TELL TALES NO. 8

• We did not have enough sailors sign up for the Naples Cup Regatta and so, we are not going as an association. However, Cara Patete and Aubrey Khachetoorian are going on their own. We wish them well. Meanwhile, we will have regular sailing here this coming Saturday, Nov. 10.

• For Green Fleeters who are not familiar with the policy, individuals can take their assigned boats, blades and sails, but they are responsible for transporting everything to a regatta, if VYBA does not go as a group. Also a coach must check your equipment for damage afterwards.

• Questions about signing up for regattas continue to arise. Even if you have registered to attend a certain regatta, you need to sign up on our list so we will know how many are going. And again, we have a two-week deadline so we can plan boat transportation, if necessary.

• Along those lines, the annual Thanksgiving Regatta will be at Tampa's Davis Island Yacht Club on Nov. 24-25. A notice of race is posted on the bulletin board and the sign up sheet is posted on the TV cabinet door. So far, we have seven signed up and therefore, we will be going as a club. However, if you plan on attending that regatta, you need to sign up on our sheet. Saturday, Nov. 10, is the deadline and the boat load is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17.

• For planning purposes, Fall Series races are scheduled for the first two Saturdays in December.

• Unfortunately, the Venice High sailing team has dissolved, at least for the time being. If anyone is interested in joining it or knows someone who is, please contact Blake Waldron at 485-1796.

• The annual Christmas Boat Parade is slated for Saturday, Dec. 1. VYBA President/Coach John Thomas is working on that project and will let everyone know when plans are finalized.

• According to the US Sailing website, there were more than 300 boats that attended the Edison Sailing Center's River Romp on Oct. 20-21. As you know, it was held at the beach again this year. There were 95 skippers in the Green Fleet which had six races including a throw-out. Our top Green Fleeter was Jonathan James who accumulated 167 points to finish 34th. Other VYBA Greenies were Stefan Johnson, 37th, Andrew Sosa, 39th, Aubrey Khachetoorian, 45th, Ashlyn Weed, 46th, Sami Tornese, 50th. The Red, White and Blue Fleet had 105 entries and competed in four races with no throw-out. Cara Patete led the VYBA contingent with 103 points, good for 22nd place. Others were Tyler Thorpe, 79th, Paul Kreider, 93rd, and Alicia Muscato, 100th.

• Former VYBA sailors did well in various post-Opti fleets. Teal Strammer won the Laser 4.7 division which had 22 skippers. She had two firsts, two seconds and a fourth while tossing an eighth place finish. Michelle Thomas finished fourth and Christi Frost came in seventh after six races. Ben Mohney and Katie Paolillo took a sixth place in the 12-boat 420 competition which had five races. Molly McKinney was eighth out of 28 Laser Radial sailors who sailed six races.

• Here are the latest Fall Series standings:

Green Fleet Ð 1, Stephan VerHulst, 23; 2, Garrett Lawlor, 23; 3, Zack Jordan, 27; 4, Jonathan James, 28; 5, Ashlyn Weed, 28; 6, Aubrey Khachetoorian, 29, and 7, Sami Tornese, 34.

Red, White and Blue Fleet Ð 1, Cara Patete, 12; 2, Paul Kreider, 29; 3, Alicia Muscato, 29; 4, Chloe Dietrich, 34; 5, Evan Langer, 35; 6, Marissa Phillips, 45, and 7, Tyler Thorpe, 50.

Portsmouth Fleet Ð 1, Sarah Vogelsong, 17; 2, Kyle D'Arcangelis, 17; 3, Bryan White, 18; 4, Jackie Sims, 19; 5, Mallory Phillips, 19; 6, Amanda Watson, 22, and 7, Samuel Dolby, 28.

• Our thanks go to Beth Anderson and James Mahoney who have been volunteering Saturday.