TELL TALES (Feb. 18, 2009)

· SCHEDULE: 

Feb. 21 – Winter Series race 10 (last one)

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

Mar. 7 -- Spring Series race 1 (7-8 – Allison Jolly Regatta in St. Petersburg, females only)

Mar. 14 – Spring Series race 2 and boat load

Mar. 21 – Leukemia and Lymphoma Cup Regatta, Isles Yacht Club, Punta Gorda

Mar. 28-29 – Sailfest. Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sarasota

· SIGN UPS

1. We wound up with seven sailors for the Presidents’ Day optional sailing opportunity. Those attending included Evan Langer, Stefan Johnson, Alicia Muscato, Scott Trecartin, Alex Soodak, Lucas Galarza. Garrett Lawlor was signed up but was sick. However, Brad Arnold who has missed several sessions for medical reasons, was able to attend, giving us seven. We went down the Intracoastal Waterway beyond the Venice Avenue Bridge and then battled the wind and the incoming tide all the way to the North Jetties where we stopped for a late lunch. The Soodak Family treated most of the skippers to a soda at the fish camp.

2. Not enough people signed up for the Manatee River Sail Away scheduled for Feb. 28. Five signed up, but we needed 10. So we are not going. There will be practice only here that day.

3. Seven of our 14 females have signed up for the Allison Jolly Regatta in St. Petersburg. To meet our “half plus one” requirement to go, someone listed Paula Kreider. That won’t work unless Paul lets his hair grow longer or wears a wig. No Stephanies are allowed either.

4. At its Feb. 10 meeting, the VYBA board of directors declared that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Regatta, scheduled for Punta Gorda on Mar. 21 will be a key regatta for us. That means we are definitely going and there will not be a practice here that day. So, sign up.

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

1. Green Fleet (has had eight races):1, Samantha Wood, 18.7; 2, Lucas Galarza, 26; 3, Carla Johnson, 28; 4, Scott Trecartin, 38; 5, Lizzie Karras, 43; 6, Alex Soodak, 50; 7, Toussaint Thomas, 53; 8, Mariah Miller, 57; 9, T.C. Liming, 57; 10, Shaun Gallagher, 58; 11, Blake Erquiaga, 62; 12, Brad Arnold, 71. Mariah Miller finished fourth Saturday and moved up two.

2. RWB Fleet: 1, Cara Patete, 10; 2, Alicia Muscato, 24; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 30.4; 4, Stefan Johnson, 42; 5, Evan Langer, 46.1; 6, Stephan VerHulst, 49; 7, Ashlyn Weed, 56; 8, Aubrey Khachetoorian, 61. Evan regained fifth place from Stephan last Saturday.

3. Portsmouth Division (has had seven races):  1, Michelle Thomas, 8; 2, Bryan White, 23; 3, Paul Kreider, 26; 4, Sami Tornese, 28; 5, Chloe Dietrich, 34; 6,  Andrew Sosa, 37; 7, Tyler Thorpe, 48; 8 (tie) Katie Paolillo and Sarah Vogelsong, 55; 10, Evan Dacey, 56.

· MISCELLANEOUS

1. From now on, we need to have four Optimist sailors commit to staying in the afternoons. Last week, we had six, which was great, but on the Saturday before, there were only two.

2. We are guests at the Venice Yacht Club and some of our boys are hereby reminded that the shower is not a urinal or a toilet. We’d better not hear any more reports of this nature.

3. Alicia Muscato and Ashlyn Weed have agreed to be sailing counselors this summer.