TELL TALES (Apr. 15, 2009)

·         BIRTHDAYS:  None until Apr. 25 when Blue Fleet skipper Stefan Johnson turns 12.

·         SCHEDULE: 

Apr. 18 – Practice, high school district regatta and State Optimist Championships

Apr. 25 – Spring Series race 4

May 2 – Spring Series race 5

May 9 – Spring Series race 6

May 16 – David Swett Memorial Regatta and possible boat load

May 23 – Spring Series race 8 or School’s Out Regatta in Tampa on May 23-24

May 30 – Work on boats and sails for the summer, boat assignment and parents’ race

·         SCOUT WEEK: Michelle Thomas handed out certificates to six scouts last Friday, and one young lady has already expressed interest in taking a regular learn to sail class during the summer.

·         OUR REGATTA: We had 70 boats this year (fewer than last year’s 99), but very good weather.

1.       In the 22-boat Green Fleet, Lucas Galarza finished fourth with 22 points and Carla Johnson was fifth with 24. Others were Scott Trecartin, 9th (52); Samantha Wood, 12th (57); Alex Soodak, 19th (88) and T.C. Liming, 22nd (105). The winner was Zack Jordan, who started sailing with us two years ago, and transferred to YSP when his parents moved to Sarasota.

2.       The RWB Fleet also had 22 boats. Cara Patete took third 26 points. Others were Stephan VerHulst, 6th  (38); Alicia Muscato, 10th  (55); Garrett Lawlor, 16th  (72), Stefan Johnson, 20th (91), and Evan Langer, 22nd   (96). In the last race, VYBA had three of the top five.

3.       Sami Tornese placed second and Aubrey Khachetorrian took third in the three-boat Laser 4.7 class. Aubrey was sailing her first regatta in a Laser and placed second in the last race. In the nine-boat Laser Radial division, VYBA skippers were Paul Kreider, 5th (33); Andrew Sosa, 6th (36); Tyler Thorpe 7th (37); Bryan White, 8th (38), and Chloe Dietrich, 9th (43).

·         MANY THANKS go to all of the parents and friends who helped in this effort.  For the first time, we had two courses (windward-leeward instead of trapezoid), used a computer scoring system (instead of scoring by hand) and had a ribbon cutting ceremony after the skippers’ meeting.

·         LESSONS LEARNED: Once again, when the “I” flag is flying, those sailors who are the course side of the starting line within one minutes of the start are required to go around the RC boat or the pin. You cannot simply dip the line as some Laser sailors tried and were scored OCS.

·         MISCELLANEOUS:

1.       Add Sami Tornese to our list of summer Sailing Counselors. 

2.       The U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championships, also known as the Nancy Leiter Claggett Memorial Trophy, will be in Remsenburg, N.Y., July 19-24, using Laser Radials. At least two VYBA skippers – Michelle Thomas and Sandra Singleton – have competed in it.

3.       Articles in our Lost and Found box will go to Goodwill on Apr. 30. Check it out.

4.       Since Venice High qualified for the district regatta in St. Petersburg this weekend, we will have only a practice session Saturday. But we might have a mini Shark’s Tooth Regatta.

5.       High school sailing for the Venice High and Pine View teams will continue through the end of school. Those of you who are interested in trying out should show up on Tuesdays.

6.       It is time for sailors to commit to another year with VYBA. We need to know by May 1.