Featured Story
07/16/18 4:30pm

Broadway Joe sails around Shelter Island

by
No Comments
CHARLIE MODICA PHOTO A day on the water with Broadway Joe. From left, Mike Stromberg, Pete Bethge, Carolyn Stromberg, Sallie Bethge, Bob Harris, Lissa Modica and Joe Namath.

CHARLIE MODICA PHOTO
A day on the water with Broadway Joe. From left, Mike Stromberg, Pete Bethge, Carolyn Stromberg, Sallie Bethge, Bob Harris, Lissa Modica and Joe Namath.

Never without his cell phone, Charlie Modica received a call just after finishing the third race in last week’s Menantic Yacht Club Sunfish races.

It was from a friend from Jupiter — not the planet — Florida, though one has to wonder at times. The caller wanted to give Charlie advice about racing and to say he was coming to Shelter Island for a couple of days. Charlie mentioned the call to me and thought a sail around Shelter Island on Charm, his 70-foot sailboat, would be nice. (more…)

, , , , , ,
Lifestyle
07/07/12 8:54am

A record 27 boats, 30 sailors launch Shelter Island's Sunfish racing season

by
395 Comments

SALLIE BETHGE PHOTO
Racing underway on Sunday on West Neck Harbor by the Sunfish fleet on the Menantic Yacht Club.

The Menantic Yacht Club (MYC) held its first Sunfish race of the season on Sunday July 1 in West Neck Harbor (WNH). Not only did we have great sailing but the 10 to 18 knot winds caused lots of excitement. The MYC broke a first day of season record with 27 boats and 30 sailors participating.

At 1 p.m., Commodore Bethge held a skippers’ meeting. Not much was discussed but we did make one change for the season. This year we will have a protest committee. If you cause an infraction, please do your 360 turn. It is always better to come in a few boats behind instead of dead last plus one. There were no protests this week.

One sailor, Cristina Roig-Morris, who was sailing with her son, Luke, left the races after only one race. Luke wanted to watch the European soccer finals and we all know that kids “rule.” You missed a very hard day of sailing, Cristina.

The Race Committee held five races. Three were around the usual triangular course and two were the triangle plus windward with a downwind finish. The races were held in the middle of WNH instead of off to the side, which provided better wind and longer courses.

During the first race, a power boat hit one of our big neon orange buoys — how is beyond me — sank it and then took off. Shame, shame on you. It was a good thing for the operator of that boat that the bay constable was elsewhere at the time. For the remainder of the races, the committee used the reaching mark for the pin end of the starting line.

With the wind gusting to 18, we had a number of sailors flip, several more than once. I hate to pick on any one sailor but Michael Becker flipped five times. At one point, Melanie Coronetz lost control of her boat rounding a mark. Tom McMahon was right behind her and could not avoid a collision. Melanie slipped off her boat and the sheet wrapped around her neck. Being the Good Samaritan that he is, and realizing that he was not going to win that race anyway, Tom promptly took action that saved Melanie’s life. At one point, I was sailing on starboard tack and minding my own business when I was whacked on my head by Jim Kohler’s boom. Luckily my head is filled with concrete. On a side note, Mary Vetri did not flip once, much to the amazement of her niece, Isabel, who was watching from shore.

With stronger winds, the boats need to be rigged differently than in lighter winds. The main adjustment is to the gooseneck, which needs to be moved back to the 21- or 22-inch mark, giving the boat better helm and allowing it to point higher. The second adjustment is tightening the cunningham. Lighter sailors, including yours truly, should rig a “Jens Rig” in stronger winds in order to keep the boat flatter but no one did so.

During the races, several paddle boarders and kayakers came onto the course. One of the kayaks was struck and flipped over but no one was injured. It is very difficult to see kayaks on the water when sailboats are all around.

As I mentioned earlier, we had a record first day turnout and that was without some regulars, Dave Olsen, Charlie and John Modica and Andy Belford. By the way Andy, I have your red hat from last year.

Welcome back Debbie and Brant Davison, who arrived in style on their 46-foot Grand Banks along with daughters Amy and Megan, who is an officer in the Coast Guard. Taking a first place in a dinghy race with stiff competition has been on Brant’s lifetime bucket list and he succeeded on Sunday. Way to go Grant! Also, welcome back John Marler, Kristina Lange, Hadley Robertson and John Woodward, who had as crew his son John.

Welcome newcomers, Jeffrey Feingold, Hadley’s father, and Amy and Megan Davison.

The top finishers, Steve Shepstone, Chris Lane, Brant Davison, Melissa Shepstone, Richard Smith and Jim Kohler kept trading places during the races. At one point, Steve threaded his way between two starboard boats. Richard, who was very close behind, could not follow and Steve took a wide lead. As you can see from the results, Steve won the day with three first-place finishes. Steve, Melissa and Jim are world class sailors winning worldwide competitions. As usual, I was not close enough to the leaders to really see what was going on. I was dueling it out with 12-year-old Danny McCafferty and cohort Tom O’Shea, and Peter Martini. In the heat of battle, one sailor who shall remain nameless yelled “starboard” when she was on port tack but a collision was avoided anyway.

Many thanks to the Race Committee consisting of Commodore and Sallie Bethge, James Wittaker and Debbie Davidson. Debbie operated the chase boat until the outboard gave out. They did a superb job, considering some of the boats did not have numbers and sails look alike. Sailors, remember to come alongside the committee boat and give them your full name and sail number before the start of racing each week.

An awards banquet was held at Commodore and Sallie Bethge’s after racing. The Bethge clan did a wonderful job. The Windels Memorial Trophy was awarded to Jim Kohler for winning the first race of the season. Jim owns the Dinghy Shop and since he is the MYC member who normally engraves the winner’s name on the Windels Trophy, this year he gets to engrave his own name on it. After the awards presentation, we all enjoyed a great barbeque and tall stories of the day’s events.

We all have a great time at the races. Come one and all, novice to expert, at 2 p.m. every Sunday through Labor Day in West Neck Harbor. Pete Bethge has several boats to lend out on a first to reserve basis. Call Bob Harris at 749-0524 or Pete Bethge at 749-1297. See you on the water.

RACE RESULTS:

1.    Steve Shepstone 8 ptw.     3 1st
2     Chris Lane     20
3.     Brant Davison     21 1 1st
4.     Melissa Shepstone     23
5.     Jim Kohler     34 1 1st and 1 dns
6.     Richard Smith     34
7.     Bob Harris      46
8.     Danny McCafferty and Tom O’Shea    56
9.     Bill Martens     58 1 dns
10.     John ?     63
11.     Peter Martini     69
12.     Linda Gibbs     70
13.     Rob Bethge     74
14.     Tom McMahon     75
15.     Kristina Lange     78
16.     Penny Pilkington     86
17.     John Woodward and John, Jr.     93
18.     Hadley Roberstson     95
19.     Michael Becker     97
20.     Amy Davison     99
21.     Melanie Coronetz     102
22.     Megan Davison     102
23.     Tom McGurk     102
24.     John Marler     111
25.     Mary Vetri     113
26.     Jeffrey Feingold     125
27.     Cristina Roir-Morris and Luke     126

,
News
07/01/12 1:27pm

Menantic Sunfish sailboat races begin this afternoon

by
265 Comments

COURTESY ROBERT HARRRIS | Sunfish racing by members of the Menantic Yacht Club.

The Menantic Yacht Club (MYC), a club with no dues or fees and open to all sailors, from novice to expert began regular weekly Sunfish racing for the season today. Races will continue through Sunday, September 2, starting promptly at 2 p.m. in West Neck Harbor.

Sailors may just show up ahead of time and give their full names and sail numbers, if they have one, to the Race Committee.

The club usually holds five races around a triangular course each Sunday but the committee will determine the exact course prior to each race.

Sports
08/10/11 9:47pm

Menantic Yacht Club: Sunfish sailors learn the art of the 360

by
52 Comments

BETSY COLBY PHOTO | Bob Harris, standing, looking at Peter Zahn in the water after a crash.

The Menantic Yacht Club (MYC) held it sixth series of Sunfish races In West Neck Harbor on Sunday. To our great relief, the weather was perfect, despite rain all that morning and dire predictions of thunderstorms. By the time of the race, strong winds were all that was left of the storms, blowing from the west at 6 to 12 knots.

The Race Committee held six races instead of the usual five. The first was around the triangle plus windward, leeward, finish. The other five races were just around the triangle.

Prior to the races, Commodore Pete Bethge held a skippers meeting to go over some racing rules. The meeting was lead by Steve Shepstone, the commodore’s son-in-law, one of seven people in the U.S. who hears appeals of protests for US Sailing and serves as an umpire and judge. Steve explained the rules governing starting, barging and “room at the mark.”

As a direct result of Steve’s clear discussion, I witnessed many more 360 penalty turns being completed than in the past during this week’s races. Yours truly completed a turn when I tacked in front of a starboard boat and failed to leave enough room.

For those of you who did not make Steve’s lecture, here’s a brief summary: Steve explained that the status of the committee boat (CB) as an obstruction changes. Prior to racing, it is an obstruction; once the race starts, the CB is like any other mark and is not deemed an obstruction, with the exception that a sailor cannot damage it without penalty.

The leeward boat is allowed to force the windward boat into the CB, provided that in so doing the leeward boat cannot cause the windward boat to damage the CB; otherwise the leeward boat can be penalized. The windward boat would also be in the wrong by not being able to maneuver out of the way. Basically, if a sailor is leeward of the CB, do not even think about squeezing in.

As far as barging is concerned, even if you are on starboard tack, you cannot interfere with a boat luffing at the line. On “room at the mark,” if you are the outside boat, make sure that you give all boats that have over-lapped you at the three-boat length mark room to go inside of you, including letting their boom swing out.

Let the fun and games begin!

Twenty-five sailors on 23 boats participated on Sunday. John and Marnie Colby shared a boat with Cole Colby solo on his own boat. Cole, I bet that grin on your face was because of your hole-in-one during the senior-junior competition at the Gardiner’s Bay golf tournament earlier in the week. Congratulations!

Dave Olsen and newcomer Vangelis Aposto shared a boat after the boat, Vangelis, he was going to use broke a part. Welcome back Tom Ricketts, Bill Martens’ son-in-law. Also this week, we had some serious competition with the return of Steve and Melissa Shepstone, Jim Kohler and Chris Lane, Peter’s son. Steve and Melissa have won championship races. Chris has been performing exceptionally well in the Shelter Island Yacht Club races and he did really well on Sunday as the results indicate.

Melissa had three first-place finishes; Jim Kohler had two; and Chris had one. However, Chris was consistent and took overall first place even though he had to repair a broken block on his spar. Way to go!

Melissa is such a pro that even after taking a DNF early in a race she still ended up only 10 points behind Chris to finish in fourth place. Jim Kohler missed the first two races and still came in seventh. The starts were exciting in the windy conditions. Besides Melissa, a number of other boats were over early, including me, twice. One has to be vigilant and not let a sailor come up leeward of your position on the start line or the leeward boat will force the windward boat over the line early. Just remember to try and get clean air at the start.

There were a number of crashes and flips. Not all of the flips were due to the crashes, just the strong winds. Michael Becker put his mast into the bottom muck. Other flippees were Penny Pilkington while rounding a mark and Peter Zahn right at the finish. He collided with me and another racer. Luckily we were over the line at the time. I am sure that dipping in the water felt good because it was a hot and humid day.

The Race Committee consisting of Commodore and Sallie Bethge, Betsy Colby and Melanie Coronetz did their usual superb job. Debbie Davison and Penny Zahn helped out in the stake boat, moving marks as needed.

There was no cookout this week but there will be one next week at the home of Tom McMahon and Linda Gibbs. If you’re planning to come, please let Commodore Bethge know how many people you’ll be bringing. A $5 per person donation is suggested to go toward food costs.

The MYC meets every Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in West Neck Harbor. Whether you are a novice or expert, come join in the fun and competition. All sailors are welcome. We have extra Sunfish available on a first-to-reserve basis. Call Pete Bethge at 749-1297 or Bob Harris at 749-0524 to reserve a boat or ask questions. If anyone wants to donate a Sunfish in good condition to the fleet, please feel free. See you on the water.

 Results

Firsts Points

1. Chris Lane 1 20

2. Steve Shepstone 23

3. Peter Lane 25

4. Melissa Shepstone 3 30

5. Charles Modica 31

6. Peter Zahn 52

7. Jim Kohler 2 52

8. Bob Harris 53

9. Brant Davison 54

10. Bill Martens 55

11. Daniel McCafferty 67

12. Linda Gibbs 76

13. Gavin Trepata 80

14. Jonathan Brush 81

15. Rob Bethge 84

16. Penny Pilkington 89

17. Tom Ricketts 93

18. Tom McGuirk 99

19. Michael Becker 102

20. Mary Vetri 116

21. Dave Olsen & Vangelis Aposto 120

22. Cole Colby 134

23. John & Marnie Colby 138

1 point for first place, 2 for 2nd, etc. 


,
Sports
07/27/11 10:18pm

Sailing: Brothers duel it out in Sunday races

by
231 Comments

BETSY COLBY PHOTO | The Menantic Yacht Club Sunfish fleet in its fourth race of the season on Sunday approaching the windward mark in West Neck Harbor.

The Menantic Yacht Club (MYC) held its fourth series of Sunfish races Sunday, July 24 in West Neck Harbor. Mother Nature threatened rain but it only sprinkled before the races began. Fortunately, the heat wave of the previous days had broken and with the lower temps we at least had some wind — not much but some. It was from the north northeast at between 2 and 6 knots.

The Race Committee held five races, three around the triangle course and one the triangle plus windward with downwind finish; the fifth race was the triangle plus windward, leeward finish. The windward mark was placed towards shore just off Montclair Colony by the house on the point. The wind at that location, when we had it, was extremely squirrelly, causing traffic jams and boats to hit the mark. But it made for excitement and some good sailing.

At one point, I was approaching the windward mark on starboard tack with Penny Pilkington in front and to windward of me along with several other boats. Just when I thought I was not going to make the mark and would be in serious trouble, Melanie Coronetz became entangled in the mark and dragged it along with her. With the mark so conveniently moved, I was able to make it around in front of all the other boats. Thanks Melanie, because of you I did not finish at the back of the pack in that race.

Eighteen sailors on 15 Sunfish participated on Sunday. Rick Dalton and daughter Rebecca shared a boat. John Woodward shared a boat with his son John and John’s friend Oscar Champgneulle and Gavin Trepeta shared a boat with his brother Cooper. Welcome back, Gavin. Hopefully the boatyard gives you more Sundays off.

Speaking of brothers, we had a sibling rivalry between Charlie and John Modica on Sunday. At one point between races, Charlie, in jest, asked John if he was still racing because Charlie had been so far in front that he wasn’t even able to see John. However, as you can see from the results, Charlie just slightly beat John. Good racing, guys, but Richard Smith was the sailor to beat.

The results do not do justice to four sailors. An hour before the start of the race, Charlie, along with Andy Belford, had to race over to Old Saybrook, Connecticut in a power boat to pick John up when John’s boat would not start. As a result, they all missed the first race but still performed exceptionally well. Bill Martens also missed the first race.

For most of the day, Richard Smith and Charlie were dueling it out far in the lead. Richard sailed so well that even after doing a 360-degree penalty turn, he gained a lot of ground, coming in fourth, right behind me in one of the races.

Commodore Pete Bethge told me after the racing that he had witnessed a number of sailors commit infractions and then not do his or her 360. Maybe we should all make it a point to obtain and read the rule book. My guess is that most of us do not know when we cause a foul. I hope that is the reason, anyway. At the start of one race, I was forced into the committee boat. Three or four boats were leeward of me but the rule states that if the windward boat cannot avoid the committee boat then the leeward boat cannot force the windward boat up and into the obstruction. All the boats to leeward were at fault but they may not have known the rules well enough to realize that. Luckily, no damage was done to the commodore’s boat.

A number of regulars did not show this week but most had acceptable excuses. Peter Lane took his son Jack to Marblehead racing. Jack has been performing well this season. Linda Gibbs and Tom McMahon were attending a historic wedding at Gracie Mansion. Cristina Morris loaned Victor Diaz her boat so he could race in the nationals. I have to wonder if she is going to get some lessons in exchange. Mary Vetri was visiting family. But where were you, Danny McCafferty and Rita Gates?

The Race Committee consisting of Commodore and Sallie Bethge and Betsy and Marnie Cole did a superb job as usual. Betsy, we were glad you were there, but where were Cole and John? Remember sailors, come up alongside the committee boat and give them your full name and sail number before the start of racing each week.

There will be a cookout next week after the races at the home of Charlie and Lynn Weiner, who are avid supporters of the MYC even though they don’t race. Please call Pete Bethge if you plan on attending.

The MYC is a friendly club open to any and all sailors, novice or expert. Just show up by 2 p.m. in West Neck Harbor and join in the fun. We have a number of extra boats available on a first-to-reserve basis. Call Pete Bethge at 749-1297 or Bob Harris at 749-0524 to reserve a boat. See you on the water!

Results

Firsts Points

1. Richard Smith 3 9

2. Charles Modica 1 24

3 John Modica 27

4 Andy Belford 1 30

5 Bob Harris 30

6 Dave Olsen 36

7 Gavin Trepata and Cooper 36

8 Bill Martens 39

9 Ric Dalton with crew Rebecca 39

10 Penny Pilkington 43

11 Tom McGuirk 45

12 Jonathan Brush 46

13 John Woodland, John Jr. & Oscar Champgneulle 55

14 Melanie Coronetz 58

15 Riva Alpert 64

1 point for first place, 2 for second, etc.

, ,
Next Page »