APSC Racing: Winter 2015 Update
Greetings APSC Members from your APSC Race Team. As your recently elected Race Director I am happy to introduce myself. January comes to a close and it feels like we are on the home stretch of the long wait for Aquatic Park activites we enjoy so well, including our Wednesday evening and weekend racing at APSC. Winter will slap us around a bit more before she leaves, but February comes, March goes and a growing excitement builds for the coming year.
It’s with mixed feelings I take over Race Director from Keith Robinson who faithfully steered the APSC Race program for three seasons. He is largely responsible for my personal awakening as a sailboat racer. Keith has a warm, welcoming attitude and infectious enthusiasm – (except when he’s wandering the docks muttering under his breath “I HATE BOATS”). If I bring a fraction of what Keith brought to our racing program I’ll have done my job well. One or two new and enthusiastic members coming to our Wednesday nights on a regular basis would be icing on the cake.
What do I mean by “Race Team”? Starting this year Race duties will be shared, myself acting as Race Director and Keith Bohlender taking charge of Race Committee. Keith B will co-ordinate members’ Race Committee duties. Every wednesday we need a Committee Boat or we don’t race. Keith Bohlender was, according to Keith Robinson, one of the best Race Committee boats we have had. We have managed to convince Keith B to not only be RC for a good portion of the season, but also to co-ordinate and educate the RC volunteers who are so vital to racing. New members, or returning members who have not done RC, please consider volunteering. There will be a new system this year for RC volunteering, managed from this new website. RC is a fantastic way to acquaint yourself with what around-the-buoys sailboat racing is all about – with the fringe benefit of a delicious free meal at the end of racing!
Speaking of food, once again this year we will endeavour to make the post-race meals something to tell your family and friends about. Each year that Keith Robinson was Race Director seemed to improve on the one before in the post race meal department. A high culinary bar has been set for our meals and we intend to maintain those standards.
Keith B and I will be holding a Race Committee seminar, watch this space for an announcement. The seminar is especially for members new to RC duties.
Lastly I must apologize for my verbosity, but one more thing. Offshore racing is coming and Lake Ontario Offshore Racing is helping racers plan their season. APSC members are invited to attend the LOOR Roadshow this coming Thursday, January 29th at ABYC. Anyone who might consider the Shorthanded Series (and challenge our Commodore, Martin Osborne who won his class last season!) or one of the other LOOR events, which include the Lake Ontario 300, Susan Hood Trophy Race, you’re invited to to ABYC for an information session on how to prepare for an overnight race on the Lake.
To all, thanks for taking the time to read, and see you on the line.
Scott Lyons
Keith Bohlender
your APSC Race Team