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Originally delivered on 11/15/2024 2:29 pm

SUBJECT: SAYRA e-Newsletter November

SAYRA November e-Newsletter
Commodore's Corner

It is the time of year for the changing of the guard.  After being duly elected in January, I have now taken the helm at SAYRA, as Commodore Martine Zurinskas’ term ended on October 31.  Those are some big shoes to fill!  Thank you, Martine, for leading SAYRA for the past two years.

Many of you already know me, but for those who don’t, I am a 30-year member and Past Commodore of Lake Norman Yacht Club (north of Charlotte), an avid racer, and a 20+ year member of SAYRA.  I have spent 13 of those years as a member of the SAYRA Executive Committee, in various roles, and am looking forward to serving our members in my new role as Commodore.

I’m looking forward to our new venue for the 2025 Annual Meeting Jan. 24-26; the Beach House Resort HHI appears to meet our needs admirably, with 3 big differences from our former spaces:  a 1000 ftbanquet room for our hospitality suite; direct access to the beach; and restaurants and shopping within walking distance.  See the SAYRA Annual Meeting page to register and for the hotel link to get our discounted rate (note that reservations must be made by Jan. 3rd in order to receive the discounted rate).

We have now posted a draft agenda on the website.

If you are available to assist with check-in for the Annual Meeting either on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, please contact me.

Nominations are now being accepted for SAYRA’s Special Awards; if you would like to nominate someone whom you feel is worthy of such recognition for the H. Willard Davis Service Award, the SAYRA Sportsmanship Award, the John B. Bonds Service Award, or the Grady Foster Race Committee Service Award, please do so by December 1 (details and forms).

 Treez Decker, Commodore SAYRA 2025-2026

SAYRA UPCOMING NOTICES
Annual Meeting 2025

Nightly base rate of $149, valid 2 days prior to and 2 days after the AGM


ROOM BLOCK CUT OFF IS JANUARY 3rd!

Click Here - Hotel Reservations
Click Here - DRAFT AGENDA
Click Here - REGISTRATION (free)
SAYRA AWARDS
LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

H. Willard Davis Service Award - individuals who made a significant contribution to SAYRA. NOMINATE FOR THE WILLARD DAVIS AWARD CLICK HERE 


SAYRA Sportsmanship Award - Individuals who exemplify the traditional Corinthian values of fair play and concerns for fellow competitors. NOMINATION FOR THE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HERE 


John B. Bonds Service Award - individuals who make significant contributions in service to the sport of sailing in the area of Race Management and/or judging and/or boating safety. NOMINATION FOR THE JOHN B. BONDS AWARD HERE 


Grady Foster Race Committee Service Award - individuals with excellence in volunteering for Race Committee. NOMINATIONS FOR THE GRADY FOSTER RACE COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD HERE 


Nominations due by December 1st. 

More information: https://sayra-sailing.membershiptoolkit.com/Awards

Send in your regatta report! sayra.sailing@gmail.com 

RACE MANAGEMENT NEWS

Don't forget your SAYRA Race Management Committee is here to assist if you have questions.  You can find their information at this LINK: SAYRA Race Management 

  • Basic Race Management Seminar at Mobile YC 12/7/2025 CLICK HERE
  • Advanced Race Management Seminar at Annapois YC 3/1-2/2025 CLICK HERE


PLAN YOUR COURSE SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2025!  if you want to host a Race Management Training Course, get it scheduled now!

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

SAYRA RACE MANAGEMENT UPDATE
Click Here- HOST A Race Management Course
THE RACING RULES OF SAILING FOR 2025-2028 RULES SEMINAR FOR SAILORS
2 EDUCATIONAL Sessions to be held at the SAYRA AGM in January 24-26

The Racing Rules of Sailing have been updated and are effective January 1, 2025. Review and learn the changes from the 2021-2024 rules. The Rules of Part 2, When Boats Meet, will be covered in depth, with many examples of boat on boat interactions.


SESSION ONE - FRIDAY January 24, 4-6 pm Rules 10-17

SESSION TWO - SUNDAY January 26, 9-noon Rules 18-22
 

This seminar will be presented in two, two hour sessions. Share this info with your club leadership, race officials and sailors so that everyone can benefit from this instruction. SAYRA Annual Meeting will be held at the Beach House, Hilton Head Island, SC. Registration & Room Block information: CLICK HERE

UPCOMING US SAILING COURSES
Never too early to start planning your instructor courses!

Small Boat Level 1 Course May 30-June 1 NC Maritime Museum (Beaufort, NC)

Click Here - HOST A COURSE
Helen Hanley Memorial Fund

Thank you to everyone (Clubs and Indviduals) who has supported the Helen Hanley Fund in 2024.  As you plan your year-end gifts, please consider the Helen Hanley Fund so we can continue to support sailors in our region as they participate in US Sailing Courses, US Sailing Championships and USODA Team Trails & National Team. HH Fund is a 501c3 organization. 

REGATTA NEWS
CKOD – Lake Norman YC Nov 9-10, 2024

Very typical early fall weather fell upon the 35 competitors at the 34th Annual Carolina Keelboat Regatta at Lake Norman YC November 9-10.  In addition to the 18 boats in the U20 fleet, there were 3 Seascape 24s, 5 VXOnes, 3 J22s and 6 EScows.  

Saturday’s forecast proved to ring true with 8-12 knots of breeze in the morning only tapering slightly to finish the day in 6-8 knot winds. After 4 races, there was a clear battle for the top spot in the U20 fleet with BJ Jones #151 winning two of the four races and Tim Porter #21 winning the other two. BJ Jones led going into the last race which was held Sunday morning in trying conditions. ‘Puff hunting’ all the way around the racecourse, Tim Porter, Steve Shaw and Joel Blade rounded the weather mark 5th but were able to slide by BJ and others to finish 2nd and win the tie breaker of who beat who in the last race. Competition was fierce amongst the rest of the U20 fleet with four different positions on the leader board settled by tiebreaks!

Looking forward to a big turnout for the 35th CKOD and 30th U20 North Americans in 2025.

Congratulations to the following winners:

  • U20 – Tim Porter
  • VXOne – Stanley Hassinger
  • Seascape24 – Pete Lalli
  • J22 – Uwe Mewes
  • EScow- John Polek

Results: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/wsEpSQ7Xqc/results?class_id=tCWpfyHdUR

Photos by Mark Jump - thank you! 

2024 College Sailing Singlehanded Nationals

Winner - Daniel Escudero (Atlanta YC & Webb Institute) 

After 13 races in tricky light and medium wind conditions, I am proud to have come out on top. St. Pete has a special place in my heart as I won my first regatta here. Now it’s Webb’s first-ever national championship win! 

I want to give a huge thank you to my parents. For my Dad’s coaching help on the water, and my Mom making sure everything runs smoothly on shore. 

Thank you to Webb for their unwavering support for my sailing.

Congrats to 2 other SAYRA Sailors for also making it to the National Championship - Will Rucker College of Charleston and Ben Smith Georgetown! 

Atlanta Yacht Club - No More Turkey Regatta

Lots of small boat racing action on Lake Altoona in early November. 12 ILCA 7s, 3 ILCA6's and AYCs newest fleet - Sunfish 9 boats! 

ILCA 7 - Michael Carlson 1st overall

ILCA 6 - Sarah Plants 2nd overall 

Sunfish - Nathan Bannister 3rd overall 

D12 ILCA Series Final Resutls

PARTICIPATION: 7 Rig - 38 ||  6 Rig - 37  ||  4 Rig - 21

Total 93 competitors (note 3 skippers used two different rigs during the series)

QUALIFIED FOR THE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS (raced four or more regattas, ILCA membership and raced both fresh and salt water)


7 Rig (high point): #1 Charlie Usher 35 points, #2 Eli Putnam 28 points, #3 Michael Carlson 24 points, #4 JT Hughes 15 points

6 Rig (high point): #1 Lief Carlson 43 points, #2 Will Bryant 41 points, #3 Finn Hassing 24 points, #4 Anna Kate Horton 20 points

4 Rig (high point): #1 Ava Gulbrandsen 22 points

Top Master (low point masters scoring): #1 Finn Hassing 18 points, #2 Charlie Usher 19 points, #3 Eli Putman 23 points, #4 Michael Carlson 25 points, #5 JT Hughes 32 points

Top Junior (high point): #1 Lief Carlson 43 points, #2 Will Bryant 41 points, #3 Ava Gulbrandsen 22 points, #4 Anna Kate Horton 20 points, #5 Oliver Putnam 11 points

Top Female (high point): #1 Ava Gulbrandsen 22 points, #2 Anna Kate Horton 20 points 

Thank you to Charlie Usher for leading the D12 region as Secretary!

SAYRA CALENDAR - SUBMIT NOW
SAYRA Regatta Schedule 2025

Clubs, as your leadership team finalizes the event schedule for 2025, please send sailing.sayra@gmail.com all your open events for the SAYRA schedule. The calendar online is only as good as what clubs send. Current CALENDAR 

Upcoming Events (next 45 days)
Saturday, November 16
Turkey Trot Regatta, Blackbeard Sailing Club, NC
Savannah YC McIntosh Cup, Savannah, GA
Sunday, November 17
Savannah YC McIntosh Cup, Savannah, GA
ILCA/Laser Frostnip Atlanta YC, Acworth, GA
Sunday, November 24
ILCA/Laser Frostnip Atlanta YC, Acworth, GA
Saturday, November 30
Turkey Race - CORA
Neuse YRA Winter Race New Bern NC
Friday, December 6
32nd Annual Peninsula Cup Regatta, Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club, NC
Saturday, December 7
32nd Annual Peninsula Cup Regatta, Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club, NC
Sunday, December 8
32nd Annual Peninsula Cup Regatta, Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club, NC
ILCA/Laser Frostnip Atlanta YC, Acworth, GA
Saturday, December 14
Neuse YRA Winter Race New Bern NC
Sunday, December 15
ILCA/Laser Frostnip Atlanta YC, Acworth, GA
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