TELLTALES 27 (May 7, 2008)

• Today is Aubrey Khachetoorian's birthday. We hope she has many, many more. There are no more birthdays the rest of this month (or in June), and Chloe Dietrich's is not until July 25.

• Speaking of Chloe, her mother, Jin, has been our unofficial photographer for a couple of years now, and it is really paying off. Two of her photos became cover shots for 'Southwinds' magazine in January and May. And there have been some other pictures inside as well. Thanks.

• Our sailors who crewed aboard John Lynch's C&C 36 last Saturday did very well by helping to win both races in the Venice Sailing Squadron's regular monthly regatta in the Gulf of Mexico. With Capt. John Thomas at the helm, 'Summertime' not only took first place boat for boat but beat the rest of its class on corrected time. Bryan White, a certified instructor and one of our Portsmouth Division sailors, was the main trimmer. Other participating were Tyler Thorpe, Evan Langer, Alicia Muscato, Cara Patete and Paul Kreider and they weren't just moveable ballast.

• Our thanks go to Sheila Sosa and son Andrew, Tom Lawlor and son Garrett along with Aubrey Khacheetorian for helping Celeste Patete so much at the YMCA's open house last Saturday.

• You know how you go to a regatta and ask a question at the skippers' meeting and the regatta official embarrasses you by announcing that the answer is in the sailing instructions and suggesting that you read them? Well, the same principal applies to 'Tell Tales'. Please read them completely to find out what is happening before calling to ask about something that is right there in black and white. That's why we 'publish' these almost weekly newsletters.

• Another request (repeated): Please stay out of the east side of the Pram Shed where the Venice Women's Sailing Squadron members keep their boats. There is no reason for our sailors to be over there and we don't want to create any issues with the Bitter Ends who are so good to us.

• Our appreciation, for example, goes to the VWSS (Bitter Ends) who provided a nice meal of hot dogs, cookies and sodas during our lunch break at the David Swett Memorial Regatta on Apr. 26.

• Some people have asked who Capt. David Swett was. A long-time Venice Yacht Club member, he was sailing master for the youth program for many years. After he died, his family donated a boat and some money to VYBA which in turn named a regatta in his memory.

• The Gondolier ran a story about the regatta on Apr. 30 and listed most of the results. For those who missed it, here are the official results Red, White and Blue: 1, Cara Patete, 14; 2, Alicia Muscato, 35; 3, Chloe Dietrich, 46; 4, Evan Langer, 59; 5, Paul Kreider, 112. Ernest Green Fleet: 1, Stephan VerHulst, 30; 2, Jonathan James, 43; 3, Garrett Lawlor, 55; 4, Zack Jordan, 62; 5, Aubrey Khachetoorian, 62; 6, Sami Tornese, 74; 7, Ashlyn Weed, 80; 8, Stefan Johnson, 117. Portsmouth Division: 1, Michelle Thomas, 9; 2, Tyler Thorpe, 18. Although Zack and Aubrey tied with 62 points, Zack won the tie-breaker as determined by US Sailing's rules of scoring.

• There will be regular sailing the next two Saturdays. A boat load for those going to the School's Out Regatta in Tampa will be May 17 after sailing. Those who have signed up include Stephan VerHulst, Andrew Sosa, Sami Tornese, Ashlyn Weed, Alicia Muscato and Cara Patete.

• Those who are interested in becoming Sailing Counselors need to let Jabbo know soonest. They also should plan to attend a training session on May 31 about 10:15, after a parent orientation.

• Opti skippers must tell Jabbo their intentions for next year before boats are reassigned May 31.