Proposed Navigation Aid changes on Choptank River.

Below are the proposed U.S. Coast Guard changes for buoy placement on the Choptank.  These are proposed changes.  I have only listed the changes that affect our WNR races. We do not know when or if these changes will take place.  

This may force ESSA to revise our race course plan. So stand by.

Of special note is the elimination of Green Can 25 (I-India). 

MD – Choptank River Nav Aid Change Proposed (West of Bridge):

The Coast Guard is proposing making the following changed to the aids to navigation marking the Choptank River:

Relocate: Choptank River Channel Lighted Buoy 19 (LLNR 24965) to approximate position: 38 36 31.208N-76 07 43.026W and rename to Choptank River Lighted Buoy 19.

Discontinue: Choptank River Channel Buoy 19A (LLNR 24970).

Rename: Choptank River Channel Light 20 (LLNR 24975) to Choptank River Light 20. (E-Echo)

Relocate: Choptank River Channel Lighted Buoy 21 (LLNR 24985) to approximate position: 38 36 02.830N-76 06 33.053W and rename to Choptank River Lighted Buoy 21. (D-Delta)

Change: Choptank River Channel Buoy 23 (LLNR 24990) to Choptank River Light 23 in approximate position: 38 35 54.536N-76 04 40.304W with a quick flashing green light and SG dayboards on multi-pile structure. (C-Charlie)

Rename: Choptank River Channel Buoy 24 (LLNR 25000) to Choptank River Buoy 24. (Hambrooks)

Discontinue: Choptank River Buoy 25 (LLNR 25005).(I-India)

Chart with with existing mark locations. 

Essasailing38@gmail.com 

Who's racing this year on the Choptank?

Practice Race Wednesday, May 5, 2021 - Cinco De Mayo

6:00 PM Start, Channel 72 for course information

Spinnaker Class: Paid racing fees

1. Aura
2. Gabrielle
3. Nothing Artificial
4. Adventure Kwest
5. Epicure

Non-Spinnaker: Paid racing fees

1. Reveille
2. Touché
3. Tamarind
4. Dudley DoRight
5. Jitterbug
6. St. Judy's Comet
7. Sawdust

Membership and Racing Forms

What's the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo?

• Cinco de Mayo. The definition of Cinco de Mayo stands for the 5th of May, a holiday celebrated in the U.S. and Mexico to celebrate Mexican heritage and Mexico's freedom from France. An example of Cinco de Mayo is the 5th of May which celebrates Mexican heritage and commemorates the 1862 defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico.

GPS Longitude-Latitudes for ESSA Marks.

Skippers, 

Here are the locations of the ESSA Race Markers.

All listed marks should be with 50-100 feet of the posted positions.

The flag buoys can be easily seen within a quarter mile.

COURSE MARKS    link to charts

Mark A Can 3 (Cambridge Creek) N38 Degrees 34.671 W 76 Degrees 03.889

Mark B ESSA White Flag Buoy N38 Degrees 35.457 W 76 Degrees 04.503

Mark C Green Can 23 N38 Degrees 36.029 W 76 Degrees 05.082

Mark D Green Can 21 N38 Degrees 36.011 W 76 Degrees 05.960

Mark E FL Red 20 N38 Degrees 36.011 W 76 Degrees 06.877

Mark G ESSA Buoy G N38 Degrees 36.656 W 76 Degrees 05.365

Mark G ESSA White Flag Buoy G N38 Degrees 36.595 W 76 Degrees 05.721

Mark H Clam Line Buoy C N38 Degrees 36.154 W 76 Degrees 04.355

Mark I Green Can 25 N38 Degrees 35.135 W 76 Degrees 03.781

Mark K FL Green 19 N38 Degrees 36.562 W 76 Degrees 07.788

Mark Z Essa Yellow Flag Marker Zulu N38 Degrees 34.200 W 76 Degrees 04.128

Mark G has gone missing several times.  We believe that Watermen took it as it may have interfered with their trot lines. I went out there last year and found it in a new location approximately 0.36 Nautical miles west of of the original ESSA position.  There is no way that the mark could have blown there.    George Jitterbug

Radio call for Letters

• A-ALPHA
• B-BRAVO
  
• C-CHARLIE
• D-DELTA
  
• E-ECHO
• F-FOXTROT
• G-GOLF
• H-HOTEL
• I-INDIA
• K-KILO
• Z-ZULU

ESSASAILING 38@GMAIL.COM

~~~ ~~ /) ~~ ~~~

~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ /)  ~~~

George 

ESSA Choptank Scorekeeper

Mark "G"

Reminder: Open House, Saturday. May 1, 2021

 Reminder: Sailors Open House, Saturday. May 1, 2021 

See you at the CYC Gazebo.

Something for every sailor.

• ESSA membership
• ESSA racing registration
• ESSA Cruising Class 
• ESSA crew sign-up
• Adult Sailing
• Cruising Schedule
• CYC G19-G25 Challenge

essasailing38@gmail.com 

More Scorekeeper's Notes: Race Codes? OOD?

 On occasion codes are used on the score sheet. The following explains the codes and how they are scored.

The software automatically calculates this scoring.

~~ ~~~ /)~~~ ~~ ~~~

Here are some typical codes that we use from time to time.

DNF scoring: Did not Finish

The boat will be scored points equal to the number of finishers plus one.

DSQ scoring: Disqualified after starting the race.

Same as DNF 

DNS Scoring: Reported to the starting area; but, did not Start

The boat will be scored points equal to the number of starters plus one.

DNC Scoring: Boat did not report to the starting area and did not start

The boat will be scored points equal to the number of boats in series plus one.

For example: 

3 boats (A,B,C) finish the race in that order.

Boat D starts then retires. (ran out of beer) DNF

Boat E failed to finish within the time limit. (wind fell off) DNF

Boat F was disqualified (missed a mark.) DSQ

Boat G reported to the starting area but retired before the start. (forgot beer) DNS

Boat H & I were absent. (on vacation in Hawaii) DNC

Results: (9 boats registered for series.) (paid their racing fee)

Boat A 1.0 points

Boat B 2.0 points

Boat C 3.0 points

Boat D DNF 4.0 points

Boat E DNF 4.0 points

Boat F DSQ 4.0 points

Boat G DNS 7.0 points

Boat H DNC 10.0 points

Boat I  DNC 10.0 points

~~ ~~~ /)~~~ ~~ ~~~

OOD - Officer of the Day

If you are the Committee Boat or OOD, you will receive points based on you average finishes for that series. In our case, 6 races makes a full series. that means up to 5 results will be averaged.  As the series progresses, your OOD score will change depending on your finishes,

2.6.2 Race Committee Boat Scoring - The boat designated as the stationary Race Committee Boat will be scored OOD (Officer-Of-the-Day.) The boat will receive the average points of all scored races less any DNC's for that series. 

Committee Boat Scoring: OOD

The boat designated as the Committee Boat will be scored OOD (Officer of the day.) The average points of all scored races less any DNC's for that series. 

Example: a boat that finished 1,2,3, OOD, 4, DNC.  The DNC would be discarded. Scoring: 1+2+3+4=10.  10/4 = 2.5 = OOD.  

For the race that the boat was the RC, the boat would be scored 2.5.

In the case of using a borrowed boat for RC duty: The skipper of the designated committee boat must be on board to officiate the Race Committee. If the skipper of the designated RC boat decides to permit his crew to race his/her boat, that boat will not be scored on its finish time. It will be scored OOD.  The 2021 Choptank NORSI provides more detail. 

~~ ~~~ /)~~~ ~~ ~~~

Racings and membership forms link

George B, Scorekeeper

essasailing38@gmail.com

Scorekeeper's Notes. from George Jitterbug, Circular-Random??

 Sailors, Make ready for a new season. Main-up and haul your Genoa.

This year we will use PHRF Circular-Random ratings.

~ You ask, "What are Circular-Random ratings?"

 The PHRF of the Chesapeake has added two ratings to compensate for boats that perform better on broad and beam reaches. These newer designs are designed to plane on certain points of sail. 

Here is the reply to my question to the PHRF of C.

~~~~~

As the Scorekeeper for the ESSA fleet, I need some clarification.

What is a circular-random course?   When does it apply?

George,  

The Circular Random (CR), also called RC on the web site is a rating for races that are not drop-mark races.  It is designed to take into account boats that sail faster on reaches then strictly windward/leeward.  It is the rating to use for government mark types races with a variety of wind angles expected.  Hope this helps,

Roger Coney, VP, Northern Bay 

PHRF of the Chesapeake

http://www.phrfchesbay.org

~~~~

This will only apply to a few boats in our fleet, so don't worry. I may only mean a few seconds in any given race. 

George B 

ESSA Choptank Scorekeeper 

essasailing38@gmail.com 

ESSA featured in the Dorchester Banner!

ESSA featured in the Dorchester Banner!

See page 6 in the April 14, 2021 Issue.

You can select the issue at the top of the page.

There is a pull-down menu.

https://dorchesterbanner-md.newsmemory.com/

_________________

Reminder: ESSA Choptank Fleet Virtual Meeting this evening at 7:00 PM.

Meeting link

Meeting ID 762 0727 9071

Passcode SBY6s8

Bob    essasailing38@gmail.com 

~~~~ /) ~~~~  ~~
 ~   ~~~ /) ~~~ ~
 ~~    ~~~~ ~  ~~

ZOOM Meeting, April 21, 7:00PM

Meeting link

Meeting ID 762 0727 9071

Passcode SBY6s8

The season begins with a ZOOM splash! Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 7:00PM

 ESSA 

Choptank fleet Zoom Call Agenda  

Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 pm

1.  2021 NORSI issued. Small updates. 

2.  Course Guide Update

3.  Race Committee Improvements

      - Separate on-shore Race Committee

      - On-water Race Committee assignments

4.  New Cruising Fleet

5.  Open House May 1 (1-3 pm at CYC)

6.  Race Schedule

      - First practice race May 5

      - Series 1, Race 1, May 12

      - Stedman Smith Cup, Saturday June 5

Use the link below to log into the meeting. 

Click https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76207279071?pwd=VCtpQndTSDlvY2dBei9HaGpOdFJDdz09 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting

Choptank Fleet Captain,

Bob Gallagher

essasailing38@gmail.com 

Save the date! Open House

 Sailing Open House

The Eastern Shore Sailing Association and the Cambridge Yacht Club are hosting a Sailing Open House on Saturday May 1, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Yacht Club gazebo on 1 Mill St. in Cambridge, Maryland.

 We hope to attract sailors new to the area who have a boat and want to learn more about racing with us on Wednesdays.

 Also, we hope to meet people who want to crew. So if you need crew, please come and we’ll hook you up.

 Also we’ll provide information on the new Cruising Fleet and hope to sign up a few new skippers.

 The Yacht Club will be showcasing several sailing programs at the Open House including:

• A new Adult Learn to Sail program
• A season long G19 Buoy Challenge
• The Summer/Fall Cruising Program

Questions?

Send them to essasailing38@gmail.com

Sailboat for Sale

FOR SALE

1973 Morgan 27 in good condition

Robert Moffatt

240-676-0816

Bob2@resci.com

Price:  $7,500

New outboard replaced in 2020; has less than 10 hours usage.

Its on the hard at Yacht Maintenance now; but, it will be in the water soon.

 

Choptank Fleet 2021 Spring Note

Choptank Fleet 2021 Spring Note

Choptank Fleet,

I hope you are reading this note on a warm sunny Spring day with a 8-10 kts blowing across the Choptank. It’s finally time to wake your boat from hibernation and contact your crew - Sailing Season is Almost Here!

In this note I’ll highlight several changes (hopefully improvements) for the 2021season

Revised Course List    (Click Here)

From George Breig — Also shown on the ESSA Blog.

This year the Choptank Fleet will be using a predefined list of 32 courses.  Several courses from last year were deleted due to lack of use and redundancy. Some courses have been modified and some added to provide more reaching legs. The list has been reorganized from Zero degrees Magnetic to 360 degrees.  So trash last year's list. This is a major edit.

Laminated copies will be available at the Sailing Open House on May 1 (see below).

On occasion, the Race Committee may decide to customize the race course depending on weather conditions. Print a copy of the list and keep it in your boat.  Skippers are expected to have the list.  The committee boat will only post and announce the course number on VHF Channel 72.

New Cruising Class Fleet

This season we are introducing a Cruising Class Fleet. This new fleet is designed to attract skippers of boats better suited for cruising and skippers who are new to racing and do not want to deal with congested starts.

The Cruising Fleet will start 6 minutes after the Non Spin Fleet. The starting line will be “open” for 5 minutes to allow skippers to start when they want within that time. Boats will then report their elapsed time after crossing the finish line at buoy Z and the Yacht Club.

ESSA will waive membership dues and racing fees for 1 year to attract new Cruising Fleet boats to join us on Wednesday nights. If you know of a skipper who may want to sail in the Cruising Fleet, please encourage them to contact me at (513) 477-2584 and come to the Sailing Open House on May 1.

May Race Schedule

Practice Race - May 5

Series 1, Race 1 - May 12

Series 1, Race 2 - May 19

Series 1, Race 3 - May 26

FYI - The Stedman Smith Cup will be raced on June 5. We will again have the traditional crab cake lunch at TAYC. More information to come.

Sailing Open House

The Eastern Shore Sailing Association and the Cambridge Yacht Club are hosting a Sailing Open House on Saturday May 1, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Yacht Club gazebo on 1 Mill St. in Cambridge, Maryland.

 We hope to attract sailors new to the area who have a boat and want to learn more about racing with us on Wednesday’s.

 Also, we hope to meet people who want to crew. So if you need crew, please come and we’ll hook you up.

 Also we’ll provide information on the new Cruising Fleet and hope to sign up a few new skippers.

 The Yacht Club will be showcasing several sailing programs at the Open House including:

• A new Adult Learn to Sail program
• A season long G19 Buoy Challenge
• The Summer/Fall Cruising Program

 Fleet Zoom Call - Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00 pm (I’ll send out a Zoom Call invitation).

 Final Thoughts - I expect the 2021 Season to be a return to normal for Wednesday Night Racing. I’m hoping to see several boats back on the starting line after sitting out 2020 plus a few new boats and new faces who will add to our fleet.

So get your boat ready. Again, if you need crew, recruit them at the Open House on May 1. Hope to see you on the line May 5 for our practice race or on May 12 for the first race of the 2021 season.

Bob Gallagher

Choptank Fleet Captain

rgallagher1.rg@gmail.com

513-477-2584

 Bob

~~~~ /) ~~~~  ~~
 ~   ~~~ /) ~~~ ~
 ~~    ~~~~ ~  ~~ 

Choptank Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for 2021

Get ready to Sail. Wednesday Night Races begin with a practice race on May 5. 

First start --> 6:00 PM (1800)

Celebrate Cinco De Maya on the Choptank.  

 Click Here for the 2021 Choptank NORSI

Aura will be there!

NOW HEAR THIS! A message from the Choptank Fleet Captain

Fleet 2021 Spring Note

Choptank Fleet,

I hope you are reading this note on a warm sunny Spring day with a 8-10 kts blowing on the Choptank. It’s finally time to wake your boat from hibernation and contact your crew - Sailing Season is Almost Here!

In this note I’ll highlight several changes (hopefully improvements) for this season and alert you to a Zoom call on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00 pm (I’ll send out a Zoom Call invitation).

Revised Course List  

From George Breig — also shown on the ESSA Blog. Click here for 2021 course list.

This year the Choptank Fleet will be using a predefined list of 32 courses.  Several courses were deleted due to lack of use and redundancy. Some have been modified and added to provide more reaching legs. The list has been reorganized from Zero degrees Magnetic to 360.  So trash last year's list. This is a major edit.

Laminated copies will be available after the Choptank Fleet meeting on April 21.  Distribution will depend on COVID restrictions.

On occasion, the Race Committee may decide to customize the race course depending on weather conditions. Print a copy of the list and keep it in your boat.  Skippers are expected to have the list.  The committee boat will only post and announce the course number

New Starting Protocol

To improve the flow of the starting process for the Race Committee, the 5 minute countdown to the start of the NonSpin Fleet will now begin concurrently with the start horn for the Spin Fleet. This will do away with the 6 minute warning signal for the Non Spin Fleet.

New Cruising Class Fleet

This season we are introducing a Cruising Class Fleet. This new fleet is designed to attract skippers of boats better suited for cruising and skippers who are new to racing and do not want to deal with congested starts.

The Cruising Fleet will start 5 minutes after the Non Spin Fleet. The starting line will be “open” for 5 minutes to allow skippers to start when they want within that time. Boats will then report their elapsed time after crossing the finish line at buoy Z and the Yacht Club.

ESSA will waive membership dues and racing fees for 1 year to attract new boats to join us on Wednesday nights. If you know of a skipper who may want to sail in the Cruising Fleet, please encourage them to contact me at (513) 477-2584.

May Race Schedule

Practice Race - May 5

Series 1, Race 1 - May 12

Series 1, Race 2 - May 19

Series 1, Race 3 - May 26

FYI - Stedman Smith on June 5. We will again have the traditional crab cake lunch at TAYC. More information to come.

Sailing Open House

We will be partnering with the Cambridge Yacht Club to hold a Sailing Open House on Saturday, May 1 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the CYC gazebo

At the Open House we hope to attract sailors new to the area who have a boat and want to learn more about racing with us on Wednesday’s. Also, we expect that people who want to learn about sailing and are interested in crewing will stop by. So if you need crew, please come and we’ll introduce you to potential crew members

Also we’ll provide information on the new Cruising Fleet and hope to sign up a few new skippers.

The Yacht Club will be showcasing several sailing programs at the Open House including:

A new Adult Learn to Sail program

A season long G19 Buoy Challenge

The Summer/Fall Cruising Program

Final Thoughts - I expect the 2021 Season to be a return to normal for Wednesday Night Racing. I’m hoping to see several boats back on the starting line after sitting out 2020 plus a few new boats and new faces who will add to our fleet.

So get your boat ready. Again, if you need crew, recruit them at the Open House on May 1. Hope to see you on the line May 5 for our practice race or on May 12 for the first race of the 2021 season.

Bob Gallagher

Choptank Fleet Captain

rgallagher1.rg@gmail.com

Open House for sailors and wannabes. May 1, 2021

The Cambridge Yacht Club and the Eastern Shore Sailing Association are hosting a Sailing Open House on Saturday May 1, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Yacht Club gazebo at 1 Mill St. in Cambridge. 

Stop by to learn about how you can participate in the following sailing programs:

Wednesday Night Racing - Join the fun by racing your sailboat with the Eastern Shore Sailing Association every Wednesday evening from May through October.

Crewing Opportunity - Want to race on Wednesday evenings but don’t have a boat, sign up to sail as a crew member. Skippers planning to add crew will attend. Some sailing experience is a plus but not necessary.

Cruising Club - Sign up to cruise with other local sailors to many interesting ports and anchorages around the Bay. This is a great way to see new sights and make new friends.

The Open House will be held rain or shine.

essasailing38@gmail.com 

Chesapeake Cruising: Summer- Fall 2021

 Cruising schedule for 2021

Cruising Presentation PowerPoint 

(Note: Rum Runner has been rescheduled to August 28)

To all ESSA cruisers;

Here is your opportunity to sail with the fleet.

Raft-up with other veteran sailors in clandestine anchorages.

Visit various ports of call.

and just enjoy the Chesapeake,

~~~`~~/)~~~~ ~~ ~/)~~

~~ ~~~  /) ~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~

essasailing38@gmail.com

Membership Notice! DISCOUNT EXTENDED to April 22, 2021

 The ESSA Bridge has extended the deadline for Membership Discount to April 22.

Single Membership Annual Dues (Paid before 3/22 4/22) ..........$30.00

Single Membership Annual Dues (Paid after 3/22 4/22) .... $40.00

Family Membership Annual Dues (Paid before 3/22 4/22) . $45.00

Family Membership Annual Dues (Paid after 3/22 4/22) .... $55.00

Racing Fee – Attach Racing Application ................... . $50.00 

Racing and Membership Forms

SAVE TEN DOLLAR$.  

Send your application and check in today!

EASTERN SHORE SAILING ASSOCIATION

PO BOX 374, SALISBURY, MD 21803

essasailing38@gmail.com

ESSA Membership and Racing Fees

Yes, It's time to refresh your membership. 

Skippers need to ask their crew members to join. 

Here are the printable forms

Click Here to download printable ESSA Racing Form

Click Here for printable ESSA Membership Form

Questions: Send them to essasailing38@gmail.com