Sunday, September 8, 2024
Five Ensigns from Fleet 34 participated in the 76th Thames Yacht Club Commodore’s Trophy Race. Read the full report here: Fleet 34 Report - Thames Yacht Club Commodore's Race - 9/8/2024

Monday, September 2, 2024

Seven Ensigns competed on Labor Day for Fleet 34’s ninth race of the season. With nice winds out of the North, the Niantic Bay Yacht Club (NBYC) Race Committee conducted two windward, leeward, finish races. Six boats out of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club (NBYC) were joined by Teamwork out of the Thames Yacht Club in New London CT. The full report is available at this link: Fleet 34 Report - Race 9 - NBYC- September 2, 2024

Sunday, September 1, 2024
On Sunday, September 1, 2024, Niantic Bay Yacht Club hosted eighth race of Fleet 34's 2024 season. Six Ensigns participated, including one crewed by a team of juniors who competed in the 2024 Nationals Youth Championship, and another boat that had a crew member who was only 5 years old. The complete report is here: Fleet 34 Report - Race 8 - NBYC- September 1, 2024.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

On August 24, three Ensigns joined thirty-four other boats to compete in this year’s Mason’s Island Regatta.  Firebird #301 with guest skipper Eric Jones and Swoose #11 skippered by Russ Carr had the longest trips to the starting line, taking just under 1.5 hours for Firebird. They were joined by Ted Parker in Sans Souci #1623. The complete report is here: Fleet 34 Report - Mason's Island Regatta - August 24 2024

Saturday, July 6, 2024

On July 6^th, with the help of Fleet 73, Fleet 34 completed their 3^rd race of the season at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club. Seven Boats competed in the race, making it the largest turnout of the season. The complete report, which includes photos of the 1974 and 1977 America’s Cup winner, the 12-meter “Courageous docked next to multiple Ensigns, is available here: Fleet 34 Report - Race 4 - July 6 and 12 2024

Saturday, June 29, 2024

The second Fleet 34 race counting for the season standings was completed on June 29^th. The race was hosted by Fleet 57 and run in conjunction with the Cal Brouwer Memorial Shorthanded Challenge. This regatta was unique to the five Ensigns racing because only two people were allowed on the boat, which challenged everyone’s seamanship, and it was a non-spinnaker event. Read the complete report here:  Fleet 34 Report - June 29, 2024

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Fleet 34 Ensigns competed in the 19 nautical mile 2024 Off Soundings Spring Series on June 9, 2024. Complete report here: Fleet 34 Report - June 9, 2024


Sunday, June 2, 2024

Fleet 34 Ensigns competed in the Niantic Bay Early Bird Regatta hosted by the Niantic Bay Yacht Club on June 2nd.  For the complete report, click here: Fleet 34 Report - Race 2, June 2 2024. 



Monday, May 27, 2024

Fleet 34’s season was scheduled to commence Memorial Day weekend with racing on Sunday and Monday at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club. 

Five Ensigns gathered on Sunday and veterans Magic, Tailgunner, and Summer Breeze joined newcomers Smoke (skippered by veteran Ensign sailor Ward Woodruff) and Niantic Bay Sailing Association (NBSA) boat Sea Note (skippered by NBSA program director Pam Woodruff with Junior Sailors as crew as the juniors prepare for a run at the Ensign National Youth Championship).  The fleet departed and as the competitors were closing in on the starting area the fog came in just prior to the first start. 

The day’s winner was Tailgunner, who as the fog came in, skipper Mike Murin got a compass heading to the breakwater and unyielding headed in even though the RC told the competitors to stay out in case the fog cleared.  Tailgunner completed a horizon job on the fleet in the day’s only race, the most important race - the race to the dock.  Multiple Ensigns ended up near Quarter Mile Reef (and Wigwam Rock) before finding their way back to the club.  The finishing order for the remaining boats cannot be confirmed as Magic proceeded directly to their mooring and no one could see them as the other boats came to the dock.  Mother Nature showed no mercy as she provided us with twenty-four hours of fog, and thus no racing on Sunday or Monday. 

All in all, it was a memorable, although non-productive start to the season. 




Smoke, Ensign #1253 was refurbished by Ward Woodruff and made her debut on Sunday 5/26 as she was prepped to be launched at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club.

The next Fleet 34 race is the Niantic Bay Yacht Club Early Bird Regatta.  The Notice of Race states that the competitors must complete all registration requirements and pay all fees by 1800 hours on May 31st, 2024.  We hope to see you there.

Monday, June 6, 2017

6 Ensigns participated in the Niantic Bay Early Bird regatta which had a very Norse theme meaning helmets with horns, Scandinavian beer and glass trophies in the shape of horns to drink the beer from.

The Race committee got the on the water action started on time with Ensigns being the first class off on a windward Leeward twice around course.  With the wind initially out of the south south west and an ebb tide the smart money was on taking a port tack hitch to the western shoreline of the bay and riding a righty shift to the inflatable mark.  Rick Conley in Friendly Spirit executed this strategy more cleanly than the other 5 Ensigns in the first two races.  With Tailgunner and Magic trading 2nd and 3rds at the finish line in those races.  Magic was later disqualified from race two for an infraction in tight pre starting line maneuvers. 

The third race of the day was a short windward and leeward to finish course to get us in before the predicted rain, as well as before the PHRF'ers drank all the beer!  This race featured Ken Shluger in Summer Breeze with his best upwind speed and pointing of the year and who, as a result, was first at the windward mark.  At the finish line four boats all finished within just a few seconds of each other with Magic out dueling Friendly Spirit for first and Tailgunner just getting by Summer Breeze.

We all got in in time for the party and awards.  When the scoring was done places 4 - 6 were decided by tie breaker which just goes to show that no matter where you are on the course every boat length matters in every race.

Results:

1. Friendly Spirit, 2. Tailgunner, 3. Magic, 4. Summer Breeze, 5. Firebird, 6. Bonanza

Next Racing for Fleet 34 is the Cal Brower Race hosted by Thames YC on June 24th.  Fleet 73 will be racing on Sunday June 25.

A continuing reminder to send in your entries for the regionals in July.

See you out on the water

Robin

Saturday, June 3, 2017

The Fleet 34 season is underway with a good turnout of 6 Ensigns in Niantic Bay on a chilly and somewhat rainy Memorial day.  There were two races sailed, the first a windward, Leeward and short windward finish and the second a windward and leeward finish in a dying breeze.

The wind was a cold northeaster with shifts predominately to the north.  The ebb tide tends to go around the bay flowing from Black Point north past the club and then east to the Niantic railroad bridge before finally heading south to Millstone point.  So between the shifts and the tide there was a lot to keep track of.

At the start of the first race the fleet split almost immediately with Magic and Firebird heading north and the rest of the fleet heading east.  Magic was the last boat to tack to the east and found a better breeze with a northerly shift.  Firebird, Bonanza and Nightwind were relatively close together at the top mark with Magic extending in front.  I did not see what happened to Tailgunner and Swoose but assume they got hung up in a light patch. Surprisingly, George Bates went with a #2 and finished 2nd in the first race even though the wind was no better than ten knots. 

For the second race there was less wind and what there was from the north.  A pin end start was required along with a tack to cross the line and head on a fetch to the windward mark.  Ward Woodruff in Nightiwnd got the best start followed by Gary in Tailgunner and were 1 and 2 at the top mark as well as at the finish.

Unofficial finishes for the day were