I sure hope this takes off, i live in NJ and while I'm currently racing Lasers
as soon as I can afford to move to a skiff i will. i'm hoping to get swift solo
but might end up with a 29er, not sure yet, but as a racer on the LIS i can
attest to the lack of wind for most of the summer. I know there are random
skiff regattas up here, 2 years ago my club (Larchmont YC) hosted a huge 29er
event that got me interested in skiffs and I crewed on one, and this year
American YC hosted a mixed skiff/505 event that was pretty interesting, so
there is definately a lot of interest around here. What needs to happen is for
the kids coming out of all the junior sailing programs to go into skiffs
instead of keel boat crew becuase I know most of us enjoy going fast better
than grinding winches for someone, but the racing is all keelboats up here
after the junior level, and some Vangaurd 15 racing but a 2 man main/jib boat
doesn't sound very interesting. especially when you need to find crew to spend
the entire downwind leg acting as a whisker pole becuase the jib leads are in a
bad spot.
----- Original Message -----
From: Greg Ryan
To: swiftsolo@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 7:05 PM
Subject: NYC Skiff League - Call for membership.
There has been a vigorous discussion at Sailing Anarchy regarding Swift Solo
skiffs and how they relate to all sorts of other Skiffs with different methods
of propulsion and counterweight. This discussion thread has been at the very
top of the Sportboat forum for over a week and more than One thousand five
hundred views have been racked up amongsth the wanabee fast sailors. The NYC
Skiff league notice (below) was posted there recently.
If people are interested we can establish a Skiff League centered around NYC
catering to skiffs based in the densely populated area up both shores of the
LIS LI and down the Jersey coast. Also likely drawing skiffs as far a RI or
Bean town for regattas.
We are going to have to club together to cover the costs but for a reasonable
group of us here below is the best deal I could work out. For a venue, Osama
put the harbor out of bounds and LIS is out for skiffs in the bulk of the
summer months, very little wind between two hot land masses. So sailing will be
principally in Sandy Hook Bay NJ just outside NY harbor.. The league will
travel to LIS and the harbor for some regattas though.
This is THE best water, open to consistent summer winds and protected on all
sides by a serious Navy munitions train line pier and a low sand barrier island
(national park). It's a very large bay even by 9er standards, you cant
instantly eat it up downhill and has the very flattest skiff friendly ripples I
have found in the last few years. It is 20-25 feet deep or more, most
everywhere.
This NYC Skiff League will be a non profit corporation. No $ benefit accrues
to any individual director or member. It would be 503( c)(3) for tax purposes
which sponsors like. Spinnaker carrying skiffs that are designed to plane
easily will be invited to join. The league will be non-discriminatory
otherwise.
(but we are not talking Losers (*-----)here OK! Well Laser 2 if its over
25kts)
Season starts April, finishes October. Mid-winters in Ft Desoto Fl.
Scoring
Numerically large skiff classes will be scored as OD fleets. The US Sailing
PY numbers will be used for mixed fleets. Because skiff's PY are sometimes
hugely anomalous (planing or not) a wind speed range PY set will be developed
for every entered class, by consent, if such a set of PYs does not already
exist for your skiff.
Boats will be scored with the low point system, times will be adjusted with
the wind range PY factor. Insurance required.
Sailing Program
Regattas
Two 3-4 race Sunday regattas every month (on average, some 3).
11:00 skippers meeting
FREE hot all you can eat food and all you can drink beer(in a keg)
Hot showers and bullshit-n-beer session after.
Participation Trophies every regatta
Trophies for Regatta series winners.
Regatta entry fee $10 per boat. Or $60 per season for all regattas. $35 for
youth.
Each boat must crew the RC for one day/year. Teams can do duty on same day.
Types of Regatta
In order not to penalize some skiff classes by only holding short windward
leeward races we will hold a 3 longer more interesting "distance" regattas that
force boats to reach. In the style of the 8teens courses in Sydney. One race
per regatta for this style, maximum distance 15 miles. No open Atlantic ocean
racing, out there, you are on your own..
Supported sailing/training,
Rescue and coach boat available for your use -you negotiate with others.
When: Every week on non-regatta Sundays. Skippers meeting 11:00
Additional spontaneously planned fun regattas - BB's and fun things to do
(short of racing in the nude) with your skiff - worthwhile participation gifts
for these regattas.
Non-supported sailing/training
Every week, on non regatta weekend days. Saturday and Sunday.
Skippers meetings at 11:00.
Social
Parents, Friends, tire kickers, welcome on 3 dates, then membership required.
1) BB'qs ($10) on Labor day and Memorial Day and 4th July. All the catered
food you can eat and Beer you can drink.
2) All the Beer you can driink
3) all the Beer you can driiink
4) Seminars and coaching by skiff designers, medal winners and champions and
all the beer you can drink.
Faclities.
Boats can be stored on dolly's on the Sandy Beach a few feet from the MHW
mark. $300 per year to the host club. Road trailers can be stored 30 per season
Shared Costs,
Skiff <14ft $100 and 1 membership per year. (voting right come with this).
Skiff >14ft $180 Membership for 2 crew.
Hangers on $80
Host club Launching fee $70
Regatta fee $10 per regatta for fuel etc.$65 for all regattas
Total for a Swift Solo Skiff = 100+70+65=$235 per year. Total for an I14ft,
49er Vector etc, skiff = 180 +70 +65 = $315 $615 if you keep your boat rigged
ready to go at the beach. or to drop off your ankle biters in their 29er = $285
for a seasons sailing every week and all the food and beer (sorry not for the
kiddies) you can eat on Sunday every second week.
Will anyone take me up on this???????
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