TELL TALES 18 (Feb. 22, 2008)

• Birthdays: Well, we messed up the birthdays in last week's issue. Samuel Dolby's was indeed Feb. 14, but Cara Patete's won't be until Mar. 13 and Alicia Muscato's will be Mar. 14. We were a month early on them. And then Paul Kreider's will be Mar. 21, almost a month away.

• Optional sailing: Once again for all those folks who asked last Monday, the hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, there is not another such day on the schedule until May 31.

• Schedule: Tomorrow will be the last of the winter series races. The spring series starts Mar. 1.

• Regattas: Four of our young ladies have signed up for the Allison Jolly Regatta, which will be in St. Petersburg on Mar. 8-9. We will have regular sailing in Venice for those who do not go to that regatta, and those who go will receive regatta points as far as the spring series is concerned.

• Publicity: Becky Simpson, a former VYBA sailor and coach, was featured in a Gondolier story recently. It was about her mission trip to Brazil. But she is back and you may see her around.

• Summer program: Elena Evez is the first person to register for our summer program. Her mother, Holly, said that they heard about VYBA through Chloe Dietrich. So keep on spreading the good word so that we can have full classes this coming summer. Information is on-line.

• Rules: Saturday's lunch break consists of one hour from the time the boats come in. If you go to the beach, the jetties, the pool or wherever (with your parents' approval, of course), you must be back within an hour. If not, we may require you to stay around the Pram Shed.

• Lost and found: a 420 spinnaker was left out on a boat last Monday. All equipment must be put back where it belongs or it may not be available for future use. A word to the wise is sufficient.

• E-mails: No matter who in your family receives "Tell Tales" or any other message from VYBA, make sure everyone has the word. Some people are not reading their e-mails and then they ask unnecessary questions. If there are any additions, corrections or deletions to your e-mail address, please let us know. E-mails are much simpler, but you have to read them and share.

• Series standings: Ernest Green Fleet Ð 1, Zack Jordan, 21; 2 (tie), Sami Tornese and Garrett Lawlor, 23; 4, Stephan VerHulst, 34; 5 (tie), Aubrey Khachetoorian and Andrew Sosa, 38; 7, Stefan Johnson, 39; 8, Ashlyn Weed, 51; 9, Jonathan James, 54. Red, White and Blue Ð 1, Cara Patete, 24; 2, Chloe Dietrich, 26; 3, Alicia Muscato, 28; 4, Evan Langer, 36; 5 (tie), Marissa Phillips and Tyler Thorpe, 42. Portsmouth Ð 1, Bryan White, 18; 2, Kyle D'Arcangelis, 19; 3, Mallory Phillips, 24; 4, Jackie Sims, 24.2; 5, Sarah Vogelson, 30; 6, Samuel Dolby, 31.

• Marlinspike seamanship (knot tying): When you wrap a line (not rope, please) around a wench, cleat or piling, wrap it clockwise, not counter-clockwise. An exception is the bowline knot.

• Sailing tips:

* On starts, most of the time, you should plan on a standing start.

* When sailing upwind, try to keep the boat as flat as possible, regardless of the wind. If it is light air, for example, you don't want to be up on the rail and heeling the boat to windward.

* When you are off the wind, on a reach or going downwind, then heel the boat to windward so the peak of your sail will stick higher in the air and your boat's hull will have less wetted surface. That means there is a smaller amount of boat creating resistance to the water.

* Most of the time, you will go around courses counter-clockwise, leaving buoys to port.