Posted on

RECAP Frostbite #3 RECAP Sunday, December 8, 2019

The wind was light but it was enough to make it well worth racing—a fun day for all. No rain, reasonably warm temperatures, and a light current. 


The RS Aero Fleet included 13 competitors. There were 10 Lasers made up of Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs, and once again 2 Optis. The wind was generally from the NW but bounced around enough in the first hour to require some quick windward mark and start line buoy adjustments. Race Committee Randy Shuman and Carl Buchan took it in stride and kept the starts moving at a rapid clip. There were separate starts for the Aero and Laser fleets, each fleet completing about 6 races before heading back to the docks for chili and beverages provided by Dan Herron. Thank you RC and Food volunteers, and to Geoff Pease for keeping an eye on the Optis.
Once again I want to say how much I appreciate everyone’s participation. Special thanks to all of you making the trek from Bainbridge Island, Olympia, Bellingham, Tacoma, Whidbey Island. Not to say that even Woodinville and Bellevue can seem like a long haul these days. 


NEXT FROSTBITE Frostbite #4 is on January 5, 2020: RACE COMMITTEE Driver Jay Leon and RC Assist Dave Watt.FOOD Erin TimmsBEVERAGE Paul Lisagor* For Frostbite #5 (Feb 23) we need a Food volunteer and a Beverage volunteer. You can still sail on that day; costs are reimbursed.  Volunteer here, or directly contact Glenn Wisegarver (F&B Coordinator) To participate in a Frostbite Event please register on-line from the link at www.SeattleLaserFleet.org.  If unable to register on-line bring cash or check.


Fee options: (1)  All 6 race days for one low price of $75(2)  Single race day fees are $20 (3)  Students thru college fees $5 per race day(4)  No charge for students who participated in the College and High School qualifiers regatta for Singlehanded Championships in October 2019Note: Seattle Laser Fleet membership is NOT required in order to participate. Drop-ins are welcome.

Posted on

Frostbite #2 RECAP Sunday, November 10, 2019

By Mark Ross

Our second Frostbite surprised everyone with both good wind and no rain…and an MLS Cup win to-boot!    Thanks to our volunteer Race Committee, Jacques Garrigues and Mark Reed, both the Aero and Laser Fleets had about 7 races with separate starts. There were about 8 Aero’s participating. Lasers started with 8 boats, comprised of a combination of Radial, Full rig and 4.7 sailors. After race 5 we ended up with nearly 16 Lasers once a bunch of fast youth sailors dropped in as part of their weekend clinic.

Thanks to all participants and especially those making their way over from Sail Sand Point, Mt Baker, the Laser and Opti sailing clinic and individuals from around the region.  A special shout-out to two OPTI sailors who are paving the way to a bigger group to join us for following Frostbites.  

The wind direction was fairly consistent out of the NW at a welcome 9-12 mph making it competitive for all sailors whether using small or large rig/sails. Upwind in the first few races seemed to favor going right toward Meadow Point for lesser current, and in successive races the variance in wind pressure seemed to slightly favor one side over the other. The water conditions were choppy throughout the afternoon.  

BIG THANKS to George Torralba for providing us with tasty sandwiches, chowder and lasagna in the clubhouse after raacing. And to Glenn Wisegarver for beverages and coordinating the Food & Beverage operation for the season (again).  

Frostbite #3 is on December 8, 2019:  The RC Driver will be Randy Shuman with RC assist Carl Buchan. We need someone to volunteer for Food & Beverage. Everyone is expected to pitch-in at some point in the season. You can still sail on that day; F&B costs are reimbursed.  Volunteer here, or directly contact Glenn Wisegarver (F&B Coordinator) if you’re unsure of what to do.   If you cannot volunteer for Food or Beverage for Frostbite #3 please go to the link and sign-up for a subsequent Frostbite Sunday. Everyone is expected to pitch-in at some point in the season.

To participate in a Frostbite Event please register on-line from the link at www.SeattleLaserFleet.org.  If unable to register on-line bring cash or check. Fee options:  (1)  All 6 race days for one low price of $75 (2)  Single race day fees are $20  (3)  Students thru college fees $5 per race day. Note: Seattle Laser Fleet membership is NOT required in order to participate. Drop-ins are welcome.      

Posted on

First Frostbite In the Books

By Mike Johnson

Frostbite #1 RECAP Sunday, October 20, 2019   This past Sunday was a good start to the 2019-2020 Frostbite season as 12 Aeros and 6 Lasers hit the water for a noon start.  Races were sailed in a rainy but steady 12-15 knot E-SE’ly with Meadow Point buoy serving as the leeward mark and weather mark near the breakwater and due west of CYC.  This is a little more easterly than usual in the summer but not that unusual in the winter with wind funneling out of the gap between Ballard and Magnolia.  The course was full of opportunities (puffs, lulls and shifts) to keep everyone on their toes.   

Race Committee volunteers Jacques Garrigues and Mike Johnson used a new automated starting signaler donated to the fleet by Jay Winberg and built by Bob Stanley.  In keeping with Frostbite style we completed five challenging races, each about 20 minutes long, with minimal waiting between races.  The Aero’s third race included a downwind start and then a long upwind.  Three very talented sailors (in the 7th Grade) from Sail Sand Point were out in Radials (2) and 4.7 (1) nipping at the heels of the full rig Lasers.   If you are a Radial or 4.7 sailor reading this, come out and continue the build on the gains made over the summer.  Keep an eye out for the sailish.com blog with a more detailed review of Frostbite sailing in Seattle.  

  • Upwind
  • Start
  • Skeel
  • Ross
  • Renehan
  • Meadow Point
  • Meadow Point Rounding
  • Lasers & Aeros
  • Bottles
  • 4.7

Almost everyone hung out after racing for an excellent meal put together with leftovers from the CYC 50th birthday party on Friday.  We owe a big thank you to Shauna Walgren who rescued us from ourselves this weekend.  At the last minute and even though she wasn’t sailing and had no other reason to be at the clubhouse, she put together an awesome post-race food spread of tortellini, bread, caprece, parmesan, and salmon cream cheese spread.  THANK YOU Shauna! Frostbite #2 is on November 10, 2019:  The RC Driver will be Doug Stumberger with RC Assist of Mark Reed. We need someone to volunteer for Food & Beverage. You can still sail on that day; F&B are reimbursed.  Volunteer here, or directly contact Glenn Wisegarver (F&B Coordinator) if you’re unsure of what to do.   If you cannot volunteer for Frostbite #2 please go to the link and sign-up for a subsequent Frostbite Sunday.  

To participate in a Frostbite Event please register on-line from the link  at www.SeattleLaserFleet.org.  Link here. If unable to register on-line bring cash or check. Fee options:  (1)  All 6 race days for one low price of $75 (2)  Single race day fees are $20  (3)  Students thru college fees $5 per race day. Note: Seattle Laser Fleet membership is NOT required in order to participate. Drop-ins are welcome.

Posted on

Pacific Coast Championships

Last weekend BYC put on a GREAT PCCs in Bellingham. We’ll get the full report soon, but in the meantime here’s one of Mike Powell’s photos. You can see the rest here.

From the BYC Facebook Page: Two race courses, 32 volunteers, 101 sailors, two great dinners and wind all weekend from 5 to 25kts. This bay delivered again. One design is growing and thriving in the world of sailing. The DJOD and Laser Pacific Coast Championships went off well with the efforts of the BYC and friends.