SPRING 2000 – NEWSLETTER #1

Dear Fellow Racer

Welcome to another season of exciting and competitive sailing. The Year 2000 will see considerable growth in a number of fleets; particularly the J105 and the IMS divisions. This season promises great racing – and to accommodate we’ve added one more race day in the schedule with ABYC now hosting a two day event near the end of June.

By now most of you have heard about a proposal to merge the two courses for LORC Regatta events. The reasons behind this proposal were first presented at the Participants’ meeting last September, and have been posted on the LORC website. The Executive members have received numerous suggestions and comments from sailors and industry representatives, all mostly positive. You can be sure that we have discussed this topic at length.

It is our intention to merge the courses for the 12 Open Regatta days starting with this season. This means that the course layout for both Alpha and Bravo will change from previous years – and the course type will be predetermined as a Windward-Leeward with gates, but without the ability to run a triangle course. We recognize this last part may not be considered by some as an advantage, but we feel that the thrill of having more starts per day, and leeward gates to give more tactical options while rounding downwind, will put the emphasis where it belongs….on excitement!

Some concerns over this proposal have been raised regarding the speed differential of the competing boats, the number of boats on the course, and the difficulty some skippers might have adjusting to new instructions. Obviously more boats on the course make for more congestion which requires more attention by crews. But in reality, the maximum number of boats that turned out on both courses last year have been managed on one course in past years without problems. And the size range of boats from 24 feet to 42 feet is considerably smaller than on other courses where competing boats range from less than 30 feet to over 70 feet. Finally, if you’ve read this far, it’s unlikely that you won’t take the time to read the new instructions which will be clearly detailed and published in the 2000 LORC Racing Programme.

Let’s all pay attention to the new course layout and race with our heads up. We look forward to reviewing the results at the Participants’ meeting in September.

Robert Baker, LORC Chairman

March is the month that LORC prepares the Program for printing. All advertisers from last year will be approached to renew, and we are looking for additional advertisers. The revenue from advertising helps defray the cost of producing the Program and therefore lowers the cost to participants. New this year, we are also going to try Banner Advertising on the web site. If you know of any company or individual that should be approached to support LORC through advertising, send an email to Program@lorc.org or call Vic Dantzer at 416-410-8350.

Website Update

The LORC web site, www.lorc.org has been updated over the winter and a new and improved "Sailing Forum" has been added. This can be used to voice your opinion, ask questions or look for a boat to sail on or a crew-person to help you sail yours. If you would like to see any other features or changes to the site, please use the "Feedback" button to let us know.

Race results will once again be available on the web site and also by fax or email. Results are usually available by midnight of the Sunday of a race weekend. Results are posted on the web site first, then emails and lastly the faxes are sent. If you would like to receive the results by email, please use the order form on the web site to set this up. To receive a fax, please fax a request to 905-891-1257 giving your name, yacht name, division and fax number. If you are long distance from Mississauga, please let me know. Last year’s email and fax lists have been purged, so that you must reapply for this year.

John Crawley

LORC REVISED COURSE FOR THE YEAR 2000

Notes: All boats shall after starting, round the appropriate Marks 1 & 2 for their division, and proceed through Marks 3 & 4 then re-round Marks 1 & 2 and proceed to the finish. The following divisions will round marks A1 & A2 Division 1 IMS I, PHRF I Division 2 8 Metre Division 3 IMS II, PHRF II, J105 The following divisions will round marks B1 & B2 Division 4 PHRF III Division 5 C&C 34, PHRF IV Division 6 Tbird, PHRF V,White      DIVISION SPLITS IMS I 628.0 and under IMS II 628.1 - 699.0 PHRF I 87 and under PHRF II 90 - 120 PHRF III 123 - 135 PHRF IV 138 - 144 PHRF V 147 and over      The Laser 28 fleet is now part of PHRF III, Yachts previously racing in Level 141 will now race handicapped in PHRF IV.  C&C 27's will now race handicapped in PHRF V.