AYC Roadrunner Sailing Team

Save the date: March 3-4 AYC Roadrunner Regatta

Doug — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:35:40 +0000

Please join us March 3-4 for the largest junior sailing event in Austin.

You can register online at www.txsail.org (beginning Feb 1), download a flyer, and check 2011 results and 400+ photos, courtesy of Bill Records.

The incredible shrinking Lake Travis

Doug — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:25:14 +0000

It’s not like you needed anyone to tell you, but now it’s official. The summer of 2011 in Texas was the hottest ever in the US, at 86.8F avg for June-Aug, according to the Natl Weather Service. While some burnt-orange face-painters in Austin are always happy to beat out #2 Oklahoma in anything, this is not a trophy to brag about. Lake Travis dipped below 632ft this week (down 50ft). The last time it was below 630ft was in the 1960s.

Summer Sailing Wrap-up: Despite the heat and low lake levels, we had a solid summer of junior sailing and made the best of things (club newsletter pdf). More than 100 kids participated in sailing classes and camps, we closed out the summer with an inaugural “Roadrunner Cruise” and welcomed seven new junior members. Here’s the junior practice schedule for this fall: Beginners will be Thursdays 4:30pm – 7:00pm; Green Fleet racers, Saturdays 1:30pm – 4:00pm; Lasers, Saturdays 4:00pm – 6:30pm. Contact Coach Kate (jrcoach@austinyachtclub.net) for more info.

AYC Roadrunner Cruise 2011

Aerial Firefighting: Glad that the lake was put to use in supplying water to help douse the incredible fires in Bastrop and central Texas, part of a number of aerial firefighting efforts. Our thoughts go out to all in nearby Steiner Ranch and Bastrop who lost homes in the fires. Check out #centraltxfires on Twitter for updates.

On the bright side, we’ve fared better than some…

June PBJ class is a wrap

Doug — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:44:32 +0000

We had a great time and perfect breeze for the June learn-to-sail classes. There are still a few open spots in the August class.

June 9:30-11am class

June 11-12:30pm class

Optis vs 45ft Cats in SF Bay: Who flips first?

Doug — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:32:33 +0000

I love seeing the Optis in this video, reaching around like it’s no big deal in 25knots, while Russell Coutts’ AC45 cat capsizes in the background. Glad folks were wearing helmets that day. Russell’s interview the day before was telling:

“You’ve got to get to the point of finding the edge and not going over the edge, and sometimes you’re going to go over the edge. … Because the closer you design it to the edge, the faster it will go. But you don’t want to go over the edge. Or preferably not over the edge.”

PBJ June: another round of learn-to-sail classses

Doug — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:16:21 +0000

Lots of smiling faces at the first day of PBJ sailing on June 4, thanks to perfect, light breezes and warm water. The kids learned how to steer, trim the sail and many went for a first-time ride on the water. Here are some photos and a slideshow of the day.

photos: ISSA 2011 winning teams

Doug — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:05:15 +0000

Here are the top three teams from the High School Sailing Nationals, after 38 races in sunny Austin. In the words of another California resident, they’re looking “tanned, rested and ready” for another 38.

Congrats to Antilles, Coronado and Point Loma. (photos by Malinda Crain)

2011 ISSA 1st Place - Antilles

2011 ISSA 2nd Place - Coronado

2011 ISSA 3rd Place - Point Loma

Final Results: High School Sailing Natls

Doug — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:09:27 +0000

Provisional results below, with some great photos at the bottom.

19 races completed, 38 total for A and B fleets. Great weekend all around.

Congrats to Antilles!

[pdf] 2011 ISSA Final Results (Austin YC)

Antilles 229
Coronado 249
Point Loma 262
Severn 306
Corona del Mar 306
Newport Harbor 316
Cathedral Catholic 336
Falmouth 345
St George 377
HB Plant 378
Sarasota 392
Christchurch 399
Tabor 402
Minnetonka 442
Annapolis 442
Rumson-Fair Haven 444
Loyola 555
Orcas Is 584
Brewster 608
Rockwall Heath 608

Check out the great photos (for sale) on mcdonaldphoto.com

Results: Races 1-18AB (High School Sailing Natls)

Doug — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:08:51 +0000

Results through race 18 (A and B) in the pdf below.

[pdf] 2011 ISSA Races 1-18

Antilles 214
Coronado 227
Point Loma 241
Severn 283
Newport Harbor 297
Corona del Mar 301
Cathedral Catholic 312
Falmouth 334
St George 362
Sarasota
HB Plant 375
Christchurch 380
Tabor 382
Rumson-Fair Haven 412
Minnetonka 415
Annapolis 424
Loyola 536
Orcas Is 545
Brewster 569
Rockwall Heath 573

Results: Races 1-15 (High School Sailing Natls)

Doug — Sun, 08 May 2011 17:27:46 +0000

Here are results through race 15 B team.

2011 ISSA Races 1-15B.pdf

Results: Races 1-12 (High School Sailing Natls)

Doug — Sun, 08 May 2011 03:24:58 +0000

21 races today, with 12 in B fleet and 9 in A fleet. Here are the results through Race 12 [pdf], with Antilles, Point Loma and Severn leading the pack. Still one (rare) protest remaining that wasn’t heard tonight.

The forecast for Sunday shows a typical spring day in Austin, with 10-14mph from the SSE.