TELL TALES (Apr. 22, 2009)

·         BIRTHDAYS:  Stefan Johnson turns 12 on Saturday and Andrew Sosa will be 15 on Sunday.

·         SCHEDULE:  

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 7 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

·         SWETT REGATTA: The David Swett Memorial Regatta will be held on Roberts Bay on May 16. Similar to our Crow’s Nest Regatta and the Jim Pique Memorial Regatta, it is for our sailors only and will run all day, with a break for lunch. Although there is no sign up sheet for it, plan on it.

·         TAMPA REGATTA: We have posted a sheet for the School’s Out Regatta at Tampa’s Davis Island Yacht Club on May 23-24. Since the board did not designate this as a key regatta, we need more than half of our fleet to sign up or else VYBA cannot send a trailer or coaches.

·         SUMMER PROGRAM:

1.       At this time, we have 18 sailing counselors signed up. However, a couple of them do not meet the attendance requirement. Please do not expect to hang out here during the summer if you can’t bother to come to sailing on Saturdays without even sending an e-mail or calling with an excuse. Also we are requiring you to commit to next year’s program.

2.       Along those lines, we have had only two Optimist sailors say they will be back. We need to know by May 1 so we can reassign boats for the summer. Green Fleeters will move up and their boats will be used not only for the summer program, but for the new Green Fleet.

3.       We are offering a 420 course and a special Optimist class during June, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 420 sessions will be June 1-12 and the Optis will meet June 15-26. It is for our members only and no paperwork is required, but the cost is $100 each. Our deadline is May 1 because we need to prepare for the program. So far, only one person has paid. If interested, tell us.

·         MISCELLANEOUS

1.       Jabbo will be teaching a small boat instructors’ course for US Sailing at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron the next two weekends and won’t be at the Pram Shed on Apr. 25-26 or May 2-3.

2.       Ashlyn Weed is taking a leave of absence from sailing for an undetermined period of time.

3.       We need someone to wash our blade bags as well as our sail bags. If no one steps forward by the next issue, we will take them to the Wash House where they were washed last time.

4.       High school students or scouts who need community service hours should contact Jabbo soon. There are many tasks to accomplish before our summer program begins.

5.       There are some excellent pictures of our regatta in Englewood available if anyone wants to see them. Jin Dietrich, Karen Williams and Lynn Paul took some super shots.

·         SAILING TIP: It’s great to know what the wind is doing and where it is coming from, but don’t forget the current. For example, if the current is moving toward the windward mark, it can push you over at the start. Also, you can tack sooner than you normally would, if the force is with you.