We are excited to offer the first what we hope to be several hands-on workshops run by our very own LPWSA members. The idea for the “Beyond Beginner” workshops was developed during conversations among members at monthly Sailor Socials. The intention is to offer a space to share our collective knowledge about sailing and build skills beyond the basics.

Sailing Knots

Our first workshop, offered by Mary Kate Hostomsky, will focus on common knots used in sailing and good practices in line care. Members will learn key sailing knots, their applications and features, as well as have a chance to practice tying each knot on their own. Join Mary Kate starting at 6:30pm on September 17 at the West End Pavilion. All supplies will be provided.

If you are interested in sharing your own skill or sailing related knowledge with our members by participating in the Beyond Beginner Series please contact us at lpwsa.info@gmail.com.  

2020 FLEUR DE LIS REGATTA – September 12, 2020

NOTICE OF RACE

The event is co-sponsored by Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing Association and Southern Yacht Club. The Organizing Authority is the Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing Association, P.O. Box 791966, New Orleans, LA 70179. The regatta is to be held on the South Shore of Lake Pontchartrain and hosted by Southern Yacht Club (SYC).

1. RULES

The Regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The 2017-2020 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The US Sailing prescriptions will apply.

2. ELIGIBILITY

2.1 50% of crew members, including the skipper, must be female over the age 12 years

prior to September 12, 2020. Participants do not need to belong to a yacht club, although membership in LPWSA is highly encouraged.

2.2 Fleets may be divided into classes based upon participation. Three boats will be needed to make a fleet or class. The regatta is open to all PHRF monohull and multihull boats which will compete under the PHRF (ToD) racing system. Each competing boat shall have a current, valid GYA PHRF Certificate. Boats without a current GYA PHRF Certificate may be assigned a PHRF rating at the discretion of the Race Committee. This assigned rating may not be protested.

3. FEES

The entry fee for each participating yacht is $25.00. There is a $5.00 deduction for LPWSA members.

4. REGISTRATION

Registration is available on Regatta Network. Registration shall be completed prior to the skippers’ meeting. All fees are to be paid by this time.

5. SCHEDULE (tentative)

Friday – 1830 – Skipper’s meeting at SYC Tiki Bar. Per social distancing, 1 person per boat.
Saturday – First Warning Signal at 10:25 – Additional Races to follow.

Trophy presentation at SYC Tiki Bar one hour after RC docks.

The entry fee for each participating yacht is $25.00. There is a $5.00 deduction for LPWSA members.

6. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The sailing instructions will be the SYC General Sailing Instructions available online on the SYC website.

7. SCORING

The Low Point System of RRS Appendix A will apply. There will be no throw outs. This changes A2. Two races are scheduled; one race constitutes a series.

8. PRIZES

Awards will be given as follows: 1st, 2nd and 3rd for each division. A LPWSA Fleur de Lis Perpetual Trophy will be awarded in both spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions to the 1st place finisher.

9. HOUSING

Complementary housing is available for out of town competitors. Contact LPWSA directly at lpwsa.info@gmail.com.

10. FURTHER INFORMATION

Fleur de Lis Regatta Chairman: Ellen Barrett Artopoeus (elle@barretttitle.com)
Host Yacht Club: Southern Yacht Club (SYC), 105 N Roadway, New Orleans, LA 504-288- 4200.

Join us for a drink and catch up on the latest sailing news at our monthly social on the first Tuesday of the month. New and prospective members encouraged to attend! BYO Mask 😷 We will meet at our usual spot, Three B’s Burger and Wine Bar, 911 Harrison Ave, NOLA.

**Look for us on the patio this month if the weather is nice**

What do YOU know about sailing? A lot we’re sure! So join us and share what you know in a new workshop series “Going Beyond Beginner!” Starting in September we’ll meet with one member each month to learn what they know on one sailing topic. Know your knots? Can read a chart? Fix a motor? Send us an email at lpwsa.info@gmail.com and let us know what you know! We’ll contact you with more details about how you can participate.

Save the date and join us for the Fleur De Lis Regatta, the gulf coast’s premier mixed-gender saling event! This event is hosted with help from Southern Yacht Club. Participating boats must have 50% female crew, including a female skipper. More details to come!

The famous public television program Reading Rainbow and it’s host Levar Burton encouraged reading among children across America from the program’s inception in the 1980s through its final episode in the new millennium.  The program’s catch phrase “Just take a look, it’s in a book” isn’t just reserved for children though. Whether beginner, intermediate, or advanced, books can offer a wealth of knowledge for sailors of all ages and experience levels. Ranging from the fundamentals of sailing technique, to guidelines on outfitting a cruising yacht, or even tales of miraculous adventures at sea, books are a great resource to help you gain personal insight and refine your sailing skills.  To get you started here are five handpicked sailing titles to help you get your feet wet.

Sailing Made Easy by American Sailing Association

Sailing Made Easy is one of the most comprehensive learn-to-sail guides to date and includes important educational material on boating safety. Detailed, full-color illustrations and photographs highlight foundational sailing concepts discussed in this informative text used by the American Sailing Association. There are also quizzes at the end of each chapter to test your knowledge, and a glossary to help new sailors navigate their way through the extensive nautical terminology.

The Complete Sailing Manual by Steve Sleight

Written by instructor and former British national champion Steve Sleight, The Complete Sailing Manual is the perfect book for anyone interested in sailing. Sleight offers readers not only clear, annotated diagrams and photographs to answer questions about a wide range of sailing situations but also thoroughly covers all aspects of sailing and boat ownership. From how to tie basic knots, to rigging a dinghy, or even how to save someone who has fallen overboard, this authoritative text has something to offer for both the novice and experienced sailor. Currently in it’s 4^th edition, The Complete Sailing Manual is continually revised and updated to follow the latest developments in sailing including equipment and new technology as well as changes to rules, regulations, and best practices.

The Complete Sailor by David Seidman

The Complete Sailor is just that, an insight into the sailor’s approach to the the dynamic of wind and the water that goes beyond a simple instructional book. If you have never sailed, sailed only a handful of times, or have acquired a lifetime of sailing experience Seidman’s book is sure to provide an entertaining and informative perspective on sailing. Cruising World described it as “a real winner…a masterful blend of straightforward text with delightful and instructive illustrations. Quite simply a great primer on sailing and the world of boats for readers of all ages.” It is perfect for beginners but also offers depth in content for individuals interested in going beyond the basics.

Sailing Around the World Alone by Joshua Slocum

A robust classic of the sea widely read and touted by sailors and landlubbers alike, this novel provides Slocum’s own account of his remarkable adventures during a historic solo voyage sailing 46,000 miles around the world over the course of three years. First published in 1900, Sailing Around the World Alone has been required reading in many schools and is a must for any true sailor at heart. The fast-paced narrative and straightforward descriptions of hazardous episodes coupled with his varied and often witty insights make this novel an exhilarating and absorbing adventure on the high seas.

The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2017-2020 by US Sailing Association

Whether you race or not, every sailor can benefit from owning a copy of these rules. Sailing is an art, perhaps more accurately a craft, and being knowledgeable is tantamount to being a good sailor. Do yourself a favor and splurge for the waterproof, spiral bound edition. You’ll thanks us later!

Perfect Vision for LPWSA in 2020

Congratulations to our elected board members for 2020! If you have a question or suggestions for things you would like to learn or experience as an LPWSA member during the upcoming year please reach out to the new members of the LPWSA board.

Get ready for the 15th Annual Pink Ribbon Regatta benefiting the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program. For details or questions please contact this year’s organizers at lpwsa.events@gmail.com.