Below is a story about high school sailing in Maine.  This program has some parallels to ours - especially in how it all began.  The question I have for each of you as sailors and high school athletes is “what will your legacy be when you graduate from our team?”

Here is a link to the full story.

The four high school boys who had the vision of a competitive sailing program for the Dennis-Yarmouth school district are graduating and leaving the now-successful program behind them.

Ryan Lotti, Sam Lowell, Lathan Diog and John Work all pushed for a sailing team in 2005 and thanks to the support of the Yarmouth Recreation Department (which supplied the boats) and Hyannis Yacht Club (which supplied the location), the program was launched that year.

“All we did was practice that first year,” says Michael Lotti, the D-Y sailing club director. “We scrimmaged with Nauset and Barnstable a couple of times that year,” adding that there weren’t enough members to form an official team.

The program has expanded from five team members in 2005 to 13 this year, but Lotti says the focus now is to recruit new sailors and continue fundraising efforts for the club.

“Fundraising is how this whole program is run. They do fundraising all season. We get no money from the schools or the school district,” says Lotti.

Most recently the sailing team staged a comedy night and silent auction at Christopher’s Restaurant and raised more than $4,000.

Lotti says it costs $900 to $950 per student for the early part of the season when they don a dry-suit, booties and gloves for protection from the cold waters. In addition, each student is required to wear a life jacket – not to mention costs associated with general wear and tear of the equipment.

During the second year of the program, the club became an official team with 10 members and recognition from the New England School Sailing Association and the Interscholastic School Sailing Association.

“We were also invited into the Cape and Islands High School League that year. That is when we had to start practicing every day on the water and in the classroom during bad weather,” says Lotti. 

The town acquired a former summer home on Englewood Beach in 2006 and team members worked much of that year gutting the building and renovating it with materials donated from Mid-Cape Home Centers.

D-Y hosted the Cape and Islands championships in 2007.

“It’s the final season race for all the Cape and Islands teams. We came in second for that,” says Lotti. 

There are 11 teams in the Cape and Islands league and 90 competing school teams in New England.

Lotti says the loss of the four seniors who started the program will be a huge loss for the team, but he hopes it will only get better.

“In the next couple of years I’d like to have at least 15 high school kids as part of the varsity team and I’d like to have at least 10 kids as part of the sailing club program,” says Lotti.

Please box:
For more information: contact Michael Lotti at dennisyarmouthsailing@verizon.net
To donate: Dennis Yarmouth Sailing, c/o Bruce Work, P.O. Box 931, Dennis, 02638.

Dear Athletes and Parents -

Pardon the cross posting, double sending, and the fact that you probably already read this on the blog.  (thank you for checking everyday…now let’s get some comments going).

So far the party response has been a little light, so if you haven’t responded please let me know ASAP if you will be able to attend (if you have already emailed…I gotchya).  This is going to be a great social event with laughs, splashes and more.  Parents this is a great chance to hear all the horror stories of what your little angels do when you aren’t looking and maybe show off your own sailing acumen.

To answer the most common question - YES, please invite family members and others who have expressed interest in our sailing program - including future prospects.  We’ll be doing a bit of sailing, a bit of noshing, and bit a socializing on the tent dock.  The weather is going to be PERFECT!  :)  The only thing I ask is to provide me with a head count so that I can ensure we’re covered for food.

The party will be open and rocking from 4:00 - Dark on June 5th - so please come down when you can.  In fact bring a burned copy (that the program can keep) of your favorite sailing music and we’ll mix it in with the other tunes. I’ll be challenging athletes and parents to match races and eating contests.  Water balloons and super soakers are NOT allowed on the tent dock - but are considered fair game onboard the boats.  The grill will fire up at 5:30 and run until we run out of food or gas.

To pull this party off we do need your help.  We’ve got a great place and a great grill but we’ll need some items to work with.  NMHF is breaking out the fine china and silverware as well as an assortment of fine condiments (Did you know that Oliver is a connoisseur of fancy mustards?) We will also provide drinks.

Our needs include:

Chicken, dogs, brats and burgers.
Hot dog and burger buns
Leafy salads
Potato salad (it is a cook out right?)
Somebody’s special seven layer summer salad
Baked beans
Deserts

If you are willing to take on any of these responsibilities please get back to me ASAP.  I will have a head count by the end of the week - because everyone one of you is going to let me know whether you will be there or not (Please…pretty PLEASE!).  If you would like to make this party a success but can’t be there to help you can also make a donation to NMHF and we’ll use your funds to stock the party.

I am sure I am forgetting something - I always do - but come on…it’s not that hard.  It’s a PARTY!

See you Thursday and I look forward to receiving your RSVP’s even sooner

kb

NMHF Metro Connection Piece

So if you click on the above link you can hear a VERY cool piece about our little program on the river.  That’s right 88.5 WAMU did a wonderful story about the NMHF High School Racing Program.  What a cool way to end a great season.

Speaking of which…I am pretty sad.  Our season is over.  I wish we had a chance to sail together more - but I want to let you all know that I had an incredible time coaching you all this season and I hope you will all be back in the fall - with friends - for an even better season.  With your help we can make a fun team capable of succeeding at every level of competition.

Just because our sailing season is over doesn’t mean yours has to be.  There are LOTS of sailing opportunities over the next few months.  I have posted a few to this site already and am willing to share plenty more with you if you are interested.  Drop me a line or give me a call if you are looking to do some summer sailing.

Finally - we are looking to do a end of season bar-b-que and open sail on June 5th (That is a Thursday) and we need to know who can attend.  Please RSVP ASAP with your availability.

Thank you for a great season.

kb

Program:  Three-day clinic intended for high school
and college sailors who wish to learn collegiate
sailing techniques and practice like one of the top
college sailing team in the country.  It will be a
great opportunity for sailing teams that need a little
extra coaching boost to get some additional
instruction.  All aspects of sailing the Collegiate FJ
and 420 will be covered.  Specific topics will include
straight-line speed, tacking, gybing, and boat
handling for starting.  Sailors will use the drills
and copy the techniques that helped the Harvard
Sailing Team win 5 straight Fowle Trophies as ICSA
Team of the Year.  Please note, strategies and tactics
may be covered in the clinic, however the focus will
be on sailing the boats well.  Sailing will take place
in Harvard’s fleet of FJs and 420s.

Location:  Harvard Sailing Center, Cambridge, MA

Dates:  August 19 (Tuesday) – August 21 (Thursday),
2008

Times:  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost:  $175.00 per sailor

Registration and Information Forms:  at
http://www.massbayleague.org/
or request via email to BernNoack@Yahoo.com

Contact:  Bern Noack, Assistant Sailing Coach Harvard
University  617-489-3987
BernNoack@Yahoo.com

Coaches Note:  Let me say for the record that in three years we could be this team.  I believe that.
A few years ago, Severn School made a conscious decision to upgrade its club
sailing program.
Administrators at the private school in Severna Park hired a full-time head
coach and approved a plan to have the team practice out of its own facility
using its own fleet of boats. Those efforts paid off handsomely this past
weekend when Severn School captured the Interscholastic Sailing Association
Fleet Racing National Championship.

Senior skipper Joe Morris placed first in A Division to lead the Admirals,
who mounted an amazing comeback to overtake defending champ Newport Harbor
and runner-up Point Loma on the final day of competition. Severn becomes the
first Chesapeake Bay school to capture the prestigious Clifford D. Mallory
Trophy, which has been awarded since 1930. The Admirals had placed third
each of the past three years, which made the title even sweeter. — The
Capital, read on:

Well we did it. We sailed in some nasty water today. Due to the rains the water quality was a little sketchy, but aside from the normal itching skin and headaches I usually have after practice I think we were OK.

We had a decent practice today. A little down wind work with folks working on rolling and better steering with weight and sails. I wish we had the rest of the summer to work on it all.

We also had a long distance race home which showcased the importance of staying in pressure, keeping the boat moving and good concentration.

Let me know who is going to sail in the team racing clinic this weekend. I would suggest everyone go! As I mentioned in practice I can’t be there due to a conflict in Seattle - but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. I need to know one way or another.

OK…so too many sailors didn’t show, and too many had to leave early, and a couple of you (you know who you are) arrived late - but in the interim we had a great practice.

Two drills dominated this evening’s practice. The first was our Full Tilt drill. In the final :30 seconds of a regular start sequence you must stay at full speed. What this teaches is setting up a start that allows you to hit the line at full speed, on the line and on time.

It is hard, but, when executed properly, is fast! There were two of five starts where someone or several boats were SEVERELY launched. And in every race there were some boats that were late and some that were early.

This is a drill we’ll do more of in the future because there is a way to make it really work at any place on the line - in particular places where you can expect a hole to fill. Ask your coach how to do it.

And of course tonight we dabbled in a bit of TEAM RACING! Two on on TWO TEAM RACING! What a great experiment for our team. We want and need to do more of this style of racing and as usual you all impressed me with your performances.

Few racing disciplines better showcase strategy, tactics, and rules understanding. Tonight I learned a great deal about all of you as sailors and I think our remaining practices will improve because of it.

Speaking of which — we have had BETTER attendance the last few practices. It has still not been great. Some of you have done an impressive job of being here almost all the time and some of you…well I expect you know. Thanks to those of you who come and do your best.

So Thursday - More team racing. Maybe a bit of match racing. Some video work. And much more.

Great night - if you have thoughts on this night or how to improve future practices…PLEASE COMMENT!

Great practice today. We had fantastic breeze and sunny skies. We worked on starts - discussing the elements of a good start and then working a series of starts via the machine gun starts drill.

We have a couple of events this weekend. Sunday there is a varsity event and a JV event. With this in mind I am willing to offer an open practice on Saturday. Come down and let’s do some racing work on a fine tuning techniques and discuss strategy, tactics, rules and more.

RSVP to kristen@galeforcesailing.com if you can make it on Saturday and let me know when you are free to come down and for how long.

Thanks!

kb

April 20, 2008

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1. RULES

The regatta will be governed by the 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of US SAILING, the ISSA Procedural Rules, the Notice of Race (except as changed by the Sailing Instructions) and these Sailing Instructions.

2. NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

Notices will be posted on the Official Notice Board. The Official Notice Board will be located on the Event Barge.

3. CHANGES IN THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Any changes in the Sailing Instructions will be posted before 1000 hours on the day it will take effect.

4. BOATS

4.1 Flying Juniors will be provided for all competitors.

4.2 ISSA Procedural Rules regarding equipment will apply. Standing rigging shall not be adjusted.

4.3 The penalty for infringement of the above instructions will be disqualification from all
races sailed in contravention of these instructions.

4.4 Competitors shall report any damage or loss of equipment, however slight, to the race
committee/regatta organizing authority’s representative immediately upon completion of the
race in which it occurs.

5. SCHEDULE OF RACES

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Report 1000 Event Barge
Competitor’s Meeting 1030 Event Barge
First Signal 1100 Washington Channel
Last Signal No later than 1500 Washington Channel

5.2 The Race Committee will attempt to complete a full rotation, a total of 32 races - 16 in
each division.

5.3 At the conclusion of the scheduled racing, should ties exist for first place, a sail-off will be run, conditions permitting. Should a sail-off be necessary, one race will be sailed to
determine the winner.

5.4 No races will be started after 1500 hours Sunday, April 20, except for sail offs to break ties.

6. RACING AREA

6.1 The racing area will be on the Washington Channel, West of Gangplank Marina.

7. THE COURSE

7.1 Courses shall be short Collegiate-style in accordance with the Procedural Rules.

8. MARKS

8.1 Marks will be orange buoys.

9. START

9.1 The starting line will be between a staff displaying a flag on the race committee boat and
orange spheres.

9.2 Races will be started in accordance with ISSA Procedural Rule 7.8 which states: “US Sailing- For regattas, RRS Appendix Q- Sound-Signal Starting System shall be used.”

10. RECALLS

10.1 Each yacht’s recall number shall be her SAIL NUMBER.

10.2 Individual recalls will be made in accordance with US Sailing - RRS Appendix Q6 which states: “Individual recalls shall be signaled by the hail of the sail number (or some other clearly distinguishing feature) of each recalled boat. Flag X need not be displayed.”

10.3 A General Recall will be signaled by multiple sound signals. In accordance with ISSA
Procedural Rules the “Round-the-Ends” provisions of US Sailing RRS 30.1 shall then apply, without the need for any signal to be given (ISSA PR 7.8 (b)). The three minute starting sequence signal will begin soon after.

11. SHORTENING, ABANDONING OR RESAILING A RACE

11.1 In accordance with ISSA Procedural Rule 7.7 (d) races will not be shortened, they will be abandoned in accordance with US Sailing RRS 32.

12. THE FINISH

12.1 The finish line will be between a staff displaying a flag on the Race Committee Finish boat and the finishing orange spheres.

13. SAFETY

13.1 A boat which retires from a race is asked to notify the race committee either before leaving the course area or, if that is impossible, immediately after arriving ashore.

13.2 Competitors shall provide and wear USCG approved personal flotation devices (PFD) at all times while on the water. Wet or dry suits are not acceptable substitute for a PFD

14. SCORING

Scoring will be in accordance with ISSA Procedural Rule 9.

15. PROTESTS

15.1 Protest procedure will be in accordance with ISSA Procedural Rules Section 16 as modified by 15.2 below.

15.2 A “Fast Track” protest procedure will be used. Details will be posted on the regatta notice board and will be reviewed during the Competitors’ Meeting.

16. BREAKDOWNS

16.1 Procedure and compensation for breakdown points shall be in accordance with ISSA
Procedural Rule 9(f) and ISSA Appendix 3.

17. COACHING

17.1 Competitors may receive coaching including instructions, assistance, equipment or
sustenance only while on shore. There shall be no coaching during the races.

17.2 Competitors shall not communicate with a coach before reporting to the Race Committee the intent to file a protest.

17.3 An infringement of these rules of paragraph 17 during a race shall subject a competitor to disqualification in accordance with ISSA Procedural Rules.

18. PRIZES

18.1 Prizes will be awarded to the schools, skippers and crews of the teams placing first, second, and third.

Dear NMHF Sailors -

Due to the fact that we have not had nearly as much opportunity to get on the water as we would like, we are going to have an open practice and intra-squad regatta this Saturday.  You are invited and encouraged to join your teammates and coaches from 1:00-4:00 on Saturday.  You will have an opportunity to “open sail” from 1:00-2:00 with a five race series scheduled for 2:00-4:00.

The results of this event will go towards our new NMHF ranking system

This is a great opportunity to gain additional experience in a relaxed environment that should be helpful to the rest of our racing season.  Parents are encouraged to join us and will find good good and cheer at the the Cantina Marina’s Crow’s Nest - a perfect place to watch the racing.