Quannapowitt Yacht Club

On Saturday an ambitious group of members got it all done! The docks are in, including a repaired one, the grounds are raked, decks power washed, clubhouse cleaned, dingy racks moved, racing marks set and more.

On Saturday the 17th we'll hold our first racing seminar of the season. This is a good time to come get reacquainted with the rules. The information is aimed at all racers with an emphasis on beginners. If you have questions contact Brain Wilson, head of our Race Committee.

Welcome to spring!

The warm weather is making early sailing look like a real possibility this year. I hope you had time this past weekend to at least look under the winter cover.

Our Annual Spring Meeting is this Friday at 7:00. I look forward to seeing you there. My original speaker had to drop out, but I have asked a great alternative to talk on wind shifts and will hear today. Plan “B” is an instructional video with lots of racing action. Either one will be short and a good way to prime your brain for the upcoming season.

On a gray fall day with the breeze appearing only as patches of ripples that meandered down the lake scooting individual boats around like leaves on a parking lot, we race.

This is fall in New England; not too many more times to get the club’s fleets out and stay warm and dry, so we use what we have. I call over to John, on the race committee boat, that I’m glad I have my job (to keep my Laser moving) and not his (to divine the steadiest direction of the wind and consequently to set a fair course.) John dryly observes that, “You just do the best you can,” and John does.

The first race he starts the three fleets three minutes apart, but ends up with the first two fleets just a mixed clump of boats sitting on the starting line causing what wind there is to lift right up over the shapeless sails. The mess just barely sorts itself out in time for the Lasers to start with enough open water to get across the line.

Wet from a dump in the lake or wet from some rain, does it really make a difference? QYC Lasers have been out most Sundays and Wednesdays and it hasn’t been all that wet from above or below.

Despite the endless rain, sailing is happening. Most Wednesdays and Sundays QYC sailors have been out enjoying competitive racing. It’s hard to tell ahead of time whether or not the weather will cooperate, but those who show-up with optimism seem to get rewarded.

Yesterday nine Lasers rigged for sailing and seven of us went racing – a great show for the first Sunday race. The conditions were fine for those with experience, but challenging for those who either haven’t sailed a Laser ever or for years. What was impressive was the limited number of flips that occurred.

On Sunday the 8th QYC held its first Sunday race of the season. The day was also used as a kick-off for QYC¿s 125th anniversary celebration including an open house and food for the public with a Boston Globe reporter/photographer there to document the club's vitality. There were more than 20 boats on the water with most participating in the racing. Conditions were the regular Quannapowitt-changeable.

The Laser fleet is active and ready to help QYC members and prospective members see what Laser sailing is all about. Our yellow club Laser lost its mast step during the May Madness Laser Regatta, but we are just about done prepping our next best boat, the white Laser, for duty as an adult race boat, test sail boat and back up boat.

The Last Open house of the summer is Saturday June 9th from 11am to 1pm. The open houses are a great way for everyone to meet potential members, current members, support the club, and promote Sailing.

This is just a reminder that there will be an Open House at QYC tomorrow night, Wednesday May 23, starting at 6:30. It is also the first race of the Spring Wednesday night racing series. If you could come down to the club and help out with the Open House that would be greatly appreciated. If your boat is in the water, please join us for this informal racing series.
It's a ton of fun!

Thank you and we hope to see you there.