TELL TALES 16 (Feb. 6, 2008)

• Evan Langer was so excited after spending time with Ed Baird, helmsman for the America's Cup winning yacht, Alinghi, that he sent an e-mail thanking him. Lo and behold, the Alinghi organization put Evan's message on its international website as well as identifying the Venice Youth Boating Association. His e-mail was listed along with those from Italy, Switzerland, France and Great Britain. In fact, his was the only one from the United States. Here it is: Thank you Ed Baird for your lecture at the Southeast Team Sailing Regatta 2008 in St. Petersburg, Fla., on the weekend of Jan. 19-20. It is always a great learning event and the more that I learn about sailing the better. Thank you very much. Evan. (And thank you, Evan, for taking the time to write him.)

• Some questions have come up concerning memberships in various national organizations. First, there is US Sailing, the national governing body for sailing. Membership was required to compete in the Edison Sailing Center's annual River/Beach Romp Regatta last October because the event was also part of the national Junior Olympics series. A junior membership is available and it is an organization that a person can belong to indefinitely and must belong to if an individual plans on teaching or coaching. Second is USODA (United States Optimist Dinghy Association). Membership in it is necessary to race in St. Petersburg's Valentine's Day Regatta because that event is a qualifier for the national team. Under eligibility in the notice of race forms that were handed out to all VYBA participants, it stated that sailors must be USODA members. VYBA probably will not participate in any more regattas that require USODA membership this year, and since 15 is the age limit for Optimist sailors, the value is limited.

• We encourage parents and sailors to read the notice of race forms (and sailing instructions), not just for cost and schedule, but for other information that is necessary to make the regatta a fun one. In the past, we have advised "our family", especially newcomers, of various obstacles, but neglected to warn everyone this year and that is our fault. It shouldn't happen again.

• This is a reminder to all sailors: the boat assigned to you is your responsibility. That means you Ð not your parents and not the coaches -- are responsible for the care and feeding of that boat. This means, for example, that if you are going to a regatta, you need to make certain that your boat is on the boat trailer and strapped down. Make sure your bow line and bailer are secure. Your blades and sail (including sprit poles) should be in your assigned bags and in the trailer.

• Optional sailing is something extra that we do on many school holidays to give sailors added time on the water. We may run a couple of drills or have some fun races, such as match races, but it is mostly day sailing and going to different areas. However, the minimum number of participants is six, and we post sign up sheets on the TV cabinet so we can determine if we have enough. You should sign up or at least call because if we don't have enough, we won't go.

• That said, optional sailing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 15 as well as Monday, Feb. 18, which are both school holidays. We will have regular sailing on Saturday, Feb. 16, and that may be enough. However, if you want to sail more, sign up. As of today, only one person is on the Monday list.

• We have started the process for our Learn to sail program this summer. Spread the word and if you know someone who might be interested, ask them to call 468-1719 or check the website.

• Aubrey Khachetoorian, Stefan Johnson, Garrett Lawlor, Andrew Sosa, Sami Tornese, Cara Patete, Evan Langer, Chloe Dietrich and Tyler Thorpe are going to the regatta this weekend.