Report from the President – March, 2018

CAN AM Winter Series: The second year of the 2.4mR CAN-AM winter series is currently underway with the four regattas completed at Charlotte Harbour Yacht Club in Florida. These events are drawing between 15 and 20 boats and so far the conditions have been outstanding. No days have been lost because of either insufficient winds or too much wind and the air temperatures have been warm. The final event takes place March 29 – 31. Already plans are afoot for the 2018 – 2019 Winter Series. We investigating a dedicated website for the series which will be loaded with information to make it easier for sailors to attend. It is our goal to reach out to European sailors to attend our Can Am series as air travel between Europe and southwestern Florida is relatively easy.

2018 Regatta Schedule:  As regatta dates, host clubs, and venues are known they are being posted on the class website. We are working to confirm the dates of the Toronto area regattas. Pointe Claire Yacht Club in Montreal will be hosting our 2018 Canadian Championships August 10, 11, & 12th.  Events in the United States which may be of interest to our members are being posted as we become aware of them. Please check the website regularly for all the latest news.

2018 Class Membership and Dues:  Our class membership year runs April 1 to March 31. The webmaster updated the website and opened the membership registration and renewal for the 2018-2019 membership year. This requires both renewing and new members to complete the Membership Form and pay the membership dues through Paypal. Although we do take payment by cheque as well, our preferred payment option is Paypal. Please don’t hand either the class secretary or myself cash at a regatta to pay your membership dues. Although we are honest we are also forgetful so your dues may not be credited to you.

2018 dues are $ 50.00 (same as 2017).

Class Website:  We had problems in September 2017 with the host of our class website.  Thanks to the tireless work of Aaron Wong-Sing, the website was rebuilt and we continue to receive positive comments from our members, from 2.4mR sailors from other countries, and from sailors in other classes within Canada. Making the job easier for Aaron has been Doug Bell, Dee Smith and Bruce Millar all who have contributed articles to the website. The website is our voice to the sailing community at large so if you have anything you wish to share please pass it to the webmaster.

Buoyancy Tests and Certificates: Regular buoyancy tests are a safety issue. At the 2017 Canada Games two boats failed their initial buoyancy tests and required addition floatation materials before they were permitted to race. It was a good thing because two boats did swamp in the one heavy air race and required assistance in being pumped out. If you do not have a buoyancy certificate for your boat or if your certificate was issued in 2013 or earlier you must be tested before you will be permitted to race in class events in 2018. Contact the class measurer (Bruce Millar) to arrange for a buoyancy test.

Clagett Regatta Foundation: The Clagett Regatta Foundation which organizes the Annual Thomas Clagett Jr Regatta in Newport RI issued a call in November 2017 for requests to use one of two new 2.4mR sailboats for a one to four year duration. They are happy to announce that Delani Hulme-Lawrence of Royal Victoria Yacht Club (Canada Games 2.4mR  sailor 2013 & 2017) and Shaylagh Ley of Nepean Sailing Club (Martin 16 Mobility Cup sailor 2016 & 2017) are the recipients of the boats. Both are young sailors who are really enthusiastic to join our class. We welcome them to the starting line.

Please remember to send your questions, reports, pictures and gripes to the class e-mail address [at][dot].

2.4mR Regatta Series 2017-18 CanAm #4

24-25th February 2018
Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club

 By Jackie Gay

 After a clinic day and three days of hard racing in the Western Hemisphere Championships, some may think that the sailors would have had their fill by the time CanAm #4 came around. However there is something about the 2.4mR that keeps us coming back. Even after the toughest day, you still wake up the next morning thinking, ‘Yes! More racing today!’

It’s not just the boat, of course, but the sailors and the glorious fact that we have this lovely piece of water all to ourselves. Just the wind, the puffy clouds, the palm trees and the warm water to deal with… tough eh?

The breeze was a little lighter than it had been for the previous regatta, and with big shifts, up and down pressure and strong current, this was complex racing, especially on the first day. Bruce Millar of Royal Victoria Yacht Club showed his experience by winning 4 out of 5 races, with Alan Leibel, Peter Eagar (both National Yacht Club) and Charlie Rosenfield (Sail Newport) chasing hard. Bruce won the regatta with Alan second and Charlie third. I came 8th out of 14 with the racing in the middle of the pack particularly close and tight and many finishes just centimeters apart. Great training – my goals for this year are definitely now focused on defending downwind!

For the last race mother nature put on her best frock with a gorgeous fresh sea breeze. I enjoyed my upwind beat so much I wrote a song while I was sailing! Come join us!

2.4mR Sailboats at starting line

Two 2.4mR Sailboats

Photos Fran Burstein

For photos in full resolution see: https://photos.app.goo.gl/e80xhU8KsfPO0mVF2