TELL TALES (Jan. 13, 2010)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Blake Erquiaga, a Portsmouth skipper with a newer Laser, turns 15 today.

SCHEDULE:

Jan. 16 – Winter Series, race 5 (hs, SP5, Coral Gables); 16-18 – Opti Team Midwinters, St. Pete

Jan. 23 – Winter Series, race 6

Jan. 30 – Winter Series, race 7

Feb. 6 – Winter Series, race 8 (6-7, Valentine’s Regatta, St. Petersburg)

Feb. 13 – Winter Series, race 9

SCHEDULE COMMENTS: Since we missed a series race day on Dec. 6 because of bad weather, we are tacking on another Winter Series race for Feb. 13. Thus, the Spring Series will not start until Feb. 20. That will give us nine races in each season. Please change your schedules accordingly.

SERIES STANDINGS: (After four races for Optimists, two for Portsmouth)

Green Fleet: 1, Bogan Whitehead, 7; 2, Nick Hernandez, 8; 3, Louisa Nordstrom, 10; 4, Alexis Jenkins, 18; 5, Truett Whitehead, 20; 6, Garver Whitehead, 30; 7, Brianna Trecartin, 31; 8, Courtney Purcell, 31; 9, Justin Frow, 36; 10, John Light, 36; 11, Nick Etz, 44; 12, Sara Frajerman, 45;  13, Jacob Hinshaw, 46; 14, Evan Dietrich, 52.

Red, White and Blue Fleet: 1, Stephan VerHulst, 8; Lucas Galarza, 8; 3, Stefan Johnson, 13; 4, Garrett Lawlor, 13; 5, Samantha Wood, 20; 6, Scott Trecartin, 30; 7, Alex Soodak, 30.

Portsmouth Division: 1, Chloe Dietrich, 5; 2, Andrew Sosa, 5; 3, Tyler Thorpe, 6; 4, Paul Kreider, 8; 5, Sami Tornese, 8; 6, Evan Langer 10; 7, Carla Johnson, 10; 8, Cara Patete, 10; 9, Blake Erquiaga, 13. 

SERIES COMMENTS:

1.      We had 11 Optimist sailors brave the cold and the light rain last Saturday and we were able to run three races. As a result, most of those who showed up, moved up in the standings.

2.      There is no change in the Portsmouth standings because most of them were at a high school regatta and we do not have a series race when there is a high school event.

3.      Since another high school regatta is slated for this coming Saturday, the same policy applies.

4.      However, some of our Optimist skippers will be going to the Team Racing Midwinters in St. Petersburg this weekend and they will receive regatta points for the scheduled series race.

5.      Shaun Gallagher has advanced to the Portsmouth Division and will be racing his new Laser, but his name won’t be listed in the series standings until the Spring Series begins.

MISCELLANEOUS

1.      Many thanks to Skip and Diana VerHulst for providing hot chocolate, pizza, pasta, salad and cupcakes in honor of Stephan’s 13th birthday last Saturday. Thanks also go Debbie Wood who brought a hot chocolate offering to our chilly sailors. Chef Marc Pegram of the Venice Yacht Club was the first to provide a hot cup to our hearty skippers when they came in.

2.      When you call the VYBA phone and talk to Jabbo or leave a message on the recording, please identify yourselves. Jabbo doesn’t hear as well as he used to and does not recognize everyone’s voice, especially if he is out in the middle of Roberts Bay running a race.

3.      Several people called last Saturday to see if we were sailing. The answer, of course, was yes. We will have sailing unless we call you to the contrary like we did on Dec. 6 (bad weather).