TELL TALES (Feb. 17, 2010)

· COMMENT: Alexis Jenkins and Truitt Whitehead, our two oldest Green Fleet sailors, were born in 1995. That is the year I started with VYBA. I say that to say this: I don’t believe we have had such an outstanding group of Green Fleet skippers since I have been here. We have had some excellent sailors – the names Sims, Strammer and Waldron come to mind – but as a team, this Green Fleet has to be the best. And those Green Fleeters who have not won any awards, don’t despair. You are very good sailors. You just happen to be in some very tall cotton.

· HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Justin Frow, a Green Fleet skipper, who turns 13 today.

· SCHEDULE:

Feb. 20 – Spring Series, race 1

Feb. 27 – Spring Series, race 2 (hs, SP6. Jensen Beach)

Mar. 6 – Spring Series, race 3 (Allison Jolly Regatta, for females only, St. Petersburg)

Mar. 13 – Spring Series, race 4 (hs. SP7, Sarasota; 13-14, Spring Opti Fest, Jensen Beach)

Mar. 20 – Leukemia Cup*, Isles Yacht Club, Punta Gorda

· SCHEDULE COMMENTS

1. We did not have optional sailing this past Monday because we did not have enough sailors sign up. We missed out on some good sailing. The weather was warmer and the wind good.

2. The winter series ended last Saturday and the spring series will begin this coming Saturday.

3. We have posted a sign-up sheet for the Spring Opti Fest which will be in Jensen Beach.

· SERIES STANDINGS: (Final winter series scores including regatta points and Optimist throw outs)

Green Fleet: 1, Bogan Whitehead, 9.8; 2, Louisa Nordstrom, 17.8; 3, Nick Hernandez, 20.4; 4, Truett Whitehead, 30.2; 5, Alexis Jenkins, 40.4; 6, Courtney Purcell, 50; 7, Justin Frow, 57; 8, John Light, 59; 9, Nick Etz, 63; 10, Brianna Trecartin, 67.75; 11, Garver Whitehead, 71.25; 12, Sara Frajerman, 72; 13, Jake Hinshaw, 74; 14, Evan Dietrich, 100.

RWB Fleet: 1, Stephan VerHulst, 9.5; 2, Lucas Galarza, 16.2; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 18.75; 4, Stefan Johnson, 30.3; 5, Samantha Wood, 35.9; 6, Scott Trecartin, 38; 7, Alex Soodak, 44.

Portsmouth Division: 1, Chloe Dietrich, 16; 2, Paul Kreider, 18; 3, Andrew Sosa, 24; 4, Evan Langer, 29; 5, Carla Johnson, 29; 6, Cara Patete, 31; 7, Sami Tornese, 31.2; 8, Tyler Thorpe, 32; 9. Blake Erquiaga, 41. Portsmouth had only six races and therefore did not receive a throw out. 

· AFTER SHOCKS

1. Thanks go to Celeste Patete who arranged the party for the VYBA group that did so well at the Valentine’s Regatta in St. Petersburg. Hot chocolate and pizza were the highlights.

2. We even received a congratulatory e-mail from David Livingstone, executive director of Sarasota’s Youth Sailing Program. “What a performance…well done to VYBA,” he wrote.

3. Andrew Sosa had it right when he wrote on VYBA’s home page, “You guys rock!”

· MISCELLANEOUS

1. Our regatta committee is scheduled to meet in the Venice Yacht Club on this coming Saturday, beginning at 12 noon. Anyone who is interested in helping is cordially invited.

2. With the beginning of the Spring Series on Saturday, we will start scoring the Laser 4.7 boats separately. So far, the three who have committed to that group are Carla, Cara and Sami.

3. Green Fleeter Louisa Nordstrom is the latest sailor to own her own boat. Congratulations.