Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright, Al Posnack
Editing and Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by B. B. Wright, Paul McBride
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Nationally Recognized Skipper
Al Posnack was recognized nationally by the US Sailing Association as Community Sailing Volunteer of the Year at US Sailing’s national conference in Savannah. He has spent the last twenty-five years volunteering in various roles at the Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association. Our congratulations to Al for this award!
Speaking of volunteering, Al will be the Back Bay Skippers’ race director this season and, as always, a top competitor.
Skippers Meeting
At the annual Skippers meeting held on Zoom January 17, approval was given to the 2024 schedule, officers, committees, and regattas. At the top of the list was recognition of those who significantly contributed to the success of the 2023 sailing program. They are Tim Wright, Don Cundy, Paul McBride, Al Stevens, Ken Gerber, Steve Leker, Anthony Quinn, Denis Boisvert, B. B. Wright, Karen Enos, Wes Matchett, Bob Brennan, Bruce Wilhelm, Mark Bodenstab, Mark Whitehead, and Kathleen Whitehead. Of course, each and every Back Bay Skipper contributes to our success!
The 2024 schedule will include special regattas on July 16 and July 18 for new Skippers and their mentors, as well as help from a mentor at regular weekly regattas. We look forward to welcoming all new Skippers this year.
Following the meeting, Tim and B. B. Wright and Steve Leker presented a pictorial review of the 2023 season.
New Video
As an accompaniment to our recently updated Soling Building Manual, Steve Leker, Al Stevens, and Mark Whitehead produced a video on the crafting of a slotted mast. Steve did all the video photography, editing, and production of this very informative production. Thank you, Steve, for all your hard work. The result was fantastic!
How to Win without Going Fast
Al Posnack presented the February Zoom class on Wednesday the 21st. The photographs were supplied by B. B. Wright, and additional program support was supplied by Tim Wright and Steve Leker.
Many Skippers have a tendency to concentrate on boat speed rather than taking advantage of many decision-making opportunities on the race course. These include how to take the shortest line to the next mark, how to manage your starts, and where to position your boat relative to other boats and on mark roundings. What comes into play are shifts in wind velocity and direction, which provide many opportunities for the alert Skipper. Al emphasized the difference between lifted tack and headed tack, and the importance of working to stay on the lifted tack that will have a much greater benefit than a small difference in boat speed.
With graphics, pictures, and B. B.’s videos, Al’s program illustrated lifts, headers, and “opportunities lost.” The illustrations also showed the good, bad, and ugly of sailing in traffic, defending your position against nearby boats, and managing crowded starting lines.
In addition, Al pointed out the importance of being observant, the importance of raising your concentration level and recognizing the fact that there’s always room to improve in this game we all play.
March Zoom Class
Tim Wright will be presenting another of his sessions for sailors on March 12 at 7:00 PM. One of the first parts will be nomenclature and terms when sailing. It helps to know what the words mean as sailing has its own language. Photos and videos will then be used to highlight sail shape and how to set up a boat for racing, and will continue by showing sailing rules, strategies, and tactics. There will be buoy roundings, starts, and intersecting fleets. As Al Posnack said in his February presentation, “There will be the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Tim’s goal is to get people involved and thinking about the topic by asking questions to promote understanding about the rules and intricacies of sailing and racing. He looks forward to helping sailors improve their understanding and increase their “fun” quotient. After all, Rule #1 is to have fun!
Punxsutawney Phil Has Spoken
Did you know that Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this year and winter might be short-lived. “Ice-In” was late and lasted only about ten minutes this year so who knows, Phil might be right for a change. (His record isn’t that great.) The Back Bay Skiers are still hitting the slopes hard and aren’t prepared for sailing just yet. But the way things are going, the dock might go in next month!
Videos and Photos
- Back Bay Skippers Video (WMUR NH Chronicles)
- Back Bay Skippers YouTube Channel
- Latest Videos: Solings, US12s, Lily Pond
- Latest Photos: Solings, US12s, Lily Pond
- Photo Gallery
Previous Highlights
- Sasquatch Regatta (Nor’easter Footy Series) 2021, 2019
- Sheila Ryan Memorial Footy Regatta 2021, 2020
- Awards for 2019 Season
- Tim Wright Wins CAN/AM Challenge 2019
- Lake Discovery Camp 2019
- US12 AMYA Region 1 Championship, Nashua
- Spring Skippers Party 2019
Score Sheets
Upcoming Events:
- March 12, 2024 Tuesday 7 PM, Sailing Seminar via Zoom
- April 4, 2024 Thursday 7 PM, “Race Day Review,” Sailing Seminar via Zoom
- April 18, 2024 Thursday 9 AM, Dock-In
- May 1, 2024 Wednesday 1PM, Camp Brookwoods, Deer Run Lodge
- May 7, 2024 Tuesday 1PM, Soling Tune-Up Regatta
- May 9, 2024 Thursday 1PM, US12 Tune-Up Regatta
- June 15, 2024 Saturday, Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- July 6, 2024 Saturday, Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
- September 8, 2024 Sunday, 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
Past Events:
- October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
- September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
- August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
- July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
- July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
- May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Links: American Model Yachting Association, MinuteMan Model Yacht Club, Nashua Model Yacht Club, Marblehead Model Yacht Club, Greater Worcester Model Yacht Club, Sarasota Model Yacht Club, Space Coast Model Sailing Club, Sun Coast Model Sailing Club, Stowe Yacht Club, USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild, Vac-U-Soling, 3D Printed Radio Yachts, US Vintage Model Yacht Group, Raritan Yacht Club RC Laser Fleet, Racing Rules of Sailing 2021-2024, Western Reserve Model Yacht Club, Joe San Antonio Fleet Donation, SailFlow