Summer Series
The FWYC Portsmouth Summer Series started in the spring of 2004. It was
started in an effort to offer sailors more opportunity to sail,
socialize and have fun. This series has encouraged more sailors,
newbies and experiecened alike to spend more time on the water. Ovearll
winners were initially determined by a high-point system. For the 2006
season, this was discarded in favor of the percentage-based modified
high-point system approved by US Sailing.
During 2004, the first year, races were conducted from the Gazebo on
Smack Point. Courses were devised that morning, depending on wind
strength and direction. The Race Committee used club and government
marks and set up courses with an eye toward equal upwind, downwind and
reaching legs. At the start of the 2005 season, FWYC decided to move to
using 'standard' US Sailing courses. In an effort to make life easier
for the Race Committee, they settled on using either W2
(windward/leeward twice around) or G (gold cup) courses. Typically 4
races were sailed, 2 of each type course.
During 2005, the Summer Series attacted more and more sailors. Early in
the spring, FWYC was contacted by the Small Boat Chair from Bluewater
Bay Sailing Club (BBSC). BBSC was holding their own Portsmouth races
and presented the idea that FWYC and BBSC get together several days
during the summer and race. That meeting brought forth the racing
series known as the Small Boat Challenge.
In 2006, a goal was set by the organizers to have 20 boats on the
starting line. During the summer, the maximum number of boats on the
line was 27. This prompted the organizers to modify their goal for the
2007 season, 30+ boats. With the number of interested, active sailors,
this goal is attainable. A significant development during the 2006
season was the addition of another series to the FWYC Portsmouth
Calendar. This one was more of an endurance, or intelligence, test. It
was proposed to FWYC that they continue racing small boats through the
winter. There were enough requests from FWYC and BBSC sailors that FWYC
created another small boat series. This new series is known as the Frosty Nipple.
For the 2007 Summer Series, the socring system was modified to require
a sailor to participate in at least 60% of the races to be considered
for a trophy. This allows for worst-score throwouts if more than 60%
are sailed. Another development for the 2007 season was a more
consistent schedule. Initially, the '07 schedule was to run every other
weekend during Daylight Savings Time. This holds true with exceptions
being made when there were conflicts with other events.
Links to the results from the Summer Series can be found here.
Photo links can be found here.
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