| 01.Feb.2005 | Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:27:23 -0500 To: block2005: From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #0 J/105 Sailors/Friends: I know, I know ... its only the first day of winter and people are still dreaming about Key West, but summer will be here before you know it. This message is to prune my list from last year. In early January I'll have important information on what you need to do when. You are currently on this list because in the past or present you have indicated an interest in Block Island Race Week. If you are no longer interested, just reply with an e-mail and I will remove you from my list. I will be sending out about ten updates between now an June. This first is just to remind you that it's not too early to start planning and that there is a wealth of information at last year's J/105 site (http://j105.org/BIRW2004/). It is a Storm Trysail Club year so the web site for the event is at http://blockislandraceweek.com. The dates are June 19-25. Given that we had 52 boats in Marion for the 2004 NAC and given that we are having 40 boats at KWRW and given that Fleet #3 has gone deep draft, I fully expect 40 or more boats at Block this year. If you have not done Block, you need to experience it. Rent a house and have your families join you for a great vacation week. It is much more than just a Regatta. First priorities are getting ferry reservations and house reservations in January. Please let me know if I can be of help in any way. Cheers, Nelson |
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| 02.Feb.2005 | Wednesday, January 05, 2005 6:37 PM To: block2005: From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005, Update #1 Block Island Sailors: You're on this list because you sailed last year or because you have asked to be included. If you want off the list, just reply saying that you'd prefer not to be included this year. It is a Storm Trysail Club year and the Regatta site is: http://blockislandraceweek.com/ There are two important dates coming up in January for those planning a campaign. The first is January 10 for those who want ferry reservations. That is the first day they accept summer reservations and you need to call early (and sometimes often). The best reservations for cars go fast. You don't really need reservations for people, dogs, and bicycles. Here's the ferry site: http://www.blockislandferry.com/ The second date is January 17. If you rented a house last year and want the same one, call your realtor before January 17. After January 17 it is open season and you can choose any house that is not yet reserved. Here are two of the realtors that show their houses on-line. Ballard Hall: http://blockislandproperty.com Attwood Real Estate: http://www.attwoodrealestate.com Also plenty of other accommodations listed here: http://www.blockislandchamber.com/accom.html The other thing you want to line up early is dock space. Here are the three places to look: Block Island Boat Basin: 401-466-2631 Champlains: 800-762-4541 Paynes: 401-466-5572 Very soon I'll have the Block Island 2005 web site fired up. In the meantime there's lots of good stuff still at the 2004 site: http://j105.org/BIRW2004/. You can also access it from the main menu under National Events and under Racing Event Info. Here's the list of 26 boats from 2004: ECLIPSE, PHANTOM, PRETTY SKETCHY, SAVASANA, WET LEOPARD, TENACIOUS, SAFINA, WET PAINT, KIMA, GHOST, WHIRLWIND, JATO, CASEY, TERN, JOYSEA, ACHIEVER V, ALL RIGHT, IF ONLY, MORNING GLORY, KEEMAH, WOODY, LAST TANGO, ROE RAGE, AJAX, LIQUID COURAGE, KETCHUPLESS. Let me know if you'll be back again in 2005. I think we'll be well into the 30s when we add in all those Annapolis boats with their brand new (deep) keels. As always, I'll be looking for help in the following areas: 1. Planning and executing a party 2. Organizing paperwork (STC will be doing the weigh-ins) 3. Measuring duties (we usually do a spot check of boats) Please volunteer! Cheers, Nelson |
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| 16.Feb.2005 | Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 10:18:38 -0500 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #2 Block Island Enthusiasts: The BIRW 2005 web page is up and running. Check here for the latest information on who is coming and what is happening as well as help with logistics: http://www.j105.org/BIRW2005/ It is now time to get serious about our entry list. I know that there are 5-7 new boats coming with their brandy new deep keels from Annapolis. I'm sure that I'm missing some of you who are planning to attend. So check the entry list on the web page and tell me if I can change your status. Following are the 38 boats currently on my tentative entry list (alphabetical order). I've listed each as "confirmed", "likely", or "possible" based on my assessment. If you are not correctly categorized, please reply to this e-mail. 40 Whacks, Achiever V, All Right, Andiamo, Bold Forbes, Casey, Dark Star, Eclipse, Elmo, Flame, GHOST, If Only, Indefatigable, It Wasn't Me, JATO, Rum N Java, JoySea, Keemah, Ketchupless, Kima, Last Tango, Mack Daddy, Mirage, Mopelia, Morning Glory, Phantom, Pretty Sketchy, Rigadoon, Roe Rage, Saphina, Savasana, Sea Shadow, Tenacious, Tern, Tiger Moth, Wet Paint, Whirlwind, Woody As long as you are responding, you may wish to volunteer for: 1. Planning or helping with a party 2. Organizing paperwork (STC will be doing the weigh-ins) 3. Measuring duties (we usually do a spot check of boats) Cheers, Nelson |
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| 25.Apr.2005 | Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:38:29 -0500 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #3 Block Island Enthusiasts: Our first race is less than two months away. The Annapolis contingent is in the water and racing. Long Island Sound boys and girls are in the middle of their AYC Spring Series. The Narragansett Bay crew will not be racing for over a month. And the unfortunate few in MA, NH, and ME are probably getting the last of the ice off their boats in preparation for the great unveiling. I've been trying hard to figure out who is coming this year. Many on my initial list have demurred for 2005 and I only have the nineteen listed below as confirmed with another six as likely or possible (who I have not been able to get in touch with). Please look at the list below and update me on any that are planning to enjoy the regatta with us. The complete list is here: http://www.j105.org/BIRW2005/ The schedule of events is at the official STC site, and if you have not registered yet, you can get the Entry form on their "Regatta Documents" page at: http://www.blockislandraceweek.com/ I see it was last updated on April 1. For those who are new to the J/105 it is useful to peruse our one-pager summarizing the class rules. Got to http://j105.org/ and then select Racing --> Key Rules. You can get a printable .pdf version on the main rules page. Here are the confirmed boats: ANDIAMO, ECLIPSE, GHOST, JATO, JOYSEA, KEEMAH, KIMA, LIQUID COURAGE, MIRAGE, MOPELIA, MORNING GLORY, PRETTY SKETCHY, RESULTS, RIGADOON, RUM PUPPY, SAVASANA, SEA SHADOW, TENACIOUS, WOODY I'll have more frequent updates in the coming weeks. Cheers, Nelson |
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| 02.May.2005 | Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 10:13:29 -0400 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #4 Block Island Enthusiasts: Since last week, we've had one drop and two adds, so we stand at 20 confirmed (see below). The boat dropping out has ferry reservations for Saturday, June 18 at 6 p.m. returning Saturday June 25th at 6 p.m. If interested, contact "Fredrik Salvesen" ... I received my materials and entry form from Storm Trysail Club this past week. If you are on their mailing list, you should have received it as well. Included is the NOR. There is a new "boat for charter" listed on the web site. Here are the current 20 that I have as confirmed: ANDIAMO, ECLIPSE, GHOST, INDEFATIGABLE, JATO, JOYSEA, KEEMAH, KIMA, LIQUID COURAGE, MOPELIA, MORNING GLORY, PRETTY SKETCHY, RESULTS, RIGADOON, RUM PUPPY, SAVASANA, SEA SHADOW, TENACIOUS, TERN, WOODY Cheers, Nelson |
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| 23.May.2005 | Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 16:16:25 -0400 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #5 Block Island Enthusiasts: Hardly seems possible, but we'll be racing in four weeks. Updates will be more frequent now, and I'll have the on-line crew declaration and the on-line sail declaration for next week. The late fee is invoked after June 6, so be sure you have your entry in by then. There is no Entry list at the STC site, but I have 21 confirmed (see below). If you have additions and/or corrections, please let me know. Two things to note about the application. Even though Storm Trysail says we are not eligible for the Around-the-Island Race Trophy, please check that option anyway. One of our owners is trying to open that up to J/105s even if we do not have IRC certificates. Seems silly to exclude one of the biggest classes of the regatta when there must be an IRC for a J/105 on file somewhere. [It does make you wonder about IRC when two one-design boats that are formally measured can have different handicaps assigned to them.] The second thing to note is that the Crew Waivers do not have to be completed. They may be turned in on-site on Sunday. I have a ferry reservations for 1:30 p.m. 6/18 returning 10 a.m. 6/25 that I will not be using. I'm sure they will be "hot", so the first e-mail return gets them for face value. One of the J/109 dropouts may still have a house for rent (pricey), so let me know if you're interested in that. We still need a volunteer for the party (Sunday night?). Andy and Pam, who did it last year, will volunteer to help if somebody else will provide the site this year. Here are the current 21 that I have as confirmed: ANDIAMO, ECLIPSE, GHOST, INDEFATIGABLE, JATO, JOYSEA, KETCHUPLESS, KIMA, LIQUID COURAGE, MOPELIA, MORNING GLORY, PRETTY SKETCHY, RESULTS, RIGADOON, RUM PUPPY, SAVASANA, SEA SHADOW, TENACIOUS, TERN, WOODY,ZEPHYR Everything you need at: http://j105.org/BIRW2005/ Cheers, Nelson |
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| 31.May.2005 | Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 15:57:33 -0400 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week -- Update #6 Block Island Enthusiasts: It took only a few hours to sell those Ferry tickets. Sorry. I now have the crew and sail declaration forms on-line. Please go to the link below to fill them out (they are e-mailed to me as soon as you click "submit"). If you have previously logged into j105.org, some of the contact information will be filled in for you before you arrive at the declaration form. Click here: http://www.j105.org/racing/birw.php By the way, this is the correct address on the new web site. The other one I had given you will still work this year, but is being phased out. Even though I do not have a firm party host, I'm putting it out as Sunday night and you need to sign up for the party as part of the crew declaration. If you don't want to host, how about helping to buy and/or deliver some of the supplies and/or help with setup or cleanup? Let me know. It will be easier to find a host if there are some helpers. In the grand tradition (if there be such) of BIRW, we will have a lottery for some random inspections. We use the last digit of your hull number and the last digit of the RI lottery on Thursday, June 16 at 6 p.m. If you have a match, you get the full inspection (time TBA). WET LEOPARD, who seemed to win the lottery year-after-year, will not be around to repeat this year. Others subject to inspection are any boats that do not submit declarations and the top three boats after racing on Monday. Be aware that it's awfully hard to get a radar reflector (and other required equipment) on the Island (no West Marine!), so check your floatline certificates carefully to make sure you have all the required equipment. Walt Nuschke, the Class VP will be helping with inspections. Any other volunteers? People often ask me about currents at Block Island. There are ... and they are spectacular ... sometimes. I have never seen a useful current chart of the area. The current charts in the orange book (Eldridge) are too gross to be of much use in our sailing area. Where we race you need to watch the lobster pots and watch the water. You can see pretty clearly where the current lines are and you can judge their direction based on the chop and the wind. If you find boats to weather and to leeward going past you, its too late -- they have current in their favor ... and you don't. That's how narrow the rivers of current are sometimes. This is the last update before the STC entry deadline (June 6). Don't wind up paying the $200 late fee! Cheers, Nelson |
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| 07.Jun.2005 | Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 09:14:47 -0400 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #7 Block Island Enthusiasts: We're getting close. Less than a week to go. The Storm Trysail Club finally has their entry list posted and shows we have 16 as of 6/3. On my list, but missing from theirs is: TERN, JOY SEA, KETCHUPLESS, ZEPHYR, RIGADOON, PRETTY SKETCHY. Ken Colburn has both WITCH and GHOST registered, so it will be interesting to see him sailing two boats at the same time (I knew he was talented, but ...). Official entries here: http://www.blockislandraceweek.com/Pages/HP%20Main%20frame/2005-BIRW-Entries.txt I live on the south coast of RI and it is very Block Island-y here today. A touch of fog with the sun breaking through, the fog horn from Point Judith droning away, the birds singing loudly. And the smell of June in the air. Can't wait! For those who tried to fill out their declarations last week and found them not there -- sorry about that. We have two people maintaining the site and sometimes we regress. So please fill out the declarations here: http://www.j105.org/racing/birw.php I think KIMA and RUM PUPPY are the only ones done so far. A few of you are making sure your National dues are paid. Please also check your Floatline Certificates and all the equipment thereon. We have a host for the party. Andy Gillis and Pam Morris have stepped up again. Looks like 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, but I will have an update on Friday morning if there are any changes. Here's the map to their Terrell house. (It's very close to the center of town, not far from the grocery store, on Mill Rd Extension.) http://www.j105.org/BIRW2004/Terrell.jpg. There's a bowperson (130#) looking for a ride who has posted on our FORUM: http://www.j105.org/discus/messages/7/585.html?1118065634 For anybody caught short of a radar reflector (or other required equipment), we have this offer from the West Marine in Narragansett: Dan Deinzer, manager of the store is willing to provide a fleet discount of 10% on everything in the store and, if a skipper calls him at 401-788-9977 or e-mails him at bagger2368@cox.net by 5 pm, he will put the order on the last evening ferry or the first morning ferry to Block Island. This will be on the slower ferry arriving at Old Harbor as it handles freight. The morning ferry arrives 9 AM, still in time to get broken parts replaced and on the boat. That's it for now. I'll be back for the last update on Friday with the winners of the inspection lottery. Cheers, Nelson |
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| 13.Jun.2005 | Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 14:20:59 -0400 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #8 (next to last) Block Island Enthusiasts: The official entry list is showing everybody except ZEPHYR and I know that they sent their registration in. See what happens when you tell them not to charge your credit card until the deadline? So with JATU (aka JATO) and Ken Colburn down to one boat now, we stand at 21 boats for the regatta. Sounds like fun. Those who followed the NYYC 151st regatta will see that SEA SHADOW won that one against some pretty stiff competition, so watch out for them this year. We will attempt to complete the inspections between 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday (no guarantees). In addition to the lottery winners, these boats are candidates because they have not completed their declarations yet: SEA SHADOW, ECLIPSE, RETERN, JOYSEA, ANDIAMO, LIQUID COURAGE, KETCHUPLESS, ZEPHYR, MOPELIA, RIGADOON, MORNING GLORY, PRETTY SKETCHY, INDEFATIGABLE, TENACIOUS, and GHOST. Everything you need is at: http://www.j105.org/racing/birw.php The most common failings at inspection time are loose lifelines and the need for the following equipment: two flashlights (working), flares (not expired ones), radar reflector, and half a tank of fuel. Just go down the checklist on the floatline certificate if you are not sure what you need. Here is the party info: J105 BIRW Class Party When: Sunday June 19 beginning at 6 p.m. Where: Terrell House, Fire # 248 What: beer, drinks, burgers, etc. Directions: The Terrell house is less than a 1/4 mile from the intersection of Old Town Rd. and Ocean Ave. This is the 4 way intersection just south of the Yellow Kittens bar. Head south from this intersection on Old Town Rd. Proceed past Chappel St. and take a left into the second driveway. This driveway is marked on either side by rocks and flowers. A small sign on the rocks should identify this driveway as Mill Pond Lane. While on Old Town Rd, if you pass the Adrianna Bed and Breakfast (on the left), you have gone past Mill Pond Lane. The Terrell house should be the second on the right (although recent new home construction may have made it the third). If you have questions, we can be reached at 914-980-3162 (Andrew Gillis) or 914-707-0391 (Pam Morris). Still looking for more grills and grillers. Contact Andy or Pam. That's it for now. Back to you on Friday morning with the lottery winners and the declaration laggards. Cheers, Nelson |
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| 17.Jun.2005 | Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 09:18:21 -0400 To: block2005:; From: Nelson Weiderman Subject: Block Island Race Week 2005 -- Update #9 (and last) Block Island Enthusiasts: The balls came up 3-0-6-2, which means that the "winners" are ZEPHYR (#252) and RESULTS (#202). Those boats will have inspections at 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday respectively. Please have your headsail off the headstay, your tags easily accessible, and know where all your required equipment is. Boats that have been chosen based on their incomplete declarations are: KETCHUPLESS, RIGADOON, PRETTY SKETCHY, JOYSEA, ANDIAMO, MOPELIA, MORNING GLORY, and SEA SHADOW. Please have a rep aboard between 10 and noon. We'll try to hunt you down in that order. Nelson Weiderman, Walt Nuschke, and Brian Keane are heading up the inspection team. I'll last be checking for late declarations this evening. I've forgotten to mention the "yellow brag flag". This flag is flown by last year's winner (don't forget Damian!) on the first day, and then the leader of the regatta each day thereafter. On the final day the winner of the regatta gets to keep it until next year. It says "Champion Block Island Race Week" and you can see photos of it here: http://www.j105.org/BIRW2004/birw2004album/birw2004album.html Let's sail by the rules and avoid close encounters. Protest only when necessary and if protested, do your turns. Nothing sours Race Week more than having to go to the room (even when you know you are in the right -- i.e., always). And let's keep this week in perspective. While we are having fun racing our yachts, one of our owners is serving in Afghanistan while his brother takes the helm. Carl, we wish you a safe and speedy return and hope you can follow along electronically from the other side of the world. N. |
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