During October 30 Alex MeVay finished the Mini-Transat 6.50 in Brazil, becoming only the 6th American to finish the race in its 30 year history. The 3,100 nautical mile leg from Funchal to Salvador took Alex approximately 24 days. Alex finished 30 of 41 in the production class and 69 of 83 overall.
Alex is the former JSA LIS sailor whose start in this race was featured in our September 20 blog posting .
Last summer Alex sailed solo, nonstop from Boston to Port Camargue in the Mediterranean, a 4,135 nm journey that took almost 36 days. That is almost certainly the longest single passage ever done on a Mini by anyone.
Well done Alex!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Ralf Steitz Honored for Sail Training
Congratulations to Ralf Steitz, the Offshore Sailing Director at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point NY, who has received US SAILING's Timothea Larr Award for his lifelong commitment to quality sailing education. The award is the US SAILING Training Committee's highest honor, presented annually to an individual whose vision and guidance has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of sailor education and training in the United States.
JSA LIS junior-big-boat sailors know Steitz well, because he is a member of Safety at Sea Committee at Storm Trysail Club headquartered in Larchmont NY. Steitz has been a driving force behind the growth of Safety at Sea training for youth and adults. He has been the lead presenter at the Junior Safety at Sea Seminar held the past 11 years at the Larchmont Yacht Club in New York. Each summer, with 20-25 borrowed big boats (35-50 feet) and many volunteer coaches under his leadership, the program trains about 225 juniors and their instructors in big boat team organization, sail handling, and man overboard drills.
See the news release and Andrea Waton's personal notes about Ralf .
JSA LIS junior-big-boat sailors know Steitz well, because he is a member of Safety at Sea Committee at Storm Trysail Club headquartered in Larchmont NY. Steitz has been a driving force behind the growth of Safety at Sea training for youth and adults. He has been the lead presenter at the Junior Safety at Sea Seminar held the past 11 years at the Larchmont Yacht Club in New York. Each summer, with 20-25 borrowed big boats (35-50 feet) and many volunteer coaches under his leadership, the program trains about 225 juniors and their instructors in big boat team organization, sail handling, and man overboard drills.
See the news release and Andrea Waton's personal notes about Ralf .
Saturday, October 27, 2007
LISOT in Berlin at European Opti Team Cup
The weekend of October 27-29 the LISOT team of Marlena Fauer, Deirdre Lambert, Evan Read, Antoine Screve, and Declan Whitmyer is attending the 20th Annual European Opti Team Cup in Berlin, Germany. They are representing the Unites States as a result of their win at the USODA Team Race Nationals in Lake Minnetonka this past summer.
The 16 teams attending were divided into two eight team groups. The 16 teams are from 15 countries. This is a record in the 20 history of the event.
The final day's competition was tough. In the end, Poland was the winner, Norway second while USA (LISOT) tied with Singapore for third but lost the tie-breaker to finish 4th - an improvement over last year's 6th place finish.
Once again LISOT proved they could sail with some of the best in the world. Congratulations to our sailors and their coach, Staffan Johannson, for another great team racing result.
See full details at http://blog.lisot.org/
and at http://www.pyc.de/new/html/regatta_opti-team.html
The 16 teams attending were divided into two eight team groups. The 16 teams are from 15 countries. This is a record in the 20 history of the event.
The final day's competition was tough. In the end, Poland was the winner, Norway second while USA (LISOT) tied with Singapore for third but lost the tie-breaker to finish 4th - an improvement over last year's 6th place finish.
Once again LISOT proved they could sail with some of the best in the world. Congratulations to our sailors and their coach, Staffan Johannson, for another great team racing result.
See full details at http://blog.lisot.org/
and at http://www.pyc.de/new/html/regatta_opti-team.html
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Mollerus wins USODA Atlantic Coast Champs
With 3 bullets, Andrew Mollerus (Larchmont YC) won The United States Optimist Atlantic Coast Championship October 5-8 in Norfolk VA. Marlena Fauer (Southampton YC) came in 5th overall.
273 sailors competed in this event, including many from the JSA region; see full results at http://www.norfolkyacht.com/files/overall_results.pdf and photos at http://www.photoboat.com/
273 sailors competed in this event, including many from the JSA region; see full results at http://www.norfolkyacht.com/files/overall_results.pdf and photos at http://www.photoboat.com/
Regatta Tips from the Coach
The Inter Collegiate Sailing Association is posting coaching tips from Ken Legler, the coach at Tufts since 1980. Ken started sailing when he was in the Larchmont YC junior sailing program from 1964-1971.
Here is a link to a recent post on fouls and penalties; others are at this link http://www.collegesailing.org/coachingtips.asp
Here is a link to a recent post on fouls and penalties; others are at this link http://www.collegesailing.org/coachingtips.asp
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Laser run over at regatta
The November issue of Soundings magazine has an item about a Laser sailor being run over by a 100-foot tour boat in Charleston SC harbor during a regatta July.
Though the captain of the tour boat was primarily faulted, the Coast Guard report seems to place collateral blame on many parties involved, including the Laser sailer and the Charleston Yacht Club regatta organizers.
A summary of this event is at this link and a July news article about the event is here.
Reading these summaries, it appears that:
- The tour boat maintained an inadequate lookout
- The Laser sailor maintained an inadequate lookout
- The regatta organizers submitted their application for an event permit too late to assure distribution through routine Notices to Mariners.
- The regatta organizers did not monitor the emergency VHF channel 16
Were there other things that you think the regatta organizers and participants could have done better? We welcome your comments, which may help run safer regattas on Long Island Sound.
Though the captain of the tour boat was primarily faulted, the Coast Guard report seems to place collateral blame on many parties involved, including the Laser sailer and the Charleston Yacht Club regatta organizers.
A summary of this event is at this link and a July news article about the event is here.
Reading these summaries, it appears that:
- The tour boat maintained an inadequate lookout
- The Laser sailor maintained an inadequate lookout
- The regatta organizers submitted their application for an event permit too late to assure distribution through routine Notices to Mariners.
- The regatta organizers did not monitor the emergency VHF channel 16
Were there other things that you think the regatta organizers and participants could have done better? We welcome your comments, which may help run safer regattas on Long Island Sound.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
2007 US Olympic Team Trials Completed
Not only did some current JSALIS juniors qualify and participate in the recent US Olympic team sailiing trials, some former juniors were successful in their quest.
Amanda Clark of Shelter Island NY and Sarah Mergenthaler of Harvey NJ have just won a spot representing the U.S. in next September's Olympic Games in Beijing in the Women's 470 event. Congratulations to Amanda and Sarah.
Read Amanda's comments and Sarah's comments.
Amanda Clark of Shelter Island NY and Sarah Mergenthaler of Harvey NJ have just won a spot representing the U.S. in next September's Olympic Games in Beijing in the Women's 470 event. Congratulations to Amanda and Sarah.
Read Amanda's comments and Sarah's comments.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Frostbite Sailing for Juniors
Frostbite sailing is not just for the seniors; juniors are welcome!
In fact, juniors have been involved since the inception of frostbite sailing in the 1930s as crews for their parents or other adult at their club. Initially the juniors were valued primarily for their ability to be nimble ballast. But they benefited as well from the lessons they absorbed as they watched their skipper distill 20-or-more years of experince into success on numerous short races on a winter Sunday.
Today many clubs have special winter memberships open to all, so juniors at such clubs may be skippers themselves even if their family is not a regular club member.
Look for a program near you at this list from a recent WindCheck magazine.
Some of the clubs have sent detailed information about their frostbite sailing programs, which you may read about at these links:
- Manhasset Bay Yacht Club NY 78th year of Interclub dinghy sailing commences October 28
- Pequot Yacht Club, Southport CT Dyer Dhow sailing on the protected Mill River basin
If your club would like to post its frostbite sailing info here, please email the JSA office.
In fact, juniors have been involved since the inception of frostbite sailing in the 1930s as crews for their parents or other adult at their club. Initially the juniors were valued primarily for their ability to be nimble ballast. But they benefited as well from the lessons they absorbed as they watched their skipper distill 20-or-more years of experince into success on numerous short races on a winter Sunday.
Today many clubs have special winter memberships open to all, so juniors at such clubs may be skippers themselves even if their family is not a regular club member.
Look for a program near you at this list from a recent WindCheck magazine.
Some of the clubs have sent detailed information about their frostbite sailing programs, which you may read about at these links:
- Manhasset Bay Yacht Club NY 78th year of Interclub dinghy sailing commences October 28
- Pequot Yacht Club, Southport CT Dyer Dhow sailing on the protected Mill River basin
If your club would like to post its frostbite sailing info here, please email the JSA office.
Bringing New Sailors into Big Boat Sailing
Thirty-one big-boat-owners shared their boats and love of the sport with 235 collegiate sailors on October 6-7 at the Storm Trysail Club’s Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club.
This regatta has become the highlight of the season for college sailors as well as the boat owners.
Race committee PRO Butch Ulmer said, “This is the way it should be; this is the way to bring new sailors into big boat sailing. These kids will sail for the rest of their lives.”
See full details at this Storm Trysail link
This regatta has become the highlight of the season for college sailors as well as the boat owners.
Race committee PRO Butch Ulmer said, “This is the way it should be; this is the way to bring new sailors into big boat sailing. These kids will sail for the rest of their lives.”
See full details at this Storm Trysail link
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Your PFD can save your life
"If I wasn't wearing my lifie, there's a good chance I wouldn't be here today," says Lauren Gineo, who is the recipient of the 2007 Jamie Boeckel Memorial Fund Scholarship.
In an article published in the October issue of WindCheck magazine, Lauren also describes how she has been a model to her windsurfing buddies on Narraganset Bay who had previously "...chuckled at the sight of me and my bulletproof vest."
Read the full article about Lauren at http://www.jsalis.org/Jamie_Boeckel_PDF.pdf
Also see this note that was recently circulated to the college sailing crowd about using Coast Guard approved PFDs and this about a professional captain who fell off his yacht at the dock.
In an article published in the October issue of WindCheck magazine, Lauren also describes how she has been a model to her windsurfing buddies on Narraganset Bay who had previously "...chuckled at the sight of me and my bulletproof vest."
Read the full article about Lauren at http://www.jsalis.org/Jamie_Boeckel_PDF.pdf
Also see this note that was recently circulated to the college sailing crowd about using Coast Guard approved PFDs and this about a professional captain who fell off his yacht at the dock.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Rebuilding a Junior Sailing Program
Each season JSALIS gets at at least one call asking how to start up a junior program, or rebuild a program that had languished as members' children grew up and left.
Apparently that same question is being asked as the summer season approaches in Australia. At the Middle Harbour YC in Sydney the newly elected rear commodore, Carl Crafoord, hopes to reestablish the active junior dinghy sailing that he recalls as being such fun in his own youth.
A veteran of 19 Sydney-Hobart races and an executive with Lewmar Australia, Crafoord has a number of interesting ideas about joining forces with resources from outside the club itself to achieve that goal, which you may read about at this link http://www.mhyc.com.au/News.htm
Apparently that same question is being asked as the summer season approaches in Australia. At the Middle Harbour YC in Sydney the newly elected rear commodore, Carl Crafoord, hopes to reestablish the active junior dinghy sailing that he recalls as being such fun in his own youth.
A veteran of 19 Sydney-Hobart races and an executive with Lewmar Australia, Crafoord has a number of interesting ideas about joining forces with resources from outside the club itself to achieve that goal, which you may read about at this link http://www.mhyc.com.au/News.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
