Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo

Buccaneer Rodeo Notice of Race

2008-07-13T13:01:00.010-06:00

Buccaneer Class MacAlpine-Downie Gibbs Cup Regatta

Heron Lake, Los Ojos, New Mexico

August 30–31, 2008

NOTICE OF RACE

.......

1 _.__ RULES

1.1 ___ The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005–2008.

1.2 ___ The Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Class Rules (CR) and Buccaneer Class Association racing rules, in effect at the time of the regatta, will apply and will prevail if there is a conflict with this Notice, except as modified below or as modified by the Sailing Instructions.

1.3 ___ This regatta is a sanctioned event for the Buccaneer Class Association (BCA). Rules of the Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Class Rules (CR), are changed as follows:

1.3.1 . Violation of class rules that have been modified by the NOR or Sailing Instructions shall not be grounds for protest by a competitor. This changes the statement in the introduction to the Buccaneer Class Racing Rules that states, "A skipper has the right to protest ... any Buccaneer which does not conform...."

1.3.2 .. Measurement of boats or sails will not be required as a condition of entry. However, all boats are expected to conform to the Buccaneer Class Racing Rules. The race committee reserves the right to measure and inspect a boat, sails, or equipment at its discretion.

1.3.3 .. Entrants are required to be members of the Buccaneer Class Association and may join the BCA at the event. Entrants are not required to have a BCA measurement certificate. The eligibility requirements of Championship Racing, section 11 in the Buccaneer Constitution, are modified for this regatta.

1.3.4 .. The requirements for safety equipment are modified to state that safety equipment meet the requirements of the State of New Mexico, in addition to any other stated requirements.

2 _._._ ADVERTISING

2.1 ___ Advertising will be restricted to Category A

___

3 _._._ ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

3.1 ___ The regatta is open to ALL Buccaneer and Starwind 18 sailboats.

___

3.2 ___ Eligible boats may enter by

3.2.1 ... pre-registering or sending a representative to attend the skipper/crew meeting at the Heron Lake Marina between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m., Saturday, August 30, 2008 and complete a registration form,

3.2.2 ... paying the $30 ($25 if postmarked by August 8, 2008) registration fee,

3.2.3 ... signing the registration form and waiver, and

3.2.4.... ensuring the skipper is a member of the Buccaneer Class Association.

…

3.4 ___ By participating in this Regatta, a competitor grants to the organizing authority and its sponsors the right in perpetuity to make, use and show, from time to time at their discretion, any photographs, sound recordings, motion pictures and live, taped or filmed television and other reproductions of him or her during the period of the competition without compensation.

3.5 ___ Each skipper participating in this Regatta warrants that his or her boat is suitable for participating in the regatta and is responsible for the safety and safe operation of his or her boat and crew.

4 __._ FEES

Required fees are $30 per boat.

5 _..__ SCHEDULE

5.1 ___ Registration is from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 30, 2008, at the Heron Lake Marina, Heron Lake State Park, Los Ojos, New Mexico.

5.2 ___ Dates and times of racing, and number of races, and times of last starts will be as specified in the Sailing Instructions. The anticipated schedule is shown below in paragraphs 5.3 - 5.5.

5.3 ___ The skipper/crew meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 30, 2008, at the Heron Lake Marina.

5.4 ___ The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on Saturday is 1:00 p.m.

No warning signal will be made after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

5.5 ___ The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on Sunday is 10:00 a.m.

No warning signal will be made after 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

6 _.__ SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The sailing instructions will be available by 10:30 a.m. on August 30, 2008, at the Heron Lake Marina. The race committee may, at its option, make the sailing instructions available at an earlier date.

___

7 __._ VENUE

The venue is Heron Lake, located at Heron Lake State Park in northern New Mexico. Attachment A shows the racing area.

___

8 _.__ THE COURSES

___

The courses to be sailed will be as follows: For each race, the race committee signal boat will display flags to indicate the configuration of the course, as designated by number on the chart of courses (Appendix B).__

9 ....... FLEETS

..
All Buccaneers shall start and be scored as a single fleet. Any Mutineers or other boats may be started as separate fleets under separate instructions.

.....

10 ___ RESTRICTIONS

___

10.1 __ Electronics. Skippers and crew may not use a radio or mobile telephone (cell phone) to receive assistance not freely available to all boats. A boat may have a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver aboard.

___

10.2 __ Berthing. After the conclusion of Saturday's racing, skippers are free to place boats in a marina slip, in mast-up storage, in a launch ramp or marina parking area, on the beach, at anchor, or otherwise, so long as they meet any applicable State Park or marina requirements.

___

10.3 __ Safety. All participating boats, skippers, and crews are required to follow Federal, State, and local safety regulations. The Race Committee, at its discretion, may prohibit or terminate participation for any vessel that is unseaworthy or that is operated in an unsafe or illegal manner.

. ___

11 __._ SCORING

___

11.1 __ One race is required to be completed to constitute a series.

___

11.2 __ When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores with no throw-outs or exclusions. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

___

11.3 __ If four to six races are completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst excludable score. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

11.4 __ If seven or more races are completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst excludable scores. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

___ ….

___

12 ___ PRIZES

___

Prizes will be given for First, Second, and Third place.

___

The race committee may, at its option and depending upon sufficient participation, give other awards.

The Buccaneer Rodeo has been selected as the Buccaneer Class Association's venue in 2008 for competition for the MacAlpine-Downie Gibbs Cup, named in honor of the founders of the Buccaneer class, Rod MacAlpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs. The regatta winner will receive the perpetual trophy to keep until the next MDG Cup regatta. An additional award will be made for service to the Buccaneer Class.

. ___

13 _.__ DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

___

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

___

Crew members are advised to satisfy themselves as to the experience of the skipper and the adequacy and location of all safety equipment and insurance arrangements.

___

Each skipper is responsible for the safety of his or her boat and all aspects of her operation. The skipper shall ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy, manned by a crew sufficient in number and experience who are physically fit to face in all conditions. The skipper must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging and all gear. She or he must ensure that all safety equipment is accessible; meets government and class requirements; and is kept in sound, usable condition

14 ___ INSURANCE

Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance.

. ___

15 ___ FURTHER INFORMATION

___

A document describing the venue will be provided to competitors.

___

For further information please contact
Jim Daus, godausgo@yahoo.com
David Spira, 303 3290-8100, dspira@kewrealty.com
Pat Byrnes, 505-265-6741, rgsc@zianet.com; or

http://bucc18.blogspot.com

Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo Registration 2008

2008-07-13T12:26:00.003-06:00

Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo Registration

August 30-31, 2008

Heron Lake State Park, Los Ojos, New Mexico

Skipper: __________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

City: ___________________ State ____ Zip _____________

Phone: ______________ _______________ _______________
. . . . . . . . (home) . . . . . . . (office) . . . . . . . . . . (cell)

E-mail/web: ________________________________________

Birthdate (required if born after January 1, 1989): ________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crew name(s): __________________ ___________________

Birthdate (required if born after January 1, 1989): ________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boat name ___________________ Sail Number ___________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Information

Please list any allergies, diet restrictions, special medical concerns,
or needs for you, your crew, or members of your traveling party.

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Optional: I am a member of ...

____ Buccaneer Class Assn. ____ BCA Associate Member

____ US Sailing ____ SAIL ____ SCYA _____ YRUSC

____ Sailing Club, Yacht Club, or other boating organization:

____________________________________________________

Other special features of my crew or boat:

____________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regatta Fee: $30.00 per boat (check, money order, cash)
($25 if postmarked by Friday, August 8, 2008), to

New Mexico Sailing Club,
PO Box 1795
Bernalillo, NM 87004

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Agreement and Signature:

I agree to be bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing, the Notice of Race
and Sailing Instructions for the Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo,
applicable Buccaneer Class Association rules, and applicable local,
state, and federal regulations.

I acknowledge that I am responsible for deciding whether to launch,
start, or continue in an event at this regatta, and I acknowledge my
responsibility for ensuring that myself, crew, and boat are seaworthy
for conditions that may be encountered during this regatta.

_____________________________________________________

(parent or guardian must also sign for a minor)

Texas Buccaneer visits Heron Lake

2008-07-13T12:06:00.009-06:00

It's a red Red Raider! Walt and Kathy trailered their recently acquired Buccaneer from Lubbock, Texas, to Heron Lake at the beginning of the month and enjoyed the cool nights and varied sailing conditions at the lake.

To Pat, Mac, Beth, George, and all of the other NMSC members who helped make our week at Heron Lake wonderful, thanks! thanks! thanks!

The lake was beautiful and fun to sail and the campsites couldn't have been better. As beginning sailors, the helpful suggestions that we received from all of you allowed us to learn more in a week than we could have learned in a summer on our own. And, best of all, the hospitality made us feel like we were among old friends (which we now consider all of you to be).

I have uploaded our photos of the trip to Heron Lake to our Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oler/
But, the pictures just don't do justice to a beautiful lake and the memories that we carried home.

Among the photos, you will find a Google Maps image of our local sailing site, Lake Alan Henry. I was out Friday with my sailing buddy, George (there are other sailors in Lubbock), and we discovered that the area in front of the dam is great for sailing with consistent 20 mph winds on that day. Ya'll come visit us some time and let us return the hospitality that you showed us.

Thanks again,
Walt & Kathy

Sailing at Heron Lake

2008-07-13T11:56:00.008-06:00

Beyond the Heron Lake Marina's A dock sailboats romp in a breeze funneled up the Narrows.

The Bayfield 25 "Lady Bug" sails toward her mooring.

With a good breeze blowing, this boat seen beyond the Narrows is down to headsail only.

West Wight Potter "Spar Trek" as seen from Walt and Kathy's Buccaneer.

Heron Lake Marina

2008-07-13T11:44:00.007-06:00

Natural drama comes easily to view at the Heron Lake Marina.

Another great days comes to an end; shown is part of the Heron Lake Marina with the Narrows beyond.

Potlucks under the pavilion are a fun part of life at Heron Lake.

Mast-up pole near the large mast-up storage lot. In the background is Willow Creek Cove and the New Mexico Sailing Club's Heron Lake Marina.

Heron Lake views and moods

2008-07-13T11:38:00.004-06:00

Another gorgeous Heron Lake sunset.

View from campground area toward the Narrows and marina.

View form near the dam.

Camping at Heron Lake

2008-07-13T11:27:00.004-06:00

Walt and Kathy camped at Heron Lake's Brushy Point site, where the views were fantastic.

Here their red Buccaneer enjoys a view of the lake that she'll soon sail.

Tierra Wools near Heron Lake, New Mexico

2008-07-13T11:21:00.005-06:00

Show room at Tierra Wools. Walt and Kathy took these pictures during a break from sailing their Buccaneer at Heron Lake during the fourth of July weekend (2008). Tierra Wools is one of the one-of-a-kind interesting places nearby that make Heron Lake a fun base for exploring the area. Another is the historic Cumbres and Toltec steam railroad in Chama, billed as "America's Highest and Longest", which winds through more than 60 miles of meadows and mountains.

Loom used for hand weaving at Tierra Wools.

Facade of High Country lounge, package store, and restaurant. Lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch are typically excellent here. Weekend evenings often feature live entertainment.

Photos from Tony Chapman

2007-09-06T20:25:00.001-06:00

Buccs in the south end of Willow Creek Cove, near the Heron Lake Marina.

David Spira collects his plaque.

Quack Quack gets the gold.

Buccaneers at play, Saturday, part i

2007-09-06T09:55:00.001-06:00

Buccaneers at play, Saturday, part ii

2007-09-06T09:48:00.001-06:00

Sunset at Heron Lake during the Buccaneer Rodeo

2007-09-06T09:41:00.000-06:00

As Buccaneers enjoyed Saturday night's potluck dinner, the sunset became quite a show. Thanks to Stan for getting and sharing these great pictures.

Buccaneers at play, Saturday, part iii

2007-09-06T00:51:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Stan for all the great pictures!

Tabulated Results

2007-09-06T00:41:00.000-06:00

Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo
September 1-2, 2007
Tabulated Results

Pl._Pts._R1___R2_____R3____R4______R5___Sail__Boat_______Skipper

1___5___(5)___1______2______1______1____5218__QuackQuack_Jim Daus

2___7____1___(3)_____1______2______3____5230__Euphoria___David Spira

3__11____2___(5)_____3______4______2____2900__S. Banshee_Pat Blumm

4__12____3____2______4______3_____(5)___5215__Quack______J. Gray/J. Reed

5__18____4____4______5______5___(8) dnf_5201__Elusive____Chris Gulden

6__22_6 dns_6 dns__6 dns__(7) dns__4____5231__Lazy Bones_Antony Chapman

7__24_6 dns_6 dns__6 dns__(7) dns__6____5207__Kestrel____Herb Tardy

8__24_6 dns_6 dns__6 dns____6___(8) dnf_1484__Ruthless___John McKay

9__25_6 dns_6 dns__6 dns__(7) dns__7____5211__Blue_______Aaron Horwich

5/5 start/finish, race 1
5/5 start/finish, race 2
5/5 start/finish, race 3
6/6 start/finish, race 4
9/7 start/finish, race 5

New Mexico Sailing Club A Fleet Boats
Provisional Results, subject to confirmation of registration and adjusted finish times
A Fleet; 3 races Saturday, 1 race Sunday (net points after 1 throw-out)
Pl._Pts___R1_____R2_____R3____R4____Sail___Boat________Skipper
1__3_____1_____(2)_____1_____1____4441__Kachina_____Rich Strasia
2__6_____2______1______3__(5) dns_4400__Wild Thing__Dave Perry
3__7____(3)_____3______2_____2____125___Black Magic_Carol A Byrnes
4_12____(4)_____4______4_____4____1561__Hot Flash___Lisa Carlson
5_13_(5) dns__5 dns__5 dns___3____0000__Step 2______T J Allard
4/4 starters/finishers for races 1-4

New Mexico Sailing Club B Fleet boats
Provisional Results, subject to confirmation of registration and adjusted finish times
B Fleet, 3 races Saturday, 1 race Sunday

Pl._Pts__R1_____R2_______R3____R4____Boat_________Skipper
1___4_____1_____1________2____(4) ___Dado_________Stan Hafenfeld
2*__6_____3_____2________1__(5)_dns__Lochinvar___((not registered)
3___7__(4)_dns_3_dns__3_dns____1_____Capri_18_____Steve_Gardner
4___8__(4)_dns_3_dns__3_dns____2_____Proverb_23___Dan_Galasini
5___8_____2____3_dns__3_dns_(5)_dns__Highlander___Rich_Koch
6___9__(4)_dns_3_dns__3_dns____3 ____Blew_By_You__S. Nazelrod/S. Jackman

3/3 starters/finishers for race 1
2/2 starters/finishers for races 2, 3
4/4 starters/finishers for race 4

Scenic Heron Lake, Buccaneer Rodeo

2007-09-06T00:40:00.001-06:00

Local Motion

2007-09-06T00:27:00.001-06:00

Black Magic and Wild Thing pulled by big chutes.

Saturday night's all right, part i

2007-09-06T00:18:00.000-06:00

What's happening under the Heron Lake pavilion?

Saturday night's all right, part ii

2007-09-06T00:12:00.000-06:00

Ready for dinner?

Saturday night's all right, part iii

2007-09-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

Yep, this is a little corny.

Saturday night's all right, part iv

2007-09-05T23:48:00.000-06:00

Saturday night's all right, part v

2007-09-05T23:35:00.000-06:00

Queen of the grill.

Jennnifer, Beth, and Lisa celebrate their adventures on the J24s Wild Thing and Hot Flash.

Lots of smiles from Cindy and Sue.

Saturday night's all right, part vi

2007-09-05T23:22:00.000-06:00

Sunday at Heron Lake

2007-09-05T23:20:00.001-06:00

more of Stan's pix from Sunday

2007-09-05T23:06:00.000-06:00

A beautiful day on the water.

Buccs ghost along.

Sailboats maneuver near the committee boat.

A line of Buccaneers takes off from the start.

Creatures of Heron Lake

2007-09-05T22:59:00.000-06:00

Are things a bit fishy here?

Or have they just gone to the dogs?

Sunday's light air with plenty of Buccs and boats

2007-09-02T22:46:00.000-06:00

Light winds brought a challenge to the Buccaneer Rodeo on Sunday. But, with sunnier skies, more boats came out than the day before, with nine Buccs starting, followed by ten boats from the New Mexico Sailing Club. Jim Daus on Quack Quack edged out David Spira's Euphoria for overall regatta honors, followed by Pat Blumm's Scarlet Banshee, in turn just one point ahead of Quack with James Gray and Josh Reed. Special notice was also made of Aaron, the Buccaneer Rodeo's youngest skipper on Blue.

Heron Lake panorama.

The Scarlet Banshee, with Arizonans Pat Blumm and Dennis Martinelli on board, enjoy the view during a quiet moment on Sunday.

More photos from the Buccaneer Rodeo, Sunday

2007-09-02T22:27:00.000-06:00

Bob Hopper and Gerald Byrnes coax the engine into life on Sunday's mark-set boat. Without a radio, and having to place a mark in water that was 200 feet deep, mark setting was a challenge for them. They also had lots of suggestions for making future regattas run more smoothly. Mark setting duties on Saturday were provided by Lee Brammeier, Tom Brammeier, and Gerald Byrnes on the pontoon boat that Lee and Norm Schreifels own.

Antony Chapman, 5231, Lazy Bones, and Pat Blumm, 2900, Scarlet Banshee, represented Arizona Buccaneers at Heron Lake.

David Spira on 5230, Euphoria, sails near the pin.

Pat Blumm's Scarlet Banshee sails in front of the Brazos Cliffs.

Still more pix, Sunday

2007-09-02T22:16:00.001-06:00

Rich Strasia relaxes after the race on the J24 Kachina.

Aaron Horwich, the youngest skipper in the regatta, sails 5211 "Blue" across the line to conclude the final race of the 2007 Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo.

Buccaneers and New Mexico Sailing Club boats return to The Narrows and the Heron Lake Marina.

Sailors enjoy good sailing conditions that sprung up shortly after the conclusion of the Buccaneer Rodeo.

Buccaneers at play -- come for fun and plunder!

2007-09-01T11:00:00.000-06:00

Have you saved your place on the starting line?

Copy the registration form into your e-mail or word processor
and weigh anchor for Heron Lake.

Notice of Race

2007-09-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo

September 1 - 2, 2007

New Mexico Sailing Club
Heron Lake, New Mexico

NOTICE OF RACE

1 -------- RULES

1.1 ----- The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.

1.2 ----- The Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Class Rules (CR) and Buccaneers Class Association racing rules, in effect at the time of the regatta, will apply and will prevail if there is a conflict with this Notice, except as modified below or as modified by the Sailing Instructions.

1.3 ----- This regatta is a non-sanctioned event. The following Rules of the Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Class Rules (CR), are changed as follows:

1.3.1 -- Violation of class rules shall not be grounds for protest by a competitor. This changes the statement in the introduction to the Buccaneer Class Racing Rules that states, “A skipper has the right to protest … any Buccaneer which does not conform….”

1.3.2 -- Measurement of boats or sails will not be required as a condition of entry. Sails are not required to bear a royalty stamp as a condition of entry. The race committee reserves the right to measure and inspect a boat, sails, or equipment at its discretion. The race committee may at its discretion waive the requirements of the class racing rules for sails that are contained in section III. (prev. C.) Sails of the introductory section of the Buccaneer Class Racing Rules, or the requirements contained under BUCCANEER CLASS MEASUREMENTS.

1.3.3 -- Entrants are not required to be members of the Buccaneer Class Association or to have a BCA measurement certificate. The eligibility requirements of Championship Racing, section 11 in the Buccaneer Constitution, are not applicable to this regatta.

1.3.4 -- The requirements for safety equipment are modified to state that safety equipment meet the requirements of the State of New Mexico, in addition to any other stated requirements.

2 -------- ADVERTISING

2.1 ----- Advertising will be restricted to Category A.

3 -------- ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

3.1 ---- The regatta is open to ALL Buccaneer and Starwind 18 sailboats.

3.2 ----- Eligible boats may enter by

3.2.1 -- pre-registering or
sending a representative to attend the skipper/crew meeting at the Heron Lake Marina between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 1, 2007 and complete a registration form,

3.2.2 -- paying the $30 registration fee, and

3.2.3 -- signing the registration form and waiver.

3.3 ----- Any competitor (skipper or crew) who will be under 18 years of age as of the first day of the regatta shall provide a release for medical care signed by a parent or guardian.

3.4 ----- By participating in this Regatta, a competitor grants to the organizing authority and its sponsors the right in perpetuity to make, use and show, from time to time at their discretion, any photographs, sound recordings, motion pictures and live, taped or filmed television and other reproductions of him or her during the period of the competition without compensation.

3.5 ----- Each skipper participating in this Regatta warrants the suitability of his or her boat for participating in the regatta and is responsible for the safety and safe operation of his or her boat and crew.

4 -------- FEES

Required fees are $30 per boat.

5 -------- SCHEDULE

5.1 ----- Registration is from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 1, 2007, at the Heron Lake Marina, Heron Lake State Park, Los Ojos, New Mexico.

5.2 ----- Dates and times of racing, and number of races, and times of last starts will be as specified in the Sailing Instructions. The anticipated schedule is shown below in paragraphs 5.3 – 5.5.

5.3 ----- The skipper/crew meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 1, 2007, at the Heron Lake Marina.

5.4 ----- The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on Saturday is 1:30 p.m. No warning signal will be made after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

5.5 ----- The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on Sunday is 10:00 a.m.
No warning signal will be made after 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

6 -------- SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The sailing instructions will be available by 10:30 a.m. on September 1, 2007, at the Heron Lake Marina. The race committee may, at its option, make the sailing instructions available at an earlier date.

7-------- VENUE

The venue is Heron Lake, located at Heron Lake State Park in northern New Mexico. Attachment A shows the racing area.

8 -------- THE COURSES

All boats shall start and be scored as a single fleet.

10 ------- RESTRICTIONS

10.1 ---- Electronics. Skippers and crew may not use a radio or mobile telephone (cell phone) to receive assistance not freely available to all boats. A boat may have a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver aboard.

10.2 ---- Berthing. After the conclusion of Saturday’s racing, skippers are free to place boats in a marina slip, in mast-up storage, in a launch ramp or marina parking area, on the beach, at anchor, or otherwise, so long as they meet any applicable State Park or marina requirements.

10.3 ---- Youth. In New Mexico, a skipper born after January 1, 1989, is required to have completed a New Mexico Safe Boating Class, or an approved equivalent course. Youth skippers shall contact the organizing authority or New Mexico State Parks boating safety personnel to arrange to meet this requirement prior to the regatta.

10.4 ---- Safety.

All participating boats, skippers, and crews are required to follow Federal, State, and local safety regulations.

The Race Committee, at its discretion, may prohibit or terminate participation for any vessel that appears to be unsafe or unseaworthy, or which is operated in an unsafe or illegal manner.

11 ------- SCORING

11.1 ---- One race is required to be completed to constitute a series.

11.2 ---- When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores with no throw-outs or exclusions. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

11.3 ---- If four to six races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst excludable score. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

11.4 ---- If more than six races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst excludable scores. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

12 ------- PRIZES

Prizes will be given for First, Second, and Third place.

The race committee may, at its option and depending upon sufficient
participation, give other awards.

13 ------- DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See RRS rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

Neither the establishment of the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, nor their use by the Organizing Authority and the Race Organizers, in any way limits the absolute responsibility of the Owner/Skipper. Crew members are advised to satisfy themselves as to the experience of the skipper and the adequacy and location of all safety equipment and insurance arrangements. Each skipper is responsible for the safety of his or her boat and all aspects of her operation. The skipper shall ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy, manned by a crew sufficient in number and experience who are physically fit to face in all conditions. The skipper must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging and all gear. She or he must ensure that all safety equipment is accessible; meets government and class requirements; and is kept in sound, usable condition.

14 ------- INSURANCE

Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance.

15 ------- FURTHER INFORMATION

A document describing the venue is provided on the regatta website, http://bucc18.blogspot.com. The venue guide consists of six sections, and contains directions to the area as well as information on local lodging and services.

For further information please contact
(remove anti-spam padding in addresses)
Jim Daus, g o d a u s g o n o s p a m @ y a h o o . c o m
David Spira, 303 329-8100, d s p i r a n o s p a m @ k e w r e a l t y . c o m
Pat Byrnes, 505-265-6741, r g s c n o s p a m @ z i a n e t . c o m

Appendix A. Heron Lake Course/Race Map

To Heron Lake Marina, Willow Creek boat ramp
The Narrows
Wind Warning Island
Race Area
Ridge Rock
La Laja boat ramp

It is anticipated that racing will occur in the area between the Wind Warning Island (just to left of center of lake) and The Narrows (toward top right on map)

Appendix B. Course Diagrams.

Course 1: Start – 1 – 3 – Finish
(Start – Windward – Leeward – Windward – Finish)

Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used.

Course 2: Start – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – Finish
Start – Windward – Leeward – Windward– Leeward –Windward – Finish

Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used. The start-finish line will be mid-course. This changes the diagram above.

Course 3:

Start – 1 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 2 - Finish
(Start – Windward – Reach – Reach – Windward – Leeward – Windward –Finish; a.k.a. Olympic, Harry Morgan)

Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used. The start-finish line will be mid-course. This changes the diagram above.

In addition to the courses shown above,
variations of these courses may be used in which the start-finish line is a mandatory gate through which boats must pass during beats an runs.

Course 4 will be the same as Course 1, except that the start-finish line will be a mandatory gate on the downwind run.

Course 5 will be the same as Course 2, except that the start-finish line will be a mandatory gate on the first downwind run, second beat to windward, and second downwind run.

Course 6 will be the same as Course 3, except that the start-finish line will be a mandatory gate on the second beat and the following downwind run.

In addition, one other course will be available, Course 7, which shall consist of a simple beat to windward and downwind finish.

Final Draft Sailing Instructions

2007-08-15T01:06:00.000-06:00

Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo

August 31 – September 2, 2007

New Mexico Sailing Club
Heron Lake, New Mexico

DRAFT SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1 ------ RULES

1.1 ----- The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.

1.2 ----- The Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Class Rules (CR) and Buccaneer Class Association racing rules, in effect at the time of the regatta, will apply and will prevail if there is a conflict with this Notice, except as modified herein.

1.3 ----- This regatta is a non-sanctioned event. The following Rules of the Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Class Rules (CR), are changed as follows:

1.3.1 ----- Violation of class rules shall not be grounds for protest by a competitor. This changes the statement in the introduction to the Buccaneer Class Racing Rules that states, “A skipper has the right to protest … any Buccaneer which does not conform….”

1.3.2 ----- Measurement of boats or sails will not be required as a condition of entry. Sails are not required to bear a royalty stamp as a condition of entry. The race committee reserves the right to measure and inspect a boat, sails, or equipment at its discretion. The race committee may at its discretion waive the requirements of the class racing rules for sails that are contained in section III. (prev. C.) Sails of the introductory section of the Buccaneer Class Racing Rules, or the requirements contained under BUCCANEER CLASS MEASUREMENTS.

1.3.3 ----- Entrants are not required to be members of the Buccaneer Class Association or to have a BCA measurement certificate. The eligibility requirements of Championship Racing, section 11 in the Buccaneer Constitution, are not applicable to this regatta.

1.3.4 ----- The requirements for safety equipment are modified to state that safety equipment meet the requirements of the State of New Mexico, in addition to any other stated requirements.

2 ------ NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

2.1 ----- Notices to Competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the Heron Lake Marina.

3 ------ CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 ----- Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted before 1100 Saturday, September 1, in order to take effect upon that day, or else before 0830 Sunday, September 2.

4 ------ SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

4.1 ----- Signals made ashore will be displayed at the Heron Lake Marina.

4.2 ----- When flag AP is displayed ashore, the term ‘1 minute” is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’ meaning that the warning signal will not be made less than 30 minutes after signal AP is lowered ashore. This changes the definition of race signal AP.

4.3 ----- When flag Y is displayed ashore, rule 40.1 applies at all times while underway. This changes the Part 4 preamble.

5 ------ SCHEDULE OF RACES

5.1 ----- Dates of racing shall be as follows:
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007

5.2 ----- The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on Saturday is 1:30 p.m. No warning signal will be made after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

5.3 ----- The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on Sunday is 10:00 a.m. No warning signal will be made after 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The first warning signal may be made earlier than scheduled if all registered boats are present in the race area.

6 ------ CLASS FLAGS

6.1 ----- The class flag for the Buccaneer class shall be a black flag with a white emblem.

6.2 ----- If a subsequent class is started, the next class shall be started with a yellow class flag.

7 ------ RACING AREA

Appendix A shows the racing area.

8 ------ THE COURSES

8.1 ----- The courses to be sailed will be as follows: For each race, the race committee signal boat will display flags to indicate the configuration of the course, as designated by number on the chart of courses (Appendix B).

8.2 ----- The starting configuration will be a mid-course start. A common start/finish line will be used.

8.3 ----- Each mark is to be left to port. If an offset mark is used, then both the turning mark and offset mark are to be left to port.

8.4 ----- If the start/finish line is designated as a gate, then boats must sail between the pin and race committee signal boat from the direction of the last mark during each upwind and downwind leg of the course.

8.5 ----- If a gate is used for a windward or leeward mark, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and round either gate mark.

9 ------ MARKS

9.1 ----- The Marks of the course shall consist of inflatable orange or yellow spherical or tetrahedral buoys designated as (1) windward, (2) reach, and (3) reach or leeward.

9.2 ----- The common start and finish line will be marked by a pin buoy on one end and the luff of an orange flag upon the race committee signal boat on the other end.

10 ------ THE START

10.1 ---- Races will be started in accordance with rule 26 with the following addition: An attention signal will be made approximately 1 minute before the warning signal for each race. In addition, all sound signals used in the start sequence are permitted to be of the same approximate duration. This changes rule 26.

10.2 ---- Any boats or classes whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.

10.3 ---- A boat starting later than 20 minutes after her starting signal shall be scored Did Not Start (DNS). This changes rule A4.

11 ------ CHANGES TO THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

11.1 ---- To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position.

12 ------ FINISHING

12.1 --- The finishing line will be marked by a pin buoy on one end and an orange flag upon the race committee signal boat on the other end.

12.2 --- The race committee boat will NOT display a blue flag or shape to indicate she is in position at the finishing line. This modifies Race Signal “Blue Flag”.

12.3 --- A race committee boat may hold position on the finish line by using her engine.

13 ------ PENALTY SYSTEM

13.1 --- Rule 44.1 and 44.2, Two Turns Penalty, shall be in effect.

13.2 --- In addition, a boat breaking a rule of Part 2 of the RRS may take a penalty after the incident and prior to the start of a protest hearing by taking a 40% Scoring Penalty as calculated in RRS 44.3(c). This changes Rule 44.1.

13.3 --- Arbitration will be provided. This changes Rules 44.1, 63, and 64. Parties may agree to the arbiter's recommendations and withdraw protests prior to convening a protest hearing. This changes Rule 63.1.

13.4 --- A boat in violation of Sailing Instruction 10.2 (keep clear of starting area) may be protested by the race committee or protest committee for violation of rule 2 or rule 22 and penalized accordingly by the protest committee.

14 ------ TIME LIMITS

Time limits are as follows:

14.1 --- If no boat has passed Mark 1 (windward) within 40 minutes, the race shall be abandoned.

14.2 --- If no boat has finished within 100 minutes, the race shall be abandoned. The race committee may elect to shorten or change the course in accordance with the RRS at any time prior to the expiration of 100 minutes.

14.3 --- The race committee may establish target times and wind speeds for courses.

14.4 --- A boat that starts but fails to finish within 20 minutes after the first boat finishes will be scored Did Not Finish (DNF). This changes rules 35 and A4.

15 ------ PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

15.1 --- Protest forms shall be available at the Heron Lake Marina or from the principal race officer.

15.2 --- Written protests shall be delivered to the race office at the Heron Lake marina within the protest time limit, which shall be one hour after the race committee signal boat docks at the Heron Lake Marina.

15.3 --- Notices of protests will be posted at the Heron Lake Marina within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or in which they are named as witnesses.

15.4 --- Notices of protests made by the race committee will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform boats under rule 61.1(b).

15.5 --- A breach of sailing instructions 10.2, 17, 18.2, or 21 shall not be grounds for a protest by a boat.

16 ------ SCORING

16.1 ---- Scoring shall follow the Low Point System except as described below.

16.2 --- One race is required to be completed to constitute a series.

16.3 --- Throw-outs shall be allowed as follows:

16.3.1 --- When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores with no throw-outs or exclusions. This changes Appendix A, A2, Series Scores, of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

16.3.2 ---- If four to six races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst excludable score. This changes Appendix A, A2, Series Scores, of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

16.3.3 ---- If more than six races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst excludable scores. This changes Appendix A, A2, Series Scores, of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

16.4 --- Scores shall be recorded and computed as follows:

16.4.1 ---- A boat that is scored Did Not Finish (DNF) shall be assigned points equal to the number of finishers plus one. This changes Appendix A, A 4.2.

16.4.2 ---- A boat that is scored Did Not Start (DNS) or Did Not Come (DNC), or On the Course Side (OCS) shall be assigned points equal to the number of starters plus one. This changes Appendix A, A 4.2.

16.4.3 ---- A boat that is scored Retired After Finishing (RAF) shall be assigned points equal to the number of boats registered for the regatta plus one. This changes Appendix A, A 4.2.

16.4.4 ---- A boat that is Disqualified (DSQ) shall be assigned points equal to the number of boats registered for the regatta plus two. This changes Appendix A, A 4.2.

17 ------ SAFETY

17.1 --- All participating boats, skippers, and crews are required to follow Federal, State, and local safety regulations.

17.2 --- The Race Committee, at its discretion, may prohibit or terminate participation for any vessel that appears to be unsafe or unseaworthy, or which is operated in an unsafe or illegal manner.

17.3 --- In New Mexico, a skipper born after January 1, 1989, is required to have completed a New Mexico Safe Boating Class, or an approved equivalent course.

17.4 --- A boat that retires from a race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.

17.5 --- The Race Committee, at its discretion, may determine that a person or vessel is in danger, and direct support or rescue personnel to provide aid, and may at its discretion determine that such aid does not violate rule 41, Outside Help.

17.6 --- Safety is a requirement for the success and continuance of the regatta. The Protest Committee or Jury will consider all relevant information if a boat is protested for receiving outside help (rule 41) in the event of receiving assistance subsequent to a breakdown, capsize, or injury. The protest committee will evaluate such an incident in the light of Rule 1.1, Helping Those in Danger. The protest committee at its option may impose a penalty of less than disqualification, or no penalty at all in such a situation. The protest committee may also award Redress to any boat and crew that come to the aid of any boat and crew that are in danger.

18 ------ SUBSTITUTIONS OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT

18.1 --- Substitution of competitors into or out of a boat shall not be allowed without prior written approval of the race committee.

18.2 --- Substitution of damaged or lost equipment may be made with equipment of like kind, provided the race committee is notified of the substitution at the first practical opportunity.

19 ------ MEASUREMENT

19.1 --- A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with rules, class rules, and these sailing instructions, or with any applicable governmental regulations.

20 ------ OFFICIAL BOATS

20.1 --- The race committee signal boat shall be marked by a blue race committee flag.

20.2 --- Other support boats shall fly a New Mexico Sailing Club burgee or other such insignia as designated by the race committee.

21 ------ MOMMY (SUPPORT) BOATS

21.1 --- Team leaders, coaches, and other support personnel shall stay outside the areas where boats are racing from the time of the preparatory signal until all boats have finished a race or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall, or abandonment.

21.2 --- Competitor support boats must be registered with the organizing authority.

22 ------ HAUL OUT RESTRICTIONS

22.1 --- No haul-out restrictions apply to this regatta.

23 ------ RADIO AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

23.1 --- Except for emergency, safety, or distress communications, a boat may not transmit or receive communications by radio, cellular telephone, or other electronic means, any information that is not freely available to all other boats. Boats are allowed to have a GPS receiver on board.

24 ------ KEEL-HAULING, WALKING THE PLANK

24.1 ---- Rule 47.2 applies in the event of keel-hauling, crew members being obliged to walk the plank, crew marooning, shore excursions taken during a race, or in the event of Insurrection, Mutiny, or Other Wanton Acts of Piracy and Buccaneering. See RRS Rule 47, Limitations on Equipment and Crew.

25 ------ PRIZES

25.1 ---- Prizes will be given for First, Second, and Third place.

25.2 ---- A Sportsmanship prize will be awarded to the crew that is observed to best exemplify sportsmanlike conduct in the finest Corinthian tradition.

25.3 ---- The race committee may, at its option and depending upon sufficient participation, give other awards.

26 ------ DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Neither he establishment of the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, nor their use by the Organizing Authority and the Race Organizers, in any way limits the absolute responsibility of the Owner/Skipper. Crew members are advised to satisfy themselves as to the experience of the skipper and the location and adequacy of all safety equipment and insurance arrangements.

Each skipper is responsible for the safety of his or her boat and all aspects of her operation. The skipper shall ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy, manned by a crew sufficient in number and experience who are physically fit to face all conditions. The skipper must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging and all gear. She or he must ensure that all safety equipment is accessible; meets government and class requirements; and is kept in sound, usable condition.

27 ----- INSURANCE

Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance.

Appendix A. Heron Lake Course/Race Map

Principal features labeled above are the
Jicarilla Apache Nation (top left)
Primitive camping area (left)
La Laja boat ramp (bottom left)
Ridge Rock (bottom toward left)
Heron Dam (bottom toward left center)
Wind Warning Island (left of center)
Race Area (center)
Island View CG
Brushy Point
Blanco and Willow Creek CG (right of center)
Boat ramp (center right)
Visitor Center (right)
Park Entry (far right)
Marina (top right)
The Narrows (left of top right)

Appendix B. Course Diagrams

Course 1, WLW:
Start – 1 – 3 – Finish
(Start, Windward, Leeward, Windward Finish)

Course 2, WLWLW:
Start – 1 – 3 – 1 – 3 – Finish
Start, Windward, Leeward, Windward, Leeward, Windward Finish
Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used.

Course 3, Olympic:

Start – 1 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 2 - Finish
(Start, Windward, Reach, Reach, Windward, Leeward, Windward Finish; a.k.a. Olympic, Harry Morgan)
Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used.

Course 4, WLW with gate:
Start – 1 – gate - 3 – Finish
(Start, Windward, gate, Leeward, Windward Finish)

Course 5, WLWLW with gate:
Start – 1 – gate – 3 – gate – 1 –gate – 3 – Finish

Start, Windward, gate, Leeward, gate, Windward, gate, Leeward, Windward Finish

Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used.

Course 6, Olympic with Gate:
Start – 1 – 2 – 3 – gate – 1 –gate – 2 - Finish

(Start, Windward, Reach, Reach, Windward, Leeward, Windward Finish; a.k.a. Olympic, Harry Morgan) Note: For the 2007 Labor Day weekend Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, a common start-finish line will be used.

Course 7, WL:
Start – 1 – Finish
(Start, Windward, Leeward Finish)

Appendix C. Signals, Abbreviations, Courses

2007-08-14T22:09:00.000-06:00

Appendix C.

Common Signals, Abbreviations, Course Summary

Common Flag Signals

Abbreviations

AP . . . Answering Pennant – General Recall

BCA . . Buccaneer Class Association

BNAC . Buccaneer North American Championship

Bucc . . Buccaneer

CR . . . class rules
DNC . . Did Not Come

DNF . . Did Not Finish

DNS . . Did Not Start

DSQ . . Disqualified

GPS . . Global Positioning Satellite

L . . . . . Leeward
Mutt . . . Mutineer
NMSC . New Mexico Sailing Club

NMSP . New Mexico State Parks

NOR . . Notice of Race

OCS . . On the Course Side

PRO . . Principal Race Officer

R . . . . Reach

RAF . . Retired After Finishing

RC . . . Race Committee

RRS . . Racing Rules of Sailing

SAIL . Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes

SIs . . Sailing Instructions
W . . . Windward

ZFP . . Zulu Flag Penalty (20%)

Course Summary

New Mexico Boating Safety Notes

2007-08-14T09:14:00.000-06:00

The following information is provided as a convenience to skippers and crews participating in the Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo. These items are advisory only and, in and of themselves, are not to be used as the basis of a protest.

Reciprocity --
New Mexico honors out-of-state registration from another state for a period of 90 consecutive days.

Registration --
In New Mexico, all motorboats (including sailboats with a motor and jet skis), all sailboats (except sailboards/windsurfers), and most other boats longer than ten feet must be registered. Certificate of number cards are to be carried on board.

Youth --
Children operating a motorboat or sailboat must have on-board adult supervision
OR
youth born after January 1, 1989 and age 13 or older must have completed a New Mexico Safe Boating class (or another state's equivalent) to skipper a boat without an adult on board.

Equipment: New Mexico requires the following items on an eighteen-foot sailboat:

Life vests. One wearable personal flotation device (Coast-Guard approved PFD or life vest) for each person on board.
Throwable: One throwable type IV PFD per boat.
Fire extinguisher (if boat has a motor or enclosed passenger or mechanical spaces)
Whistle: A sound producing device (whistle, or horn)
Oar or paddle except for sailboats with a removable centerboard and windsurfers
Bailing bucket, one gallon capacity or a hand-operated bilge pump
Painter/tow line; length of line at least as long as the boat

Additional requirements apply to larger boats and motorboats with inboard engines.

Other rules --
New Mexico law states that crews of boats participating in a regatta shall wear personal buoyancy.

Accidents --
Accidents must be reported if
damage is more than $100 (this may be changed)
a person becomes unconscious or requires treatment beyond first aid
a person disappears (injury or death suspected)
a person dies within 24 hours (loss of life)

Motoring --
Heron Lake is a no-visible-wake or "quiet" lake; motors are to be restricted to trolling speed.
New Mexico defines visible wake as white water visible to the front or side of a boat. An exception in the law is made for maintaining steerageway in rough weather.

Wind Warning Signal --
Heron Lake is provided with a light that flashes when winds rise to predetermined speed (usually in the 12 to 18 knot range; double flashes may appear at the higher end of the range).

A triangular small craft advisory pennant may be flown if sustained winds of 29 to 38 mph are expected and a gale warning, with two pennants, may be flown is sustained winds of 39 to 54 mph are expected. Closure of the lake to some vessels may happen during a small craft advisory, and closure of the lake to all vessels is likely during a gale warning.

Termination --
State Parks rangers and marine enforcement operators may terminate a voyage for significant equipment deficiencies or unsafe operation.

Local hazards --

Power lines exist near and within park boundaries. One such power line crosses highway 95 just east of the dam, and it managed to knock a sailboat off its trailer a few years ago.

During Labor Day weekend, water conditions are expected to be warm enough that hypothermia will be only a moderate hazard. Crews should however, be prepared to deal with the possibility of cold water shock or hypothermia. Because of Heron Lake's elevation of 7,155 feet above sea level, water is generally cool to cold, depending upon time of year and recent weather. Remember that capsizes and falls overboard may result in injury as well as exposure to cold water.

Racers will be notified of the general depth in the vicinity of racing marks. In general, Heron Lake has relatively few hazards that are likely to surprise a careful crew. Most of the lake is very deep and shoals are generally predictable.

Because of the altitude and nearby mountains, switchy winds and sudden wind shifts and puffs are very possible.

Registration

2007-08-13T14:00:00.000-06:00

Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo Registration

September 1-2, 2007

Heron Lake State Park, Los Ojos, New Mexico

Other special features of my crew or boat:

____________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regatta Fee: $30.00 per boat, cash or check to

New Mexico Sailing Club,
PO Box 1795
Bernalillo, NM 87004

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Agreement and Signature:

I agree to be bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing, the Notice of Race
and Sailing Instructions for the Rocky Mountain Buccaneer Rodeo, and
applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

I acknowledge that I am responsible for deciding whether to launch,
start, or continue in an event at this regatta, and I acknowledge my
responsibility for ensuring that myself, crew, and boat are seaworthy
for conditions that may be encountered during this regatta.

_____________________________________________________

(parent or guardian must also sign for a minor)

Heron Lake I: Introduction, Venue Information

2007-08-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

Venue Information for Heron Lake, New Mexico

I. Introduction

Heron is a high-altitude mountain lake inhabited by cool-water fish and bordered by juniper trees and ponderosa pines with views of sometimes snowy cliffs and crags; visits are a cool escape from warmer parts of the state.

Heron Lake has a normal capacity of 400,000 acre feet of water at elevation 7,192 feet, reaching the spillway if the lake reaches 410,000 a.f. When full, the lake has about 5,900 surface acres (more than 9 square miles of surface area, and is about four miles long by two to three miles wide). The lake is roughly oval shaped, with its long axis running SSW to ENE.

Boat ramps are generally usable at a lake elevation of at least 7,128’, at which point the lake has about 140,000 a.f. of water and is 37% full. This is also the minimum elevation at which the marina can begin to open, with A dock usable by shallow-draft vessels.

Portions of the lake are one- to two-hundred feet deep. The dam is 276 feet tall and 1,221 feet long.

Management and History

Heron Lake is owned and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, while recreation is provided for by Heron Lake State Park, which includes the lake and 4,100 adjoining acres. Water from the lake is used by many cities and tribes, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Española, Los Alamos, Red River, and Taos; the Middle Rio Grande Conservation District, and Pueblo of Pojoaque. Heron Lake State Park borders the lake on the south, southeast, and west. The state park is supported by The Friends of Heron and El Vado Lake State Parks.

Heron Lake was created in the early 1970s to store New Mexico’s share of western slope water. The water that feeds the lake is actually diverted from the western side of the Continental Divide via three tunnels with a length of more than 10 miles and diameters of 10 feet, then released into the headwaters of Willow Creek, which flows into Heron Lake immediately adjacent to the Heron Lake Marina.

Heron Lake State Park borders the lake on the south, southeast, and west. To the northwest is theJicarilla Apache nation, and to the north and east is the private Laguna Vista community.

The lake is supported by a friends organization, The Friends of Heron and El Vado Lake State Parks.

Lake History

Heron Lake was created in the early 1970s to store New Mexico’s share of western slope water. The water that feeds the lake is actually diverted from the western side of the Continental Divide via three tunnels with a length of more than 10 miles and diameters of 10 feet, then released into the headwaters of Willow Creek, which flows into Heron Lake immediately adjacent to the Heron Lake Marina.

Activities

Visitors to Heron Lake State Park may learn about the area at the Visitor’s Center, or participate in evening interpretive talks, trail walks, “Coffee with a Ranger” gatherings, or gaze down at the Rio Chama from the scenic overlook on the east side of the dam. The main activities at the lake are hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, and, of course, sailing.

Water released from Heron Dam enters the Rio Chama, which flows through a beautiful, wooded 5-mile canyon before reaching the upper portion of El Vado Lake. Although the placid lakes are the primary location for water-based recreation in the park, the Rio Chama and the adjacent hiking trail between the lakes offer one of the most scenic and enjoyable hikes in the New Mexico State Parks system.

Wildlife viewing is good in the area. Of interest are views of cliffs, mountains, forests, and wildlife. Southernmost point in U.S. where anglers regularly catch trophy cold-water fish such as lake trout, rainbow trout, and kokanee salmon.

Nearby activities including riding the historic steam-powered Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, horseback rides, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, sightseeing. Other local attractions include exhibits and classes at Tierra Wools, visits to the Parkview Fish Hatchery, and trips to the Jicarilla Apache reservation, Pagosa Springs (hot mineral baths), Taos, and the Great Sand Dunes National Monument.

In the winter months, activities include fishing, ice fishing, salmon snagging, cross-country skiing, and camping.

Next segments:

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-ii-getting-there-venue-info.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-iii-boating-and-nmsc.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-iv-lodging-and-services.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-v-what-to-do-or-see.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-vi-useful-info-html

New map scans for Heron Lake, NM

2007-08-13T10:49:00.000-06:00

Heron Lake, New Mexico,
with major features labeled.

Northern Rio Arriba County surrounding Heron Lake
with principal highways labeled.

Portion of brochure describing Heron Lake.

Heron Lake II: Getting There, Venue Info.

2007-08-13T10:38:00.000-06:00

II. How to Get to Heron Lake

Location

Heron Lake is situated in far northern New Mexico, only about 15 miles from the Colorado border and a few hours’ drive from the Four Corners juncture of NM, CO, AZ, and UT. With a surface elevation of 7,155 feet and high mountains within view, the lake offers cool relief from summer heat; temperatures seldom reach 90 degrees even in mid-summer.

The Jicarilla Apache tribe owns the land west and northwest of the park. The NM Game and Fish Division owns and manages lands adjacent to the southern boundary of the park, known as the Chama Fish and Wildlife Area. The Laguna Vista Landowners Association (LVLOA) is a group of landowners that own property on or near the park’s northern boundary.

Driving Directions, maps

From Albuquerque, Heron Lake is a three-hour drive from (165 miles).
From Denver, Heron is about 5 and 1/2 hours
(331 miles via Walsenburg and Alamosa)
(314 miles via Fairplay, Poncha Springs, and Alamosa)

From Phoenix, Heron is about 9 hours
(620 miles via Albuquerque, 9 and ¼ hours)
(575 miles via Farmington and Chama (9 ½ hours)
(Add 1 hour eastbound and subtract 1 hour west when
Arizona and NM are in different time zones)

Directions:

From Albuquerque
Take I-25 N to exit 276B for 599 bypass around Santa Fe and proceed about 14 miles; then merge onto US 84/285 North through Pojoaque to Española, about 25 miles.

Upon entering Española (milepost 188), turn left (west) just past the Dandy Burger and cross the Rio Grande to remain on US 84/285, then turn right (north) and very shortly thereafter take a diagonal left (northwest) to remain on the highway.

Proceed north from Española to Abiquiu (milepost 212 by Bode's Store), Ghost Ranch (m.p. 225 turnoff, m.p. 227 Piedra Lumbre visitor center, m.p. 229 Echo Amphitheater), and Cebolla (milepost 242/243) past milepost 254 to just south of Tierra Amarilla. There scenic US 64 comes in from Taos and the highway numbering system changes; the next milepost just past the junction is 175 and the numbers now start to get smaller.

After passing through Tierra Amarilla, slow down; the turnoff to the lake is between mileposts 172 and 171. Turn left (west) on NM state highway 95 and drive west about 5.3 miles to Heron Lake State Park. Shortly after entering the park, turn right on a gravel road (mile 5.8) that leads about 1/3 mile to the marina.

(If you are towing a boat to the ramp or wish to stop at the Visitor Center, do not turn off to the marina; proceed past mile marker 6 to the Visitor Center a bit further to the turnoff for the Willow Creek boat ramp [mile 6.7] and the first set of park campgrounds.)

From Denver:

Take US 285 through Fairplay to Buena Vista. Fairplay has services available.
As you drive through, you can enjoy the high meadows and gently rolling terrain of the South Park country and cross over the South Plate where it's a small stream. After leaving the South Park country, you'll climb through some hills and then get some great views of the Collegiate Peaks as you approach the south edge of Buena Vista, which also has motorist services. (The main part of Buena Vista will be north up US 24, away from your travel.) The segment from the US 470 East loop to the US 285/24 junction near Buena Vista is 102.2 miles.

At the Buena Vista junction, stop and turn left to continue on US 285 toward Poncha Springs for 21 miles. You will travel down the valley of the Arkansas River except for the last few miles, when the river bends east and you climb over a hill. On the north edge of Poncha Springs, stop (across from the Sears appliance store and the dairy snack place) and turn left, driving on US 285/50 a few blocks into town. Where US 50 goes east toward Colorado Springs, you will stay straight to continue driving south.

Drive 28.5 miles south from downtown Poncha Springs on US 285. This will take you over Poncha Pass and into the north end of the San Luis Valley.

Slow down and turn left at the US 285 - CO 17 intersection to drive more directly to Alamosa via CO 17.

Drive south 49.8 miles on CO 17 to Alamosa. En route, you'll pass through Moffat, Hooper, and Mosca (limited services), passing by a side road to Crestone, the 38th Parallel Forgotten War marker, side road to Great Sand Dunes Natl. Monument, and the Colorado Alligator Farm.

At the edge of Alamosa the LoafnJug #10 usually has good gas prices and has room for truck and boat parking in back. If you have a City Market card you can save a few cents per gallon here.

At the LoafnJug, turn right on US 160 / CO 17 (Denver Ave.) and cross over the Rio Grande into downtown Alamosa and drive on for a block or so.

Then turn right on US 160 / Main Street. Drive west on Main for just under half a mile. A Mexican restaurant on the left has parking in back with room for boat trailers. There's also a brew pub on the right, but parking will require you to venture a bit further afield.

Now, as you come to the edge of some road construction and US 160 continues westward, you will turn south to re-join US 285.

Drive south 28.1 miles to Antonito on US 285. En route, La Jara has very low gas prices and a grocery store and other services. It also has a slow speed limit. Bend right and drive a few blocks westward, enjoying the view of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad depot, yard, and trains to your left (south). At the west end of the train yard, US 285 goes south.

Continue west on what is now CO 17 (traffic for US 285 turns south at Antonito but you don't!).

Drive west on CO 17 through the mountains to the CO-NM border (49.3 miles) and beyond on NM 17 to Chama and the intersection of NM 17 with US 64/84.

En route, you'll pass by an Elk farm near Mogote and some old ruins. About 10 miles out of Antonito you'll begin to climb into mountain country, with a very gradual rise as you climb up the valley of the Rio Conejo. Horca has a restaurant and lodge. After crossing the Rio Conejo in Horca, you will climb steeply up to the summit of La Manga Pass (10,300 foot approx. elevation). Then you will continue through the high country (watch for livestock on the highway) for several miles (past a restaurant) to Cumbres Pass (10,015 feet elevation), which is a stopping point for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. A few miles below Cumbres Pass, CO 17 becomes NM 17 as you descend into the Chama Valley and enjoy great views.

Chama has several bed and breakfast inns, a number of motels and lodges (but no chain properties), cabin rentals, restaurants, auto parts, package liquor, rv supplies, a convenience store, three gas stations, and a good local grocery story, so most travelers' needs can be met here.

On the south side of town, close to the Sundial convenience store, continue straight to drive south on US 64/84 toward Tierra Amarilla. Drive about 10 miles south on US 64/84, enjoying the view of the Brazos Cliffs on the left. Shortly after passing the side road toward the Brazos Cliffs and the side road to the El Alamo Cafe, and a little bit after mile marker 172, slow down and turn right on NM 95 toward Heron Lake.

After turning right (west) on NM 95 toward Heron Lake, drive 5 miles to the Heron Lake State Park entrance. En route you'll cross over the Rio Chama, pass by Ed's Grill, the Laguna Vista gate, and the Heron Store, which has gasoline, basic groceries, RV parts, and fishing supplies.

Near mile 5.8 is the driveway to the marina. The driveway to the boat ramp and most campgrounds is further down the road, so don't turn here unless you need to talk to someone at the marina.

Near mile 6.3 is the state park visitor's center.

Near mile 6.7 is the paved driveway to the boat ramp and the Willow Creek and Blanco campgrounds.

Near mile 8 is the driveway to the Island View and Salmon Run campgrounds. Right near the road is a pole with an osprey nest. The driveway forks: left for Salmon Run, straight for the main Island View campsites and the shower facility, and right for the Island View reservation sites 101 - 114. Fork right if you snagged one of the reservation sites. Welcome!

From Phoenix via Albuquerque:

North to Flagstaff, 145 miles via I-17.

Then east through Winslow and Williams into New Mexico. East on I-40 past Gallup (Hacienda Motel is an interesting lunch stop), 185miles. Continue past Grants, and into Albuquerque.

Then north on I-25 about 50 miles to Santa Fe. Take exit 276B to Loop 599 around the west and north sides of Santa Fe as described below in the "from Albuquerque" directions.

From Phoenix via Four Corners:

At Gallup, 330 miles from Phoenix, you'll diverge onto a more scenic route and go north on what used to be called US 666, The Devil's Highway.

Take exit 20, Munoz Blvd., Shiprock, Zuni, NM 602, ramp 491. Drive north 85 miles through the Navajo Nation to Shiprock.

Take US 64 east 29 miles to Farmington. Farmington has plenty of facilities. You have an option of a truck route around the south side. Or, If you need to detour left toward the shopping mall and a lot of restaurants, you can turn left from Broadway Ave. onto E. Butler Ave. or Scott Ave. to go onto East Main. But, you'll eventually want to get south back to East Broadway and take it east as it continues as US 64 to Bloomfield, Dulce, and Chama.

Drive east on US 64 for 82 miles to bend north as you descend into Dulce, the capitol of the Jicarilla Apache tribe. Dulce has a Best Western, casino, and a nice hardware store and grocery. Annually, Dulce hosts the Little Beaver Roundup. Your route will skirt a few miles south of Navajo Lake. If you are adventurous, before you get to Dulce you can split off toward Stone Lake and then continue on a shortcut to El Vado and Heron Lakes. However, this shortcut will require that you have great confidence in your overland navigation and rough-road driving skills.

In Dulce, turn right and drive 13 miles further east to the US 64 - 84 intersection.

Bend right and drive 13 miles further east to continue east on US 64 -84 and cross over the Continental Divide and enter the village of Chama.

On the south side of town, close to the Sundial convenience store, turn right and drive south on US 64-84 for about 10 miles.

Enjoy the view of the Brazos Cliffs on the left. Shortly after passing the side road toward the Brazos Cliffs and the side road to the El Alamo Cafe, and a little bit after mile marker 172, slow down and turn right on NM 95 toward Heron Lake.

Near mile 5.8 is the driveway to the marina. The driveway to the boat ramp and most campgrounds is further down the road, so don't turn here unless you need to talk to someone at the marina.

Near mile 6.3 is the state park visitor's center.

Near mile 6.7 is the paved driveway to the boat ramp and the Willow Creek and Blanco campgrounds.

Previous segment:
http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-i-introduction-venue.html

Next segments:
http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-iii-boating-and-nmsc.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-iv-lodging-and-services.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-v-what-to-do-or-see.html

http://bucc18.blogspot.com/2007/07/heron-lake-vi-useful-info-html

Wanted: Race Committee and Regatta Volunteers

2007-08-11T12:25:00.000-06:00

We need several people to help make the Buccaneer Rodeo succeed on Labor Day weekend. We could use help both on-and-off the water .

On the water we can use committee boat volunteers to hoist and lower signal flags, sound horns, check the wind, watch the starting line, record sail numbers of boats as they finish or do other interesting things.

Here's a rough chart of possible volunteer jobs on the water:

Race committee signal boat --

The crew of the r.c. signal boat starts and finishes races, is the center of communication with racers, and promotes fair and safe racing.

Jobs -- some people may have multiple jobs or switch --

Principal race officer (PRO, Pat) -- chooses the courses to be raced, directs placement of starting line and mark-rounding buoys, decides whether winds and conditions are suitable for running or continuing the race, changes or shortens course if appropriate, instructs recorder and scorer on how to record boats that did something "unusual", makes note of situations that the r.c. may wish to protest or make note of after the race. Prior to the race, the PRO may conduct briefings of racers or run the skippers' meeting, and conduct race committee training. The PRO may also write a Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and other guidance and help plan or consult with on-the-water portions of the regatta.

Timer -- keeps meticulous track of time and starting sequences. Time is based on Global Postioning Satellite time or may be synchronized to the PRO's watch. Ideally, race committee volunteers will synchronize their watches before the first race.

Scorer -- calculates handicap results for handicap races

Signaller -- raises and lowers flags...
posts flags or writes on course board to indicate
course to be sailed before the race
posts flags to indicate any special restrictions
(round the ends rule, personal buoyancy required, etc.)
raises and lowers postponement flag
raises class flag 5 minutes before race start
raises preparatory flag 4 minutes before race start
lowers prep flag 1 minute before start
raises postponement flag if start is to be postponed
lowers class flag at start
raises individual recall or general recall is recall happens
raises abandonment is race is abandoned
does same thing all over again for the next racing class
and for subsequent starts; each class will have a
different class flag
(yellow, red, and green flags, or numberal pennants,
or distinctive class flags may be used to indicate classes;
a distinctive flag will be used for the Buccaneer class)
(flags should start to be raised a fraction of a second
before the exact time being marked, so that they are
up at exactly the time being signalled)

Sounder -- sounds horn or gun
preliminary repeated short sounds about 6 minutes before start
blast 5 minutes before
blast 4 minutes before
long blast 1 minute before
blast at start
two blasts if postponement before race starts
blast after beginning if 1 or few boats are over early
two blasts if general recall
blast is course is changed
three blasts if abandonment after race starts

Line sighter/wind reader -- watch starting line to make sure it's square to the wind, watch for boats over the line before the start, help recorder identify sail numbers and boats

Recorder -- record starting sequence times, finish order and times for each boat, any special circumstances noted by the PRO, such as violations that the race committee should protest, boats that sailed the wrong course, didn't finish properly, etc. Keep good, legible, complete records.

Radio operator -- where regattas do this, is in charge of communication from signal boat. May broadcast starting sequence essentials and announce individual and general recalls, postponements, and abondonments, if so directed by the sailing instructions and the PRO. Knows emergency communication procedures for summoning medical, rescue, or law enforcement help. Should also have a cell phone and local emergency phone numbers as back up. Ensures boat is provided with emergency signal equipment.

Boat operator -- safe navigation, positioning, and anchoring of the signal boat. May also act as host/hostess and provide provisions for the crew. Ensures boat has safety equipment.

Mark set boat --
Place pin buoy, windward mark, leeward mark, and reach mark as directed. Adjust them as directed to keep the course square. If the course isn't square, one side will be overly favored, the effective maneuvering area gets smaller, and boats will haver fewer tactical opportunities to pass each other -- the racing becomes less fair and interesting.

The windward mark should be straight upwind from the middle of the line, the leeward mark straight downwind. The reach mark on a triangular racecourse with a mid-course start should be roughly in line with the starting line, way out past the pin buoy. Sometimes the PRO will call for turning marks to be set up as gates (with two buoys that boats go between and then choose one to round; this opens up more tactical decisions and spread out boats). The PRO may call for a second offset mark on windward or leeward marks to help space out boats as they turn around the buoys; this makes racing safer and less crowded in big fleets.

In general, the start and finish line should be at a right angle to the average prevailing wind --- to the extent we have such a thing in mountain lake sailing. The starting line should normally be somewhat longer (say 25%) than the combined lengths of all the boats that will be using it for any given start. This gives almost every boat a good chance to be in the front row and a choice of places of where to start on the line. It should be bigger for small handicap fleets with different kinds of boats and different skill levels and bigger if the line is being used as a gate that boats have to pass through on runs and beats between the start and finish. It can be relatively smaller for big fleets of skilled one-design racers.

If the starting line isn't square to the wind, boats may have a hard time passing through the line, are more likely to be clumped and crowded together at one end, are more likely to foul each other, more likely to bang into the pin buoy or committee boat, and more likely to be over the line early or have to settle for a second-tier start.

Sophisticated race committees may impart a slight bias to one end of the line to compensate for tides and currents, expected wind shifts, the advantages of a starboard tack start, or slight problems with the position of other racing marks or quirks of the racing area.

The mark set boat may also be used to change or shorten a course and in this case would be given a "C" or "M" or "S" flag to display and horn to sound.

All support boats should keep out of the way of racers, except in an emergency, and keep their wind shadows and wakes from affecting the racing.

Chase/safety/patrol/stake boat --
Keep out of the way of the racers as mentioned above. When accelerating rapidly, turn away from the racers. A good strategy for if we have only one chase boat is for the boat to shadow the fleet from a mostly downwind postion on the left side of the course most of the way out to the windward mark, then lead the fleet past the reach mark if used, or just go off to the side beyond the middle of the downwind leg.

If a racing sailboat capsizes or seems to have dropped out of the race, ask if they need assistance, unless it's an obvious emergency. A racing boat crew may prefer to do self-rescue so they can continue in the race and not be disqualified. If the crew is in distress or asks for help, do so with care.

* You may be able to support the mast tip of a capsized boat so the sailboat doesn't turtle, or tie a line to a shroud or mast and run it around the boat and back down to help right a capsized boat.

* If the sailboat turtles in shallow water and the mast gets stuck, you may be able to approach the hull side and gently pull the boat by its centerboard or gunwales parallel to the mast so it doesn't break, or you may be able to approach the top side and push the boat's cockpit (watching out for loose lines so they don't get wrapped in your prop!).

* If the crew is injured, hypothermic, or exhausted, you may be able to provide first aid supplies, first aid, blankets, shelter on your boat, and perhaps a tow to the marina or shore.

* If something serious on a boat breaks and the crew can't fix it, you may be asked to provide a tow to the marina or shore.

* If the weather gets really bad, racers on smaller dinghies might want to anchor or abandon their boats and take refuge on your boat.

Other duties for a safety boat might be patrolling the course to courteously help let non-racing boats (fishermen, cruisers, etc.) know how to avoid the racers, inform park rangers of any dangerous situations, etc.

Photo/video/guest/press/spectator boat -- while keeping out of the way of the racing and race committee boat, get good pictures and videos of all the action that can be posted on the regatta and club websites, etc. Take out photographers or reporters, family members of racers, or club members who don't have a boat who want to see the action.

Semi-on-the water:
Judge. Chair protest committee and help arbitrate protests or disputes between boats. Help explain racing rules and regatta and protest procedures. Explain purpose of protest hearing and lead parties through the procedures.

Off the water:
We could use some people to greet the Buccs, help them find their campsites, parking, etc., do a few last-minute registrations, perhaps help shuttle trailers and vehicles, run errands, help set up the potluck, help give out prizes, perhaps entertain family members.

Heron Lake III: Boating and the NMSC

2007-08-10T15:05:00.000-06:00

III. Boating At Heron Lake

Marina slips, buoys, other facilities, seasonal operation

The Heron Lake Marina is owned and operated by the New Mexico Sailing Club. It is set in a protected cove about 1/3 mile from the main body of the lake, which has an elevation of about 7,160 feet. Sailors share the lake with anglers and nature lovers and enjoy a quiet lake.

Amenities:

The marina features 106 slips (plus some mooring buoys when the lake is full enough). No electricity or water at slips. Covered floating picnic area with six picnic tables and two gas grills. Dockhouse with solar-powered VHF radio. Pumpout machine (being re-installed). Vault toilet on shore nearby. Approximately one mile (shorter via boat and trail) to full bathhouses with hot-water showers within park at the Blanco campground.

Heron Lake Marina pavillion and A dock, with the Narrows to the west beyond.

About 90% sailboats (mostly 22 to 26-foot keelboats with cabins), 10% pontoon or other boats occupy the marina. The slip rental fee of about $440 covers the entire season of up to about six months. Slip renters are obliged to serve as a "dockmaster" for a half week during the marina season. Dockmasters camp in their boats or on land adjacent to the marina during their half week and provide security for the marina, information to prospective members, slip rentals to overnight guests, and minor marina maintenance and upkeep.

Heron Lake Marina view toward Willow Creek boat ramp.

Ramps, boat and trailer storage

Willow Creek Ramp, mast-raising pole, parking, mast-up boat storage

End of Willow Creek boat ramp with Heron Lake Marina beyond.

This is the ramp closest to the Heron Lake Marina; about 1,000 feet by water or 1 mile drive by road. It is concrete-surfaced, two wide lanes wide, and has about 20 pull-through boat trailer parking spaces and additional parking spaces for vehicles without trailers. The ramp has turn-outs to allow vehicles with trailers to turn around without having to back all the way down the ramp. A vault toilet is adjacent to the parking area at the top of the ramp. Also adjacent is a large, very heavy-duty mast-raising crane.

The fenced mast-up boat storage area above the parking lot has room for about 30 to 40 boats and presently is about 40% occupied. It is operated by the State Park; rentals are approximately $40 per month. One of the Buccs has spoken with park ranger Siscily Ledermann to make arrangements for temporary overnight rentals of the mast-up lot.

Mast-up storage lot, parking area, mast pole, and marina in Willow Creek Cove.

La Laja Boat Ramp
This ramp is located near the southwestern corner of the lake, west of mile 11. It is also surfaced with concrete. During very low water levels at the lake, a primitive boat ramp (unsurfaced) can be used. It is near the dam, about near mile 10.5 on NM Hwy. 95.

Boat rentals, guides

Dunc’s guide and boat rental service – pontoon & fishing boats, located behind Heron Store.

Don Wolfley. Heron Lake Fishing Guide Services, HC 75, Box 1238, Los Ojos, NM 87551, 505 588-9653

Stone House Lodge, 505 588-7274, rental pontoon and aluminum boats, west of Heron Lake

No visible wake

Heron Lake is a no-visible-wake lake; motors may normally be operated only at trolling speed. Wake is defined as white water visible off the bow or stern of a vessel. A boat is allowed to make wake during rough weather, to the extent necessary to maintain headway and control.

NM Boating Safety

Skippers who were born after January 1, 1989, must have completed a boating safety class approved by the New Mexico State Parks or by the appropriate agency in their home state. The current commodore of the NMSC is a volunteer instructor for State Parks safe boating classes.

New Mexico Sailing Club

New Mexico Sailing Club members enjoy the peace and quiet of no-wake Heron Lake in far northern New Mexico. Members who keep their boats in marina slips for the season take half-week turns as dockmasters at the volunteer-run marina. Heron is uncrowded and a gem; it's where people go to really get away from almost everything that has to do with schedules, crowds, and noise. Heron is also popular with anglers and bird watchers; there's a lot of nature to appreciate. During the off-season, NMSC members have meetings about once a month, alternating between the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas.

History

The NMSC was first formed about 35 years ago at Navajo Lake but moved to Heron shortly after Heron first began to around 1972. The lake gradually filled during the 1970s. In 1989, the club made a major investment by consolidating and expanding the marina into roughly its present size and form.

Drought and sedimentation grounded and closed the marina from August 2003 until the 2005 season brought abundant water to improve lake conditions. During 2006, the NMSC made a significant investment by entirely replacing a third of its slips (A dock) with a new, larger dock that is designed to withstand damage from grounding. Slips in the new dock are longer than the old slips and offer other amenities and advantages compared to the old structure. In 2007, the marina cove reached a depth of about 29 feet, with portions of the main lake well over a hundred feet deep. The club is continuing to rehabilitate and improve the marina; in 2007 most of the connecting walkway between the three main piers was widened and "knee braces" were added to strengthen B dock.

Calendar, activities

During the marina season of May through October, most NMSC meetings are held at the marina, along with pot lucks, an ice cream social, and regattas. During the cold-weather months, the club meets approximately monthly, alternating venues between the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas. During the off-season, meetings are most often held on the fourth Friday evening of the month. Last year's NMSC Christmas holiday party was held at the Coronado Grill, on the Rio Grande in Bernalillo, NM.

Racing

The NMSC is rebuilding its tradition of racing and has held races for a variety of boats in 2007. Most racing is conducted with two fleets in a common start; the A fleet consists of racing boats and the B fleet is the cruising fleet. Summer racing is conducted under Portsmouth handicap, without wind modifiers. Especially popular at Heron Lake are longer-course distance races in which the fleet sets out from the marina cove, tacking up the Narrows to the main body of the lake, thence to various marks and back.

Fourth of July Long Race. The Long race begins within the marina cove, then takes a course out through The Narrows to circle around the wind warning island on the west side of the lake, then circles around various marks as the boats do a tour of Heron Lake. Eventually, the sailors get to head back through the Narrows to the marina, finishing at the same line off the southwest corner of the marina where they started.

Challenge Cup. The club won the last inter-club challenge between the NMSC and RGSC, and hopes to host the RGSC for a repeat engagement. This will be racing between several pairs of matched one-design boats.

Summer Season. Various regattas add up to a season of racing fun, with trophies for the most successful and persistent (and perhaps a few other categories).

Race Management

Race chair, Lisa Carlson

Club principal race officer, Pat Byrnes

The club has all basic equipment and facilities for race management. Pat and Carol Anne Byrnes completed US Sailing's Advanced Race Management Seminar and have conducted and assisted with races at Heron and Elephant Butte Lakes. Pat also assisted recently at the Carter Lake Open.

People

The club comprises a mix of older and younger sailors, with about 120 families, couples, or individuals on the rolls, about half of whom keep boats in marina slips. What many have in common is their love of the area and the enjoyment they get from escaping to the lake.

The NMSC is led by a board comprising twelve members, including club officers. Officers serve one-year terms (two terms maximum). Other board members serve two-year terms, with half elected each year.

Sister Clubs, Sailing and Boating Organizations

SAIL, the Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes, is the regional sailing association for US Sailing and is headquartered in the Denverarea. SAIL also issues PHRF certificates for racers. SAIL covers Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and portions of Nebraska. More information can be found at http://www.rmsail.org/. Arizona, southern Nevada, and southern California are covered by two overlapping regional sailing associations, the Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA), and theSouthern Calfornia Yacht Racing Union (SCYRU).

Rio Grande Sailing Club
Sailors from the Rio Grande Sailing Club (RGSC) mostly sail at Elephant Butte Lake in the southern part of New Mexico, The RGSC is busiest in fall and spring. In summer, the RGSC hosts some informal sailing and an occasional "raft-up" potluck dinner, but especially on big holiday summer weekends, club members mostly leave the Butte to the jet-skis and vroom-vroom crowds. Summer is also when some of the RGSC’s more ambitious cruisers hook up their trailers and head for distant shores.

http://www.rgsc.org

The San Juan Sailing Club, consists of southwestern Colorado sailors who sail from the northern end of Navajo Lake, in Arboles, CO.

BOC, the Boat Owners of Cochiti, are the no-rules sailing club. What they lack in facilities, they make up for in spirit. In a BOC “race”, a boat and crew that fall behind are allowed to use a motor to catch up with the rest of the fleet – and, presumably, with the supply of refreshing adult beverages.

Arizona Buccaneers
See the link section of this web page for a link to the discussion group and site.

Buccaneer Fleet 30, Colorado
See the link section of this web page for a link to the discussion group and site.

Island View Campground Reservation Sites

2007-08-09T14:22:00.001-06:00

Near mile 8.6 of NM highway 95 is the turn off to the Island View and Salmon Run campgrounds. This driveway forks in three directions. To the left are Salmon Run campsites. Ahead is the campsite host, main Island View camping area, and the bathroom with hot showers. To the right are about 14 reservation sites, the Island View Reservation Sites. Most of the sites are on the right side of the driveway, with site 101 nearest the fork and highway and site 111 furthest out.

Most of the sites are only partially developed, with a pea-gravel covered parking area for perhaps two cars / a boat trailer and towing vehicle / or a medium-sized RV. Each site also has a picnic table and a fire ring/grill. Near the base of the driveway is a vault toilet. The full-service bath house and showers of the main Island View camping area are only a hundred to two hundred yards from the Island View Reservation Sites.

Site 111, at the end of the reservation sites portion of the campground,
is the most scenic of them, as can be seen here. It has excellent access
to the water, which is less than a hundred yards away.

Sites 105 (center) and 104 (right) share a common parking area;
each has room for two smaller cars or one moderate-sized RV.

View from the Island View Reservation area across from sites 103 - 105
toward the northwest across the main body of Heron Lake.

Site 106 has a long pull-through parking area and could probably
accomodate two or three vehicles with some ease.

Site 107 has a good overall parking area and location.

Site 109 is quite large, especially for tents, and has a great water view.

Site 110 is most of the way out on the point and not far from water.

Black Magic returns to Heron Lake. And, she leaves enough room for about
20 Buccaneers or other dinghies to park next to her. This parking area is about two miles
from Island View, and a 1/2 mile from the Blanco and Willow Creek campgrounds.
By road, the boat ramp, rigging and parking area, and mast-up storage are about
a mile from the marina, but by boat it's only about 900 feet from the end of the ramp
to the marina.

Heron Lake IV: Lodging and Services

2007-08-09T14:11:00.000-06:00

IV. Accommodations and Services for Heron Lake

Summary of Area Services:

Competitors and friends have a choice of camping inside the state park in improved or primitive camp sites. Outside the park, choices include camping, rv parks, rental cabins and apartments, lodges, motels, and bed and breakfast inns and homes, located from five to twenty miles distant.

Full bath houses/park restrooms with hot water showers about 1 mile away. 1/2 mile to Park headquarters, 1 mile drive to boat ramp and mast-up storage lot with mast-raising crane. About 1.5 miles to convenience store/gas outside the park and 7 miles to cabin rentals and nearest restaurants (Tierra Amarilla or Stone House Lodge). Additional services, groceries, and lodging available in Chama (17 miles), Dulce (36 miles), Pagosa Springs (66 miles), or Española (74 miles).

Camping

The park is popular with families and 80 to 90% of park visitors are campers.

Within Heron Lake state park are 250 developed camping sites, 54 of which have electricity. Some of the sites also have full septic hook-ups.

Park fees are $5 per vehicle entry/day use. Camping fees are $8 for primitive camping (including anchoring in a cove, but no camping fees are charged for marina guests staying in the marina), $10 for developed sites, $14 for electric sites, and $18 for full hookups. Annual day-use and annual camping passes may also be purchased.

Campsites at Heron Lake are generally open on a seasonal basis, with portions of the Willow Creek campground generally open year round. Many of the primitive campgrounds are generally closed from September 30 to May 1. Most of the developed campgrounds other than Willow Creek are open from April 1 to December 21.

Marina Point, Oso primitive camping area

Primitive camping (no utilities) is available in the Oso area near the marina point. Several locations are highly scenic. Vault toilet is available at the marina toilet; hiking or driving will bring campers to the facilities of the Vistors' Center or the showerhouse and bathrooms at the Blanco Campsite.

Willow Creek

Willow Creek and Blanco Campgrounds have developed camping with water, power and sewer hook-ups. Forty of these RV sites are on a reservation system and another thirteen RV sites on a first come first serve basis. Blanco is the "luxury camping" end of Heron's spectrum whereas the far west shore of the lake has remote and primitive camping.

Showerhouse and bathroom in Blanco Campground.

Island View, Salmon Run, Brushy Point,

Brushy Point, Island View, and Salmon Run Campgrounds offer a less developed camping opportunity with designated campsites. The bathhouse between Island View and Salmon Run has hot showers. The driveway off NM 95 splits into three forks; left to Salmon Run, straight to the main Island View campsites along with the camp host and bathrooms with hot showers, and right to the Island View Reservation Sites.

Dam area and West side primitive camping

Ridge Rock, Ponderosa, and Piedra Cove campgrounds and the Rincon recreation area offer a range of camping and day use experiences from designated, improved campsites to completely undeveloped primitive areas. Ridge Rock is just west of the dam and is not far from the La Laja boat ramp, as are Ponderosa and Piedra Cove. By contrast, the Rincon area is completely primitive; it embraces the western shore of Heron Lake.

Commercial Campsites and RV Parks

Stone House Lodge RV park Stone House Lodge, NM Highway 95, mile 13, Los Ojos, NM 87551, 505 588-7274, fax 505 588-7714, shl@direcway.com. Dry camp $8, daily full RV hook-up $18.50. Marilyn's place can satisfy all your basic needs for camping, lodging, dining (cafe 5 days a week), and basic shopping.

Brazos Lodge, $30 per night full hook-up. Lodge suites $100 and $150/night, cabins $90 to $350, 2-bedroom condos $150.

Sky Mountain Resort RV Park, 2743 South US Hwy 84/64, Chama, NM 87520, www.skymountainresort.com, info@skymountainresort.com alongside Rio Chama, pull-throughs & back-in spaces, 46 full hook-ups w 50 amp electric, heated bathhouse, laundry room.

Rio Chama RV Park, 2 blocks north of railroad depot on Highway 17 to Alamosa. 505 756-2303, www.coloradodirectory.com/riochamarv Full hookups, 65’ pull-throughs, 20, 30, 50 amp electric, full restrooms with hot showers, tent area.

Commercial Lodging

Los Ojos, 6 miles:

Tierra Wools Guest House (Casita). 91 Main St., Los Ojos, NM 87551. 505 588-7231, 1 888 709-0979, www.handweavers.com. Suites with kitchens.

El Vado/west side of Heron, 7 miles:

Stone House Lodge, NM Highway 95, mile 13, Los Ojos, NM 87551, 505 588-7274, fax 505 588-7714, shl@direcway.com. 1-bedroom cabins or small apartment (1 queen) $75-80, 2-bedroom cabins (queen, double, twin) $110-135, large cabins or large apartment $145-275, Stone House (20 people) $450. Marilyn Morrison, www.stonehouselodge.com

Brazos, 15 miles:

Brazos Lodge, HC 75, Box 103, Chama, NM 87520, State Rd. 512, 505 588-7707, www.brazosrentals.com. 1-4 room non-smoking cabins, general store/coffee & gift shop. David & Yvonne Sainze, 800 558-7707.

Corkins Lodge, Brazos, 505 588-7261, 800 548-7688, www.corkinslodge.com. Tom Melk.

Chama, 18 miles:

The Hotel and Shops, shamrock Hotel, PO Box 1096, Chama, NM 87520. 505 756-2416, 800 982-8679, www.thehotel.org roger@thehotel.com Terrace Ave (Hwy 17) across from the train station in Chama. Gift shop downstairs, art gallery upstairs, porch overlooking the od train station. Roger Hogan.

Y Motel. PO Box 945, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2166, inexpensive. Marilyn Jensen.

Elkhorn Lodge, Rt 1, Box 45, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2105, fax 505 756-2638, reservations 800 532-8874. Jim & Jill Lane, www.elkhornlodge.net

Vista Del Rio Lodge, HCR 75 Box 37, Chama, 87520, 505 756-2138, 800 939-9943. At the “Y” on Hwy 17. Direct dial phones, TV, HBO, refrigerator, coffeemaker, non-smoking rooms available, no pets, hot tub.

The Timbers at Chama. Dave Spira has stayed here and recommends it for those who appreciate a fine southwestern mountain experience. 505 588-7950.

Little Creel Lodge & RV Park, Fay & John Harris, PO Box 781, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-1824, http://www.littlecreelresort.com/

Cumbres Suites Lodge, 2042 S. Hwy 17, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-9139, toll free 877 756-9139, Suites with king & queen beds, non smoking, no pets, tv, hbo, deluxe continental breakfast. Terrie & Kip Corey.

Branding Iron Motel, PO Box 557, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2162, 800 446-2650, http://www.brandingironmotel.com/

River Bend Lodge, Sandra Antillon, PO Box 583, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2264, 800 288-1371, www.chamariverbendlodge.com, http://www.riverbendlodge.com/

El Mesón Lodge, PO Box 647, Chama, NM 8720, 505 756-2114, elmeson.org, info@elmeson.org. Phones, cable tv, in room coffee, double queen, king beds, nonsmoking/smoking rooms. Ernesto Soto.

Spruce Lodge, Scott Cole, 866 695-6343, 505 756-2593

Chama Trails Inn, Starla Santos, 800 289-1421, 505 756-2156

The Lodge at Chama, Frank Simms, 505 756-2133, www.lodgeatchama.com

Vista del Rio, Kim Smith, 800 939-9943, 505 756-2138

Chama Station Inn, PO Box 677, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2315, 888 726-8150 http://www.chamastationinn.com/

South El Vado, 18 miles

El Vado Ranch & RV Park, David Cooper, 505 588-7354, www.elvado.com, NM Hwy 112. Cabins $96 (1-2 persons) with kitchenette, day use $5 per vehicle.

Bed & Breakfast, all in Chama, approx. 18 miles:

Cardin’s Crossing B&B, 551 Maple Ave., Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-2542, 800 852-6400. B&B, gourmet breakfast, homemade apple pie. Narrow Gauge room with queen or Doll House room & suite. $85 for two guests, $25 per additional. Tom & Mary Cardin. Tom is a photographer and Mary is a painter; she also is a gourmet cook and chief chef for feeding work party volunteers for the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Lightheart Inn Still in business or not?

Gandy Dancer, 756-2191

Parlor Car B&B, 311 Terrace Ave, 3rd St. at Hwy 17, PO Box 967, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-1946, 888 849-7800. Full breakfast served at 8:30 a.m., three guest rooms w private baths, non-smoking. Wendy Joyhnson.

Posada Encanto B&B, 277 Maple Ave, PO Box 536, Chama, NM 87520, 505 756-1048, 800 756-1925. 1 block w. of Hwy 17/Terrace Ave. 5 rooms each with tiled bath, non-smoking, no pets. Teresa Smith, teresa@posadaencanto.com, www.posadaencanto.com

Little Rock House on Maple, 158 Maple St, PO Box 997, Chama, NM 87520, www.rockhouseonmaple.info 2 night minimum, $125 1-2 persons, $175 3-4 persons, cottage, non-smoking, no pets, small children not recommended, washer/dryer, full kitchen.

Dining

4 miles: Ed’s Grill and Mary’s Yard Sale, NM Hwy 95 mile 1.5. Casual dining, generous portions. The captain’s platter will definitely help you add significant ballast and rail weight to your crew.

7 miles: Stone House Lodge Café. 505-588-7274 . And good desserts; great big cinnamon roles and nice breads and pastries, plus basic comfort food for hungry anglers, hunters, and sailors. A couple of miles beyond the west end of Heron Lake.

7 miles: El Alamo Café, 1 mile north of Los Ojos. Closed Saturday. 505 588-7409, County Rd. 331. Very good breakfasts, friendly, family-room, fine place for casual Sunday brunch. Closed Saturday.

15 miles: Cliff View Restaurant in the Brazos canyon. A nice view of the Brazos cliffs from the forested canyon and somewhat upscale casual dining. State Road 512 runs eastward about 8 miles from a point a couple of miles north of Los Ojos (near mile 170) on Hwy. 64/84.

16-19 miles from the marina in Chama:

Elkhorn Café. Nice café with creative sandwiches, popular with local law enforcement, after whom some of their sandwiches are named.

Elkhorn Lodge Chuckwagon Show, $17.99, 800 532-8874, 505 756-2105

High Country Restaurant, Lounge, Package Liquor. Best dining in the Chama Valley; steaks, seafood, southwestern. Che Johnston. Live entertainment in lounge. Chama, NM, 505-756-2384, at the “Y”. Sunday brunch is special here.

Cookin Books, Chama, NM, 505-7569-1717. Adjacent to Chama Valley Market just south of the US64/84/NM17 "Y" intersection. This is a friendly, one-of-a-kind place with sandwiches and surprises, as well as a bit of a bookstore. It's run cooperatively by some of the same people who run the Chama Valley Market.

Bar-B-Que Place, ½ mile n. of Hwy 64/84 on Terrace Ave, 1749 Hwy 17, Chama, 505 756-2989. Dine-in or take-out. Sauce extra.

Branding Iron Restaurant & Lounge, Chama, NM, 505-756-9195.

Jennifer’s, 756-1956.

Patsy’s Bakery, 756-2108

Fina's Diner, Chama, NM, 505-756-9195

Foster's Hotel/Bar/Restaurant, Chama, NM, 505-756-2296 Popular with bikers.

Groceries, rv, camping, boat supplies

Henry’s True Value in Tierra Amarilla. Hardware, building supplies, tools, liquor, groceries, auto parts, camping supplies, all under one roof in Tierra Amarilla.

Heron Store and RV. Near mile 4.5, closest store to the marina. RV supplies, some camping supplies and groceries, ice.

Stone House Lodge. General store. Ice, some groceries, fishing tackle, gasoline, propane.

Chama Valley Market. Very good local grocery store with meat department and a wide variety of groceries and supplies.

Wood carving gallery and RV parts just east of the Chama "Y".

Family Dollar, auto parts stores, River Lumber.

Misc. shops

Art & Leisure
Tierra Wools. http://www.handweavers.com. Gallery, weaving demonstrations and classes, center for preservation of historic strains of sheep and local knowledge.

Galleries –

Local Color Gallery, etc.

Fuel

Margarita’s, Tierra Amarilla (for sale)
Chevron, Tierra Amarilla
Heron Store (closest to Heron)
Stone House Lodge (can also re-fill propane bottles), west of Heron Lake
Mustang, Chama (south of the "Y" and the Chama Valley Market", usually best price in Chama
Sundial Convenience Store, Chama (open late)
Chevron, Chama (west of the "Y")

Most gas stations in the Chama area have diesel, including the Sundial, which is open late and has separate pumps for diesel.

Communications

Pay phones at Henry’s True Value Hardware and Stone House Lodge.

Cell reception on the lake varies; with Alltel we get coverage on about 50% of the lake. Coverage is good in Chama.

The state park rangers, marina dockmasters, local fishing guides, and Stone House Lodge employees monitor VHF channel 16.

Sailing at Heron Lake, July 2007

2007-08-07T15:30:00.000-06:00

As a cruising boat motors down the Narrows, the Etchells "Black Magic" charges up under spinnaker.

Eddie and Barbara enjoy a ride on one of our Sunfish.

Heron Lake V: What to Do or See

2007-08-07T14:06:00.000-06:00

V. Things to Do and See at Heron

Area Activities, Points of Interest

CHAMA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 306-RB, Chama, New Mexico 87520
Call (800) 477-0149 or (505) 756-2306 Fax (505) 756-2892
Heron Lake State Park Trails: East Meadow, Salmon Run, Rio Grande/El Vado

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, 500 Terrace Ave, Chama, NM 87520. 888 286-2737, 756-2151, www.cumbrestoltec.com

The C&TSRR is the real deal, a historic railroad that bill's itself as America's highest and longest as it winds more than 60 miles between Chama and Antonito. The Cumbres and Toltec, along with the Durango and Silverton, are the surviving links of the Denver and Rio Grance railroad that penetrated the Rockies in search of mineral wealth at the close of the 19th century. Rides are available in combination with one-way bus service before or after the rail journey and pretty much take up an entire day. Fares include a good lunch in remote Osier, Colorado.

Brazos Cliffs. From NM 95, you can drive east into the Brazos canyon on NM 512 to enjoy a closer look and perhaps lunch or dinner at the Cliff View Restaurant. Although the cliffs are on private land, you can get a good look. The cliffs are especially dramatic in springtime after a wet winter, when El Churro is a waterfall that adds to their beauty for a few weeks. NM 64 east of Tierra Amarilla (about 15 miles) also provides a good view and is a scenic mountain drive in its own right.

Horse Treks are provided throughout the area.

Jicarilla Apache Nation, Jicarilla Culture Center, PO Box 1367, Dulce, NM 87528, 505 759-1343, www.jicarilla.net, jacc@jicarilla.net Dulce is the capital and site of the Little Beaver Roundup. A motel, casino, and excellent hardware store also divert visitors.

Pagosa Springs has a lot going for it, including hot springs, golf, Wolf Creek Ski area, a scenic waterfall, mountain biking, horse treks, fly fishing, and more. It has a good variety of visitor services and is also only about 40 miles from sailing action at Navajo Lake and 65 miles from Heron Lake sailing.

Durango (Durango Silverton scenic railway)

River rafting takes place on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake, and on the Rio Grande near Taos. Trips on the Rio Chama are overnight trips. Rio Grande trips can include relatively tame 1/2 day trips on the Pilar Race Course or more exciting class IV action in the Taos Gorge during the peak of the season.

Taos (museums, galleries, ski area, Rio Grande Gorge, Gorge Bridge) . Taos is worth a guidebook onto itself.

Espanola is much more than the home of local low-rider culture or the original site of European government in New Mexico. It also offers all sorts of useful services, including the nearest Lowe's Lumberyard, Wal-Mart Supercenter, and more. Also of interest are a number of authentic northern New Mexico restaurants, including Jo Ann's Rancho Casodos, Angelina's, La Cocina, El Paragua, Matilda's, and Anthony's at the Delta.

Los Alamos, is known as the "atomic city", but you can come away from a visit without glowing in the dark. The local historical museum is housed in Fuller Lodge, a log building that once headquartered the Los Alamos Ranch School. Nearby is the science museum.

The Jemez Mountains offer camping get aways alone with occasional hot springs for skinny dipping.

Ojo Caliente, Hot Springs, 800 222-9162, www.ojocalientespa.com, 50 Los Baňos Dr, PO Box 68, Ojo Caliente, NM 87549. Communcal and private mineral baths, massage, facials, restaurant, gift shop, hiking, archeology, US 64 between Tierra Amarilla and Taos, then south on US 285.

Abiquiu (Fiesta of Santa Rosa de Lima, August 30).

Ghost Ranch, US 84, 404 685-4333, www.ghostranch.org Bed & Breakfast, camping, museums of anthropology and paleontology, Piedra Lumbre Education and Visitor Center, hiking trails, trading post, library, conference center, spiritual guides.

Flora, Fauna, and Natural History

Heron Lake is located in Rio Arriba County, in the north central mountains of New Mexico just east of the Continental Divide. Ponderosa pine forests grade into woodlands, shrub land, and grasslands, while riparian/wetland plant communities are found in the arroyos and along the shoreline.

The existing vegetation in the park consists of coniferous and deciduous trees. Coniferous trees include pure ponderosa pine stands and mixtures of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, white fir and blue spruce. Deciduous trees common to upland areas at HEVLSP include Gambels oak, aspen and Rocky Mountain maple.

Grasses, and other plans grow under the tree canopy, in open meadows, and along the Chama River. These plants stabilize soil, limit erosion and provide important forage and cover for a variety of wildlife. Common grasses include mountain brome, blue grama, and Indian rice grass. A variety of forbs such a western yarrow, wild strawberry and Indian paintbrush live in the park. (State Park Management Plan)

Here fishie fishie

The current state record for lake trout has come out of Heron Lake. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. German brown trout also inhabit the lake but are not stocked. These fish naturally reproduce within the lake and the surrounding streams. Waterfowl hunting on the northwest side of the lake is the only type of hunting allowed within the park.

Critters

Important mammals found in the area include ungulates such as elk and mule deer. Important predators include bobcat and mountain lion. Black bear is an important omnivore. Important aquatic mammals include muskrat and beaver. Small terrestrial mammals include tassel-eared squirrel and golden-mantled ground squirrel. Bats also are common because the majority of the park is characterized by coniferous forest with a relatively open canopy and sparse understory, with abundant insects.

The park’s water resources provide for a large variety of birds, both resident and migrant, which provide an important attraction for birders. Prominent water birds include American white pelican, mallard, wood duck, American coot and great blue heron. Important forest-dwelling birds include Clark’s nutcracker, turkey, black-headed grosbeak, Steller’s jay, juncos and broad-tailed hummingbirds. Raptors commonly seen at the park include bald eagle, Cooper’s hawk and osprey.

The only known threatened species that frequents the areais the bald eagle. Other threatened or endangered species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service they may (or may not) reside at the park is the black-footed ferret and the meadow jumping mouse.. Although the osprey is not protected by state or federal law, its declining numbers have raised concerns among conservationists. The park helps to offset declines elsewhere by maintaining three osprey nest boxes. In 2001, three breeding pairs each fledged young. Since then, the population has increased.

Osprey Fest

Originally rare in New Mexico, Ospreys (fish hawks) have become a common site at Heron Lake. In 2006, the first Osprey Festival was held to celebrate their successful colonization of the area. The festival is now an annual event and draws hundreds of bird watchers to the area.

Oh dear, when the turkey came a knockin’

Then there was the Christmas day dinner when we heard a knock on our cabin door… and it was a wild turkey! And then there were the times when the turkeys and deer would hassle each other in the area right below our deck.

Rocks and Dirt

El Vado and Heron Lakes are on the western edge of the Chama Basin, a small, north south structural trough that is bounded by the Archuleta uplift to the west and the Brazos uplift to the east. To the south lie the San Pedro uplift, Jemez Bench and Valles Caldera. The Chama Basin connects to the southeast with the Rio Grande trough. Most of the rocks within the Chama Basin are sedimentary – primarily sandstones and shales. Crustal adjustments that created the uplifts and troughs also tilted and folded the once-horizontal sedimentary rocks, leaving them vulnerable to erosion onto hogbacks and mesas.

Amateur geologists might note sandstone and shale deposits along the lake shores; these are dated from the late Cretaceous era from when the area was a coastal plain along what was once the “Western Interior Seaway”. One could say that the New Mexico Sailing Club started out as an oceanfront property... if one is willing to go back about 99 million years! Also visible nearby are outcrops of the Burro Canyon formation (Cretaceous era, sandstone, quartz and chert pebble conglomerates, and mudstones) and Dakota formation (sandstone) downstream of Heron dam. Also downstream of the dam is Jurassic Morrison formation rock. The dam is built upon the northeast side of the “North El Vado Dome”, which is 1.5 miles in diameter. (See http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/state/heron_lake/home.html for further details.)

Local History and Background

This area became the traditional homeland for a variety of other Native American groups, including the Jicarilla Apache, Ute, and Navajo. Between 1300-1500 A.D. it was used intermittently by the Ute and Navajo. Tewa Pueblos lay ancestral claim to this area, supported by archival and oral research. By the 1700s and 1800s, this became the northwest boundary of the Jicarilla Apache traditional use area. Jicarilla Apache lands border HEVLSP today. Several archaeological sites within the park have been identified as Jicarilla Apache.

The area was used marginally throughout the early Hispanic occupation, between the 1500s and 1800s. Hispanic sheepherders and settlers began to move in by the early 19^th century. The Tierra Amarilla Land Grant was made in April 1832, the lands to be used for cultivation and pasturage, potentially supporting up to 500 families. The land grant has survived and still exists today.

In the late 1800s, the Chama Valley corridor was an area rich in vast stands of harvestable ponderosa pine. Timber was a plentiful resource, and companies soon moved in, building railroad spurs into the surrounding mountains. In 1880, the railroad through the Chama Valley was developed for the narrow gauge Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company. In 1903, a railroad spur was completed ending in El Vado, located at present-day El Vado Lake. A series of large sawmills sprang forth and between 1904-1908 and 1914-1923. The town of El Vado was a bustling community with up to 882 occupants at its peak, making it Rio Arriba County's largest town.

In 1923, El Vado was abandoned and soon after, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District chose the site for El Vado Dam. The lake subsequently submerged the town of El Vado, which is now an underwater archaeological site. Some features remain on the shore relating to early El Vado history.

El Vado reservoir was constructed between 1933 and 1935 as part of federal unemployment relief efforts. Although initially built for irrigation purposes, by 1947 recreational use of the reservoir came to the forefront. In 1954, the BOR rehabilitated El Vado Dam and took over its operation in 1956. Since 1956, State Parks has leased the property.

El Vado Dam is a rare example of the extensive use of steel in earth fill dam construction. It is listed on the State Register of Cultural Properties and has been determined eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The concept for Heron Dam was conceived in 1933. The San Juan-Chama Project, created to supplement water on the Rio Grande, which included Heron Dam, was begun in 1964 and was completed with the construction of the dam in 1971. This is one of the top civil engineering projects in the United States. (State Park Management Plan)

Saving the Train

Originally built to reach the silver fields of southwestern Colorado in the late 19th century, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad became economically obsolete in the 1960s after a brief revival during development of oil fields in the 1950s and 1960s. The railroad petitioned to abandon its route in 1970, distressing rail fans and local residents. Efforts by them and local leaders resulted in two segments of the old railroad being preserved, with the train re-starting as a historic railroad in 1973.

The surviving Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad advertises itself as the highest and longest steam-powered railway in the country. It travels daily in summer between Chama, NM, and Antonito, CO, traversing the 10,015-foot summit of Cumbres Pass and passing over trestle bridges and through tunnels and gorges. The railroad has been featured in many movies, including the opening scenes of an Indiana Jones movie.

Courthouse Raid

Reijes Tijerina was one of many activists who protested the history of land grants and grabs. These protests culminated in the famous or infamous 1967 Rio Arriba County Courthouse Raid, which resulted in bullet holes splashing the courthouse and a call for National Guard troops to enforce order.

Drought

The lake suffered a significant drought in 2003-2005, drying out the cove where the marina is located and reducing the lake to about a third of its capacity. Since then, better winter snowpacks have allowed the lake to recover to where the marina is now in 29 feet of water.

Sailing at Heron Lake

2007-08-07T08:21:00.000-06:00

Heron Lake, a no-wake lake with motors restricted to trolling speed, is a great place for all sorts of sailors.

An Etchells glides along. Crews have to remain alert, because breezes can spring up quickly.

A brace of Sunfish enjoy fine sailing in Willow Creek Cove and the Narrows.

Youth groups frequently enjoy visits to the Heron Lake Marina.

Cruisers help each other avoid disasters such as running out of beer or dinner condiments.

After a good sail, some crews will seek out a quiet cove in which to anchor for the night. The northwest corner of Heron Lake is particularly quiet and suited to raft-ups and anchoring out.

Heron Lake VI: Useful Info

2007-08-01T14:01:00.000-06:00

VI. Other Useful Info

Weather, Climate

…Seasons

Heron Lake enjoys distinct seasons. An average of 24 inches of annual rain and 125 inches of snow nourishes the ponderosa, pinyon, and juniper trees and other plants. Frequently, the lake freezes in winter, especially Willow Creek Cove, where the Heron Lake Marina is located.

Average high and low temperatures (F)

38/09 January

56/24 April

78/43 July

61/28 October

. . . Web weather links

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?CityName=Los+Ojos&state=NM&site=ABQ

http://www.accuweather.com/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&amp;amp;amp;zipChg=1&zipcode=87551&metric=0

http://www.weather.com/weather/local/87551?from=recentsearch

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=87551

http://beta.intellicast.com/Local/Weather.aspx?location=USNM0181

Contacts

Friends of Heron and El Vado Lakes State Parks

http:// www.friendsofheronandelvadolakes.com/
Who or what are the Friends of Heron Lake and El Vado Lake State Parks (FOHEV)?

FOHEV is a volunteer organization incorporated as a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 entity (applied for). We operate under a “Cooperative Agreement” with the New Mexico State Parks Division and our purpose is to assist the Parks Division and the Parks by enhancing, preserving and promoting Park use. FOHEV helps the Parks in many ways with interpretative, educational and recreational programs and acts as an advocate group for the park system. All of our activities and money raised are used to benefit the communities of the Chama Valley, Heron Lake and El Vado Lake State Parks and the New Mexico State Parks Division.

Phonebook/Internet/Contacts

EMERGENCY 911

FIRE DEPARTMENTS Tierra Amarilla/Los Ojos /Laguna Vista 911

911 LAW ENFORCEMENT
NM State Police, Chama, (505) 756-2343
Rio Arriba Sheriff, Tierra Amarilla, (505) 588-7271

911 MEDICAL
Dunham Clinic, Chama, (505) 756-2143
La Clinica del Pueblo, Tierra Amarilla¸ (505) 588-7252
Los Alamos Medical Center, Los Alamos¸ (505) 662-4201

State Park contact info: Heron Lake State Park, PO Box 159, Los Ojos, NM 87551. (505) 588-7470.
Superintendent, Anthony Marquez, Anthony.Marquez@state.nm.us.
Interpretive Ranger, Siscily Lederman

Web Resources
(See also the links lists on the main web page)

Rio Grande Sailing Club
PO Box 13953
Albuquerque, NM 87192
http://www.rgsc.org

New Mexico Sailing Club
PO Box 1795
Bernalillo, NM 87004
http://www.nmsail.org

Pat & Carol Anne Byrnes
http://desertsea.blogspot.com

http://itsfiveoclocksomewhere.blogspot.com

Miscellaneous Contacts and Services

New Mexico State Visitor Center
Joella Torres
505-756-2235

MEDICAL/DENTAL RELATED SERVICES
All About Teeth, Inc.
Margaret/Samantha
505-756-2901

Espanola Hospital Home Care
Espanola,NM
505-753-1510

La Clinica del Pueblo de Rio Arriba
Dr. Albert Pacheco
505-588-7252

Los Alamos Medical Center
Wendy Hoffman
505-662-4201

AUTO/RV SERVICES
Andy’s Safety Service & Repair
Andy Perez
505-756-2282

Chama Valley Trailer Supply
David & Beverlee Huesmann
505-756-2359

Chama American Auto Parts (NAPA)
Joe Vigil
505-756-2101

Dial Oil Co and Sundial Phillips
Ron Dial (Aztec, NM)
505-634-4777

FISHING SERVICES
Heron Lake Guide Service
Don Wolfley
505-294-8433/505-588-9653

RB Outfitters
Ron & Blanche Schalla
505-756-1409

Stone House Lodge
Marilyn Morrison
505-588-7274

The Timbers at Chama Chama, NM
505-588-7950

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Cumbers Adventure Tours
Bill Koozer (Antonito, CO)
719-376-2161

Far Flung Adventures
Bill Blackstock
800-637-4604
505-758-2628

Los Rios River Runners
Cisco Guevara
800-544-1181
505-776-8854

RB Outfitters
Ron & Blanche Schalla
505-756-1409

HUNTING OUTFITTERS, TAXIDERMY & HORSEBACK RIDING
BackRhoads
Rick Rhoads
505-756-9916

Northern New Mexico Elk Hunts
Mike Lopez
505-490-1910
505-756-1910

Rancho Escondido De Chama
A Premier 4500 Acre Hunting & Fishing Ranch
Mel & Paula Kurth
505-756-1521

RB Outfitters
Ron & Blanche Schalla
505-756-1409

RADIO STATION
KZRM 95.9 FM
Scott Flury
505-756-1617

Eleanor Daggett Public Library
Margaret Palmer
505-756-2388

La Clinica Outreach
505-588-9506

NM State Forestry Division
Brazos, NM
505-588-7831

NM State Game & Fish Dept.
Tierra Amarilla
505-588-7307

Taos Forestry
Adrianna
505-759-6200

US Post Office
Canjilon
505-684-2482

US Post Office
Cebolla
505-684-2482

US Post Office
Chama
505-756-2240

US Post Office
Los Ojos
505-588-7683

US Post Office
Tierra Amarilla
505-588-7219

CHURCHES
Chama Valley Worship Center
Chama, NM
Pastor Rolando Benavidez
505-756-1923

Chama Community Church
Chama, NM
Pastor Jimmy Martinez
505-756-2515

Chama Church of Christ
Chama, NM
505-756-2109

Church of Jesus Christ
Chama, NM
Leonard Jensen
505-756-2245

First Baptist Church of Chama
Chama, NM
Pastor Cory Dryden
505-756-2513

Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall
Chama, NM
505-756-1965

San Jose Catholic Church
Los Ojos, NM
(Fr. Salvador Aragon)
505-588-7473

Santo Nino Catholic Church
Tierra Amarilla
505-588-7473

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Chama, NM
Fr. Clement Niggel
505-756-2926

Scenic Heron Lake

2007-07-28T00:05:00.000-06:00

Heron Lake enjoys many spectacular sunsets followed by long, beautiful evenings and clear, starry nights.

Sailors enjoy Heron's jewel-like setting.

Casual relaxation and fun on and off the water are the order of the day as our skippers celebrate their accomplishments.

Young people go Sunfishing.

The majestic Brazos Cliffs rise a short distance to the east of Heron Lake.

Cliffs and mountains, green trees and meadows, and abundant fish and game surround sailors at Heron.

Sailing the Narrows can be a relaxing outing or a tough challenge, given the many moods of Heron.