Frozen Few

Skippers scramble to choose their tacks at the start of race 2

Race Committee, Stuart, placed the wind mark between the north and south docks this week for the frostbite sailors at Edgewood. Wind was variable, shifty with strong gusts. Wind was mostly from the west, except when it wasn't. Lulls would often precede a dramatic shift in wind direction. Four boats capsized during racing when gusts caught sailors by surprise. Boats were all right side up again quickly, and sailors enjoyed figuring out where the wind was going to come from next.

rounding the mark in Up From the Ashes 2012 regatta

The Frozen Few skipped a week due to weather conditions outside the range described in the Sailing Instructions and jumped in again this week right after clearing out after Saturday's snowstorm with the "Up From the Ashes" regatta. The regatta was sponsored by both Edgewood Yacht Club and Edgewood Sailing School. After the Edgewood Yacht Club building burned in January 2011, the Frozen Few were first back on the water to sail with a lot of help from friends and neighbors around the bay.

Alan takes his new boat out to race with the Frozen Few!

Dave W. had a spectacular day of Sunfish sailing at Edgewood on Sunday, when he got a perfect six points on six races!

Race Committee ran some longer races over to a nearby government mark, RN2. The fourth race was an Edgewood Special Duck Race, during a T2.

Alan sailed his first race with the Frozen Few in his new boat.
Billy helped Wayne get back in the boat when he capsized.
Doug C was cheered on by everyone when he took the lead with an excellent start.
Jeff L capsized in the duck race and still had a very strong finish. He said there was "nothing like a swim to wake you up!"

hanging out with the race committee between starts

Edgewood Sunfish sailors were in glad spirits to welcome 2012! Eleven boats on the water; ten in competition. One skipper -- setting a startling pace for the group - - arrived in dress shoes and tie for the New Year's regatta. Another, Andrew, had to miss the action: his boat went away without him during a recent storm, and although recovered thanks to a neighbor's alerting us, and help from Ted and Jonathan getting it back, the boat was damaged and the Frozen Few's Spare Boat had a daggerboard issue.

Santa hikes out

Cold strong winds from the North Pole challenged Sunfish sailors, even those in Santa hats, as they struggled to stay upright on the final day of the Fall Series. Race Committee decided to keep the course toward the docks and shore to try to compensate for the blustery conditions. Five races were completed, with eight boats on the line. (T,O,W2,G,T2).

Seasonal temperatures finally put a chill in the air, which was moving either in all directions or not at all. Race Committee Stuart declared the course to be North South, but direction of the course was sometimes arbitrary. Wind directions were unpredictable and shifting 180 degrees within a few minutes.

Despite the light air, Race Committee sent sailors on longer than usual courses. The second race was a very long windward leeward race north to GC3 and around a south mark.

Throughout the day, forward momentum was a challenge.