bob's Sailing Blog

Central New York Lightning District

August 12-13, 2008 - Sodus Bay, New York

         Sodus Bay Yacht Club hosted the 2008 Central New York Lightning Championships as part of the "Centrals" regatta, which included lasers, optimists and 420's, on a seperate course. Seventeen boats competed.

         Saturday the forcast was for fair weather and PRO Jerry Dodge took the Lightnings out the channel into Lake Ontario, about a 45 minutes sail from the Yacht Club dock. The breeze was off-shore, and light, about 4-6. The day would prove to be all about staying in the pressure, where ever you could find it.

Central New York Lightning District

Hammonsport, NY 6/28/08

Dan Pope bested the fleet at the 40th Annual Champagne regatta this weekend. The fleet of ten visited Kueka Yacht club for a one day event on June 28th. The wind blew from the south between ten and fifteen knots. Four five legged races were sailed.

The five top positions were closely contested. Most passing was done along the west shore, were there seemed to bit a little lift most of the time. Dane Pope got there most consistently and won the regatta with finishes of 1-4-1-2. Bob King was second with finishes of 5-1-3-1. Four boats finished with 14 points, Dick Hallagan, Bob Bush and Clay Murphy. Murphy won the tie breaker on account of his two second place finishes.

The Lake Erie districts were held on June 20th and 21st at the Buffalo Canoe Club. Twenty boats registered for the event, which was co-chaired by Debbie Probst and Monica Jones. Saturday morning brought clear skies and a breeze from the southwest.

Central New York Lightning District

6/20/08

Nineteen Lightnings met at Willowbank Yacht Club on Cazenovia Lake, just east of Syracuse New York, for their annual Lightning regatta, the Caz Flash Bash, on June 14th and 15th. The sailors caught up, tuned up and registered for the regatta early Saturday morning. Since thunderstorms were threatening three races were planned before lunch.

As the fleet left the dock they sailed in a westerly of four to seven knots. Cazenovia Lake is only about a half-mile from east to west. The west shore, where the weather mark would be located was well sheltered by green rolling hills. It would certainly be a challenging morning.

Newport Yacht Club Lightning Fleet

Newport Yacht Club, on Irondequoit Bay hosted their annual spring Lightning regatta on May 31st and June First. Thirteen boats from around the Central New York District attended. Regatta chairman Dick Hallagan teamed up with fleet captain Dan Pope and the members of Newport Yacht club to run a superb event.

Saturday brought a moderate westerly breeze, which makes for challenging conditions on Irondequoit bay. Four races were sailed. Jed Dodge won the first and fourth races. The second and third races went to Bob King and John Boxberger respectively. At the end of the day Dodge led, followed by King, then Hallagan who had finishes of 2,3,4,5.

           Geoff Becker followed up his victory in the North Americans this weekend with a victory in a strong fleet at the Pymatuning Yacht Club Spring Classic. The twenty fourth Spring Classic was a success, despite a poor weather forcast and rising fuel prices. The club hosted twenty seven boats, most of whom stayed on site in members homes. The fleet was as strong as any local regatta, as it included Larry MacDonald (World and North American Champion) Jody Starck (two time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, North American Champion) David Stark (NA runner up, Pan-Am games runner-up) Tom Allen Jr. (NA Champion) Rob Ruhlman (5th place 2007 NA's) Todd Wake (3rd 2006 Southern Circuit) Dan Moriarty (NA Champion).

Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association

I am in Sodus Point, with Jerry Dodge. I was telling him that SBJSA now has a Lightning. Can somebody please fill in the details, because I don't really know them.
I do know that it is really cool that there will be a Lightning at SBJSA and I can't wait to get some Lightnings out on the bay this summer.

2009 Lightning North Americans

So you want to bring some people who aren't sailing and you want to know what there is for them to do. There are some great activites right in Sodus Point. Sodus Point Beach is a long sand beach, sandwiched between two lighthouses. The county provides lifeguards and a new bathhouse. For the fisherman in the group Sodus Point is the home of a large fleet of charter fishing boats. August is the best time to fish in Lake Ontario, as the smallmouth bass, brown trout and King Salmon are all biting well. For those of you who are willing to travel a bit more there are several interesting possibilities. Niagara Falls is about a two hour drive to the West and the Adorondak Mountains are 2-3 hours East.

2009 Lightning North Americans

Lightning sailors know how to have a good time after a day on the water. This summary is to get you all up to speed on the off the water venue as quick as possible. Whether a good means a great dinner overlooking the bay with you family or some cold ones with friends that you haven't seen in a year or more, Sodus Point can provide the proper atmosphere. First, we hope you all will take advantage of the Yacht Club. The club bar will be open all week and it promises to be one of the centers of attention. In addition, the Yacht Club will be hosting several social events throughout the North Americans and offers a bar menu from 11am-10pm.

2009 Lightning North Americans

There are three options for housing at the 09 North Americans. Option 1: rent locally - there are several bed and breakfasts, as well as summer rentals in Sodus Point. Option 2: camp- there is a state campground about 15 minutes away. Option 3: get a hotel - the closest major hotels are in Webster, NY, about a half hour away.

Check back, we will post a list of hotels, rentals and campgrounds shortly.