TELL TALES (Mar. 24, 2010)

· SCHEDULE: (* means key regatta; no sailing in Venice)

Mar. 27 – Sailfest*, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sarasota

Apr. 3 – Jabbo Gordon Invitational Regatta*, Indian Mound Park, Englewood

Apr. 10 – Spring Series, race 5 (10-11, Mount Dora Regatta, Mount Dora)

Apr. 17 – Spring Series, race 6 (US Sailing’s Level 1 instructor course)

Apr. 24 – Spring Series, race 7 (US Sailing’s Level 1 instructor course)

· SCHEDULE COMMENTS:

1. There will be no VYBA sailing in Venice this weekend because 11 Optis are slated to go to Sailfest. Those who are going should be there no later than 0815. The skippers’ meeting is scheduled for 0915 and the first race signal is set for 1030. John Whitehead has graciously agreed to pull the 12-boat trailer up there, but we need someone to haul it back Sunday.

2. We have 12 Optimists and six Lasers signed up for our regatta in Englewood, including two who missed our deadline. The discount deadline is Friday, meaning the fee goes to $40.

· REGATTA RESULTS

1. Although he didn’t officially register until after the racing was over and didn’t attend the skippers’ meeting because he was late, Lucas Galarza won two of the five races in the Optimist class at the Isles Yacht Club’s Leukemia Cup competition in Punta Gorda last Saturday. Bogan Whitehead also won two races and scored 12 points in the 12-boat fleet, but race officials gave the nod to Lucas. Nick Hernandez took third with 13 points and Garrett Lawlor, who won the third race, finished fourth with 21 markers. Louisa Nordstrom came in fifth with 22 points and Stefan Johnson was sixth with 31.

2. Sami Tornese sailed her Laser Radial to three firsts to win the six-boat Laser class. Cara Patete collected the other two firsts and placed second while Carla Johnson came in third.

3. A couple of sailors did not load their sails and had to use substitutes. Loading your gear is not the responsibility of your parents or your coaches. It is yours. You are the one racing.

4. Many thanks to Steve Purcell for hauling the 12-boat trailer. Thanks also go to Skip and Diana VerHulst for taking Whaler 2 down there and to Tom Lawlor for bringing it back.

· MISCELLANEOUS

1. All Optimist sailors need to tell us (via e-mail, phone or in person) if they will be sailing with us next year. First, only those who commit will be allowed to be sailing counselors this summer. Second, we need to determine how many new Green Fleeters we can take.

2. Speaking of our summer program, we have a special offer for all sailors. If you recruit a kid for our sailing sessions, you will win a Venice sweat shirt, worth $20. Your name must be at the top of the application. Siblings and people who have taken it before do not count.

3. Stephan VerHulst and Lucas Galarza in the RWB Fleet plus Bogan Whitehead and Louisa Nordstrom in the Green Fleet all have new boats. We have had youngsters own their own boats before, but never this many at one time. Nick Hernandez and Courtney Purcell have their own set of black spars. Nick and Garrett Lawlor also have their own racing blades.

4. Our condolences go to John Light’s who paternal grandfather died in Connecticut last week.

5. Glenn Sosa, Andrew’s father, has taken over as VYBA treasurer, replacing Celeste Patete.