EVENT
Fraser River Light Ship (FRLS)
Sat Sep28/24 on Strum
30nm course (@5-8 hours)
1000h First Signal.
2300 Time Limit
HOST
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
3811 Point Grey Road
Vancouver BC V6R 1B3
604-224-1344
RoyalVan.com
The 2025 edition of this classic RVYC VARC one-day distance race is Saturday September 27th.
VARC
This event is part of the Vancouver Area Racing Council distance series. Strum's skipper Randy is the VARC.bc.ca Division-0 Representative.
STRUM
Strum is at RVYC Jericho (B9)?
Although this is Strum’s shortest registered race of the year at only 30nm, conditions are typically a reach/reach, which is what Strum does best (because water ballast)!
CORE-CREW
Strum can be difficult to sail competitively, so we like to have crew familiar with the boat (water ballast/articulating sprit & all). We feel 8 competent crew are needed, so we run 8 Core-Crew that can commit to ALL events and help prep Strum before & after regattas. Since we are primarily an offshore race boat, a valid Safety At Sea certificate is required. Apply within!
CREW CALL
If you, or someone you know, wants to race on Strum for this event, select…
GOING, if you can commit,
INTERESTED, if you can not commit
or are unavailable regular/Core-Crew,
& we will contact you.
Preference continues to be given to crew who can help prepare Strum for this event, be available for a practice sail and have a valid Safety At Sea certificate as we are building an offshore race team.
CONFIRMED CREW (SAS)**
1. Peter Bodifée (CANBC2691)*
2. Simon Kaulback (20230305)*
3. David Legault (CANBC6202)*
4. Carl Mulherin (CANBC2768)*
5. Zach Thompson (CANBC2700)*
6. Randy Vogel (CANBC2497)*
7. TBD (Reply GOING)
8.
9.
10.
REGULAR CREW UNAVAILABLE
Reto Corfu (CANBC2623)*M242?
*Core-Crew
**Subject To Change
Safety At Sea (1/1=100%)
CREW FACEBOOK RESPONSES
GOING (7)
Peter Bodifée (core-crew)*Y Feb01
Simon Kaulback (20230305)*Y Feb01
David Legault (CANBC6202)*Y Feb01
Carl Mulherin (core-crew)*Y Feb01
Zach Thompson (core-crew)*Y Feb01
Randy Vogel (core-crew)*Y Feb01
Riptide50 Strum (host)
INTERESTED (4)
Reto Corfu (CANBC2623)*M242?
Calvin Goldschmidt (SAS?)
Peter Hennig (CANBC2762)
NO FB RESPONSE (4)
Brad Stanton (CANBC2597)*N Feb01
Jacob Sweetapple (tell FB!)*N Feb01
Crew not responding to these Facebook /Events will be at risk.
*Confirmed Crew
**Contact skipper please
SCHEDULE
Sep20 Sat, Practice sail? (RV)
Sep21 Sun, Practice sail? (RV)
Sep26 Fr, 4-7 crew work party (RV)
Accomodations for out of town crew
SEP27 SATURDAY (race day)
No Carpool
Weather, TBD dC, TBD% perception
Wind, TBD (TBD kt) ?
0700 Sunrise?
0830 Crew on Strum, RVYC-J (B9)?
3811 Point Grey Road, Vancouver
Off, Canvas/cushions/dehu/heat/Yeti
On, lunch/snacks (RV)
0900 ETD (Strum off the dock)
TBD Low Tide (4.6’ Pt Atkinson)
1000 First warning signal (VHF 67)
START: Near RVYC Jericho Marina
MARK1: Point Grey Bell Buoy Q62 (P)
MARK2: Sand Heads green buoy S1 (S)
MARK3: PGBB Q62 (S)
FINISH: NW RVYC Breakwater
TBD High Tide (14.4’ Pt Atkinson)
1700+ Shall take own GPS finish time
1854 Sunset?
2300 FRLS official time limit.
TBD Low Tide (TBD’ Pt Atkinson)
Strum returns to RVYC-J (B9)
Accomodations for out of town crew
RACE DOCUMENTS
RVYC website
RoyalVan.com
Regatta website
https://www.royalvan.com/default.aspx?p=dynamicmodule&ns=true&pageID=407444&ssid=334339&
Registration
Strum registered TBD/25
DOCUMENTATION 2025 (not available)
DOCUMENTATION 2024 (for reference)
Notice of Race 2024
http://rvan.ca/FraserRiver/NOR%20Fraser%20River%202024.pdf
3.1 Official Notice Board
www.royal can.com/bigboat
3.3 RC courtesy broadcast on VHF 67
7. Warning Signal for all divisions, 1000h
10.1 Course Div 0, 1 & 2
Start near RVYC Jericho Marina
Point Grey Bell Buoy Q62 to PORT
Sand Heads green buoy S1 to SB
Point Grey Bell Buoy Q62 to SB
Finish at NW RVYC breakwater
10.3 RC may move start line
Sailing Instructions 2024
Available 12pm Thu Sep26
http://rvan.ca/FraserRiver/Supplementary%20Fraser%20River%202024.pdf
7.1 Time-limit is 2300h Sat Sep28/24.
7.2 Boats finishing after 1700h shall take their own GPS finish time and submit to
cmFjZWNvbW1pdHRlZSB8IHJ2YW4gISBjYQ== with
*Boat name & sail number
*Finish time
*Boat finishing ahead & behind.
7.3 If no boat has finished by 1700h, the race is abandoned. RC will announce on VHF 67.
10.1 A boat that retires shall notify RC ASAP (VHF 67)
Canadian Prescriptions to the Rules 2024
https://www.sailing.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sail_canada_prescriptions_2021_2024_14_03_2022.pdf
Registered Boats 2024
https://theclubspot.com/regatta/rwUG1WuJ58/#entry-list
Past Race Results
https://www.royalvan.com/raceresults
WHAT TO BRING
Bring your wet weather & safety gear. You can request one of Strum’s 12 sets of Gill Offshore crew wet weather gear (S/M/L/XL), manual inflate PFD, &/or tether no later than 48 hours prior to our start. Max 50 litre crew bag. Any questions/comments, please post on this /Discussion page, WhatApp (Strum Next Event) or contact Strum skipper directly. We look forward to sailing with you in what should be our shortest time on water event of the season!
———————————————————
PAST RACE RESULTS
2024 FRLS
Strum was 3rd to finish, behind the Andrews77 Mach-2 (breaking Strum's previous course record, congratulations) & the TP52 The Shadow. Due to no wind, the delayed start was moved near the Point Grey Bell Buoy. After the turn, we saw 20-25 knots TWS & were back in time for lunch.
2023 FRLS
Strum mast was down at Strait Marine for new square-top main sail reinforcements. Strum crew hopped on the new to Vancouver Andrews77 Mach-2 for her PNW debut, in preparation for TransPac25.
2022 FRLS
Strum was first to finish, 8 minutes ahead of the 2nd finisher (2nd corrected), our brother from another mother, the Riptide35 Longboard from WVYC (congratulations). Strum had little concern on the DFL corrected time for the first of many crew building exercises. This was Strum’s first post-pandemic race, fresh from a refit with new Future Fibres EC3 carbon standing rigging, custom Marlow GP running rigging, new Harken mast track/battcars & all new Spinlock ceramic clutches. More upgrades to follow.
Strum was first elapsed,
https://www.royalvan.com/files/Sailwave%20results%20for%202022%20RVYC%20Fraser%20River%20Lightship%20at%20Royal%20Vancouver%20Yacht%20Club.pdf
2015 FRLS
Strum set a NEW COURSE RECORD, finishing at 2:19:58pm with an ELAPSED TIME Time of 3:14:58, beating Dan (Andrews77 Mach-2) Sinclair's Andrew's 70' Renegade 2007 record in similar (but easterly) conditions. What a difference a year makes! Strum skipper was on board for both these records.
2014 FRLS
In contrast to the 2015 course record, the 2014 Fraser River Light Ship race was painfully slow. Strum was 1st to finish and one of only 4 boats to finish this race, just prior to the 11pm time limit. All 4 boats were Division 1 ORC boats. Strum corrected 4th...in class & overall (of 45 boats).
STRUM SHORE CONTACT
Primary:
Pam Vogel
UGFtZWxhVm9nZWwgfCBtZSAhIGNvbQ==
Cell 604-307-2300
STRUM ORC CLUB 2024 (459.5 GPH w/square-top main)
https://data.orc.org/public/WPub.dll/CC/03430002FQO
STRUM PHRF-BC 2024 (-77 w/square-top main)
https://www.bcsailing.bc.ca/PHRF/bc_fleet_list_printable_by_boatName.php
———————————————————
2025 SAILS
Strum, A0+3-5/HCR/J2+4/M4/SSG+S
Dock, No sails on dock
Home Cruise, J3RF/M2C/Sock
Home Race, A2+6/J1+4/M1-3
Home Storm, SJ/TS
2024 SAIL CALL, PREDICTION
1000h Signal, 5 kt W & building.
J2/M4 beat to PGBB
PGBB, ETA 1200h 10-15 kt NW
A5 S bear away hoist
S reach to S1
A5/J4/M4 R1 at S1
S1, ETA 1300h 15-20 kt NW
J4 up/reef in
S letterbox drop
J4/M4 w/R1 P beat back to PGBB
PGBB, ETA 1500h 15-20kt NW
A4 P bear away
J4 down/HCR up
Shake M4 reef out
A4/HCR/M4/SSS
Finish, ETA 1600h 5-15kt W
HCR up
A4 P letter box drop
A4/HCR/M4/SSS
Inventory, A4+5/J2+4/HCR/M4/SSS
Remove, A0/A3/SSG?
2024 SAIL CALL, REALITY
1000h First Signal, postponement.
1030h Moved start, quickly abandoned.
1100h Moved start near PGBB
J2/M4 30d AWA S beat to PGBB
PGBB, 1115h S reach to S1
J2/M4 to PGBB bank, 10TWS/40AWA
J2/M4/SSG to S1, 15TWS/60AWA
J4/M4 R1 at S1
*Broke boom vang Dyneema while reefing as vang clutch closed. Should have opened clutch as pressure too much when sheet eased in 20kt TWS. My bad.
*Hindsight: After PGBB heading to S1, when the J2 was on P halyard/grove (to keep S grove/halyard open for J4 approaching S1), and the SSG was on S halyard/aft pad-eye, we could have done a J2 drop/HCR hoist on P halyard/grove, with SSG still up (HCR/SSG is a much faster combo at 60d AWA then the J2/SSG used & sets us up for SSG drop/J4 hoist w/S halyard/grove). Then reef main (after opening vang clutch;-). At 0.1nm to S1, drop SSG down hatch to free up S halyard for J4 hoist in S groove. This way, P grove/halyard are available for long P beat to PGBB. When bearing off after PGBB bank, we could hoist HCR again on windward P grove/halyard for the 0.7nm approach to PGBB, and have our HCR as A4 staysail up for the 5nm run to finish line at RVYC-J breakwater!*
S1, 1200h 20 kt W/40d AWA
J4 up/reef in at rounding/@limits
No A kites used so far (too tight)
J4/M4 w/R1 P beat
40d AWA to PGBB bank (7nm)
60d AWA to PGBB (.7nm/too windy for A0)
*Hindsight, could have peeled to HCR.
PGBB, 1330h 20-25kt W
A4 P bear away 160d AWA P gybe
J4 still up (no HCR needed)
Shake M4 reef out
A4/M4/J4 down on (bungie)
120d AWA S gybe w/traffic
Finish, 1415h 15-20 kt W/90d AWA
J4 up for letter box
A4 P letter box drop
InventoryA0+3-5/J2+4/HCR/M4/SSG+S
Used, A4/J2+4/M4/SSG
Did not use, A0/A3/A5/HCR/SSS
2025 FRLS SUMMARY, So could have removed A0+3. HCR/SSS in zone, but legs too short. Important to remember that PredictWind is just that, a prediction. Wind strength (15-20) was right (probably more like 20-25, but our B&G MHU had no wind data), but wind came in closer to noon than 11am predicted, and more W then NW, so no A5 to S1. Beat home to PGBB was as predicted, but stronger (25 TWS max vs 20 predicted) & near our limits w/J4 & M4 w/reef. Crew work & communication was good, but team could benefit from sail change/heavy weather gybe practice. Strum finished 3rd elapsed time after Andrews77 Mach-2 & TP52 The Shadow, with RT35 Longboard & M32 Zulu Warrior behind. Next event is the Nov08-09 RTC (hopefully, as waitlisted w/dinner reservations Fri/Sat & RHR hotel Sat).
NOTE TO RC
1. First Signal should be 11am. This was historically the start time as typically no wind prior to 10am (as 2024 showed).
2. Start should be at Point Grey Bell Buoy. This would avoid traffic at Jericho Sailing School/recreational sailors, and avoid anchored freighters. Also allow for a consistent Elapsed Time winner.
3. Division 1 should have a separate start. The 4 2024 Div 1 boats ranged from Riptide35 Longboard to Andrews77 Mach-2, which is diverse enough. These 4 boats don’t need to start with 20+ more diverse boats for the typically committee favoured start line. Reto did a great job starting & threading that needle.
TO DO
Beer (24 Heineken/4rum)
Ice (2 bags)
Lighten Ship, Remove…
Boom cover, off (wheel barrow)
Boom tent, off (wheel barrow)
Dehumidifier (dock box)
Fenders (leave 2)
Heater (dock box)
Sails off, none (wheel barrow)
Tanks, water (empty aft/SB)
Tanks, water (keep port)
Yeti x2 (dock box)
Provisions (candy/donairs/snacks)
Tank, diesel P 100L (0%)
Tank, diesel S 100L (100%)
Tank, diesel jugs 20Lx2 (0%/P Laz)
Tank, black water P (0%)
Tank, propane 10# (30%) turn on/
Tank, water1 P 100L (100%) keep/
Tank, water2 S 100L (0%)
Tank, water3 Aft 100L (0%)
Tank, water jug 20Lx1 (0%/P lazaret)
Water Bottles, fill (RV/6)
Water-maker (100 BBM AOK)
TO BUY/TRADES
B&G (AOK)
Ballast switches to buttons (SK)
EFoy 2800Pro (AOK)
Harken Standup 3254-BM (RV)?
Harken Standup HC8673 BB (RV)?
North Sails, main (spreader patches)*
Rigger, Furler top down (A0-6)
Rigger, Furler top up (HCR/SSS)
Rigger, mast loop (P spin)
TO-DO DONE
AIS stabilized
Antal BB4012 (received)
Antal HK16 (received)
Antal RL6.1 (received)
Diesed Heat/Esbar (AOK)
Dorade caps on (winter)
Dorade vents off (summer)
Engine, filters/fluids (RC Apr15)
Engine, impeller changed (RC Apr28)*
Engine, raw water pump (SM May16)*
Expedition software (RC May16)
Harken 1981 Crossover (received/in)
Harken BK4514 W Kit (received)
Lifeline, repairs (SM May10)*
MGP Tech50 10mm x100’ (received)
North Sails, J2 (new battens)
North Sails, J3.5 (new battens)
North Sails, main (battens/bobbins)
ORC Club 2024 (w/square-top main)*
PHRF-BC 2024 (-77 w/ST main)
Safety Check (RV May10)
Safety, flares (RV May10)
Safety, spare PFD/tether/WWG (10)
Stanchion, temp repairs (SM May10)*
Starlink, (pause/remove dish)
Tylaska T16 (received)
Victron system (AOK)
*Issue resolved
-
2025 STRUM SCHEDULE
Feb01 Core-Crew declared
Mar29 PatosIslandRace.com (VIRS #1)
Apr18 SouthernStraits.ca (VARC-D)
Apr26 WVYC.ca Halibut Bank (VARC-D)
May03 Strum Dock Party
May10 RoyalVan.com Sail-Past
May17 RoundSaltspring.ca (VIRS #3)
May24 Swiftsure.org (VIRS #4)
M31-J01 SCYC.ca Lasqueti Regatta (VIRS #5)
M31-J14 VanIsle360.com (not racing)
Jun7-8 NanaimoYC.ca SIN Regatta (VIRS #6)
Jun14 BIYC.bc.ca Round Bowen (VARC-D)
Skipper away (TransPac/cruising)
Sep5-7 RoyalVan.com/SalishSea (VARC-D?)
Sep27 RoyalVan.com/bigboat FRLS (VARC-D)*
Nov8-9 RoundTheCounty.com
*This event
Host club determines date
VARC=Vancouver Area Racing Circuit
VARC-D=VARC.bc.ca Distance Series
VIRS=Vancouver Island Racing Series
Please apply for each /Event separately
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