in that order. SAILSMAN's three second victory over INDRA in Class C was followed by KIKIYSON in third place. In his first Mass Bay qualifier this season, Jim MacNeill's BARRA prevailed over FALL LINE and RASCAL. WINTERHAWK, EXOCET and HUGGER were the top finishers in Class F and BLIXTEN finished ahead of both NONPAREIL and DRUMMER BOY in Class G.

KISMET was the Boat of the Day.  

UPDATE ON MASS BAY SAILING SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP

There are still eight Mass Bay Sailing Season Championship qualifying events remaining with plenty of opportunity to place within the money. Class A has had more boats than last year but the final standings are far from decided. Class B results could change with the EYC Annual and Beringer coming up next depending upon the wind conditions. There are several contenders including GOLDENEYE in the early lead with VIGILANTE also making its presence known. Don't forget HOT SPUR who has had a disappointing beginning but expects better results as the season progresses.

In Class C, I'm still waiting for everyone to sail in the same race. On the Boston/South Shore, MEISTER, LITTLE TIGER and SAILSMAN look good while BELLATRIX, GOLD WATCH and possibly ATLANTEA may make a run for it on the North Shore. Defending Class D champion WILDWOOD FLOWER is being challenged by FALL LINE, POCITO and BLAT NA MARA but the inclusion of Class D in the PHRF NE championships could catapult anyone to the top with a great two day performance. Sailing in the NE Championships satisfies the travel requirement for all Class D boats.

Class E this year has an abbreviated series with four events plus two qualifiers also in the PHRF NE Championships. This may turn out to be a continuation of the very successful Thursday night battle of the slow boats with spinnakers at JYC. Class F is open for the taking with very disappointing attendance at the Mass Bay qualifiers. Class G two time champion NONPAREIL is being seriously challenged by BLIXTEN with AKEEPAH and FRISBEE keeping everyone honest. Watch out for Mr. September, Tom Tetrault in FACET.

CONSTITUTION CUP

The Constitution Cup was sailed in Broad Sound on Saturday, June 28, 2003. As promised, there was no rain and no hubline barges on the course. However, there was little or no wind at the rendezvous time and the race was delayed by more than 2 hours. Finally, a four mile "H" course was set with 4-6 knots of S-SE, light wind. The B and C Classes sailed twice around and the D and Cruising G classes just once.

B Class started eight boats including three J105s who may have been having a race within a race for their one design series. GOLDENEYE prevailed by a significant margin, followed by HOT SPUR in second. I watched the three J105s on their last leg to the finish sailing on a line abreast with VIGILANTE on the right, JAGUAR in the middle and HEARTTHROB on the left. They finished in that order, all within 28 seconds of each other. However, STATIC corrected out over HEARTTHROB by one second for fifth place. WILD CARD and WILD THING completed the class standings.

LITTLE TIGER, SAILSMAN and GEORGIA ROSE comprised the C Class with the results in that order. WILDWOOD FLOWER captured first place in Class D with BLAT NA MARA prevailing over POCITO after a spinnaker battle with jibes within 10 boat lengths of the leeward mark. Class G was the most competitive with the corrected finishing times between first and fourth a little over six and one half minutes. Tom Anderson sailing NONPAREIL secured first place and Boat of the Day honors, followed by AKEEPAH, FRISBEE and MAGGIE THE CAT close behind.

The results are expected to be published on the Cottage Park Yacht Club's website shortly.

Hospice of the North Shore Regatta

Father's Day must have been the secret. It didn't rain and thirty-five boats started in the Hospice of the North Shore Regatta held by Eastern Yacht Club. There was a particularly large turnout in Class A with seven boats, Class B with eleven boats and Mass Bay Class F with eight boats. Class C, D and Mass Bay Class G all had three entries. The course was windward-leeward with 3.5 mile legs. Class A, B and C sailed twice around and Class D, E (faster cruising) and F (slower cruising) sailed once around. During the race, there was a major windshift to the right requiring repositioning of the leeward mark. The new location of the downwind mark may have caused some later issues heard in the protest room. When the dust cleared, three boats were disqualified in Class B. This is unfortunate.

The winner of Class A was Dr. Hugh Chandler in SCHERHEREZADE. Betsy McCombs said they luckily hit a great wind shift, but we all know that wasn't the only reason. Congrats. LOONATIC and HARD EIGHT followed in second and third respectively. Class B was won by Vern Polidoro in VIGILANTE. Vern has been doing extremely well both last year and this year in PHRF and J105 one-design events. The new crew shirts have nothing to do with his bullets in JFK and Hospice this season, so the shirts can be washed. Another J105, CIRCE'S CUP, was second and Bill Collins in STATIC completed his travel requirement with a third place. George Pawle in BELLATRIX won Class C with KIKIYSON and INDRA behind him. Jack Cochrane continues his winning ways with a first place in Class D. RASCAL and BILLISTIC were second and third.

In the cruising classes, David Felsenthal left the chute at home and ATLANTEA took first place in Class E (Mass Bay Class F). KOKOPELLI was second and WINTERHAWK was third. Dan Kostishack likes starting his 44 foot C&C so much, he decided to start twice in this event, the second time was not early though. BLIXTEN, the Finn Flyer 31 sailed by Bruce Baker took an early lead and kept it to win Class F (Mass Bay Class G). NONPAREIL was not far behind and AKEEPAH placed third.

Vern Polidoro earned not only Mass Bay's Boat of the Day honors but also will be representing this area in the national Hospice regatta in Annapolis in April, 2003.

Chapman Bowl

Despite the dire weather prediction for miserable cold temperatures and rain, nineteen boats registered for the 43rd Chapman Bowl. With elapsed times averaging nineteen hours, only nine boats of the fourteen starters finished their respective courses. Yes, the rain stopped in the early morning but the wind also died. It is probably better to be wet and moving than stopped and drying off.

Five boats in Chapman Bowl Class A (Mass Bay Class B) finished the race. Dan Boyd topped the ticket and also earned himself and his crew Mass Bay Sailing's Boat of the Day. He was followed by Family Affair, Boadicea, Wild Card and Cuckoo's Nest. Gold Watch was the only boat to finish in Class B (Mass Bay Class C) and Tumbleweed was the only cruising boat to finish in the faster of the two cruising classes. Aleida from MIT and Ray Morrison in Sibyl were the top two finishers in the slower cruising class.

These boats certainly earned their Mass Bay multiplier points for this qualifying event!

Summerset Regatta, June 12, 2003

The Summerset Regatta was sailed on Sunday, June 8, 2003 after a very rainy Saturday. Four A boats and 8 B boats made up more than half the fleet. Only one C boat started together with two boats in D class, and three boats in cruising, one F and two G class boats. The race committee had to contend with the pipeline project and posted a "D" course for Class A and Class B with a 2.4 mile windward leg. Class C, D and the cruising boats sailed a "B" course. The posted course heading was 035 but shortly after the first start, the wind began a major 50 degree shift to the right. The first leg for the later starters required little of no tacking. At the windward mark, a new downwind course was signaled and the wind held for the balance of the race.

KATABATIC finished first in her second Mass Bay Sailing qualifying event followed by LOONATIC and HARD EIGHT. In B Class, Vern Polidoro's first place finish earned him and his crew the Interstate Challenge Cup as well as the Mass Bay Sailing Boat of the Day. Phil DiCarlo's HOT SPUR was twelve seconds behind on corrected time followed by Peter Engel in GOLDENEYE. In Class C, GOLD WATCH had no competition, literally, but started with the Class D and cruising boats. This multi class start of Class C, D and cruising boats is one of the advantages of the "new" starting system but skippers and crew have to keep a sharp eye out to see if their class flag goes up together with other, earlier classes. Jack Cochrane's Colgate 26 FALL LINE was first followed by RASCAL in Class D. BLIXTEN with the extra numeral sail number placed first among the cruisers ahead of NONPAREIL and HUGGER. Complete results are posted on CYC's website at www.corinthianyc.org/summerset185.html.


Jody Graul
Mass Bay Sailing
VP Offshore

June 6, 2003

The 19TH Annual JFK Regatta is over and it didn't rain! Fifteen PHRF boats showed up together with four J-105s for the first Mass Bay Season Championship qualifier. After some initial repositioning of the committee boat from the rendezvous point to a starting location in the middle of Broad Sound, the first warning signal was sounded at 12:05 for the two Class A boats - SCHERHEREZADE and KATABATIC. They started their eight mile course H race (twice around) five minutes later followed by the five Class B boats: GOLDENEYE, ECLIPSE, STATIC, WILD THING and KNOTLESS. Class C, AGORA and MEISTER, sailed the same course. Class D boats consisting of POCITO, WILDWOOD FLOWER (still displaying her Key West accoutrements), BLAT NA MARA and RASCAL sailed the H course once around for a total distance of 4 miles. They were followed by four Class G entries: NONPAREIL, MAGGIE THE CAT, FRISBEE and AKEEPAH.

The first race had a steady light wind from the east/southeast about 5-8 knots, increasing and shifting more southeasterly during the race. Once all of the boats finished, the race committee immediately shifted the rounding marks appropriately and commenced the starting sequence for the second race. This was sailed in a 10-14 knot breeze with some threats of rain that held off.

KATABATIC scored two bullets over Dr. Hugh Chandler's SCHERHEREZADE for first place in Class A. Past Mass Bay Season Champion for 2001 and 2002, Peter Engel in GOLDENEYE, started off this season with a three points in two races to win Class B. Warren Hudson in ECLIPSE was third in the first race and first in the second race for a second place finish overall. Mass Bay President Bill Collins who has moved into Class B from his perennial winning ways in Class D was third overall in STATIC, an Evelyn 32. Dan and Holly Boyd sailed the second of three Frers 33 to fourth place overall followed by Ken Bowden in KNOTLESS. We now know that Ken knows the rules with regard to the alternative penalty and has a full flag bag with an "I" flag. He used it in the second race, after admittedly fouling STATIC. In Class C, Dennis Calcagno's J29 MEISTER prevailed over the brothers Powers and Joe Crimmins in AGORA in the first race and each boat opted out of the second race. Class D's finishing places were consistent with POCITO scoring two first places; Larry Tomlinson's WILDWOOD FLOWER with two second places; Bob Foley in BLAT NA MARA finishing third in both races; and John RASCAL's Devine father and son, double handed performance with two fourth place finishes. RASCAL does get the first-to-rendezvous award. Ed Putnam's first place finish in Class D earned him and POCITO the Mass Bay Boat of the Day award. Class D was the most competitive, having the smallest corrected time range from the first to the fourth boat.

Class G was won by Mass Bay scorer Tom Anderson in NONPAREIL with two bullets, even though being called over early in the second race. He was still the first boat to round the windward mark and the rest of us only saw transom for the rest of the race. Bill McLearn in FRISBEE and the Merksamer/Kelley family in MAGGIE THE CAT each scored a second and a third. The tie went to MAGGIE for second place with the best combined corrected time. AKEEPAH was consistently fourth.

If you did not return to Cottage Park Yacht Club for the Bar-B-Q, you missed a great meal, especially the sausage. The complete results will be posted shortly on the Cottage Park Yacht Club's web site.

Keep track of your Mass Bay Season Championship points on the Mass Bay website in the Offshore Section.

Jody Graul VP
Offshore

  May 23, 2003
JFK REGATTA sponsored by Cottage Parkk Yacht Club

The 18TH Annual JFK Regatta will be held in Broad Sound on Saturday, May 31, 2003. This is the first Mass Bay Qualifier of the 2003 Season Championship. If you are a North Shore boat, participation in this race can meet your "travel requirement" towards your qualification. Hopefully, the rain and drizzle we are presently experiencing will clear out of the area for some decent weather for this two race event. Register now with the Mass Bay Sailing registration form at the back of the 2003 Year Book or go to the Cottage Park Yacht Club's website to obtain its form. The site is www.cpyc.org. The results will be announced at CPYC after the race during the barbeque and awards will be presented at the club's annual "Cup Night" to be held in the Fall.

The results of this regatta and all Mass Bay Season Championship qualifiers will be posted on Mass Bay Sailing's web site as quickly as we can post them. Follow your progress and the rest of the competition during the season by checking the site after each qualifying event.

See you on the water.
Jody Graul

May 14, 2003

The 43rd Chapman Bowl will be held Friday, June 13, 2003. This is one of the two Mass Bay Sailing Overnight Qualifiers with bonus points awarded. The race is challenging and fun. If you can't get a full crew to fly the chute, enter one of the cruising classes. A great barbeque is included on the lawn of the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club on Saturday afternoon. For more information click Chapman Bowl.

2003 Season

While it may not feel like May, the 2003 season is about to begin. The first Mass Bay offshore qualifier is the JFK Regatta to be held on Saturday, May 31, 2003. This two race regatta is held in Broad Sound, just south of Nahant, equidistant from Marblehead, inner Boston Harbor and Hingham Bay. If you are a North Shore boat, you can sail in this event and meet your travel requirement early.

The last offshore qualifier is the ever popular Phil Small Memorial race held on September 28 by Jubilee Yacht Club. This event hosted 45+ boats last year and a similar turnout is expected this year. If you are a South Shore/Boston boat, meet your travel requirement by attending this race and après sail party. In between these two events are eleven other qualifiers and the PHRF New England Championship which this year is a Mass Bay Double Qualifier for Class D (racing ratings (141-170) and Class E (racing rating 171+). Mass Bay Sailing, in addition to awarding trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each of five racing classes and two cruising classes in the Season Championship, will again recognize a Boat of the Day at each qualifier and a Competitor of the Year at the Annual Awards Dinner.

Communications in 2003 will include this newsletter, the 2003 Offshore Year Book, the official website www.massbaysailing.org as well as email announcements of upcoming races and results of recently held events with links to the organizing authority's sites. Mass Bay Sailing will hold a "Season Opener" on May 17 at the Cottage Park Yacht Club and its traditional awards dinner in November. Look to these sources for information and send an email if you have any questions. Mass Bay Sailing's mission is to promote sailing in this area. Member clubs, race committees and volunteers too numerous to mention by name continue to give their time and effort to provide the best possible on-the-water racing and subsequent social events ashore. Show your appreciation personally by attending as many races as possible and hailing a very loud "Thank You" to the Committee Boats after you finish racing. Have a great season!