Pot Huron Yacht Club - Port Huron, Michigan
May 16th, 2012 by admin
2011 Results
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Spring Series: 1st
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Fall Series: 1st
PHYC/SYC PHRF Special Race Series; Did not qualify
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Overall: 1st
Pac Man Race: 1st
Leukemia Cup PHRF B: 2nd
Mackinac Cove Island IRC D: 4th
PHYC/SYC Women’s Race JAM A: 1st
Wednesday MORC Open Class: Had lots fun of fun with different crews and guests aboard. Fall Series: 1st
Mar 14th, 2011 by admin
2010 Results
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Spring Series: 1st
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Fall Series: 1st
PHYC/SYC PHRF Special Race Series; Did not qualify
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Overall: 1st
Pac Man Race: 1st
IRC Great Lakes Championships IRC 2: 5th
Leukemia Cup PHRF B: 3rd
Mackinac Cove Island IRC E: 1st and Overall: 10th
PHYC/SYC Women’s Race JAM A: 2nd
Wednesday MORC Open Class: Had lots fun of fun with different crews and guests aboard.
Sep 9th, 2010 by admin
By JIM WHYMER
Times Herald
September 9, 2010
Kelsey Bert has grown up on a sailboat. Kelsey, 16, of Jeddo said she learned about sailing by sitting back and watching crew members do their jobs.
The Croswell-Lexington High School junior will put her years of experience to work Saturday morning as she competes in the annual Women’s Sailboat Race in lower Lake Huron.
She will not be trimming sails; she will be driving Liberty.
“It should be fun. I’m definitely excited,” said Kelsey, who has crewed with her uncle, Eric, and grandfather, Bob Bert, aboard Liberty for the last four Port Huron-to-Mackinac races. “I’ll been driving the boat for the first time in a race.
“I like it a lot, because it’s a very challenging part of sailing. You have to make decisions quickly, and you can’t second-guess yourself at all.”
Joining Kelsey aboard Liberty, a Beneteau 42, will be Jenny Dawson-Collins, Toody May-Ryan, Abby Collins and Jill
Henry. Gail Bert, Kelsey’s grandmother, was going to be the sixth crew member, but she will sit out the race with a broken foot.
Race Chairwoman Vickie Burda-Burgett said most of the yachts and crews are members of the Port Huron and Sarnia yacht clubs, which are the race sponsors. She expects 16 boats in the fleet and more than 100 women.
Among them will be Abby Sunderland, 16, of California, who attempted to sail solo around the world earlier this year before being rescued in the Indian Ocean. She will sail on Hope.
Sunderland also will be aboard Liberty on Sunday for the PHYC’s first Fall Series race.
The 9.46-mile race begins at 11:30 a.m.
Burda-Burgett added a Coaches Fleet to Saturday’s race to attract more entries.
One coach, male or female, is allowed on each boat. From the warning until the finish, a coach may provide only verbal coaching, but not assist the crew physically — except in an emergency.
Bob Bert will not be aboard Liberty assisting Kelsey, who has been sailing since she was 5. He said he has the utmost confidence in the talented young sailor.
“Kelsey has come a long way and is a very good sailor,” Bob Bert said. “I’m not just saying that because I’m a proud grandfather. She could join any boat and do well. She has the skills.
“I have all the confidence in the world in Kelsey skippering in the race. She has driven the boat at different times throughout her years of sailing.
“She is probably best on the bow and foredeck. That is the most challenging job on the boat — along with being the helmsman.”
Said Kelsey: “When I was younger, I really didn’t do anything on the boat. I just was out sailing. I learned by watching the crew work, and you are always learning something new. I figured the best way to pick things up was to watch and take it all in.”
Bob Bert said the biggest challenge for Kelsey will be leaving the yacht club and docking the boat after the race.
“If you think it’s tough parking a car, try docking a 42-foot sailboat,” Kelsey said.
When Kelsey isn’t sailing, she is involved in band and schoolwork at Cros-Lex, where she also takes classes in the St. Clair County Community College dual-enrollment program.
She has a 3.90 grade point average.
After Saturday’s women’s race, Kelsey and May-Ryan will head to Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit for the annual banquet for the 86th running of the Mackinac race.
Sep 9th, 2010 by admin
By JIM WHYMER
Times Herald
September 8, 2010
A second celebration is on tap for area Port Huron-to-Mackinac race sailors. Skippers and crews will be honored 6 p.m. Saturday during an awards banquet for the 86th running of the Port Huron-to-Mackinac race at Bayview Yacht Club.
The top three finishers in each class are invited to the banquet. The Champion of Champions race is open to winners from each class.
“It should be a busy weekend with Kelsey (Bert) skippering in the women’s race, along with the race and banquet down at Bayview,” said Bob Bert, the owner and skipper of Liberty. “Kelsey and Toody May-Ryan will sail in the women’s race and hustle down to Bayview for the banquet.”
The Champions race will be sailed in the BYC’s Ulitimate 20 class in a round-robin elimination format. The winner will receive an award at the banquet.
The local division winners were Liberty (Cove Island IRC E), Shape (Thunder Bay PHRF B) and Unplugged (Thunder Bay Cruising D).
Shape is co-owned by Chris Benedict of Plymouth and Win Cooper III of Fenton, both members of the Port Huron Yacht Club. The rest of the crew consisted of Cam Benedict, Steve Bradley, Ed Ely, Dale McNabb, Winfield Cooper and Viani Navarrete.
Bob Bert of North Street was joined on the Beneteau First 42 by Norm Johnson, Brett Langolf, Evan Wilkins, Tom Patterson, Steve Kelly, Ryan-May, his son, Eric Bert, and granddaughter Kelsey.
Unplugged owner Tim Clayson lives in Farmington Hills and sails out of the Bark Shanty Sail Club in Port Sanilac.
Clayson’s sons, Brian and Chris, were aboard the Catalina 30T, along with Doug Andrews and Buce and Brian Leidal.
“We’ll be going to the banquet,” Tim Clayson said. “The race is held right in front of the club for great shoreline spectating.”
Other pennant winners were Boomerang and Rebel, which were second and third behind Shape in PHRF B, respectively.
Tom Riley’s Flash was the runner-up in Thunder Bay Cruising B.
Contact Jim Whymer at (810) 989-6267 or jwhymer@ gannett.com. View his blog at www.thetimesherald.com/sports.
Feb 22nd, 2010 by admin
Season Summary - 2009
2009 Was a good year for sailing. We had great new additions to the crew, and based on our results, we did well at the awards banquet. While having a lot of fun the Liberty crew has learned a lot about handling the asymmetrical spinnaker.
2009 Results
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Spring Series; 1st
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Fall Series; 1st
PHYC/SYC Cruising Spinnaker Summer Special Race Series: 2nd
PHYC/SYC Cruising A-Kyte Overall: 1st
Pac Man Race: 1st
IRC Great Lakes Championships IRC 2: 5th
Leukemia Cup PHRF C: 5th
Mackinac Cove Island IRC B: 4th and Overall: 19th
Wednesday MORC Open Class: Had lots fun of fun with different crews and guests aboard.
Mar 11th, 2009 by admin
2008 Was a good year for sailing. We changed fleets in the PHYC race program (again). Although we did OK (placing 2nd in the fall series) participating in the Jib & Main class during 2007, in light air, it was just too slow and painful. When it came time to register for the 2008 season we decided to go into the Cruising Fleet Asymmetrical Class. The class has a good representation of larger boats that show up for races. The only thing holding us back was the fact that we did not have an asymmetrical spinnaker (aka “A-Kite”). We had one on order, but it was not delivered it until after the spring series was over. Liberty got lucky in the spring, earning 2nd for the series without an A-kite. Even with the associated learning curve, the new Doyle reaching asymmetrical got us 1st in the fall and 1st overall for both series.
Mar 11th, 2009 by admin
PHYC/SYC Spring Series; 2nd
PHYC/SYC Summer Special Race Series: 1st
PHYC/SYC Overall: 1st
Pac Man Race: 1st
Leukemia Cup: 3rd
Mackinac IRC E: 10th
Wednesday MORC Open Class: Had lots fun of fun with different crews and guests aboard.
Aug 3rd, 2008 by admin
Jul 13th, 2008 by admin
The Start
It was a strange start to the 84th Annual Port Huron to Mackinac race, which was due to a rain squall that hit around 11:30 am during the starting sequence for the first few classes. Liberty was in IRC E with a scheduled start at 12:40 pm. The squall brought heavy downpours and strong winds dramatically decreasing visibility. There was confusion over the VHF radio regarding a postponement in the starting sequence. We stayed in close proximity to the RC boat and at 12:30pm our class flag was seen on the RC boat, meaning we were set to start at our original start time. We immediately raised the main and the #2 headsail (which were lowered during the squall and what was thought to be a postponement). We jockeyed for position at the West end of the start line with a plan to start on starboard tack. But, due to change in wind direction following the squall, we jibed on to port tack at the gun and crossed the line with a decent start. Due to the change from starboard tack to port tack, we were delayed a few minutes due to re-setting the spinnaker gear, before hoisting the .75 ounce spinnaker.
Port Huron to NOAA Weather Buoy
After the start, we were holding pace with the rest of the class, but forced to sail in the direction of the class to keep clear air. Based on the NOAA 36-hour wind forecast, Liberty’s strategy was to sail east of the rheum line out into open water to avoid the forecasted light air along the shore. (The forecast called for lighter air along the shore, especially Saturday evening and around Harbor Beach) Within 10-20 minutes after the start, we decided to jibe away from the class and head out way from shore. The jibe was nearly flawless, especially considering many of the crew had not sailed together before or within the last year. The only boat on our class that was heading East of the rheum line with us was Collina. We kept them on our starboard hip for a few hours, but gradually pulled away and eventually put them dead astern barely visible on the horizon. (visibility was fair-to-poor, due to a haze) As we continued out in the lake, the wind increased, confirming our strategy and plan. The wind was oscillating between South and South-West, which caused us to jibe as needed to sail a course of approximately 15-25 degrees to the right of the turning mark.
We had a close encounter with the multi-hull Stars & Stripes, which took our stern as it crossed tacks coming within 1-2 boat lengths of us. They were sailing with one hull in the water and the other just hovering over the water. Looked like a fast, fun, but wet ride. (Stars & Stripes lost its rig the next day in 8 knots of wind about 30 miles from the island)
As evening progressed, we were making great time still under spinnaker. The wind had gradually shifted to the South-West and we were heading straight at the mark on port tack. The wind lightened up in later evening and we put up the .5 ounce spinnaker with an inside hoist and peeled the .75 ounce. A few hours after the peel, the wind was back up and had clocked around to the West even further. We were reaching with the .5 ounce in 13-16 knots of air with puffs in the high teens, which were becoming more and more, steady. Due to the tighter reaching angle, the time of night and heel of the boat, we (the bowman) decided to hoist the #2 headsail, which was on deck and dose the .5 ounce. Given the stronger winds, wind angle, and lack of an alternative bowman, it was felt that the boat would probably stay under control with good speed with headsail up, opposed to attempting an outside hoist and peel to the .75 or 1.5 ounce. After the sail change, the wind continued to clock keeping it between a beam reach and close reach with wind speeds of 16-18, gusting to 24 knots.
The winds continued to increase, with puffs hitting 24 knots and above more frequently, which we were contemplating a head sail change to the #3 or a reef in the main. (We somehow lost the top batten of the main during a luff) It was at this time that we heard the mayday call from the T35 Night Train of a man overboard. We reported their position as it was provided to the US Coast Guard and listened intently to the distress call(s). Night Train reported a man overboard but that the man was still attached to the boat. They also reported that they had no power because a spinnaker sheet had become fouled in their prop. When it was determined that we were in close proximity, approximately 3-4 miles East-South-East of their location, the skipper called and informed them that we were heading to them to lend assistance if possible. At this point, the wind was gusting to 30 knots and the waves were building out of Saginaw Bay. We went bear headsail and went close-hauled heading towards Night Trains last reported location. We then hoisted the #3 headsail and continued towards their last reported location. At about 1 mile or less from their reported location, we received word that the man was recovered and that no immediate assistance from other non-rescue vessels was required. The entire ordeal lasted about 25 minutes, and once we received communication that they were no longer in distress, we changed course and continued on a beam reach towards the NOAA weather buoy.
Throughout the night, we changed headsails again, hoisting the #2 outside the #3 and lowering the #3 on the inside. In the early morning we attempted to fly the new A-kite, but with the wind angle of 90 degrees and 20-24 knot breeze, it was difficult to hold the course for the mark and stay under control. However, during the hoist, the sheet got flipped up over the boom making it difficult to trim and in the process of trying to flip it back under the sheet came un-shackled and we were forced to take the A-kite down bear headsail. Once we recovered the A-kite and got it down, we went back up with the #2 headsail and kept it up until we rounded the NOAA weather buoy on Sunday morning.
NOAA Weather Buoy to Mackinac Island
We rounded the turning mark in the upper- middle of our class, with Jubilee and Collina behind us. We discovered that the wind direction was precisely as it was forecasted, but that it was stronger than predicted and filled in everywhere, including the shore line and the open water. We essentially sailed 10+ miles to the East of the rheum line and 10+ miles back to the rheum line with no benefit of more breeze.
It was a close reach to the tip of Boise Blanc and we sailed slightly high of the rheum line (South of the rheum line). The wind stayed strong out of the West ranging between 16 and 26 knots. The waves kept building over night and all morning and by mid day were at least 3-6 feet (although I’m horrible at estimating wave height). We spent most of Sunday pounding into the waves on Port tack with either the #2 or #3 headsail. (The report from this part of the race is less riveting as it was a one tack race for 60+ miles and the author was fighting the feeling of seasickness off and on for about 8-10 hours)
Around 20 miles from the island, the waves began to subside and the wind moderated to 13 to 18 knots. The wind direction clocked further turning the course to Mackinac Island into a dead beat. We finished at approximately 11:25 pm on Sunday night, crossing the line on starboard tack with the #2 headsail up. It was the earliest finish ever for Liberty, as it was for the majority of boats in the race. We finished 6th and corrected to 10th in our class. Although we were arguably entitle to redress for the time spent in the Night Train incident, it would not have put us into flag contention, and therefore, was not requested.
Eric Bert (bowman)
Jul 13th, 2008 by admin
Roger Cameron, Norm Johnson, Daniel Collins, Frances May, Kelsey Bert, Robert Bert, Eric Bert, Eric Wright, Denise Kulas, Jim Lavelle,
