2014 Whitebread ‘Round The Whirl Regatta

The Peconic Bay Sailing Association hosted the 21st Annual Whitebread ‘Round the Whirl” Regatta on October 4th, 2014. The 30 nm race starts off New Suffolk in beautiful Peconic Bay Long Island, New York and then boats sail around Shelter Island and back, offering all sailors a challenge and against wind and tide.

This year was quite eventful and took place in some very challenging conditions. With winds in the 20-30 knot range and plenty of adverse current to deal with both the boats and crews were put to the test. Many boats took the morning start with reefs already taken in their sails. One boat participating in the race sank, and their crew had to be rescued.

Whitebread-Wind-Noyack Bay

Weegie, a Columbia 32, had a wet and wild race with 1 reef in the main and mast head spinnaker up. They took everything in their stride and sailed to a comfortable 1st place victory in their 8 boat class.

“I got a crash course in planing! Top speed for the day just shy of 18kts in 24true.”

- Richard Fleischman, Owner/Skipper of “Weegie”

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Beach Point Yacht Club’s Junior Overnight Race

The race, which consists of an approximately 65 mile course starting at Beach Point, extending to Stratford Shoal, and ending back at Beach Point, is widely considered the zenith of the junior big boat sailing season in western Long Island Sound. The rules require at least two adult “Advisors” to be onboard and at least 60% of the total crew must be Juniors. The Advisors are required to refrain from assisting the sailors with racing strategies and steering except when a safety issue is involved.

“Six Brothers”, a Columbia 32, competed in the race and took 1st place in PHRF Division A, and 1st place overall.
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2014 Around Long Island Regatta

The Around Long Island Regatta, first run in 1977, covers a 190 nautical mile course combining Ocean and Coastal racing. The course starts off Rockaway Point. The ocean leg runs along Long Island’s south shore from the Rockaways, Long Beach, Jones Beach, Fire Island, the Hamptons and on out to Montauk Point. Some boats choose the shortest distance, due east, hugging the shore, while others opt for deeper water in search of better wind. After rounding the point, boaters must judge wind, tide, and current as they head northwest to Plum Gut where they enter Long Island Sound for the final leg of the race, reading the shifting winds and tides along the north shore of Long Island or the southern shore of Connecticut. The race ends in Hempstead Harbor at the Glen Cove breakwater.

Even though there only being 2 boats in their Double Handed Division, Weegie’s corrected time was the fastest overall beating all 63 boats entered in race by almost a full hour. Despite their success they didn’t walk away with the overall trophy since the double handed fleet is not included even though the definition of the trophy reads as follows “The AROUND LONG ISLAND REGATTA TROPHY shall be awarded to the boat with the best corrected time in the PHRF fleet (time on distance)”. Read the discussion here.
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Block Island Race

“Weegie”, a Columbia Carbon 32, was on the water again over Memorial Day Weekend competing in the 2014 Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race. This is a 186 nm distance race that starts off Stamford Harbor rounds Block Island and finishes back in Stamford Harbor. “Weegie” was sailing in the PHRF 2 (Time on Time) division – a fleet of 8 boats. They crossed the finish line after a little more than 37 hours to claim 2nd place in PHRF 2 and a very respectable 4th out of all 26 PHRF boats competing. Even more remarkable is that “Weegie” was sailing with a crew of just 3!

“”It was a fun race, the boat went wonderfully, we were looking at 10+ hours potentially of planing on the way home, but the wind turned making it mostly an upwind race. We did get the kites up for a bit on the back of Block, the ocean swells making it interesting! This race we had a code zero and our new square top main, our upwind performance was much higher on the polar meter. With all the upwind time, we held our own against much bigger boats.”

- Richard Fleischman, Owner/Skipper of “Weegie”

2014 Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race Results – PHRF 2

Pos Sail Name Type Rating Corrected
Time
Overall
1 USA 28990 Spectre Tripp 40 33.0 /
1.1149
1:12:51:48 2
2 USA 60449 Weegie Columbia 32 54.0 /
1.0762
1:15:58:33 4
3 USA 60937 threebeans Santa Cruz 37 30.0 /
1.1207
1:16:03:15 5
4 USA 51512 Rocket Science J 120 45.0 /
1.0924
1:16:11:35 6
5 USA 30252 Moxy X-Yachts xp33 75.0 /
1.0400
1:17:56:49 13
6 USA 224 That’s Ridiculous Beneteau First 36.7 87.0 /
1.0204
1:18:27:39 14
7 USA 60260 Milky Way Dufour 40 81.0 /
1.0301
1:18:49:10 15
8 USA 60077 Respite Archambault A40RC 33.0 /
1.1149
DNS
Complete Regatta Results

Carbon 32 Versatility..

More racing news from the East coast as two Carbon 32s compete in Larchmont Yacht Club’s 59th Annual Edlu Distance Race. The race garnered a lot of attention as it was the first event in the US to pioneer the new “Plus One” concept of racing where boats are sailed short handed in an attempt to increase participation by not requiring everyone to put together large crews in order to sail their boats.

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Carbon 32 “Six Brothers” Wins 2014 AYC Spring Series

The Columbia Carbon 32 “Six Brothers” started the second weekend of the 2014 American Yacht Club AYC Spring Series in 1st place with a narrow 2-point lead (see pictures from the first weekend). The team, skippered by Chris Kramer, quickly picked up where they left off taking 3 out of 4 bullets giving “Six Brothers” only 16 points from 10 races (with one throw-out). This was enough to win their PHRF I Div 3 with a comfortable 6 point margin.

“We flew by the Farr 40 at 18.4 knots. The J/111s finished 9+ minutes behind us in a 15 mile race. The [Columbia Carbon 32] was flying!”

- Chris Kramer, Owner/Skipper of “Six Brothers”

This coming weekend, May 10th 2014, “Six Brothers” is back on the water along with the other Long Island Sound Columbia Carbon 32, “Weegie”, to compete in the 2014 59th EDLU Distance Race hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club.

Learn more about the Columbia Carbon 32, and if you’re interested in becoming a dealer then please contact us.

2014 AYC Spring Series Results – PHRF I Div 3

Pos Sail Name Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Overall
1 USA 32006 Six Brothers C-32 3 3 [4] 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 16.0
2 USA 60059 Oakcliff Racing Farr 40 1 1 1 5 4 4 1 3 2 [5] 22.0
3 USA 46850 Leverage Schock 40 2 4 2 2 3 3 3 [4] 3 2 27.0
4 USA 26 Andiamo J/111 5 2 3 3 2 [6] 2 2 4 4 27.0
5 USA 61740 Moonshine Melges 32 4 [7] 5 4 5 2 6 5 7 3 41.0
6 USA 60909 Bravo J/111 6 5 6 6 6 5 5 7 [7] 6 52.0
Complete Regatta Results

“Six Brothers” in 1st after AYC Spring Series Weekend #1

On April 26th/27th at the first weekend of the American Yacht Club Spring Series a Columbia Carbon 32, “Six Brothers“, took first place overall. After winning the last 3 races in a row out of a total of 6 races (with one throw-out) “Six Brothers” is sitting in 1st place with a 2 point lead over a very competitive fleet. Continue Reading →

Carbon 32 Winter Incentive

Every Spring we get a bunch of phone calls, “I have a regatta in three weeks. How soon can you deliver a Columbia Carbon 32?” It’s frustrating to tell these people, who love our boat, and are ready to buy, that it will be four to five months before we can deliver a new boat.

Our Columbia Carbon 32 is not an ordinary production boat. All of the Carbon 32’s are built to order. Each owner works directly with the factory, so they get exactly what they want – retractable diesel drive, custom electronics, colors, finishes, equipment – you name it.

As an incentive to act now (in time for spring racing), ColumbiaYachts is offering a credit toward optional equipment on the next three executed build contracts.

$10,000 for the 1st customer
$7,500 to the second
$5,000 to the third

Don’t be one of “those guys” who call in the spring. Call now and get the boat you deserve. This offer is available until December 1st.

Contact: Vince Valdes – President, Columbia Yachts at (714) 227-9212

Columbia Yachts
Looking back towards the companion way and aft berths Retractable, high-aspect ratio bulb keel. Downwind
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2013 Vineyard Race

The Columbia Carbon 32Weegie finished over an hour ahead of the next boat in it’s class in this years 238 mile Vineyard Race.  “Weegie” sailed in the double handed IRC class.  “Weegie’s” owner reports, “The weather was definitely up behind Block Island, we sailed upwind in 20 knots with 8-10 foot seas for 10 hours. We were staying with much larger fully crewed boats.  We crossed the line first, and had a great run especially 14 hours under the kite!”.