TELL TALES (Feb. 4, 2009)

·         HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Congratulations (again) go to Carla Johnson, a Green Fleeter, who is 15 today.

·         EDITOR’S ERROR (again): Last week, we listed those who attended USODA’s team race championship regatta in Tampa and neglected to mention Garrett Lawlor. Sorry about that.

·         SCHEDULE: 

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

Feb. 14 – Winter Series race 9

Feb. 16 – Possible optional sailing since it is President’s Day and therefore a school holiday.

Feb. 21 – Winter Series race 10

Feb. 28 – Practice session or Sail Away (28-1 – High school regatta in St. Petersburg)

·         SIGN UP: We have four (4) sign-up sheets posted in the Pram Shed and if you intend to participate in any of the events, you need to let us know. Your parents need to initial also.

1.       Optional sailing on Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We have three and we need six to have it.

2.       Sail away to the Manatee River on Feb. 28. Again, three have signed up.

3.       Allison Jolly Regatta for girls only on Mar. 7-8. This will be at St. Petersburg’s Sailing Center.

4.       Leukemia and Lymphoma Regatta on Mar. 21. This one-day event will be at Punta Gorda.

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

1.       Green Fleet: 1, Samantha Wood, 14; 2, Lucas Galarza, 17; 3, Carla Johnson, 25; 4, Lizzie Karras, 28; 5, Scott Trecartin, 32; 6, Toussaint Thomas, 38; 7, Alex Soodak, 41; 8, Shaun Gallagher, 43;  9, Mariah Miller, 46; 10, T.C. Liming, 46; 11, Blake Erquiaga, 49; 12, Brad Arnold, 56. Both Carla and Alex moved up a place this past Saturday.

2.       RWB Fleet: 1, Cara Patete, 8; 2, Alicia Muscato, 14; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 21; 4, Stefan Johnson, 33; 5, Evan Langer, 39.67; 6, Stephan VerHulst, 40; 7, Ashlyn Weed, 44; 8, Aubrey Khachetoorian, 45. Stephan climbed up one notch after Saturday’s races.

3.       Portsmouth Division:  1, Michelle Thomas, 6; 2, Bryan White, 14; 3, Sami Tornese, 21; 4, Chloe Dietrich, 22; 5, Paul Kreider, 22; 6,  Andrew Sosa, 28; 7, Tyler Thorpe, 32; 8 (tie) Katie Paolillo and Sarah Vogelsong, 39; 10, Evan Dacey, 40.

·         MISCELLANEOUS

1.       Reminder: our Lost and Found box, with lots of goodies, is going to Goodwill on Feb. 19.

2.       Those who are interested in becoming sailing counselors and helping with our learn to sail program this summer need to contact Jabbo Gordon, but you must have good attendance.

3.       Our six 420’s are for the Pine View and Venice High teams that practice on Tuesday afternoons. They are not for Saturday sailing because of potential damage. So don’t ask.

4.       The purpose of a roll tack is to help accelerate out of a tack. It is not to see how far you can tip your boat without taking on water. And it should be a roll, not a slam.

5.       It is time for many of you sailors to start thinking for yourselves. Our coaches are trying to give you new information and it wastes everyone’s time to constantly key on the basics. For example, some of you still sit too far back in the boat. It slows you down and breaks bags.

6.       The Optimist class nationals will be in Los Angeles this year. Team racing will be July 18-21; a girls’ championship will be July 22 and the main competition will be July 23-26. Charter boats, coaching and housing will be available, but interested sailors need to prepare now.