TELL TALES (Oct. 28, 2009)

SCHEDULE:

Oct. 30 – Optional sailing (1000 to 1500). We have enough sailors. Bring your lunch.

Oct. 31 – Fall Series race 9 (Halloween race) and Florida Inland Lake Regatta, Lake Eustis

Nov. 7 – Fall Series race 10 (last series race for the autumn)

Nov. 14 – Winter Series race 1 and Naples Cup Regatta, Naples Community Sailing Center

Nov. 21 – Winter Series race 2, boat load and high school regatta (SP 3) at Hollywood

Nov. 28-29 – Thanksgiving Regatta, Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa

Dec. 5 – Winter Series, race 3 and Christmas Boat Parade

Dec. 12 – Jim Pique Memorial Regatta (all day)

SERIES STANDINGS:

Green Fleet (after seven races): 1, Bogan Whitehead, 25; 2, Truett Whitehead, 25; 3, Louisa Nordstrom, 26; 4, Alexis Jenkins, 39;  5, Justin Frow, 40; 6, Nicolas Hernandez, 49; 7, John Light, 50; 8, Garver Whitehead, 50; 9, Brianna Trecartin, 54; 10, Evan Dietrich, 65; 11, Jacob Hinshaw, 73; 12, Nicholas Etz, 75; 13, Courtney Purcell, 77; 14, Sara Frajerman. 89. 

Red, White and Blue Fleet (after seven races): 1, Lucas Galarza, 22; 2, Stephan VerHulst, 27; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 28; 4, Samantha Wood, 30; 5, Scott Trecartin, 34; 6, Stefan Johnson, 38; 7, Alex Soodak, 41; 8, Shaun Gallagher, 43.1.  Both Opti fleets will have a throw out in the Fall Series.

Portsmouth Division (still only three races because of high school regattas): 1, Paul Kreider, 4; 2, Chloe Dietrich, 10; 3, Andrew Sosa, 11; 4, Cara Patete, 16; 5, Tyler Thorpe, 17; 6, Sami Tornese, 18; 7, Carla Johnson, 19; 8, Evan Langer, 20; 9, Blake Erquiaga, 26.

MORE CROW’S NEST REGATTA COMMENTS

1.      Several skippers were not using the tide to their advantage. It could have been a friend. Ask Andrew Sosa. In the afternoon races, he took off for the ICW and the stronger outgoing tide.

2.      Although some sailors were over at the start of a few races, we did not have a general recall and did not have to employ the “I” flag. This showed good sailing judgment since the tide was trying to push boats over the line. However, some skippers were not aggressive enough.

3.      Some sailors tried port tack starts, but this regatta was not the time to employ that trick.

4.      There were still some cases of sailors -- mostly Green Fleet -- not sitting in their boats properly, overstanding the windward mark or finish line, not positioning their daggerboards correctly, and sailing back and forth at the starting line instead of going for a standing start.

5.      Many races were very close and in one case Bogen Whitehead shot the finish to nip Lucas Galarza. If you don’t know what “shot the finish” means, check with a coach. Bo knows.

6.      Although the two Optimist classes were scored separately, they ran as one fleet and the Green Fleet did very well against the more experienced Red, White and Blue skippers.

7.      Trophies went to the top three in each division and Jack Mehl, dockmaster at the sponsoring Crow’s Nest Marina, awarded medallions to the fourth, fifth and sixth place Green Fleeters.

MISCELLANEOUS

1.      Stephan VerHulst is the owner of a new Optimist. It was delivered before the River Romp.

2.      John Dexter will be volunteering as race committee for the Green Fleet in future weeks.

3.      Today is the Halloween Race. Skippers, including Dracula, are invited to sail in costume.