SunCoast-DIYC Inaugural Laser Regatta

SunCoast-DIYC Laser Fleet’s Inaugural Regatta

Based out of Davis Island YC, the newest SunCoast-DIYC Laser Fleet is certainly up to something big. This last Saturday, June 5th, was our first event. 12 sailors from this area including some that travelled from Lake Eustis, Sarasota and Orlando enjoyed a fantastic set of 7 races. Conditions varied from a light air start to a slow building wind which topped the 15 knots for the last few races.

Our race committee performed an outstanding job reconfiguring the starting line to adjust for the afternoon sea breeze. And before we get any further, let us mention the R/C volunteers by name as without them none of our racing could happen. The signal boat was Sofa King, skippered by Captain Robi Robinson, serving on the signal boat was our PRO Mike Dawson and his enthusiastic assistants Del Palmer and Louise Neuburger; both coming from the ranks of our Dinghy Dames. The mark boat was our venerable club launch Guardian which was smartly operated by Tom Turton and his assistant Jack Whitwam.

Our own Buzzy Heausler left us with a template to follow as he posted nothing but bullets across 7 races. Way to go Buzzy! The rest of the competitors fought hard and well as the appended results will show. What the results will not show is the tenacity and dedication of all the sailors to do well and better their skills. In a class where you are considered a Master at 35 years old, it takes a lot of stamina and will to go around the course in such a tippy and high performance boat. We had 9 standard rigs and 3 radial rigs. After the racing was done, quick friendships were made at the Tiki Bar and promises for more Masters and regular Laser racing out of our Davis Island YC. The competitors commented on what an active membership we have and were impressed by how welcoming our members and facilities are. They will be back with their friends to help us continue to be the sailingest club in the South.
Rounding up the event we had a trophy ceremony amongst much laughter and some serious commitment for more of the same. Jackie (our bar tender) kept the Tiki Bar and the sailors in very good spirits. The goodies included US Sailing decals and bumper stickers as well as Laser Class decals and bumper stickers which included handing out the much celebrated “Laser Master’s” bumper stickers. One reads, “Laser Master – too old to hike –too young to die” and my favorite which reads, “Laser Master – cheat the nursing home – die on your laser”

Here are the results:
DIYC Laser Suncoast Regatta June 5, 2010

Race Race Race Race Race Race Race Base Throw Final
Place Sail# Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pts out Points Prize

1 18 1131 Buzzy Heausler 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 -1 6 1 – Davis Island YC
2 18 5456 Jeff Olson 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 16 -3 13 2 – Sarasota Sailing Squadron
3 18 4547 Eric Robbins 4 4 5 2 4 3 5 27 -5 22 3 – Davis Island YC
4 19 1963 Dave Hillmyer 5 2 3 6 7 7 3 33 -7 26 – Sarasota Sailing Squadron
5 16 4806 David Olson 7 10 4 4 3 5 6 39 -10 29 – Sarasota Sailing Squadron
6 19 1581 John Poulson 3 7 6 5 dnf 6 4 44 -13 31 – Davis island YC
7 15 5481 Kevin Ratigan 12 6 8 8 5 4 11 54 -12 42 – Sarasota SailingSquadron/Orlando
8 17 5556 Anthony Scott 6 8 9 7 6 9 8 53 -9 44 - Sarasota Youth Sailing Program
9 5 6566 Alejandro Illera 8 12 7 10 8 8 9 62 -12 50 – Lake Eustis Sailing Club
10 15 5456 Antolin Rivera 9 5 10 9 11 10 10 64 -11 53 – Davis Island YC
11 17 6267 Donna Steele 10 11 11 11 9 11 7 70 -11 59 – Sarasota Sailing Squadron
12 19 1959 Carrie Greene 11 9 12 12 10 12 12 78 -12 66 – Davis Island YC

As the SunCoast-DIYC Laser Fleet captain, Antolin Rivera acted as Regatta Chairman but my job would not have been possible without the assistance and guidance provided by Eric Robbins and Carrie Greene. The regatta fairies worked really hard to make this one possible, thanks so much Eric and Carrie.

cheat or fair is fair or mom really did a number on me

Cheat or “fair is fair” or, my mom really did a number on me.
Mom never heard the famous sailing quote of Mr. Elvstrom, "You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors." Neither did she ever sailed a Laser or any boat for that matter except day sails aboard Shipajoy I in Puerto Rico and Shipajoy II here in Tampa Bay. She in fact only went to the beach occasionally or at least far less frequently than the average Puerto Rican. I for one could have been a remarkable beach bum but that is another story dear Linda Litke.
She, the one that I remember as a lion with a woman’s face, had a different upbringing. She worked hard all her life, unabatedly strove to better her lot and refused to yield no matter the foe. Her tiny frame contained a huge heart and if the spirit had mass, hers would have been the proverbial unmovable object. Yeah, you could say she was bull-headed too but in a nice way. Mom hated falsehood above all other human faults. Her soul was open to all in the most sincere of ways but cheats were branded as such for life.
There are so many examples about those life lessons that I could fill tomes and manage to bore you out of this blog. Growing up with her meant a strict adhesion to the principle of fairness…”what is right is right and that is that”. To find a wallet full of money and credit cards meant an immediate call to the owner. Being deceitful to get and advantage was beyond her understanding.
Growing up with her meant these precepts were a fact of life which brings us back to Mr. Elvstrom. "You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors." How many times have you witnessed a guy in front of you ooching downwind repeatedly or rock ‘n rolling or worse yet, rolling and fanning the main with a tug on the tiller effectively “rowing” the boat? He may be a better sailor but he is also ahead because of his deceitful ways. Is he beating you? Perhaps, but not really. He is not competing like you, he is cheating. He is the kind of guy who may “rub” a mark and not do his turn unless somebody protests him. But, you can tell that if the infraction occurs and he perceives that nobody saw it, he will smile and keep going.
Our sport is too precious to spoil it with that conduct. Life is too precious to go through it constantly thinking in terms of “The Art of War” chapters. If anything, we should go through life in the terms of “Desiderata”. All except the part that goes, “Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth”. There I believe we should “cheat” the nursing home and die on our lasers! And I quote, “Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”