Shields Fleet 9

Dear Fellow Shields owners and skippers,

Kim Cooper recently sent me an e-mail asking if there were going to be enough Shields sailing in the Newport Regatta, July 11 & 12 to warrant a Shields start. Last year Shields were invited, but because only 2 boats had registered the Shields start was scratched.

She reminded that this will be the 25th anniversary of this regatta. When the regatta started, the Shields class was the only class. I think they will hype up the 25th anniversary, and with all this hype I hope we have a good turnout. There is the potential of a lot of publicity focused on our fleet, and we can use this opportunity to make other sailors aware of our large fleet.

I responded to Kim’s request by stating that I would try to identify skippers, who will be sailing. You can make my job easier if you would e-mail at drshoe@verizon.net.

It usually is a great regatta with 3 races on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Some years we have raced off shore, but we have also raced inside. Let me know your preference-inside or outside. I sense that Sail Newport is in the process of drafting the NORs and SIs; if we have a significant number of sailors wanting to sail inside or outside, I think Sail Newport would be responsive to our request. The sooner you respond, the more likely that Sail Newport would honor our request.

I hope you will join us and make this a memorable regatta for the Shields.

Charlie

At the request of Dr. Wallace, our Race Officer, I would like to publish the follow instructions included on our USCG/Homeland Security Permit for Marine Event, which covers all our racing on the bay.  The original document will soon be uploaded to our website for your review, i have included most of the relevant instructions below.

…There will not be a Special Local Regulation issued.  no restriction is placed on the use of any navigable waters by other parties.  your event shall not obstruct any channel or normal shipping lane, or interfere with any aid to navigation…

…Participants operating in a negligent manner may cause the event to be terminated.  All committee vessels must be able to switch to channel 13 VHF for bridge-to-bridge communication in accordance with federal law.  In the event of decreased visibility (less than 2 nautical miles) the sponsor must ensure that the participants comply with the COLREGS sound signal requirements.  Failure to comply with these permit requirements may result in the revocation of this permit.

It is your responsibility as sponsor to ensure that the participants understand that they are subject to the Navigation Rules of the Road. Participants do not automatically become “stand-on” or “privileged vessels” by virtue of participation in a marine event.

In the event that Coast Guard assistance is required during the event, please contact Coast Guard Station Castle Hill on VGF channel 16…Information about your event will be posted on http://homeport.uscg.mil/sene/…

RACE COMMITEE NEEDED FOR SATURDAY ALOHA SERIES

Ida has so far been unable to locate an RC for this coming Saturday’s (May 23) three Aloha races, which are set to start at 1:00. If you can help out, please contact ASAP Reed Baer at 508-362-4445 or pastor@westparish.org

Dr. Shoemaker recently participated in a Shields National Class meeting, and asked me to distribute these notes.

Nationals:

1. Chicago. The executive comm voted to provide $300 to each boat that travels to Chicago. The Chicago fleet would like to have a “head” count as soon as possible, so if you are planning to attend let them know. They will soon post the NOR on the Shields national website.

2. Mystic, Sept 22-25, 2010 This is not definite, because of few details, which should be resolved soon. One problem they need to work out is launching and lifting of boats. There are multiple boat yards in the area, but the committee wanted a fixed price. This might be a serious problem for our fleet. I have sailed my Ensign to Mystic about 10 times, but on two occasions we had to make alternative plans for returning because of impending hurricanes. We got caught in a similar situation in Marian 3 years ago. We and several others had sailed to Marian, but were forced to trail back because of a hurricane. The local boatyard stuck us with their premium fee, not the fee that had been negotiated for the Nationals.

Bylaws and Elections.

The committee is very sensitive to the lack of communication that preceded the national meeting in Maryland last fall. They will again follow the procedures described in the blue book, but that procedure has failed in several cases because some fleet secretaries have not passed the information on to their fleets. To avoid this, the proposed bylaw changes and nominations for class officers will also be posted on the national web site.

Changes in the bylaws are being proposed to streamline the communication between the national officers and individual owners.

This year there will be an election for national officers. Reed Baer has been nominated to head the nominating committee.

Rulings made by the tech committee and approved by the national ex comm.

1. Both jib tracks must be in place even if one is not being used.

2. Error in the dimension in the plans for the boom have been corrected.

3. Spinnaker poles not allowed to be stored on booms.

4. Tillers must be wooden.

Masthead-national newsletter will be mailed in the very near future.

-Charlie Shoemaker

So we have a race next week, and a deadline that has passed.  Here is the list of boats we have received registrations from so far. Some of these boats may not have sent their check in yet, but it appears they have tried to register so far…

1, 15, 17, 21, 29, 33
36, 53, 59, 74, 76, 101
107, 108, 121, 127, 138
151, 163, 164, 166, 181
201, 203, 217, 222, 226
232, 245, 254

Sail Newport is proud to present new and updated never before seen footage of PUMA’s il mostro, currently taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race. PUMA Ocean Racing’s very own Ken Read and members of the team will join us in person, giving us insight into the race so far. See and hear the latest news and updates from the VOR which will be in the middle of their Boston stopover.

Don’t miss out on your chance to join the team for a day during the Boston stopover…

May 8th (Friday) which is the Practice Racing Day prior to the In Port Race on May 9th.

Purchase your raffle tickets today!

Ken Read, Skipper of il mostro says: “These practice days are actually the most fun days of sailing we get to do. There are a ton of starts and short course races that day. The Race Committee is out there working out the kinks and we benefit by blasting around a set up course all day long. The raffle winner will be grinning ear to ear after this day of sailing… Guaranteed…..”

Raffle Tickets are $15 each, 6 Tickets for $75 (1 free) or 12 Tickets for $150 (2 free)

Available for purchase ONLINE or by calling Sail Newport at 401-846-1983. They will also be available at the event.

All details and rules can be found on the Sail Newport website.

All proceeds to benefit Sail Newport’s Public Sailing Programs.

Sail Newport is a 501 c-3 Organization dedicated to public access to sailing.

Well, maybe for wack-o Cruise, but not here!  We have RULES, and we’d like to get you up to date…

The Opening Party is scheduled for Tuesday April 28 at 5:35 in the Newport Yacht Club.  We will be accepting registrations, updating your contact info/email for fleet correspondence, and starting to talk a little smack!  There will be a bar and some food too.  Soon, the new SI/NOR will be available on the website to read, and for download, and SailNewport may or may not have a new chart available for us.

There are several major rules changes this year, don’t be donkey out there! Read the rules, the SI and NOR, and keep come to the opening party, we’ll have a short rules breakdown from one of our own.

The registration deadline for fleet dues is Friday, May 1, just like last year.  The form is now available on the website for you to complete, and then you can mail in your check for the dues, and verification of your insurance, to our fleet treasurer, Liz Collins, 10 Sullivan Street, Newport, RI 02840. There will be a late fee again for registration checks received by Liz after May 1. The email alone doesn’t count.

Our FIRST RACE is Wednesday, May 13. Time to get the boats ready:

~send in your registration check and proof of insurance
~get your SailNewport membership squared away so you can launch
~get your mooring in
~call the loft
~find your crew

We also have a great weekend calendar this year, some early dates are in, mark your calendar now for:
The Newport Regatta, July 11-12
The George Winslow Regatta, August 1
Museum of Yachting Regatta, Sept 5
plus Aloha races and other regattas to be filled in shortly.
Many updates on the site are already done, take a peek.

Looking forward to a great season,

Your Fleet 9 Officers

Shield’s Sailors Summit for Someone!

Beth and Mike Boardman from Raven (201) will be taking a brief break from racing this July to climb Mt. Langley as part of Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone. All proceeds benefit Big City Mountaineers – a 501(c)3 dedicated to providing mentoring and outdoor education to at-risk teens.

Come kick off their fundraising campaign with a Summit Party at Zelda’s on Thursday, February 26th, starting at 6:00 pm.  

The honorable Dr. A.R.G. Wallace has put together a wealth of information for us to study in the off-season regarding the new Racing Rules. I’m not that good at this, so the links aren’t active yet, but come back soon and i’ll have the documents available.

2009 Section C Rules + Defs.pdf
Part 2 Handout — 2009-2012 version.pdf
Where are the old Sect. C rules now.pdf
Comparison of Old and New Section C Rules.pdf