November 18, 2013

Can't get enough Laser sailing? Need to improve your tactics and skills while having fun? Then the Sunday Laser Series at Richmond Yacht Club may be just the ticket. Not to be confused with the RYC Small Boat Midwinters, the Sunday Series is actually part of the junior program. A couple of years ago Laser sailor Mark Halman came up with the idea of getting the more senior members of the class out with the kids.

The mixed fleet of juniors and seniors find their spots on the start line. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

"Mark thought the adults would like to play and I thought it would be great for the kids to get more boats on the line," said RYC junior instructor Tim Stapleton, who runs the Laser Sundays with a pleasant mix of instruction, racing, and competition for an overall series. "We usually only have six or so juniors sailing Radials and have added enough adults in both the Radial and standard rig to get 15 or more boats. This casual series is run by the RYC Junior Program to help teach the junior sailors how to compete in larger fleets," he explained.

Domenique was all smiles on a nice sunny Sunday. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

The Radials are scored separately in their own series as are the standard Lasers, but sometimes they all start at the same time. The courses are mainly in the Potrero Reach right outside of the club, but are also moved to Keller Cove or outside the breakwater if conditions allow. The courses are short in order to get as many races as possible before the sun sets.

Emilio, Dave and Pete battle it out in the standard rigs. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

On November 17, Tim was able to get in seven instructive races before sending the boats home. On this Sunday he intentionally set up a short start line to see how the fleet of 17 boats would handle it. In the light conditions, all behaved and learned the best way to avoid getting trapped or spit out the back. As the day wore on Tim mixed up the course layout shouting out the new marks over a bullhorn to insure the racers were stimulated mentally as well as physically by the demands of close racing.

Instructor Tim Stapleton multi-tasks during a late afternoon start. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

If you have a Laser sitting in the backyard and want to try some low key racing and improve your skills try out the Sunday Series, which continues through March except on Small Boat Midwinter Sundays. See http://rycsunday.myfleet.org.