TELL TALES (Mar. 4, 2009)

·         BIRTHDAYS: We have mentioned these two before, but in error. Samantha Wood’s 13th birthday was Feb. 28 and Carla Johnson’s 15th birthday is today. Happy Birthday to both young ladies.

·         SCHEDULE: 

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

Mar. 14 – Spring Series race 2, trophy presentation and boat load

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

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

Apr. 4 – Spring Series race 3 and boat load

Apr. 6-10 – Scout Week (if we have enough scouts to take the course)

Apr. 11 – Jabbo Gordon Invitational Regatta, Englewood

·         SIGN UPS

1.       This coming Saturday is our deadline for signing up for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Cup Regatta in Punta Gorda on Mar. 21. Sailors must send their entries directly to the Isles Yacht Club. Be sure to include your T-shirt size and a check, which is tax deductible.

2.       Saturday, Mar. 14, is the deadline for signing our list for Sailfest, which will be Mar. 28-29. However, the discount deadline for that regatta in Sarasota is Mar. 13.

·         SUMMER PROGRAM: Michelle Thomas and Bryan White have been named as instructors for the summer program, which will include not only our basic and advanced sessions in Optimists, but a 420 class June 2-13 and a special Opti class June 15-26. Michelle will be the head instructor for the first month and when she goes to New Jersey, Bryan will take over as head instructor for the rest of the summer. A brief biography of both instructors follows.

·         MICHELLE THOMAS, 18, was born in Toms River, N.J., and moved to this area at an early age. She attended Taylor Ranch Elementary School and then entered Pine View School in the sixth grade. Michelle is captain of the Pine View sailing team, vice-president of Mu Alpha Theta, mathematics honor society, is a member of the National Honor Society and plays the violin in the school orchestra. She also plays piano and is a former Girl Scout. She has narrowed her college choices to the University of Florida, the University of Miami and the College of Charleston, and plans to major in pre-med and mathematics. Michelle enjoys going to the beach and spends a large part of her summers sailing in New Jersey.

·         BRYAN WHITE, also 18, was born in Melbourne and moved to Nokomis when he was four. He attended Laurel-Nokomis School and is a senior at Venice High. He is captain of the VHS sailing team and runs track, participating in the 4 by 800 relay team and the 880 run. He is used to play tenor sax in the school band and is a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church youth program which conducted a mission trip to Louisiana in 2008. His hobbies include surfing as well as sailing. He plans to major in engineering at the University of South Florida.

·         SAILING COUNSELORS (alphabetically to date) include Lucas Galarza, Shaun Gallagher, Carla Johnson, Paul Kreider, Garrett Lawlor, Alicia Muscato, Cara Patete, Alex Soodak, Scott Trecartin, Ashlyn Weed and Samantha Wood. If others are interested, they should contact Jabbo.

·         DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME starts this weekend, at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 8. Don’t forget.

·         SWEAT SHIRTS are still available for $20 each. They are black with a hood.