Status of this blog site

Since 2016, This blogsite has been the primary source for news, notices, and race results. Now that the ESSAsailing.org website has been rejuvenated. The need for this site is almost unnecessary. The documents on this site will be updated for 2024. All historic posts will remain in place.

Please note that, race results will not be published on this site in 2024.

Meeting and other notifications will not be posted in 2024.

Stats: 837 posts. 

11485 site visits since 2016

Fair winds, George B

Useful Links for ESSA Sailors

 Useful Links:

www.essasailing.org

https://www.offshoreracingrule.org/orr-ez

ESSA Choptank Race Results for 2023

ESSA Tangier Race Results for 2023

NOAA Cambridge Station CAMM2

Weather Bug Lightning Map     Get the phone app

Sailwave Wind Forecast Cambridge (Eaton Point) 

NOAA Chart of the Choptank

PHRF of the Chesapeake- Valid List

Cambridge Yacht Club

Cambridge Municipal Dock

ESSA Sailing News and Race Results Statistics of use.

869 posts, First post: October 20, 2016

All Time:111,125 page views

Pageviews in March 2471

Hello,

This requests your thoughts to help better understand the factors behind the low turnout for the Stedman Smith Cup race on Saturday, June 5th. 

As background, the Stedman Smith Cup typically attracts 7-8 boats and 25 - 30 people for lunch at the Tred Avon Yacht Club. 

This year 5 boats signed up for the race but only 3 boats showed up on the starting line. Even at 5 boats, the projected number of lunches to be served at TAYC was below what could justify opening their Clubhouse and bringing in staff. 

The course was then modified to eliminate a lunch stop at TAYC and simply was a race to the Choptank Light and back to Cambridge. Even though a good racing breeze was forecasted, the modified course was eventually shortened due to low wind and Lazy Ethyl recorded the fastest time. 

So why the low turnout?  To be direct, why did you not participate?  I will not associate your name with your feedback. 

To get you thinking, here are some starters. 

1. I am busy on Saturdays. 

2. Lunch was too expensive at about $25/person. 

3. The race over and back plus lunch takes too long. I can’t devote my weekend morning and afternoon to it. 

4. I could not find crew with someone capable of sailing my boat from the Choptank Light back to Cambridge. 

5. I don’t like distance races. The buoy race format on Wednesdays is enough

6. I was worried about potential Covid exposure. 

7.  Your reasons. 

 Looking ahead, how should the 2022 Stedman Smith Cup be redesigned (or not) to encourage a higher number of boats to participate?

Please send my your comments at rgallagher1.rg@gmail.com

 

Thanks,

Bob

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(Google will discontinue automatic emails of posts in July.)

ESSA Blog Site Statistices.

ESSA Sailing News & Race Results

This sites services the ESSA sailing community by posting weekly race results and upcoming events.

So, how often is the ESSA blog site viewed? 

Subscribers = 67   Each receive an email when a message is posted.

Page views In October, 2018  = 533

Page views since inception in October 2016  = 11, 517

362 posts. 

19 tabs which include NORSI, charts, and other information for the fleet. 

http://essasailing.blogspot.com/

Choptank Fleet Racing Information

Choptank Skippers and Crew.

Here are some links to assist you in the races ahead.  Print them. Put them on your boat for reference.

Map of ESSA Racing Marks on the Choptank River

              Note that G1 is not an ESSA Marker.

              B is now a temporary marker, not an official USCG buoy.

Table of distances and bearings (verified by GPS)

Choptank NORSI

Wind Forecast: Sailflow 

Reading the Signage:

The Orange Board on the Committee Boat displays the Spinnaker Course,

The Gray Board displays the Non-Spinnaker c Course. 

Red Letters indicate to leave the mark to Port, 

Green Letters indicate to leave the mark to Starboard.

The boards show the ESSA marks, but, do not include the starting line. 

Example:  (starting at I)  H-B-A

The Committee boat marks one end of the Start line. The other end is usually an ESSA marker. In this case, "I" aka G25. The first mark to fetch is H.

Always cruise by the Committee Boat. The scorekeepers record your presence. Read the course signs and listen to channel 67. Once the countdown begins radio calls may be ignored.

Starting Sequence:

 Signals

5.1       Races will be started with the following modification to rule 26:  There will be an extra warning signal consisting of five long blasts at 6 minutes.  

                                                            Time   Sounds          

Courtesy Warning               6 min      17:54     5 Long blasts      

Starting  Sequence             5 min      17:55     1 Long blast         (must be under sail)

                                           4 min      18:56     1 Long blast        

                                           1 min      18:59     1 Long blast        

                                           Start       18:00      1 Long blast        

Questions? essasailing38@gmail.com

Choptank Fleet: LAST WEEK AND MORE.....................

After Race Cook-out at the CYC:
It appears from the feedback received, last week's gathering of ESSA Choptank Fleet was a hit.
Many thanks to all that brought side dishes. YUM!

Race Participation:
Nineteen sailboats were at the starting line. That is a record and shows that the club has made great progress in the past few years. 
It also brought up a question of separating the spinnaker starting time from the non-spin starting time.  There is no consensus on this issue. We can discuss this further before next season. Skippers, think about it. 

Upcoming events:
The Third Series will begin on August 2.  If you plan to switch racing class, be sure to a send a email to essasailing38@gmail.com or tell someone on the RC. We will need to adjust the score sheets, etc.

The Wild Goose Chase has been scheduled for Saturday September 16.  The plan is to use adjusted PHRF's in a pursuit format race. NOR & SI is posted on this site if you need more details. See tab above.

The grandaddy Choptank Cup has been scheduled for Sunday, October 15. NOR & SI is posted on this site if you need more details. See tab above.

Do you have any news for the fleet?

Comments?

Questions?

Send them to essasailing38@gmail.com

Please note that results will not be posted on August 2 and August 9, in my absence.

Results will be emailed 
to all members.

Quick updates: May 23, 2017

ESSA Marker B will be in place this Wednesday. 

It will be located near the original R24 location.

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Stedman Smith Cup: Please sign up asap

Current Entries

If.....

Aura

Tamarind

Tango 22

essasailing38@gmail.com

Printable copies of ESSA documents are available

ESSA Sailors,

Several documents are now available on  http://essasailing.blogspot.com/

Just click-on the tabs then click-on the link:
 "Click Here for a printable copy of......."

Available Documents: (some are subject to approval)

• Member and Racing Applications- 2017
• Choptank NOR & SI- 2017
• US Sailing Equipment Requirements 6P
• Race Committee Responsibilities 2017
• Choptank Distances and Bearings for ESSA Markers
• Choptank ESSA Race Chart
• Choptank Race Course List

Sample link

Click Here for a printable copy of the ESSA Choptank Chart

Know your flags:

Send your notices, news, and questions to essasailing38@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, January 21, 2017

Thank you for signing on to the

ESSA NEWS and RACE RESULTS Site.

34 have signed on to date.

Please encourage your sailing crews to sign up for emails.

This is the only way that emails and race results will be sent in 2017.

ESSA Fleet Contact Information

SAVE THE DATE:
 Change of Watch Dinner
Brew River Restaurant & Bar

http://www.brewriver.com/
Saturday, January 21, 2017
5:00 PM

Stand-by for invitations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why a blog site?
It is the easiest way to distribute news electronically.
Readers manage their own email address.
Anybody can sign up for emails. 
There is no limit to the number of email subscribers.
IT'S FREE!


Questions?  compliments? criticisms? News?
Send your comments to

essasailing38@comcast.net

George B

Choptank Fleet Captain

To all subscribers, Thanks

Thanks you for signing on to the ESSA NEWS and RACE RESULTS Site

ESSA Fleet Contact Information

We understand that the Annual Awards Dinner invitations will be sent out shortly.

essasailing38@comcast.net

George B