US National Soling 1M Champions

Janice Anderson and Jim Goddard have made it a clean sweep of the US National Championships in the Soling 1M Class.

Janice won the first ever Women’s Championship in the class and Jim’s recent win in VT has created the unique result that both US Champions are Canadians from the same club.

Congratulations to both our winners, quite a result for a little club in Nova Scotia.

jimandjanice

2016 US Soling 1M Nationals

The pond at Stowe had a bit of every wind condition for this years US Nationals. Friday had very light airs to start and were up and down in under 5mph range all day. A good number of sailors got Stowed throughout the day.

We started with two seeding races to establish three fleets for sailing. Several sailors scored well with two firsts in the seeding races including Jim Goddard of HAMYC. Three fleets sailing promotion relegation placed a premium on consistent top fleet finishes with a trip to the B or C fleet quickly adding points. At the end of Day 1, Jim Goddard led the regatta by a small margin.

Saturday had some light winds to start and with the exception of a few lulls provided a steadily building breeze with wild shifts. We sailed 18 heats or 6 races all on the same course! Wins in A fleet were spread around, and many sailors moved between the fleets. At the end of Day 2 with two drops available, Jim Goddard continued to hold a lead over the 30 boat fleet.

Sunday had wind and sometimes way too much wind causing a number of broaches both upwind and down. We sailed four races before the appointed end time, with Jim Goddard winning one race Sunday and solidifying the win with consistent A Fleet finishes.

The results do not show the high level of competition and close racing that took place in all conditions. Stowe threw everything at the fleet and we all had to cope with some tough, close racing.

Sunday July 24-2016

We sailed in some shifting conditions with wind and without wind. A southwest breeze built through the afternoon so conditions improved but remained challenging.

Curt Kasten, Commodore of the Sarasota Model Yacht Club was our special guest and sailed #71 for the day. HAMYC Commodore Gary Bugden prsented Curt with a HAMYC glass with our logo etched on it.

July 24-16

Sullivan’s Pond Weeds up Again

The model boat club will become gypsies once again as Sullivan’s Pond has too many weeds to allow for competitive racing on the pond.

We raise this issue with the City and no response. They can cut weeds from the lakes for the paddlers and property owners who can afford waterfront property. However a solution for the problem they created in Sullivan’s Pond is just too much.

It started with a failure to fix the leak at the south end of the pond so the water is always draining and low. Then, they were installing sewers and let the pond go dry. Since then we have had annual infestations of weeds. They say it is not connected, but I take little comfort in what they say.

So, likely until September we will have to find another place to sail.

Too bad, we just held the National Championship in Lunenburg for the second time. Two times before that we held it in Bedford Basin. Sullivan’s is a great location for major model yachting events but we just cannot count on being able to have a deep enough venue at Sullivan’s Pond – Without Weeds.

 

 

 

Results of the 2016 National Championship

Final Results

Paul Switzer of Kingston, ON successfully defended his National title over two days of close and exciting sailing in Lunenburg, NS.

Jim Goddard of the host club Halifax Area Model Yacht club was second and Janice Anderson of Chester was third.

Although the fleet was a little smaller this year the racing was fierce in light and shifting conditions which filled in each day to moderate and shifty conditions.

See the 2016 Regatta page for pictures and full results to be posted.