Columbia River Sailors and Racers,
The 2016 season is nearly upon us and the OCSA Board has been busy planning and executing all the requisite activities to help make Columbia River sailing/racing a success, including:
- Coordinating the local Race & Event Calendars
- Publication of the annual OCSA Racebook and Course Charts
- Updates on OCSA’s website, SailPDX–the center of all-things racing
- General Sailing Instructions to consolidate local rules
- Coast Guard permits for Portland’s Columbia River racing
- A centralized Protest Committee for efficient race conflict resolution
- Educational events such as instruction for race conduct and management
- Maintenance of the “Otto” horn used by Portland’s Columbia River race committees
- The multi-club Year-End Awards Banquet and more!
Renew your OCSA membership for only $30 annually, and you’ll receive the 2016 Racebook as part of your membership (click here for locations to join/renew in person1).
If you prefer to go “print-free”, with the electronic-only versions, receive a $10 discount on your membership. Either way, you’ll be helping to support the quality services you’ve come to enjoy and expect – like those bulleted items listed above. Click here to become a member today, and save $10 (and a tree or two)!
- 2016 OCSA Racebooks will also be available during the SYSCO Fleet Night on Tuesday, January 26th at Rose City Yacht Club.
What’s new so far for 2016?
- Modified sailing instructions – a few of which, unfortunately, did not make it into the printed Racebook. As we are in process of updating our website for the season, the electronic versions of the OCSA Racebook are coming soon and will include these changes.
- Our US Sailing Judges have helped adapt PIYA Safety Equipment Regulations (SERs) for our local area. These modified sailing instructions and adapted SERs are available on SailPDX. We strongly encourage all racers to review these rules and abide by them as written.
- Monthly Rules seminars, held at 6:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, at Willamette Sailing Club. These seminars are for those who would like to understand the US Sailing Rules for Racing. Any level of rules knowledge is welcome, from beginners to experts.
- No changes to OCSA Course Charts – the OCSA Course Charts, modified in 2015, will remain in effect for 2016. Limited supplies of laminated Course Charts are available for $2 each at these locations.
Finally, as our webmasters work ever so diligently to update the OCSA website, SailPDX.org, for the 2016 season, they would also like to change the four display photos seen on our Homepage. Therefore, if you have a photo illustrating the concepts of “Teamwork”, “Exhilaration”, “Competition” and/or “Inspiration” for the Columbia River sailing/racing scene, please send us your photos by February 1st. If your photo is selected, artist credit will be provided.
Thanks, and be sure to check SailPDX for changes, updates and more. May good weather and great sailing soon be on the horizon!
Gary Bruner,
2016 OCSA Commodore
