TELL TALES (Jan. 14, 2009)

·         THIS EDITION of your newsletter is dated Jan. 14– again to be consistent with our normal Wednesday publication date. However, it is two days tardy because your itinerant sportswriter (Jabbo) went to California for a national US Sailing symposium and did not return until Jan. 15.

·         SCHEDULE: 

Jan. 17 – Sailing practice here and a high school points race at Coconut Grove

Jan. 19 – Possible optional sailing, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jan. 24 – Winter Series race 6 (24-25 – Boomerang Regatta, Fort Lauderdale)

Jan. 31 – Winter Series race 7

Feb. 7 – Winter Series race 8 (7-8 -- St. Valentine’s Regatta, St. Petersburg Sailing Center)

·         COACH ROBERT returns Saturday, but Capt. John Thomas will be coaching the Pine View and Venice High sailing teams at a regatta in Coconut Grove. Jabbo will fill in for Capt. John.

·         NEXT OPPORTUNITY for optional sailing will be Monday, Jan. 19 because it is a school holiday. A sign-up sheet is posted for sailing that day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but there must be a minimum of six to justify having a coach here. The sign-up deadline is this Saturday.

·         A SIGN-UP sheet also is posted for the annual St. Valentine’s Regatta at St. Petersburg’s sailing center. Our deadline is Jan. 24 (next week) and so far only four sailors have signed the sheet.

·         ANOTHER ERROR cropped in the last issue of “Tell Tales” when Jabbo said that VYBA had two Lasers. We actually have three, two new and one old. All are assigned at this time.

·          SERIES STANDINGS: Here are the Winter Series standings and points after five races.

1.       Green Fleet –1, Samantha Wood, 11; 2, Lucas Galarza, 15; 3, Lizzie Karras, 23; 4, Carla Johnson, 24;  5, Scott Trecartin, 25; 6, Toussaint Thomas, 30; 7, Shaun Gallagher, 35; 8, Alex Soodak, 37; 9, Mariah Miller, 38; 10, T.C. Liming, 38; 11, Blake Erquiaga, 42; 12, Brad Arnold, 49.

2.       RWB Fleet – 1, Cara Patete, 5; 2, Alicia Muscato, 9; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 16.25; 4, Stefan Johnson, 23; 5, Evan Langer, 23.75; 6, Ashlyn Weed, 28; 7, Stephan VerHulst, 32; Aubrey Khachetoorian, 33.

3.       Portsmouth Division had another series race Saturday to give them three – 1, Michelle Thomas, 3; 2, Bryan White, 8; 3, Sami Tornese, 12; 4, Paul Kreider, 13; 5,  Andrew Sosa, 14; 6, Chloe Dietrich, 17; 7, Tyler Thorpe, 19; 8 (tie) Katie Paolillo and Sarah Vogelsong, 21; 10, Evan Dacey, 22.

·         MISCELLANEOUS

1.       If you have any ideas for improving our website, please contact Portsmouth skipper Andrew Sosa. He is assembling thoughts and plans to do a major overhaul during the summer.

2.       Too many sailors are leaving their gear adrift. That includes clothes, drink bottles and shoes as well as blades. Also, the last skippers to use the hoses should recoil them properly.

3.       Current plans are to shift the David Swett Memorial Regatta from Apr. 25 to May 16.

·         EDITORIAL: For future regatta reference, sailors should set a specific goal and this doesn’t necessarily mean winning your fleet or even collecting a trophy. Sailing to the best of your ability comes to mind, but if you have been finishing in the back of the pack, go for the middle of your fleet. Or if you can in 35th in the last regatta, see if you can improve and place in the 20’s.