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2016 OYRA series and other YRA SH Racing

Philpott

Philpott

Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Note the 2016 Northern California Sailing Calendar and YRA Master Schedule (A Complete Racing Guide): "We offer Divisions for full crewed boats, single and double handed boats and multihulls." p 41. This language is new. Maybe someone noticed that singlehanders pack the Berkeley midwinters' bleachers.
 
Philpott said:
Note the 2016 Northern California Sailing Calendar and YRA Master Schedule (A Complete Racing Guide): "We offer Divisions for full crewed boats, single and double handed boats and multihulls." p 41. This language is new. Maybe someone noticed that singlehanders pack the Berkeley midwinters' bleachers.
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Yes, indeedy. And that they get out there when few others want to go! Crazy buggers ;)
 
OYRA's SHS (shorthanded) division is tough to win singlehanded. Years ago they gave singlehanders an extra rating credit but I haven't been able to convince them to reinstate that - no explanation has been given. I'd be all over it if we could get a singlehanded division.
 
Find here Andy Newell's reply to my request for clarification of the language. I can't imagine a more gracious or inviting response:

OYRA has traditionally had a shorthanded fleet (SHS) which includes single and double handed boats in the same group, split further by PHRF when there are enough boats. Most of the racers sail double handed but not always, and some mix it up during the season.

We are certainly happy to provide whatever fleets enough boats sign up for.

If enough folks want a single handed only fleet we can provide one. I’d say that if you can bring at least 5 boats that will make most of the races we can set up a single handed only fleet. I think if we set up a fleet with fewer boats than 5 we would have the problem of limited competition, just ask Truls, our lone multi-hull.

I have added Al [Germain] and Rick [Elkins] to the conversation. We are willing to be as flexible as possible to accommodate shorthanded racers and SSS for the whole season, a single race or even a group of races you designate. Just let us know what you want.
 
Dang, just when my congenial and attractive crew pool have me thinking about going full-crew in OYRA.
 
This from Andy Newell: "We are willing to be as flexible as possible to accommodate shorthanded racers and SSS for the whole season, a single race OR EVEN A GROUP OF RACES YOU DESIGNATE (jp's capitalization). Just let us know what you want."

Since OYRA has offered to accommodate us, my proposal would be to ask OYRA for a singlehanded division on the following 4 dates: April 16/Lightship; May 21/ Duxship, July 16/Junior Waterhouse; and one of the TBD races/ August 6 or September 10, whichever is not Half Moon Bay. We already have our own Farallones and Half Moon Bay races, and we are scheduled to do Drakes Bay with OYRA on August 27/28.

If OYRA is interested in our participation, perhaps it will also be willing to offer us this schedule at a reduced rate. It is a great way to measure interest by singlehanders with less financial burden. It is also an opportunity for singlehanders to compete against each other in the absence of our very seaworthy 2016 Transpac participants. ;-)
 
Are others still thinking about this? I like Jackie's idea of a subset of the series that fits in with our SSS races. I wouldn't haggle with OYRA on price and would just sign up for their series.

A couple singlehanders and a couple doublehanders have signed up so far (as have the Nasty Habits):

OYRA on Jibeset.
 
I am also planning to do the OYRA singlehand races. Here's hoping my boat will be put back together again in time for the first one in April...
 
pogen said:
. . . bumpercars is my least favorite aspect of the sport, especially as a singlehander. I think the ocean racers are safer, at least they feel safer, as there is so much more elbow room.
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Funny you should write that. I planned on posting shortly under the heading "Feeling like you need SPACE?" (I sure did on Saturday.)

I've been exchanging e-mails with YRA about a division for singlehanders in the OYRA series (starting 4/16) and shorthanders (DH and SH) in the "YRA Series" (inside the Bay) starting 5/14. I made an announcement about this at the Corinthian Race skippers' meeting and will bring more details to the awards meeting (and post them here). In the meantime, check Jibeset or the new YRA website for the dates. YRA is encouraging us to design our own series if desired, and they have opened up the appropriate options on Jibeset for sign-ups. Please let me know what you'd like to do and we'll put it together. Maybe we can even cook up some special awards.

There's already a thread about racing OYRA singlehanded HERE and when I get a chance I'll post some thoughts about doing the "YRA Series" DH or SH.

Bob J.
BobsailsSF (at Yahoo)
 
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More work for our overworked team, plus YRA really needs some support.

They are willing to put on the races, they would like us to participate, and we have a big hole in our calendar over the Summer especially for doublehanders. I think it's a win-win.
 
Are these Bay or Bay + Ocean? And DH only??? Or SH/DH , SH/DH/Crew??
 
The singlehanded division in OYRA is ocean races, and makes it possible for singlehanders to do additional races without having to compete directly with doublehanders (OYRA's SHS division had been SH and DH combined). Getting at least five entries would give singlehanders their own scoring in that series. OYRA's dates do not conflict with our SSS races but as proposed earlier in the thread, we could design a combined SSS/OYRA singlehanded series that excludes OYRA's HMB and Farallones races, since we have our own. Drakes Bay combines the two groups.

The "YRA Series" are Bay races - one set run out of Berkeley and one set run out of South Beach YC (south of the Bay Bridge). They have been full crew races but those numbers have dropped significantly. YRA has added a shorthanders division and if we have enough entries, it could be further split into SH and DH divisions (as we were able to have for the Berkeley Midwinters). One caveat is that the first date for the YRA Series is the same as our Singlehanded Farallones (5/14). While I want to encourage YRA's invitation to our group, I don't want to take any boats away from SSS races. I have discussed all this with our Commodore and he agrees "the more the merrier."
 
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How would this differ from just adding more races to the existing SSS calendar?
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I am against adding more races to the SSS calendar. We already added two racing days with the Drakes Bay race a few years ago. Additional shorthanded sailing is great but it should not be part of the SSS, just more opportunities.
 
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