Touch of Class Regatta Results

The wind was light, but we were able to run two short "around-the-lake" courses. The results are posted.

Special thanks to Kathy Graves, the regatta chair, and her team for organizing the regatta, and to Iain Montgomery, the PRO, and his RC team for running the races. Regattas require a lot of volunteers and we appreciate everyone who helped with the event.

Photos

Dave Findley took some nice photos at the Touch of Class.

Spring Sunday Club Race Series

Next Race is May 26, 2013

We're having a Sunday Club Race Series this spring. Races will be held on March 10, March 17, April 28, May 19 and May 26, 2013. Sign up online.

Results

The results for the Spring Series are posted. Results will be updated after each race.

Race Committee Volunteers Needed

Skippers of participating boats have signed up to serve as the PRO for the club races, but we still need additional volunteers to serve as race committee team members. Prior race committee experience is not required. Sign up for race committee online.

For more information or to register by phone, contact Iain Montgomery, Race Director.

Wednesday Night Race Series

New Starting Times Effective 4/24/2013

New starting times for Wednesday Night races are posted. Because we score the series separately for non-spinnaker and spinnaker boats, we have split the starting times into two independent classes. Boats will not be competing against boats in the other class. This allows boats in the spinnaker class to start much sooner than they have in the past. Use the new starting times for your class, non-spinnaker or spinnaker. The new starting times are in effect beginning 4/24.

Changes to the Wednesday night times include the following:

• Separated the time sheets for non-spinnaker and spinnaker classes.
• Corrected the length of the regular Wednesday night course used in starting time calculations to 2.8 nautical miles. This new length reflects the current location of the Wednesday night rock markers. The change to a more accurate length benefits slower rated boats.
• Reduced the additional "light air" starting time credit for boats rated 88 and above to 1.5 minutes. Note that the original "light air" adjustment factor of 1.25 remains in place for all boats. The original 1.25 adjustment factor gives every boat a 25% starting time advantage over any boat rated faster. The additional 1.5 minutes starting time credit for boats rated 88 and higher is in addition to the credit resulting from the original 1.25 adjustment factor. These credits are above and beyond any normal starting time differences resulting from normal handicapping and are an attempt to adjust the time-on-distance pursuit starting times for a short course in predominately light air conditions.
• Changed the non-spinnaker credit factor for boats whose base rating is a spinnaker rating to the PPYC standard 1.03 that is used in all other races. The previous "Wednesday night only" credit of 1.06 was an attempt to make non-spinnaker boats more competitive with spinnaker boats. Now that the non-spinnaker and spinnaker classes are starting and being scored separately, the regular non-spinnaker credit of 1.03 is more appropriate. Ratings shown on the starting times sheets are now the normal non-spinnaker ratings shown on the Portsmouth ratings list.

Results through 5/15/2013

This year we are posting the Wednesday Night Race Series results on a regular basis. We will attempt to have each week's results posted within a few days after the race. Results showing separate non-spinnaker and spinnaker classes through 5/15 are posted.

Scoring System

The series is being scored using the Low Point System of Appendix A of The Racing Rules of Sailing ("RRS"), including RRS A9 "Race Scores in a Series Longer Than a Regatta," with some modifications. We are allowing one throw-out for every four races scored in the series, with a maximum of six throw-outs. Multiple throw-outs are intended to encourage boats to compete even if they have missed some races (it's not too late to start).

To encourage skippers to take novice sailors on their boats, we give scoring credits for novices. Up to two credit points can be earned per race. Boats that earn novice credits will have a scoring code of either NV1 (minus 1 point) or NV2 (minus 2 points) next to their score. Boats without novice credits will retain their original score and will not move up because a boat with a novice credit receives a lower score. The lowest possible score for a race is 1, including novice credits. Unused novice credits from one race do not carry forward to another race.

Because the number of boats participating in the series is not yet known, the scores shown for boats that did not compete in a race (DNC) may change depending on the number of boats that ultimately participate in the series.

Wednesday Night Courses on Google Earth

We plotted the Wednesday night courses on Google Earth. Click on the links below to see the images.

• Wednesday Night Course Diagram on Google Earth (Regular Course)
• Wednesday Night Course Diagram on Google Earth (Short Course)

Grand Ole Open Regatta Results

The results for the Grand Ole Open Regatta are posted:

• Vanguard 15 Results
• Portsmouth Results

Lake Level

You can check the current lake level using the links shown here.

Normal summer pool is 490.00 feet above mean sea level.
Normal winter pool is 483.33 feet above mean sea level.
The Hamilton Creek Sailboat Marina pier walkway is approximately 494.60 feet.

Sailing Education at PPYC

Learning at the Helm (LATH)

PPYC Learning at the Helm (LATH) is intended for those new to sailing. The LATH group meets every Tuesday night, March through September. LATH is open to adults (minimum 18 years old) interested in learning how to sail. For more information, check out the LATH page.

Basic Sailing Course

For members who have already participated in LATH or who have some prior sailing experience, PPYC offers an introduction to sailing in a brief, practical, step-by-step course. The Basic Sailing Course starts in mid-April and continues through September. The course consists of six classes.

The Basic Sailing Course for 2013 is now open for registration. For more information, check out the Sailing Education page.

Mentoring Program

PPYC announces the "Mentoring Program." This program will pair Basic Sailing Course graduates with a skilled skipper for a confidence-building sailing experience. It will last 4-6 sessions with 2-4 other sailors. There are many in the club who have completed the Basic Sailing Course but have not yet moved into the Club Boat Program. The Mentoring Program is your ticket to feeling well prepared to take the check ride so that you can participate in the Club Boat Program. More information is available on the Sailing Education page.

Introduction to Coastal Navigation

Bob Ware, PPYC Sailing Director, is planning an introductory course on coastal navigation. Some of the topics covered will be charts, aids to navigation, basic navigational math, line of position, position fixing, bearings, current vectors and GPS. More information is available on the Sailing Education page.

Club Boat Program

PPYC's Club Boat Program for members now has five boats. An O'Day 23 and Catalina 22 are available to Ensign level members. In addition to the O'Day 23 and Catalina 22, a Northstar 500 and an S2 7.3 are available to Pilot level members (Pilot level requires a higher level of qualification). We also have an O'Day Day Sailer available to any Active level member at no extra cost above regular club dues. Visit the Club Boat Program page for more information.

The Club Boat Program reservation system is open for 2013.

Ahoy! 2013 Potential LATH Skippers!

I hope to hear that all of our previous, faithful LATH skippers are returning. Several have already indicated “yes”! I would also like to reach out for new volunteer LATH skippers in another way.

I’m searching for club members, who may not own boats, but might be interested in instructing Tuesday nights on the club boats. I realize that every skipper cannot make every Tuesday, however, if you have been thinking about this possibility and would like to discuss further, I’d love to know who you are!!

I would also like to hear from other club member boat owners who might be interested in joining the ranks of LATH skippers.

Please email me your name, phone number, email address, and boat type, because I am putting my list together for LATH's 2013 season!!

First LATH sail is March 26th!

Fair winds always,

Kathy Ware, Manager
PPYC Learning at the Helm

PPYC Strategic Plan

The PPYC Strategic Plan was affirmed by a vote of the membership at the Annual Membership Meeting on January 27, 2013. The plan was first communicated to the membership in an e-mail message on August 22, 2012 and was posted on the website the same day. The plan was later discussed with the membership at the Town Hall Meeting on November 4, 2012. Notice of the Town Hall Meeting was e-mailed to the membership in five e-mail newsletters in October. In accordance with the PPYC Constitution and Bylaws, which authorize the board of directors to develop other official documents, the Strategic Plan will be used as a guiding document by the board and the membership. Thanks go out to everyone involved in developing the Strategic Plan.

A copy of the plan will continue to be available in the Members' Section along with other official PPYC documents. If you have any questions about the plan, or have any suggestions on how it can be improved upon in the future, please contact any of the PPYC board of directors.

US Sailing
Member Partner Program

Join US Sailing at a Discount

PPYC members can join US Sailing or renew their current membership at a discount. US Sailing's new Member Partner Program replaces the Golden Anchor Program that PPYC participated in for many years.

PPYC Has a New Mailing Address

To make it more convenient to check our post office box, PPYC has a new box at the Main post office on Royal Parkway which is only a few miles from the lake. PPYC's new mailing address is:

PO Box 290485
Nashville TN 37229-0485

Please start using this new address for all correspondence addressed to PPYC.

New Racing Dinghy Fleet in Nashville

A new fleet of Vanguard 15 racing dinghies has been organized in Nashville. Fleet racing activities are on both Percy Priest and Old Hickory lakes. For more information and to stay abreast of ongoing developments, follow the fleet on Facebook and on their website. There is also fleet brochure.

Need More Information?

If you need additional information, please contact the PPYC officers by email. Select the appropriate officer or contact and they will get back to you a.s.a.p.

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