TELL TALES (Mar. 3, 2010)

· HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Samantha Wood, a RWB skipper, who turned 14 last Sunday and to Carla Johnson, a Portsmouth Division sailor, who will become 16 tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

· SCHEDULE COMMENTS:

1. We have enough females to go to take trailers and coaches to the Allison Jolly Regatta, but we do not have anyone to pull the 12-boat trailer. If no one steps up, we will not be able to go. VYBA can provide the coaches and the trailers, but not the trailer pullers. Coaches are usually pulling VYBA’s Whalers. Coach John Thomas will work with the Optimists while Blake Waldron will work with the Portsmouth Division. Jabbo Gordon will handle sailing here.

2. Since only four sailors signed up for the Spring Opti-Fest in Jensen Beach, Mar. 13-14, we are not going as a club. We will give regatta points to skippers who compete on their own.

3. No one has signed up for the Leukemia Cup in Punta Gorda. Since this is a key regatta, there will be no sailing in Venice on Mar. 20. Those who plan to race, need to sign the sheet.

4. Speaking of signing the sheet, parents are required to initial behind their sailors’ names. This confirms the skippers’ intentions. No initials indicate the sailor is not really going.

· SERIES STANDINGS: (Optimists have had two races; Portsmouth Division has had one.)

1. Ernest Green Fleet: 1, Nick Hernandez, 5; 2, Courtney Purcell, 7; 3, Justin Frow, 10; 4, Truett Whitehead, 11; 5, Sara Frajerman, 11;  6, Alexi Jenkins, 11; 7, Garver Whitehead, 12; 8, Brianna Trecartin, 12; 9, John Light, 17; 10, Nick Etz, 18; 11, Jake Hinshaw, 19; 12 (tie) Louisa Nordstrom and Bogan Whitehead, 21; 14, Evan Dietrich, 25.

2. Red, White and Blue Fleet: 1, Lucas Galarza, 3; 2, Stephan VerHulst, 4; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 5; 4, Samantha Wood, 9; 5, Stefan Johnson, 10; 6, Scott Trecartin, 11; 7, Alex Soodak, 15.

3. Portsmouth Division: 1, Chloe Dietrich; 2, Andrew Sosa; 3 (eight tied with four points).

· MISCELLANEOUS

1. Our sincerest condolences to the John Whitehead family for the loss of John’s father, Jack, on Feb. 20. Truett, Bogan and Garver have our deepest sympathy in this time of sorrow.

2. Nick Etz won the Knights of Columbus spelling Bee last Sunday. He advances to the state championship which will be in Kissimmee on Mar. 6. He placed second at state last year.

3. The Venice Sailing Squadron has a regatta on the first Saturday of each month and a few skippers are looking for crew. We will give regatta points to any sailors who want to crew.

4. Bob Piel, Venice Yacht Club rear commodore, will present the Winter Series trophies at the Pram Shed on Saturday, Mar. 13, beginning at 12:30. Hopefully his wife Beth will join him.

5. A meeting of the Jabbo Gordon Regatta committee is set for the Venice Yacht Club on Saturday, Mar. 6, starting at 1200. Anyone who is interested in helping is invited to attend.

6. Lost and Found items include a pair of sailing boots, a head light and a lunch bag.