J105 FLEET 5 - CHICAGO

DRAFT 2020 SCHEDULE

Social Distancing Series

Race #1                              Sun, July 5

Race #2                              Sun, July 12

Race #3                              Sat, July 18

Race #4                              Sat, July 25

Fleet 5 Training Series

Regatta #1                         Sat, July 11

Regatta #2                         Sun, July 19

Regatta #3                         Sun, July 26

Championship Series

Columbia Cup (W/L)           Aug. 1 & 2

Verve Cup Regatta (W/L)              Aug. 7, 8, & 9

Larsen Marine - Weekend Warrior Series

Sheldon Clark (W/L) Sept. 19

Herb Kaczmarek (W/L)        Oct. 3

Vin Chicago - Distance Series

Third Coast Cup (to Northpoint)      Aug. 15

Third Coast Cup (NP to Chicago)   Aug. 16

Chicago to St. Joe (Bi-State)          Friday, Sept. 4

St. Joe to Chicago (Bi-State)          Sun, Sept. 6

Wednesday Night Beer Can Series

100 Boats on a Beer Can (Day 1) Tue. Aug. 4

100 Boats on a Beer Can (Day 2) Wed. Aug. 5

Short Handed Races Series

Leukemia Cup                                    Aug. 22

Chicago Regatta                                Sept.12

2020 Fleet 5 Events

Spring Meeting (Zoom Call)               Tues, June 30 at 7:00 PM                        

Fall Meeting (Zoom TBD)                   Sat. Oct. 17   

End of Season Party (TBD)                Sat. Nov. 14

Social Distancing Series

New CASRA Series, see their website for NOR, SI, & other details. All participants need to observe Social Distancing or wear Masks & observe all local health requirements.

Fleet 5 Training Series

It has been a long winter, to help get everyone up to speed, improve the whole Fleet’s competitive skills, and try out the latest in tracking & remote buoy technology we plan a series of races were each boat will be recorded with on the water filming and a group debrief afterwards.

Championship Series

For those seeking the highest level of competition, this series of Colors and Verve Cup will demand boat speed, handling and tactics over several days of intense buoy racing.  These are Class A1 events.  No pros are allowed.  The series will be scored by the low point system with no throw outs.

Larsen Marine - Weekend Warrior Series  

This series is a great way to get into One Design buoy racing or just sharpen your team’s skills throughout the summer.  These will be Class C1 races so you can bring a sailing professional, sailmaker, or coach.  Just remember the class weight rules apply and your pro will count toward that limit. However, for this series if the crew weight will be exceed; the pro can stay on the center line and will not count towards the crew's weight. The series is scored with the high point scoring system and no throw outs. 
      

Vin Chicago - Distance Series

Fluky winds and big shifts are a major part of sailing on Lake Michigan. However, with great boat speed, some navigation skills, and a little bit luck these challenging port-to-port races are a lot of fun.  Plus, there's always a great party at the finish.  These races will be Class C3 events so you can bring a sailing pro, sailmaker, or coach.  The series is scored with the high point scoring system and new this year with one throw out. In case of a tie, finish position in the last race will be used to determine winner.

                 ** New this year the Third Coast Cup – This may be added to the Shorthanded Series

Beer Can Series

As part of Chicago Race Week & based upon a huge turnout for the inaugural 2019 event, once again there will be the 100 Boats on a Beer Can (Day 1 & Day 2). For more information on these two races see the CASRA website. A great way to get out on the lake do some casual racing and enjoy the sights. These races are Class C3 events. As part of Chicago Race Week & based upon a huge turnout for the inaugural 2019 event this will be a night to remember.

Short Handed Series

In recognition of the growing desire for shorthanded racing CASRA has worked with a number of Clubs to offer dedicated sections in several regattas. The J105 with its asymmetric spinnaker is the perfect shorthanded boat. We have several boats that regularly participate in the Solo Mac and other such events. Here is your chance to get out there and test yourself and support some great causes.

** New this year the Third Coast Cup – This may be added to the Shorthanded Series

PDF Copy of Draft Schedule

Summer 2020 Update

Interesting times, hopefully the Mayor will announce the Chicago Harbors will open this week. A number of boats have already splashed and been staged in their slips.

An exciting development, Meghan O’Rourke & Sean Wilson have been working with the Sail 22 & the Vanguard 15 Fleet organizing several regatta’s while socially distancing, you might have seen the story about this in the latest edition of Sailing World (see the video link ). Many of the techniques for gathering digital data and using that feedback to coach boats would work with larger boats such as the J105.

The use of Mark/Set/Bot buoys minimize the number of people needed to run a race committee, so what better time to embrace technology. We rented a couple buoys for the month of July and plan to run three events on the Saturday’s of July 11, 18, & 25 (with Sunday’s being rain dates, if needed) were we will use the robotic buoys & gather digital data from each boat with on the water coaching and a debrief afterwards.

All you need is a method for recording data; Expedition, pc, a gpx file on your chart plotter,….. Sean will be sending out a note to those that plan to participate to help with the technical details. He also has access to devices that can be mounted on your boat to record data. Trust us if they can do it on a Vanguard 15 with no instruments, we can do it on a J105.

We will send a note out before each event with more details to aid in registration.

Of course all of this is subject to the harbors opening and perhaps what CASRA decides to do with the race schedule, but we want to make sure we as a Fleet get to go sailing.

Once some of the yacht clubs see these robotic buoys, they may want to rent them too. Please feel free to pass on Sean’s contact details.

Anyway, get your boats ready. There is more to follow, but please mark the dates in your sailing calendar!

One more important detail. Fleet 5 finances are in good shape and with no Spring or Mac party expenditures are expected to be reduced, so we decided to reduce the 2020 Fleet 5 dues to $65.

Please make your check out to - Fleet 5- J/105Class Association and mail it to:      Clark Pellet

680 N Lake Shore Drive,                         #1302

Chicago, IL 60611

Last but certainly not least, good luck to all the J105 Solo Mac participants.

Draft Schedule 2020

CASRA has published the 2020 Race Calendar, based upon past practice we put together a Draft Schedule. Select the this link to download a PDF version:

                                                    2020 Draft Schedule

Your feedback is welcomed. We will vote upon the Schedule at the Spring Meeting in April. Most importantly post these events to your calendar and save the dates!

Hope to see you all at the Chicago Boat Show this weekend.