Welcome to the Frers 33 One Design Class Web Site

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August 16, 2016 - Rod Stright sent this link of some nice Photo Boat action shots of Equinox at the Chester Race Week 2016, August 10 - 13.

Equinox at Chester Race Week.  This is a big event.  Equinox took 2nd in non-spinnaker class Delta 1.  See overall results.   

Thanks, Rod

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July 11, 2016  

2016 Class Champions

The Frers 33 class "enjoyed" varied conditions during the 2016 North American Championships held July 9-10, in Branford, CT. Branford Yacht Club hosted their 55th annual Invitational Regatta on Saturday where we had six Frers 33s on the line and 8-15 knots over two races with twice-around windward leeward courses. Consistency was the watchword of the day with Wolverine posting two bullets, Pachyderm two seconds, Black Hawk two thirds and Brilliant two fourths. Risoluto won a tie-breaker with Audacious for fifth.

Sunday, the 65th annual Pine Orchard Regatta, was a different story as we drifted waiting for a little something, anything to fill in. The patient race committee managed to set a course and get just one race off in about 5 knots of breeze. Local hero Pachyderm, knowing something about how to race in these conditions taunted Wolverine before the start (in a friendly sort of way) and managed to back it up with a first place finish. Risoluto jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of a starting sequence wind shift and pile up at the pin end to break free and move ahead in clear air. Pachyderm eventually ground her down and in the testing conditions, Risoluto eventually fell to fourth. Wolverine crossed second with Brilliant, showing good speed all day, close behind in third.

For the weekend and the North American Championships, Wolverine's title was successfully defended, making this the tenth time in fifteen years that Kathy and Dave Nauber have taken the trophy and the thirteenth time the boat Wolverine has won the Championship. On the occasion, Dave said "We are so fortunate to have a solid crew who we love and who've been with us so many years, and it's great to have such strong competition and vibrant activity in the class. I'd like to dedicate this victory to Al Karenko, the original owner of Wolverine (1987-1995) who passed unexpectedly earlier this year. Al would be pleased to know that we're all out there keeping the Frers 33 class going and enjoying one design racing in these great boats."

A special thanks to the Branford Yacht Club and Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club for hosting our event and to the race committee for sending us off first among the spinnaker boats!

Final Results:
1 Wolverine 1, 1, 2
2 Pachyderm 2, 2, 1
3 Black Hawk 3, 3, 5
4 Brilliant 4, 4, 3
5 Risoluto 6, 5, 4
6 Audacious 5, 6, 6

July 7, 2016 - On the eve before the 2016 Nationals at Branford Yacht Club

At the Branford Yacht Club in Branford, CT, posed in front of the 12 Meter Freedom.

Left to right; Dick Saunders (Out Of Reach (webmaster, not racing)), Art Kelley (Brilliant), Bob Farnum (Audacious), Scott Marino (red cap, Risoluto), Edgar Smith (behind Scott, Pachyderm), Bob Connell (Black Hawk), and Dave Nauber (Wolverine).   __________________________________________________________________________________

July 1, 2016 - Five boats are on the "For Sale" page:

  • Moose, hull #6, 1986

  • Avalon, hull #53, 1989

  • Heartbeat, hull# 44, 1988

  • Relentless, hull# 33, 1987 

  • Vapor Trail, hull# 2, 1986

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2015 Class Champions

The Branford Yacht Club and Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club rolled out the red carpet for the Frers 33 class in Branford, CT on July 11th and 12th to host the 2015 Frers 33 North American Championship. The Chamber of Commerce weather bureau served up sunny skies, a moderate 7-12 knot sea breeze, and flat seas, making for a real test for boat speed and close-quarters boat handling. Big wind shifts and velocity changes were not forthcoming for those who split and hoped to bang the opposite corner for good fortune. If you weren’t there, you really missed out!

Day one belonged to Bob and Sue Connell’s Black Hawk, who took First with 4 points (1, 3). Kathy and Dave Nauber’s Wolverine (4, 1) won a tiebreaker with Edgar Smith and Margaret Jones’ Pachyderm (3, 2) to take Second.

Day two was close racing with lead changes and high stakes tacking and jibing, ending with two bullets for Wolverine in First, Art Kelley’s Brilliant in second (3, 2) and Pachyderm (2, 4) edging out Black Hawk (4, 3) for 3rd.

Combined for the weekend and the North American Championship, congratulations go to the crew of Wolverine, successfully defending their title by finishing with 7 points. In a three way tie for Second with 11 points, Black Hawk came out on top followed by Brilliant in Third and Pachyderm in Fourth.

 

2014 Class Champions

Congratulations to Dave and Kathy Nauber and the crew of Wolverine for capturing the 2014 Frers 33 North American Championship at the annual Branford/Pine Orchard Regatta in Branford, CT.

Sunny skies and light air on Saturday gave way to clouds and more breeze on Sunday, providing a mix of conditions for competitors to gauge their speed and boat handling. Wolverine scored four bullets to win both days of the competition. Last year’s champion Black Hawk (Bob and Sue Connell) came a close second both days while 2011 champion Pachyderm (Edgar Smith and Margaret Jones) finished third.

The North Americans are at present the only one design event for the Frers 33 Class, providing an opportunity for owners and crews to share ideas, techniques and tricks. The exchange this year appeared to be at an all time high, with conversations before and after racing taking place among competitors from every boat. The enthusiasm of the younger crew members especially, eager to learn and get to the next level, suggests that the racing will be even tighter in years to come. There is no better way to generate that enthusiasm and desire than one design racing, so if you are building your own race program and want to galvanize your crew, this is the event to have on your calendar.

2013 Class Champions

Congratulations to Bob and Sue Connell and the crew of Black Hawk for capturing the North American Championship trophy this weekend in Branford, CT.

In a weekend that featured a somewhat breezy Saturday and sunny, moderate conditions Sunday, plus a bit of carnage courtesy of your truly, the crew of Black Hawk hung in there and posted two bullets on Sunday to win their first Frers 33 North American Championship.

Congratulations also to Edgar Smith and Margaret Jones of 2011 winner Pachyderm, who finished second overall with a first on Saturday and third on Sunday, and Art Kelley and crew aboard the tenacious Brilliant who finished third on Saturday and second Sunday for third overall.

Dave Nauber, Frers 33 Class President

Detailed results here

As always, this weekend’s one design racing featured races within each race, with boats battling to catch, pass or hold onto their lead relative to the closest competitor. I think everyone who raced would tell you they had a good time, but we would like to see more than six boats total for next year. Consequently, our intention is to organize the North American event for Newport next summer, so boats from the RI and MA waters can more easily come join the fun. Art Kelley came all the way from Centerport NY for the Branford/Pine Orchard event and he’s committed to another trip to Newport next year. Rod Stright has indicated interest in coming down with Equinox from Nova Scotia, so if these guys can get to Newport, there should be enough of us in between to get a good class together and see how we do. Put it in your plans for next year and we’ll work out the dates as soon as possible.

 

Branford Regatta, 2012.  Photo courtesy of  Teri Fogler-Binkley, BYC.

It's that time of year again, and we are gearing up for the class national championships to be held again in conjunction with the Branford Yacht Club 52nd Annual Invitational, and the Pine Orchard 62nd Invitational Race, July 13 & 14.

NOR & Entry Forms Here

 

Class Dues Reminder

We try to keep the class as inexpensive to run as possible, but this site and our email distribution system take their toll. Please support us supporting you.  Please send a $50 contribution for your 2013 dues. That's probably less than a round of drinks for your crew! Please make a check out to David Nauber, 86 Coyote Trail, Higganum, CT 06441 or hand it to him in Branford!

 

2012 Class Champions

Kathy & Dave Nauber & the crew of Wolverine

 

2011 Class North American Championships

Congratulations to Edgar Smith, Margaret Jones, and the entire crew of Pachyderm for their hard won win of the Frers 33 class North American Championships. 

Link to Results

In Memoriam

 

Jim Mormile

July 25, 1949 - June 22, 2011

Dear fellow Frers 33 owners and enthusiasts,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you tonight to inform you of the passing of Jim Mormile. I learned today that Jim died suddenly at home on Wednesday night, June 22nd. That night he raced his beloved MoreMagic in Branford and as was his tradition, had pizza with the crew afterwards. He was only 61.

Kathy and I met Jim and his sons Jim and Brendan in Newport in 2001 when the Frers 33 class was reorganizing and re-establishing a North American Championship. Since that time, I knew Jim to be a humble and gracious man who always saw the best in others. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Frers 33 class and an eager competitor. He loved being out there on the race course. He worked to establish a Frers 33 One Design Class in the Branford and Pine Orchard Invitational Regattas last year and managed to secure multi-race starts this year, enabling the Branford weekend to serve as the Frers 33 North American Championship venue. We will be racing as a class for the North American Championship on July 9th & 10th in Branford because of Jim and it grieves me that he won’t be there with us.

Fair winds and following seas my friend. You will be missed.

Dave Nauber

Wolverine

 

More Magic at the start

Photo courtesy of Edgar Smith "I had just sent him this picture from our committee boat night the previous Wednesday. More Magic is on the left, at the head of the pack just after the gun."

News Updates 

(April, 2011)

Once again, I have been remiss in updating the news for quite some time.  We have recently had one boat sold, another owner added to the list (#12 - welcome John!) and probably scores of other activity I've missed.  The boat recently sold, Frers-a-Jack, had been in long term yard storage, so it will be good for her get back out there.  There are a couple of boats listed on Yachtworld if you know anyone looking.  Wild Thing (Boston) is listed twice, Stargazer (Boston), Mischief (Annapolis), and Mystified (Chicago).  Vapor Trail (MA) is also listed in our For Sale section.

The biggest news from 2010 was our gathering in Branford in July.  We managed to get 8 boats on the line, and got in 2 great days of racing.  No real surprise that Wolverine was again the boat to beat, but I think Dave was feeling the pressure from some of the other boats out there.  We are slated to do this over again this year (July 9-10), with a promise of squeezing more races into the two days (weather permitting).  The award for greatest distance traveled goes to Rod Stright and his crew who came down from Halifax to sail on other people's boats to get some experience.  With a little luck Rod will bring Equinox down this year to "dance with her sisters".  Judging by some of the conversations, not only did everyone have a great time and promise to come back, but in addition to Equinox there may be another boat in the wings to round the fleet out to ten boats this year.  That will be an event not to miss!

FAQ Reminder:  We have an FAQ section and are always looking for contributions!  Please send them in to art@frers33.com

Another point worth mentioning.  North Sails took note of the resurgence in activity of the class, and through the efforts of one of our members (apologies, I don't have my notes with me to give credit) working with the Milford loft, we were able to get a class discount.  Nine sails were bought at a 22.5% discount.  If we had gotten to 10 sails we would have gotten a 25% discount, but not too shabby for a Fall discount, when prices are usually going back up to list.  Another benefit to supporting your class!

Speaking of supporting your class....

Dues reminder; Please support our efforts at keeping the class together through this web site and the One Design ad in Sailing World by sending your dues of $50 to David Nauber, 86 Coyote Trail, Higganum, CT 06441.  Email contact: dnauber@yahoo.com.

 

(May, 2010)

This month brings boats in the North, finally splashing around in the water again, and thoughts of racing dancing like sugarplums - or however that goes.

It also brings an updated version of the Frers-33 Tuning Guide, due to the hard-driving efforts of Rod Stright, with contributions from several owners.  Find this in the Tuning Guide link to the left.

We have been invited to participate as a class in several regattas across Long Island Sound this year.  Because of the high concentration of boats in the CT area, we have chosen to congregate on the weekend of July 10 & 11 at the Branford and Pine Orchard Regattas.  These are two separate events, but we will look to score ourselves across both Regattas as a Series.  We have 6 or 7 boats already committed, so shake out a reef, and join us!  Dave or I can help coordinate, but Jim Mormile has been the driver and coordinator of this event.

The following weekend is the NYYC Regatta in Newport.  With Branford as a half-way stopping point on the way to Newport, Brilliant is making the trek, as is Wolverine.  Let's see if we can get a few more boats up there.  With a One-Design class, we can choose a 2, 3, or 4 day event.  If we don't get enough boats together for One-Design, we will race in a PHRF division, so either way we race.  This event is still listed as our official National Championships, and I'd really like to see that trophy circulate a bit more! No offense Dave.

If anyone wants an early season tune-up event, the "Race for the Case" (of rum) has us listed as a class, but will fold us into a PHRF division if we don't get the requisite number of boats out.  This event is May 22-23. At least Brilliant and Bon Coeurs will be there.  http://www.lhyc.org

I understand from Scott Marino that we have been invited to the Housatonic Boat Club Invitational on Saturday, September 11th as well.  Anyone interested, contact Scott, or Art.

In more mundane news, I've decided it's time to clean up the old news from the home page.  I think all the articles are in the email threads anyway, but if anyone misses anything from it, I have a backup copy.

Dues reminder; Please support our efforts at keeping the class together through this web site and the One Design ad in Sailing World by sending your dues of $50 to David Nauber, 86 Coyote Trail, Higganum, CT 06441.  He has a new email address dnauber@yahoo.com.

 

For additional Frers 33 class information, contact the Class President, Dave Nauber at dnauber@classeaudio.com
 

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