Current state of sailboat racing on the Columbia
Wash your hands and don’t touch your face. That’s pretty much the message being drummed into us right now on top of the “Stay Home Save Lives” order, regardless of whether you are out of work, furloughed, still going in to work, enjoying retirement, and/or can’t currently find hand soap in stores. I sincerely hope you and yours are safe and healthy; but in the meantime, given this new reality, we’re all managing as best we can to ensure our community’s safety. I’m really thankful that the entire sailing community appears to be taking this to heart.
This isn’t the race season we were preparing for; but in order to keep everyone well-informed, we discussed during our April 1st OCSA Board meeting a strategy to put out email updates more often; so stay tuned for more frequent OCSA eBlasts, as well as communications from your favorite sailing clubs.
Latest Information
I wish I had something more ground breaking to report; but as of this writing, all in-person sailing events have been cancelled through the end of April and potentially May, including CYC’s PNW Offshore, SYSCO’s Spring Series, RCYC’s Frostbite Regatta, PYC’s Opening Day Regatta, ISC Monday Night Races, CGRA’s RS Aero World Championship (July-Aug), etc. OWSA’s Chalk Talk on May 18 is being closely watched and the SYSCO Race Clinic has been rescheduled to be a virtual event on May 20. More details will be shared closer to those events.
The OCSA multi-day Basic Rules Seminars hosted by Craig Daniels, which were originally planned for mid-March, are being re-imagined currently. Craig has graciously agreed to host small virtual clinics on the subject, and we could potentially offer an additional in-person event once we are no longer social distancing. If you are interested in joining one of these, email rules@sailocsa.org. Please indicate your sailing level on the email: beginner or intermediate. Fleets might consider organizing virtual rules seminars for their members.
If Governor Brown’s “Stay Home, Save Lives” order is lifted before May is over, there is discussion around adding some no-score sailing events back on the calendar.
Online Rules Quizzes, Sailing Courses and Webinars
Desperate for a sailing-related distraction? Worried that all this “stuck at home” time is dulling your tactical reflexes? You could spend some time with quizzes on the Racing Rules of Sailing or webinars. For links, check out our April 9th and April 16th articles!
Sailing fun is waiting for us all on the other end of this, but in the mean time, be well.
Jacqueline Pitter
OCSA Commodore 2020
Skipper/co-owner s/v Thunder Pig (Ranger20 #117)
Co-owner s/v Rocinante (Martin241 #791)
OCSA membership:
For e-membership, click here.
For membership with printed 2020 OCSA Racebook, or to purchase laminated OCSA Course Charts ($2 each):
North Sails
7304 NE Martin Luther King Blvd Portland, OR
(503) 282-4282
West Marine
1176 N Hayden Island Dr Portland, OR
(503) 289-9822
