Not a very auspicious start to the season but we tried. Winds, as opposed to most of last year, were in the 10 to 15 knot range- which were a challenge all afternoon. Trouble started even before the first countdown as Rick G had to go home to get a different boat, delaying the start by several minutes. First race Chris got to the first mark and wasn’t able to tack to the second mark. While making adjustments on the shore, his rudder took a hit and cracked and one of his chainplates pulled out. One down. Second race Rick G’s boat just kept falling behind and his boat’s freeboard was slowly decreasing ( it doesn’t have much to begin with actually). Boat taking on water… retired for the day. Two down. Races three and four were fine. Herb dominating throughout. Race five. Alain demasted just after rounding the first mark. Three down. Not wanting to launch the kayak, Cliff and Herb worked at shepherding it toward shore, during which Cliff’s boat’s jib sheet parted somewhere deep in the hull. Four down. That left Herb with the only boat left AND with five bullets to his credit. Racing was suspended at that point.

2026 Schedule Posted

March 13th, 1 pm

Pine Street Eatery 136 Pine St, Nashua, NH 03060

Last scheduled race of the season! Blue skies, temps in the low 60’s and foliage at near peak! The only thing missing was a steady, strong wind. Admittedly there were a few “drift-fests” but generally there was enough breeze to keep the boats moving, just no gunnels being awash. Joining the fleet, but generally keeping out of the way, were Alain’s 10-Rater and Rick G’s US1M. Although the end results were not close, there were several close finishes! Thanks for a great season! Lastly, a shout out to Rick Gates for retrieving the buoys after racing finished.

With some of the worst winds of the season, 5 V36s took to the pond for a shocking 12 races. Wind varied from nothing to light gusts (maybe 5 mph), sending the wins all over. Rick G, Rick L., Herb, and Chris and Alian all had at least one win! After 11 races, Alain had to retire with a loose rudder that he deemed unfixable at the pond. 

Another one in the books! We were expecting two knot breezes but, even though the water was often like glass (see pictures below), there was enough to keep the boats moving a majority of the time. Wind shifts were everywhere but very small volume causing quite a few place swaps including a VERY last place start / first place, by an inch, finish (hello Chris). Results follow.

Forecast is mid 70’s temperatures with light breezes from the North under mostly sunny skies.

9/20/2025

Some were worried that today wasn’t going to happen. Wind forecast was for one knot with gusts non-existent but when we arrived at the pond there were ripples on the water- always a good sign! Herb, the eventual leader, started out with a horrible first race but after that won every race, often convincingly, except one race where he had a descent lead but his boat suddenly stopped about three feet from the finish line and stayed at that place while everyone passed him. When his boat was finally retrieved, a weed almost as long as his boat was attached to his keel. As for the rest of the fleet, it was Steve and RickG vying for second, which Steve won, and RickL and Jack vying for fourth, which RickL won. It should be noted that RickL was sailing a Pool Shark and he was having serious problems tacking. He’d get head to wind and stop turning and having problems getting in irons- which severely hampered his performance. But.. on the right course his boat was as fast as any out there today.

Nice weather, better breezes than forecast, comfortable temperatures, partly cloudy skies and minimal weeds… life is good! Add to that no mechanical problems until the last race when Chris’s receiver battery died (with just enough electrons to get back to the dock!). On the water, Cliff and Herb were locked into their first and second finishing positions with the others fairly spread out for the rest of the positions.

We got the regatta in! With probably the most fickle winds of the year, tornado warnings and full overcast with some very dark clouds rolling through, it was an interesting day. As we packed our cars we noticed raindrops on the pond even. Chris and I were sailing classics and the other 3 were all high fliers. Racing was tough. One minute your gunnel was almost in the water going like a bat out of hell and the next you could be in irons wondering what went wrong. On the water, Cliff just nosed out Herb for the win, I earned a distant third while Rick and Chris ( missing 3 races due to boat issues ) rounded out the crew.