Prairie Ocean Racing 2012

2012 RACING BEGINS IN JUNE!!!

2011-04-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

NOTICE OF RACE

The spring tune-up pursuit race is scheduled to be held on Saturday June 9th, 2012.
Stay tuned for more details!

Notice of Race The Scallywag

2010-08-11T22:39:00.000-05:00

The annual Scallywag Regatta is on Aug 21, 2010. This is your chance to get involved in a fun race day on the water,dress like a pirate and be the best scurvy dog you can be. The grand prize will be a 2010 family membership at Gimli Yacht Club to be drawn at random from a list of registered competitors who complete the race.
There will be a cruising class (white sails) and a racing class (flying sails)
Racing begins at 1000h with individual start times based on PHRF rating.
Registration 1900h August 20, 0700h Aug.21. The deadline for registration will be 0900h on Aug 21.
Social to follow at the yacht club including prizes for best pirate.
Proceeds for this race will go to the Gimli Yacht Club Sailing School.

Everyone is welcome!

High Winds, Low Crews

2010-07-30T00:07:00.001-05:00

A look from the rail of s/v Wild Rover as winds push 25 knots.

WNR #8 July 28

2010-07-29T23:45:00.000-05:00

16 knots of wind and light chop made for close racing for all divisions. Division one had several boats finishing within seconds of one another and division 2 had a 4th place upset as Manana came in with a very respectable corrected time.

WNR #7 July 2010

2010-07-22T22:19:00.000-05:00

What started out as light and shifty turned into a beautiful night for sailing. It took a while to figure out a course but once we got underway the wind stayed with us enough to provide tactical close racing for all divisions. Liquor Box, Roo and Blue Baiou took the top three positions with the rest of the boats finishing in very close order.
At the end of the race the wind fell off to a breath sending division 2's Wild Rover, who had enjoyed a comfortable 3rd place throughout the race, drop to 5th as Drifter and Sunshine both slid past. Top spots were held by Tescedes, Eddie Cloud and Drifter.
Division 3 placed as Beamer, Magic, Privateer.

NOTICE OF RACE: Race to Weather

2010-07-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

Saturday July 24, 2010 will be the first running of Prairie Ocean Racing's "Race to Weather". The official notice of race will be posted and sent to members.
This will be a bucket pursuit race (Individual start times based on PHRF ratings) from Gimli Harbour to the Environment Canada south basin weather buoy located at 50.78N 96.72W and back.
Registration will be at 0800h on Saturday July 24th.

Wednesday Night Racing July 7, 2010

2010-07-09T23:07:00.002-05:00

Race was cancelled to to weather.

Wednesday Night Racing June 30 2010

2010-07-02T23:37:00.000-05:00

Big winds and waves greet sailors tired of the light air days. With few boats missing, Gimli Yacht Club put on race 5 under clouds and 22 knots of breeze. The results were astounding as long shot Manana (Shark 24) came in under corrected time to grab 2nd place in division 2 not to far behind Tescedes (Tanzer 25) followed by Sunshine (C&C 27 Mk3). Division 1 was led by Liquor Box (Tartan 10) followed by Roo (J29) and Rumb Line (Sonar 23). The sonars had tight racing and fun I'm sure was had by all.

Wednesday Night Racing June 21 2010

2010-07-02T23:30:00.001-05:00

Where is the wind? The Wednesday night race on June 21, 2010 was shortened midway through leaving much frustration in the fleet.

Hec 'n Back first hand accounts, s/v Adriatica

2010-06-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

I don't know any kind of engine would have made things better. (other that one working when going in and out of the harbour, or in a calm)
On Adriatica we just used sails, old and bagged on the point of tearing apart, and had the sail of the life all the way to home. At some point our speed reached 7 kn, at 60 deg of apparent wind, main double reefed, and 155% genoa furled to some 90%. My perception was certainly affected by all the adrenaline rushing, but I seam to think we were actually planning over and through the waves as I do not remember any of the regular pounding that one has to put up with when sailing to weather in strong winds.
I can not imagine any engine moving a sailboat more efficiently,(unless it is a McGregor).
The only thing I want to change for the future is to get jack lines on the boat to be used in such conditions.
We were actually disappointed by running out of the lake to sail on when near the finish line. Even than, who knows considering all the water on the land we may have been able to continue all the way to Lake Manitoba. (A McGregor with a retractable keel would have been better for that).

I look forward to seeing you all at GYC to compare the stories and lessons learned. The fact that there was no accidents speaks to the skill of all skippers and crews involved. Great appreciation goes to Brent Dreidger and the crew at GYC who were checking on the "strugglers" (we were one of them) and even remembered to ask how many crew to save spaghetti for. Nice touch, makes one feel warm around the heart.
I shall not omit the Coastguard who were right there to help if needed. Now we know for certain that they are listening.

Bob Modrcin
s/v Adriatica

Hec 'n Back first hand accounts. s/v Overdraft

2010-06-27T23:14:00.000-05:00

HI GYC Hecla Racers,
First trip to Hecla by sail and it was a blast, loved it, experiencing all types of weather, wind, blind rain and engine down too, again. And of course our usual tow into harbor.
No engine!!!!
Another great learning experience.
I think in storm made several 360s and brother said we so far over he could touch the water with his tongue.
We were so busy in the those gusts and squall we did not even have time to be frightened.
Glad to be home safe with a great experience.

That old lake slapped us and we are now laughing - this time!!!
Thanks to all for the great outing and friend ship.

"OverDraft"
Ken and Garry Kotowich

PS - tore inboard out of boat today and sent away to be fixed!!!!

To Hec 'n Back synopsis

2010-06-27T21:44:00.000-05:00

Good winds, no winds, storm winds, you name it we had it all. For the 2010 edition of GYC's appropriately named "To Hec 'n Back" regatta to be called anything other than adventurous would be misguided. In total 13 entries braved the unpredictable Manitoba June weather to race the 45 or so knotical miles to and from Hecla Island on Lake Winnipeg.

Friday mornings start time was greeted with moderate winds and heavy chop from the South Easterlies left over from the night before. The yachts were treated to great, although choppy sailing conditions for much of the morning but as the swells decreased, so too did the wind. In time not far from Silver Harbour we were floating in zephyrs. In short order with temperatures around 25c the wind picked back up again allowing the boats to beam reach North at hull speed with full sail. Perfect. It would not last though and by evening the start and stop conditions of the breeze quit all together and 13 boats were left floating in a giant mill pond. The race was called at 1830h and participants were asked to record their positions at that time. From there it was under engine power for 2 hours all the way to Gull Harbour.

The harbour once again accommodated us royally providing a slip for each yacht. Some ate in the restaurant while others cooked on board. Overall the crews were a little tired to carry on too long into the night and we all slept early.

Day 2's weather report was not to be all flowers which had one short handed competitor leave one hour early to avoid the afternoons stormy predictions. Out of the harbour we had plenty of wind all the way to the start area but once there, the wind completely died. Those with later start times floated in circles past their designated starts waiting for the wind. My boat for example didn't cross the start line for 35 minutes after the start.

Once out of the lee of Black Island we were greeted to South Easterlies that compressed against the south face of black island and up the channel giving exhilarating sailing conditions. Once again boats cruised at top speed with full sail. A brief east shift allowed some fine spinnaker reaching followed by close windward sailing all the way to Silver Harbour. Thats about where the wheels fell off.

A storm front was pushing across the lake from the south west and what started as a stiff breeze quickly put the boats into survival mode as the wind reached 50 knots

with rain and lightning. The lake quickly heaped up into breaking 4 footers. The chaos lasted for 10 minutes then died down into a lull. No wind, big waves. Communications indicated storm number two was directly behind this one. I looked around at the fleet and saw some sails down, some motoring, some confusion and with safety in mind I called off the race. Competitors agreed and quickly began motoring directly to Gimli. As the lake began to calm we began the 3 plus hour engine run to Gimli and were met by the storm's little fat brother which blew over 30 knots and sustained until we reached the safety of the harbour. By then we were cold, wet, sore and tired and happy to be back on the dock.

All and all everyone had a good time. This race had many firsts for me. My first trip to Hecla, my first 4 hour engine run, my first 50 knot storm. In the midst of chaos the act of keeping the boat together spared no time for fear and I was grateful for that. My boat performed well with no breakdowns or damage. The GPS screen cap clearly shows where I was when the storm hit and how I drifted north west under bare poles while trying to get some reefs into the main sail.

2010-06-22T23:28:00.001-05:00

To Hec n Back info

2010-06-21T18:05:00.000-05:00

Registration will be open on Thursday June 24th at 1800h.

Registration will also open on Friday June 25th at 0630h.

Skippers meeting will be at 0700h

Sailing instructions for the start and finish will be given at the skippers meeting.

Race start is at 0800h

Forecast for Friday at this point is Cloudy. Low 15. High 23. I'll issue a wind forecast as we get closer.

Upcoming Race

2010-06-20T23:16:00.000-05:00

Wednesday June 23, 2010 Triangle

Div. 2 start 1900.

Div. 1 start 1905

Skippers meeting @ 1800

Prairie Ocean Racing Site Opens

2010-06-15T23:54:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Prairie Ocean Racing information site where you will find updates on racing, results and various articles of interest about keelboat racing at Gimli Harbour.

Upcoming Race: To Hec n' Back 2010 June 25-26

Start Leg one: Gimli Harbour

Finish Leg One: Gull Harbour

Start Leg Two: Gull Harbour

Finish Leg Two: Gimli Harbour

Next Inshore Race: June 16, 2010 Windward / Leeward

Skippers meeting: 1800h

Div 2 Start: 1900h

Div. 1 Start: 1905h