Message from the Choptank Fleet Captain

 Notice to all Choptank Sailors

This year the Choptank Fleet will be using the predefined list of 24 courses. The Skipper’s Guide from 2023 will be in effect for 2024. The list is organized from Zero degrees Magnetic to 360 degrees. Copies can be printed from the ESSA blogsite at

https://essasailing.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_28.html

On occasion, the Race Committee may decide to customize the racecourse 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.

Before each start, all skippers must report their boat name with the race Committee.  Races typically start at 6:00 PM and 6:07 PM.

We strongly encourage all sailors join ESSA. Applications are available on this site and 

https://essasailing.blogspot.com/p/essa-on-line-payments.html

Fair winds,

George Breig, 

Choptank Fleet Captain

Special Meeting, Choptank Skippers' Meeting, HANDICAPPING!

 Choptank Skippers Meeting 

Thursday, February 22, 2024.

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Cambridge Yacht Club.

All ESSA skippers are invited to stay for dinner afterward as guests of the CYC members.

Dinner RSVP to ESSASAILING1@GMAIL.COM 

Agenda:

A discussion on Race handicapping.

PHRF. ORC-EZ, and NAAR

NOR & SI for Wednesday Night Races

Decision factors:

• Fairest to all competitors
• Ease of implementation
• Cost
• Technical support
• Most appropriate for our fleet size and boat mix
• Can we self manage this?

Liz Principe, ESSA Commodore essasailing1@gmail.com 

George Breig, Fleet Captain essasailing38@gmail.com 

(443)521-9920

ESSA on Television 2023

If you haven't seen it, this is the WBOC video of ESSA.

Staring Deke Sheller and Paul West 

Eastern Shore Sailing Association | Outdoors Delmarva | wboc.com

One of our Founding Fathers

It's TV Time, Wednesday, May 13, 2023

Just a reminder that OutdoorsDelmarva will be shooting an episode on ESSA next Wed the 24th so get your boat in the water and be ready to race and be filmed!

https://www.wboc.com/shows/outdoorsdelmarva/

We will be doing a cookout afterward and ESSA will be providing burgers and dogs so we ask that everyone else bring a side dish.

Jason Lee, who hosts the show will be interviewing people afterward so don't talk with your mouth full.

We will be celebrating 50 years of existence next year and our goal is to promote the club to get new members so talk it up!

If anyone has any questions just let me know!  I'll shoot out more info as I get it.

Let's hope we have some wind next week and see some of this!

Paul West, Commodore

Choptank Fleet Calendar Change: Regular Race Season Delayed

 The season begins on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Practice Race - May 10

Series 1 – May 17 - June 21

Series 2 – June 28 - August 2

Series 3 – August 9 - September 13

Special Races

Stedman Smith Cup – June 3

Wild Goose Chase – September 9

Choptank Cup – October 14

Choptank Fleet: Here are the resources for you to print.

Choptank Fleet Race Schedule & NORSI 2023

Choptank Fleet

Choptank Fleet Meeting - TBD (before or after the practice race)

Mid-Summer Cook-Out -June 21, CYC Gazebo

Race Schedule

May 3 Practice Race

Series 1 – May 10 - June 14

Series 2 – June 21 - July 26

Series 3 – August 2 - September 6

Special Races

Stedman Smith Cup – June 3

Wild Goose Chase – September 9

Choptank Cup – October 14

Notes:  

~ Skippers must complete their membership and racing applications before racing in order to qualify.  This includes payment of fees.

~ Skippers should have proper liability insurance for their vessels.

~ Spinnaker Class boats must have a current PHRF of the Chesapeake Certificate.

~ It is recommended that Non-Spin boats have a current PHRF certificate.

~ Skippers should encourage all regular crew to become ESSA members.

CHOPTANK 2023 NORSI Preliminary version.

New ESSA Website

ESSASAILING38@gmail.com 

Tom Jackson

 To the ESSA community,

It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the passing of Tom Jackson. He passed away this Monday morning, January 23, 2023 at the age of 83.  

Although he struggled with several health issues, his passion for sailing was boundless and he actually said it was what was keeping him alive. In the 20 years we have raced against him I think we only beat him 3 times. He always set the bar high and made us all better sailors trying to catch him.  He loved the sport of sailing, the camaraderie it fostered and was always the first to congratulate you when you had a good race. 

He enjoyed winning but always believed in fairness and equality between sailors. He believed in the history of ESSA and supported its growth while maintaining sailing traditions and fundamentals.  ESSA has lost a great friend today as well as a sailing legend.

We will pass along the funeral arrangements as soon as we learn of them. 

Thank you. 

Paul & Kristin W.

Out for the Season

ESSA Racers, Not great news.  I am now in Cincinnati and next Tuesday, I’ll have a melanoma removed from my left ear. Bummer! Some background … in early June I saw my dermatologist for a regular 6 month check. He noticed a bump on my left ear and froze it. After the scab fell off, the area was slow to heal and bled easily. In a follow-up appointment, a biopsy was taken which came back confirming melanoma. I’ll have three surgeries.  The first surgery will remove the melanoma and check for spread to the lymph nodes.  What’s removed will be biopsied to confirm clean margins and no spread. If I’m good to go, I’ll then have the first of two surgeries to repair my ear.  Assuming no unexpected findings, I’ll be through the surgical/healing process and ready to return to Cambridge about September 1. Certainly not how I expected to spend my summer, but that’s life. I’ve asked Pat Seidel to take over as Fleet Captain. Pat has done a great job organizing the On-the-Water and the On-the-Land Race Committees. He will assure that our Wednesday Night Races run smoothly and are challenging for skippers and crew. Sail fast, enjoy the rest of the season and put on that sunscreen! 

 Bob