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2023 Colorado Butterfly Championship on Saturday, September 16, 2023

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Please join us for the 2023 Colorado Butterfly Championship to be held at Chatfield State Park on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

Registration information is included in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions links shown below.

Notice of Race Link

Sailing Instructions Link

For purposes of mailing entry forms, questions, and additional information please contact: Chris Betts at 8982 West Lake Drive, Littleton, CO 80123;

cjbetts76@gmail.com;

303.917.9761.

Colorado Butterfly Championship Regatta Race Director: Alan Parsons: 720.483.8300;
dinghysailing@csyc.org
Colorado Sail and Yacht Club                    

September 10th – Sailgrass Fun Event of the Year – Pursuit Race, Shrimp Boil and Bluegrass Jam

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What:      CSYC Sailgrass (Pursuit Race, Shrimp Boil, and Bluegrass Music)

When:     12:00PM – 9:00PM, Sunday, September 10th

Where:    Chatfield State Park and Reservoir

Agenda:  12:00PM – 12:15PM Skipper’s Meeting (BBQ grills at Dock “C”)

    1:00PM – 3:00PM Pursuit Race (boats begin leaving start area at 1:00PM)

    3:30PM – 5:30pm Sailing with the bluegrass musicians

    6:00PM – 7:30pm    Shrimp Boil (Heronry Pavilion near Boat Storage Yard)

    7:00PM – 9:00PM    Bluegrass Music (Heronry Pavilion near Boat Storage Yard)

Menu:     Boiled shrimp, corn, potatoes.  BYOB, and bring appetizers, sides, or desserts to share.

Price:      $15 per person

 

RSVP for Shrimp Boil and Sailgrass and pay $15/person no later than September 7th –> HERE

Fugawe Regatta August 5th 6:00 pm

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Hello CSYC Members,

We’re eight nights away from our annual Fugawe night race!  This has always been a very fun CSYC event.

If you’re not familiar with it, the race begins at sunset (following a social raft-up), and ends at midnight.  The winner is the boat that has the highest average speed, corrected for rating, within that time span.  The course consists of marks 2, 5, and 7, which will have lights on them.  The start line is a pair of no wake zone buoys on the south end of the lake, and the finish line is the marina channel markers.  You must anchor south of the line, with sails doused and crew below, before the start.  Then at sunset you come on deck, hoist sails, weigh anchor, cross the start line and round mark 7.  After that you can round marks in any sequence you choose, but you can only loop the same pair of marks twice in a row – then you have to go to the third mark.  For example if you round 7,2,7,2, then you have to go to 5 next.  And so on.  Your goal is to cross the finish line at exactly midnight having rounded as many marks as you can.  More detailed instructions are in the attached PDF and Docx.

The club usually chooses a full moon night for this race.  On August 5th, 2023, sunset is at 8:08 pm  and an 81% full moon will rise at 10:43pm.  So there will be 2.5 hours of twilight racing (or dark racing, which is super fun), followed by 77 minutes of moonlit racing. So that will be almost four hours of racing! Also in past years we’ve had some really awesome breeze in this race.There will be a social raft-up starting at 6:00 p.m. down by Mark 6.  You can join the raft-up even if you’re not racing.  Please bring some food to pass around and share.

I hope every boat in the club will join in the fun of this event!  Let’s make it a great turnout!  Right now I know Grenadine and Zzzulu are participating; please feel free to reply and indicate that you are participating too!  The “RC” this year will be Grenadine.

The Fugawe Regatta rules for 2023 can be found at this link: https://csyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FUGAWI_2023_Rules.pdf

Mark Lindeman

Commodore

CSYC Cruise Event: Friday – Early Evening – August 11th

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Friday – Early Evening – August 11th – Please join other fellow sailors for a social, unique and fun cruise, preceded by a meal and social time with good conversation!

This event is open to all Chatfield Sailors.

The Club will provide the Hamburgers (per our normal $3/each.) Please bring something to share – dessert, side dish, etc. You are welcome to bring your beverage of choice.

Join us starting at 4:45 PM on the marina party food docks, west of the Marina Bldg. We will dine first and depart for the Cruising about 6 PM. (Weather Evaluation 5:45)

Each Captain will pick up a “score/time card” between 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm with instructions.

This event is going to be fun!  And, maybe, a bit challenging.

Please RSVP by Thursday, August 10th by texting or calling Trey Hegstrom at 720-443-0663
Or email to Cruising@CSYC.ORG

Sponsored by Colorado Sail and Yacht Club

CSYC Summer Series is here! – Comments from our Race Director

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Good morning Sailors!

The Summers Series is upon us and this evening will begin with the 1st of 9 scheduled Races.  The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are posted on the website.  Please review and make sure you are prepared to start the season.

A couple of reminders for all racers:

Weather – The CSYC Board of Directors is constantly monitoring the weather and will wait as long as possible to cancel a race as the weather can change quickly at Chatfield, and we want to respect the time and effort all members have put into preparing to race.

It is always the Skippers responsibility to decide to race, just because some boats decide to go, doesn’t mean all boats should go.  Evaluate your skill level and that of your crew, along with the conditions and make sure everyone is prepared and comfortable to go.

Be Prepared – Watch the forecast and start your preparation before you arrive at the lake and get on your boat.  Make sure you have appropriate gear for the potential conditions, and that the gear you may need is readily accessible.

Racing reminders:

  1. Give yourself time to Check in with RC. This is a great first step to understanding the current conditions on the water and getting comfortable sailing around other boats.
  2. Stay clear of the starting area if it’s not your start.
  3. Watch the Course Board – RC can change the course up until the Prep flag goes up, that’s the 4 minute signal.
  4. Have a plan for the start –  Understand the wind direction, wind speed, and where the other boats in your start are planning to be. You may not get what you want, be ready to change course!
  5. Look ahead / Plan ahead –  make sure you and your crew are looking for crossings with other boats and make a plan for Mark roundings before you get there.
  6. Radio – Make sure it’s on and someone on your boat can hear it.
  7. Safety – Safety First, help other competitors in distress.

– Chatfield State Park VHF Ch.16 – 303-791-7275

– Douglas County Sheriff – 303-660-7505

– Jefferson County Sheriff – 303-277-0211

  1. Be Patient with the Race Committee – We all do this once or twice a year, we’re not professionals.
  2. We will wait for decent wind to start a race.  Enjoy the time on the water, sometimes the best wind doesn’t fill in until 7:00 or later.
  3. US Sailing Basic Principal #1 – Sportsmanship and the Rules –  Everyone needs to know the rules and help others learn what they don’t know in a friendly manner.

I’m looking forward to a great Summer Series with you all!

Best,

Michael Kline

Victoria Sailing School Instructors Competing in the Race to Mackinac

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Bigger Water + Bigger Boat = More Fun

Starting July 22, the seven Victoria Sailing School instructors who race ZULU are competing in this year’s Race to Mackinac, the longest and oldest annual freshwater race in the world. Skippered by VSS instructor Mike Sotir, the team will be joined by three of his crewmates from Team Ha Long Bay Viet Nam, the third-place finisher of the 2019-2020 Clipper Round the World Race (completed in 2022 due to the global pandemic).

The group is combining their unique skills and vast experience to compete in the Beneteau 40.7 one design section aboard Chicago-based Mojo. They will only have a few days to become familiar with the personality of their new boat, but the team is already working on strategies and tactics for navigating the nearly 300 miles of often stormy Lake Michigan between Chicago and Mackinac Island.

 

Mike emphasizes, “Safety is at the forefront of our race planning and execution – from the initial passage plan, specific MOB procedures, sail changes, meals and hydration, and everything in between.” Experienced Great Lakes and trans-Atlantic sailor and veteran VSS instructor John Ingell notes that “The same principles taught at Victoria Sailing School are needed for this offshore race, and the racing at Chatfield provides great technical experience. Considering that VSS is one of the largest and oldest American Sailing Association schools in the world, perhaps it’s not surprising that sailing and racing in Colorado is a good foundation for evolving into bigger boats in bigger waters.”

Watch Leader Blair Gosselin is also no stranger to big water sailing. He is a Torontonian that frequents the waters of Lake Ontario on his own sailboat and conquered the Southern Ocean, sailing over 5,200 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa to Freemantle, Australia during Ha Long Bay’s campaign. “I’m looking forward to joining new and old crew for the iconic Chicago-Mackinac 2023 race,” said Blair.

Long-time VSS instructor Ken Jensen is excited to be competing in his first multi-day offshore race. His teaching method of promoting crew/student cohesion through a contagious, enthusiastic attitude of safety and fun, will be an equally valuable asset for the team in this race.

Respected VSS instructor Dr. Bob Ratliff is at work with the latest navigational and weather routing software to ensure the safest optimum route is sailed. Similarly, Watch Leader and well-known VSS instructor and professional sail consultant Trey Hegstrom is working with Mike to design optimum sail plans and is “happy we don’t have to worry about PHRF in a one design competition!”. For extra fun after the ocean-style multi-day race, Trey will part of the pared-down crew that is returning the boat to Chicago at a more leisurely pace.

Mojo is a great boat – it won the Beneteau 40.7 section last year with an experienced west coast crew – but is up against 11 rival teams that are all veterans of the race. Mike and his crew will need to call on all their CSYC and Clipper experience, and then some, as they strive for a successful race result. No matter the distance or which body of water, a podium finish rests in the details.

Those detailed sail plans will need equally efficient sail changes. Thankfully they have a foredeck rockstar in Jim “Harpo” Day, traveling from England for the race. Since circumnavigating the globe aboard Ha Long Bay, he claims to have “not stepped on a yacht or thought about sailing” but is “now really looking forward to meeting new crew mates and hopefully contributing towards the success of our tub.” The bow action will be helped along by fellow English compatriot and Ha Long Bay foredeck mate Andrew “Doddy” Dodd, who is all thumbs-up for this race’s bow action after his terrific performance across both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The team understands all does not always go according to plan when sailing and sometimes things just break. Formulating a quick and viable solution to such situations is crucial. Tenured CSYC member/boat owner and VSS instructor John Willis brings his first-class sailing skills along with much valued engineering abilities for such instances.

Trim! Trim! Trim! While new to Victoria Sailing School this year as an instructor, Tony Cochrane is not new to blue water sailing. Familiar with the fickleness of the Adriatic and Caribbean seas as well as the Pacific Ocean, he is determined to keep those telltales flying just so.

The team only has a few more weeks before the race starts. You can follow Mojo on the official tracker found on the race website:  https://cycracetomackinac.com. You can also possibly catch some candid behind the scenes photos and snippets on Instagram by following high_altitude_sailing.

Larry Durham Celebration of Life – Saturday June 24th

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Larry Durham (09/20/1945 – 05/08/2023)

Husband/Father/Grandpa/Brother

Veteran/Christian/Entrepreneur/Friend

Please come and celebrate the amazing life of Larry Durham on Saturday, June 24 at the Estes home, 621 W Oakwood Ln, Castle Rock, CO 80108 at noon.

Larry lived his life to the fullest and cherished every second and left an extremely proud legacy. When compared to family, his toys were a (distant) second favorite obsession. He built cars and planes. He rode/drove anything with a motor! To honor this passion there will be a motorcycle procession from the Durham home to the Estes home. Please join us as at noon as we watch the live feed of Larry’s last ride.

Following the procession, we will share stories, memories, photos, and laughter. Food and drinks will be provided.

We kindly request that you dress in casual attire that reflects Larry’s personality and passions.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Colorado Sail and Yacht Club Race Committee Boat Fund at: https://csyc.org/donation-in-memory-of-larry-durham/

CSYC CRUISE TIME EVENT – Friday June 23rd

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Friday – Early Evening – June 23rd – Please join other fellow sailors for a social, unique and fun cruise, preceded by a meal and social time with good conversation!

This event is open to all Chatfield Sailors.

The Club will provide the Hamburgers (per our normal $3/each.)  Please bring something to share – dessert, side dish, etc.  You are welcome to bring your beverage of choice.

Join us starting at 4:45 PM on the marina party food docks, west of the Marina Bldg. We will dine first and depart for the Cruising about 6 PM.  (Weather Evaluation 5:45)

Each Captain will pick up a “score/time card” between 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm with instructions.  Cards to be turned in for prize considerations and awards by 8:15 pm. 

This event is going to be fun!

And, maybe, a bit challenging.

To Assist in planning, please RSVP by Thursday, June 22nd by texting or calling Trey Hegstrom at 720-443-0663

Or email to Cruising@CSYC.ORG

 Sponsored by Colorado Sail and Yacht Club

Larry Durham’s End of Watch Tribute

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Ladies and Gentlemen of Colorado Sail and Yacht Club,

Since the age of sail, time has been marked by the ring of a ship’s bell every half hour. Eight bells were sounded to signify the end of a four hour ‘watch’. Eight bells were also customary at the death and burial of a crew member at sea

On May 24, before racing, CSYC will hold an Eight Bells tribute for Larry Durham.  All the boats participating in the racing and any who may just want to pay their respects are encouraged to participate.

Details can be found here at   https://csyc.org/larry-durhams-end-of-watch-tribute/

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