The Mattituck YC is having their 100 year anniversary this year and are being host to the Sunfish NAs. The YC on the beautiful peconic bay is idea for sailing and will promise to be a well attended and highly competitive regatta.
The Tuesday night Sunfish Racing is begining on tuesday in May. At Wet Pants SA, Sayville, NY all are welcome to race. Guns start at 6pm. racing is free, however if you would like to be eligible for a trophy in one of three categories (Open, B Fleet and Sailing Student) you must become a memeber of WP.
The summer season has come to a halt, but the Sunfish Season becomes VERY active. At Westhampton Yacht Squadron there is a Six Sunday series beginning the Sunday after LAbor day. Upwards of about 40 Sunfish gather each Sunday and compete in the series… In neighboring New Jersey is the Infamous Sunfish Association of the North Jersey lakes (SANJL)… it is a short drive from Long Island for most venues and also from Lower Upsatte New York and Pennsylvania. Later on when the weather gets a bit cooler Sea CLiff also has a frostbiting series unitl April! So dont put your fish away because fall sailing can be some of the best weather around!
Due the the Terrible Weather Forecast, we will be cancelleing the LI Sunfish Championships and will resceduled for a later date.
Just a quick Recap… Bernardo Lowbeer was coming into the second and last day of the regatta with a slim lead. Dan Hesse, PJ Patin, Mark May, Brian McGinnis, Bobby Boger and Peter Stope were all in contention for taking the title and qulify for the World Championships in the Bahamas next year. (for those not pre-qualifies already).
A moderate shifty North wind blew off the beach and the courses were held far enough away, but still getting off teh line and playing the shifts was paramount. The Race Committee of Tom Colin, his family and Commodore Tony Claudio ran back to back races to get in all scheduled races in. Racing relatively short courses made tactics come into play and boat on boat meeting common.
In the end, Dan Hesse sailed a clean second day to over come all deficits. PJ PAtin was consistent enough and finished second and top Master. National Frosty Champion, Peter Shope, tuning up for the Champion of Champions regatta took fourth. Bobby Boger- National Junior Sunfish Champion 07 and 08- sailed a great regatta to third place. Mark May, top Non-downstate New Yorker, overcame all the difficult winds to get fifth. Top Junior and sixth place finisher was Spencer Olssen.
Local Peconic Bay Sailor and Coach, Larry Suter missed the first two races, but sailed in the top of the fleet. Bill Mcinnis from Massachusettes finshed 11th to take the top New England Sailor. Bill Betts III was the top New Jersey sailor and hopes to use this regatta as a spring board for the Worlds next week. Local Favorite, John Condon, was top Mattituck YC finisher and organizer of the Regatta.
Overall the regatta was competitive and the Club’s hospitality was second to none. Dan Hesse made a point in his victory speech, “the food was really good!”
Long Island Sunfish Championship Regatta
Notice of Race
Host: Wet Pants Sailing Association- Sayville, Long Island NY
DATE: Saturday September 6, 2008
RULES: This regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, US Sunfish Class Rules and Sailing Instructions (available at time of Registration)
Eligibility: All Sunfish Sailors are invited to attend
Tentative Schedule: Registration 10am-11am Skippers meeting and Back to Back Racing to follow
BBQ Dinner- after racing and awards
Fees: $25- Includes Racing, Tee Shirt, BBQ Dinner, Awards for Overall, Top Junior , Top Master, Top Female
Contact Info: WPSA: wetpantssa@gmail.com or Lee Montes 631-806-5605 (Leave a Message)
Aug 16- Mattituck Yacht Club on the North Fork of Long Island NY is the venue for this year’s NY Downstate regional. On Day one five races were sailed in a West North West moserate breeze of about 8-13 mph. Fifty-one boats raced, including Sunfish Sailors from Connetitcut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Massachusettes. The shift condidtions proved to be a complete test of boat speed, boat handling, fleet amnagement and wind management. With a fleet only one boat smaller than the North American fleet getting clean air and solid lanes was paramount. Lead changes were plentiful and racing was tight all around the course. Standings as of now are very tight, as there were several different winners throughout the day. Junior NA Champion Booby Boger took a first, as well as Frosty Class Champion, Peter Prole. Peter is training for the Champion of Champions which will be held in Setpember in Sunfish. Brazilian, Bernardo Low-Beer, coming off a win in last week’s NY Upstate Sunfish Regional in Rochester Canoe Club, also took a first. Dinghy Shop Owner, Jim Koehler, did a horizon job on the fleet in the last race of the day.
Lee Montes- NY STate Sunfish Rep
I would like to welcome you all to the NY Sunfish Blog…. I was recently elected to represent the NY region in the Sunfish Class. I will try to help the class as well as I know how and promote the Sunfish Sailboat, Sailing and especially racing. Our Past NY REP, Ron Kutkiewicz, has done a great job the past few years, especially promoting the Sunfish Racing in the youth class. Under his terms we have consistently seen regional fleets in the 50 plus boat range, NY State youth Championships and Junior North American held in the NY Region. His kids, Todd (graduate of Kings Point) and Trisha (sailor for NAVY) are still active in the class. Ron has been recovering from a serious car accident and we wish him all the best and a fast recovery. I am sure he can’t wait to get back in the Fish!
I live in the Downstate region of NY on Long Island, but am much aware of the active and high quality sailors north of NY city and in the Great Lakes region. New Jersey, Conneticut, Rhode Island and lower Massachusettes are all close enough to be considered when choosing places to sail and race. As rep, I will be in close contact with the New England Rep, John Scrizpiec (spelling? i apologize), Susan Mallows (Regatta Coordinator based in NJ), and the newly elected USSCA President Derek Jackson (based in NY city). I also hope to have a central contact for Upstate New York so we can all coordinate our major regattas with little or no conflicts. Also by being Close with sailor and our webmaster Brian McGinnis, information should and will flow easier and quicker.
I look forward to working with everyone to pursue the common goal of promoting Sunfish Sailing and Racing!
See you on the Water!
Lee Montes
Sunfish Class NY Regional Representative
Important information from NY Regional Representative Ron Kutkiewicz
Weekly Sailing Series:
Upcoming Clinics:
Upcoming Regattas:
Please email Brian McGinnis at oompanyc@hotmail.com with your Yacht Club’s 2008 Regatta Dates.