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2018 Sail1Design High School Team of the Year Announced!

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The Point Loma team poses for a victory picture after winning the Baker Trophy

For the second year in a row, Point Loma HS has won the Sail1Design HS Sailing Team of the Year Award. Last year, PLHS had a great season, and earned the title; this year, they outdid themselves, winning both the Mallory and the Baker…. both very convincingly. Coach Steve Hunt was also nominated again for Coach of the Year, and it was very difficult not to award him that honor too (he’s a former winner). Congratulations PLHS, and below is a closer look into the HS Team of the Year, by new Airwaves writer Abby Tindall

A Look Into PLHS Sailing Team, ISSA TR & Fleet Race Champions
Point Loma has proven to be an indomitable high school sailing team once again this past sailing season. After winning the Mallory Trophy in 2017, the team recently won the Mallory Trophy and Baker Trophy in 2018.  This is not the first time that Point Loma has made a clean sweep though. They have had a history of winning both championships: succeeding in 2014, 2012, 2005, 2004, and 2003. The number of times Point Loma has been top of the podium for both events is twice the amount of all other high schools combined. The only other teams to ever win both fleet and team championships in the same year were Newport Harbor in 2009, Antilles in 2006, and Coronado in 2001. In terms of Point Loma individually, the team has won 15 National Titles over the course of their career.

While it’s certainly difficult to discern what makes sailing champions, a part of their success can be attributed to the length of their sailing season. California teams are able to practice all year round, starting in the preliminary weeks of school. The Point Loma team has always had this advantage, which provides valid practice time in the winter season when most of their competitive east coast teams have not touched their boats since the end of October.

Other west coast teams have also built strong sailing programs over the years. California may as well be the powerhouse of high school sailing as 8 of the 9 teams to win both titles in the same year are based out of the state. When asked Point Loma team has been so  successful, Emma Batcher, a member of the 2018 championship team, responded, “Definitely because we have very good teams around us.” In the past 28 years of the Baker Trophy, 18 of those titles have gone to California teams.

Even as a high level team, Batcher says that they get along really well and mentions, “at the last few regattas we have all had a really good team vibe like it was low stress and all joking around especially for our team race qualifier and for team race nationals.” The casual attitude of the team could definitely build the positivity and performance of the Point Loma School.

Point Loma specifically has presented the best results, so Batcher gave us an inside look at the 2018 team. She says they have about 35 sailors in total, many of whom grew up sailing in the San Diego Yacht Club program. The school is fully charged with talent and the top few boats are highly competitive during practice race days, the best four usually exchanging wins. Despite the surplus of similar sailing promise from the top teammates though, Batcher says that all year it has stayed “Jack Reiter/ Jack Eagan for team 1 and Diego [Escobar] / Marcus [Huttunen] for team 2.” Batcher guesses that the stability within the team ensures that the competition between teammates does not become too aggressive.

The Point Loma team talks casually with each other waiting for the wind to pick up

Also adding to the low-stress of the atmosphere is the amount of practice the team does. They only practice 2 days a week: Monday and Wednesday. Batcher says that this helps the team not burn out and “also gives our team the ability to practice other boats.” While she says she’s not sure if that helps or not, the unusual practice could correlate strongly to Point Loma’s results

Direct repetition of Point Loma’s methods may not lead all high schools to the same level of success, but a look into how the team works certainly points to a measure of why the team is ranked top in the nation. Their highly competitive California location certainly gives them a leg up, as does their positive team attitude as a result of stable skipper crew combinations. All of these factors attribute to the strength of the Point Loma team which has led them to the impressive achievements they have made in the past and will continue to make in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Champions are crowned at the Clagett Regatta and the 2018 U.S. Para Sailing Championships

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NEWPORT, R.I. (June 24, 2018) – The 16th C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and the 2018 U.S. Para Sailing Championships have been run and won.  Three days of racing, 10 races and the 46 sailors from across North America are now celebrating with the newly crowned champions.

“We’ve just concluded the 16th Clagett Regatta and we couldn’t do it without the support of the volunteers, sponsors, supporters and especially the sailors.  We’re so thrilled that we’ve been able to join forces with U.S. Sailing to host the U.S. Para Sailing Championships this year.  We are working together to demonstrate the interest in sailing and to get it reinstated to the Paralympics,” remarked Clagett President and Co-Founder Judy Clagett McLennan (Portsmouth, R.I.).

Rick Doerr Dawn Hart and Charles McClure winners of the Gene Hinkel Trophy and the Sonar class at The Clagett credit CLagett Regatta-Ro Fernandez

In the triplehanded Sonar class Rio Paralympian and Silver Medalist Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.) sailed in this regatta with a graduate of the Warrior Sailing Program Dawn Hart (Dade City, Fla.) and Charles McClure (Brookline, Mass.).  They lead the Sonar fleet from start to finish over the three days.  Making Doerr and his crew work for their medal was the team from Chicago of Gary Pierce (Highland Park, Ill.), Patrick LoDuca (Chicago, Ill.) and Jeff Long (Newport, R.I.), who secured second place overall.

“Thank you to my crew members they are real troopers.  The competition pushed us and the level just keeps going up.  The training is like no other regatta and it’s just fantastic to be here with all these great sailors,” commented Doerr after prize presentation.  He continued after the being presented the Nick Scandone Award, “Nick inspired me a lot when we sailed in Beijing. It isn’t about this award it’s about being part of this group and these sailors.  The challenges we have to overcome as sailors makes the results worthwhile.  We owe it to others to set a high bar and pass on own knowledge to the future generations.  Nick gave back and now I’m doing it and so is everyone else at this regatta.”

The 22 boats in the singlehanded 2.4mR fleet have had some fantastic racing with the Principal Race Officer Tom Duggan (East Sandwich, Mass.) commenting after the three days of racing, “It’s a super competitive fleet.”  This fleet was peppered with Paralympians and nearly half the fleet have traveled from all parts of Canada to race at The Clagett and U.S. Para Sailing Championships.

U.S. Para Sailing Champions Doublehanded Champions Christina Rubke and Kris Kempe with Betsy Alison credit Clagett Regatta – Ro Fernandez

Eventual winner in the largest fleet at the regatta, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.) managed to hold off the challengers from Puerto Rico and Canada, of Julio Reguero (Guanynabo, Puerto Rico) and Peter Wood (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), to take home the gold medal with Reguero taking silver and Wood the bronze.

Smith commented after presentation, “I haven’t been to The Clagett for three years and I want to say thank you to everyone for continuing all their work for this regatta.  I give you my congratulations to all the competitors, everyone is getting better and the competition is going to the next level and it has a lot to do with the coaching that The Clagett provides.”

A new class to adaptive sailing and The Clagett, the RS Venture Connect, had seven teams racing in a round robin

Scott Lutes and John McRoberts winners of the Chandler Hovey trophy and the RS Venture Connect class at The Clagett credit Clagett Regatta-Ro Fernandez

competition over the first two days of racing to make it to the semi finals Sunday.  The top four teams headed in to the finals and it was the former Paralympic duo from Canada of John McRoberts (Victoria, BC, Canada) and Scott Lutes (Mahone Bay, NS, Canada), who sailed in to the top place.  In the U.S. Para Sailing Championships the bi-coastal U.S. team of Cristina Rubke (San Francisco, Calif.) and Kris Scheppe (Naples, Fla.) were awarded the silver and the bronze medal went to JR Hardenburgh (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) and Nick Bryan Brown (Jamaica Plain, Mass.).

“I am very pleased to be back sailing at The Clagett, I’m really pleased to see so many new sailors this year and to have new sailors joining the ranks,” commented McRoberts who will be racing with Lutes again in the RS Venture Connect at the Para Sailing World Championships later this year in Sheboygan, Mis.  McRoberts and Lutes were announced as the winners of the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy, “It’s a true honor and I’m very, very shaken to be awarded this trophy,” remarked McRoberts.

For more information about The 2018 Clagett Regatta and U.S. Para Sailing Championships visit: www.clagettregatta.org or follow the Clagett on Instagram @clagett_regatta or on Facebook Clagett Regatta.

Clagett trophies awarded to:

Sonar                               1 Rick Doerr/Dawn Hart/Charles McClure

2 Gary Pierce/Jeff Long/Patrick LoDuca

3 David Gaston/Mike Janota/Kevin Somers

RS Venture Connect         1 John McRoberts and Scott Lutes

2 Christina Rubke and Kris Scheppe

3 JR Hardenburgh and Nick Bryan-Brown

2.4mR                             1 Dee Smith

2 Julio Reguero

3 Peter Wood

Thomas Clagett, Jr. Trophy – John McRoberts and Scott Lutes

Susan B Johnson – Sportsmanship Award – Shaylagh Lay

Larry Gadsby – Most Improved Award – Delani Hulme-Lawrence

Nick Scandone – Spirit Award – Rick Doerr

Robie Pierce and Gene Hinkle – Seamanship Award – Y-Knot program

U.S. Para Sailing Championships trophies awarded to:

  • Judd Goldman Trophy and the U.S. Para Sailing Singlehanded National Champion – Dee Smith
  • Doublehanded RS Venture Connect team awarded the Chandler Hovey Trophy – John McRoberts and Scott Lutes
  • U.S. Para Sailing Doublehanded National Champions – Christina Rubke and Kris Scheppe
  • Triplehanded Sonar team awarded the Gene Hinkel Trophy- Rick Doerr, Dawn Hart, Charles McClure

St. Thomas Sailing Center, USVI, is Hiring!

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St. Thomas Sailing Center is hiring a full-time Manager/Head Instructor! It’s a new day in the Caribbean. The dawning of a new day on St. Thomas brings with it a new idea in sailing opportunities for everyone. That’s because the St. Thomas Yacht Club has introduced a unique concept of sailing instruction, boat access and racing through the opening of the St. Thomas Sailing Center. Now you can sail whenever you want, or race on a regular basis without the need to own a boat. Learn to sail or learn to race or perfect your racing skills with the guidance of a professional coach, and be able to do any of these things in one of the most perfect sailing venues and one of the most beautiful places in the world. Become part of a community of like minded people who share a passion for sailing.
This year round full time position involves teaching sailing to adults at all levels, management and maintenance of our fleet of IC-24s and Hobie Waves, as well as a desire to create and implement programs that attract new people from on island and abroad. We frequently add new offerings and approaches to accomplish these goals. The right candidate will enjoy being part of the St. Thomas sailing community and want to advance to directing the program. To learn more and to apply, visit the job ad HERE.

Foley Wins 26th International Optimist Regatta

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St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Speed and tactics proved the winning combination that led 13-year-old Peter Foley to place first overall at the 26th International Optimist Regatta (IOR), presented by Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Virgin Islands, and hosted out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), June 15 to 17. Yet it was the starts, meaning getting a front row seat on the start line without being early, that figured strongly into the Foley’s win especially in today’s final two races for the Championship Fleet. In fact, it was a combination of light winds, strong current and last day push the limits excitement among the sailors that led to many being over the start line too early and thus receive penalty points. As a result, there were several final day place changes on the scoreboard. Full results HERE

 

“I was in second place by 8 points going into today,” says Foley, from Coconut Grove, Florida. “My strategy was to sail my best and win the first race, which I did. Then, I was prepared to match race Ryan (Satterberg) if I needed to in the second race just to be sure and get ahead of him. In the end, he (Ryan) had two black flags (over early designations) and I only had one.”

 

Satterberg, from Santa Barbara, California, led the IOR/EMS the first two days and ultimately finished seventh overall in the Championship Fleet. Seventy-nine sailors completed 10 races in this fleet.

 

Foley also won the 13- to 15-year-old Red Fleet.

 

Meanwhile, it was Foley’s sister, Audrey, who led the 11-and 12-year old Blue Fleet.

 

“My strategy was to do my best, always find a good place on the start line, and stay in front,” says the 12-year-old Foley, who said she enjoys sailing against her brother and the competition it offers. Foley also won the Top Girl award.

 

Tanner Krygsveld, who won the age 10 and under White Fleet last year, led the Blue Fleet the first two days, before falling to third after two double-digit scores.

 

“It was the last day, all or nothing, and we were all really pushing the start line,” says Krygsveld, from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

In the White Fleet, Elliott Lipp, from Charleston, South Carolina, scored a black flag in the last race today, but two of these penalties sent class leader, James Pine, from Lakewood, Texas to third. St. Croix’s Ryan Moorhead expertly handled his starts to handily move up to second in this fleet.

 

“The waves were the hardest for me,” says 10-year-old Elliott. “I actually got seasick the first day. We sail in the harbor at home in Charleston and this was the first time I’ve raced in the open ocean.”

 

The Top U.S. Virgin Islands sailor in the IOR/EMS was St. Thomas’ Caroline Sibilly, who placed 11th overall.

 

“The conditions were tricky because the winds were lighter than what we usually have here, but it was a fun regatta,” says 14-year-old Sibilly. “We practiced time and distance at the start at the clinic earlier this week and that really helped me to avoid a black flag.”

 

In the Green Beginner Fleet, the champion was 10-year-old Alejandro Ferrer, from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 24 sailors in this fleet completed 22 races.

 

“My friends told me about this regatta and I wanted to come,” says Ferrer, who started sailing a year ago. “I did bad in one race today. I said to myself I must do better next time and that helped.”

 

In other awards, it was the Canada’s Daniel Connors, representing the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax, who earned the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Award, while it was Tony Slowik III, from the Austin Yacht Club in Texas, who was presented with the Pete Ives Award, given for a combination of sailing prowess, sportsmanship, determination and good attitude both on and off the water.

 

“The wind cooperated, and we had fantastic championship and beginner fleets. It was probably one of the best regattas we’ve had. As always, the St. Thomas Yacht Club and Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA) delivered again,” says St. Thomas’ Bill Canfield, who shared Principal Race Officer duties with Puerto Rico’s Diana Emmanuelli.

 

Some 110 8- to 15-year-old sailors representing five nations – the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the USA and Canada – started the week by training in the three-day TOTE Maritime Clinic held June 11 to 13. The Clinic was run by top local and international coaches: Mykel Alonso (Coral Reef Yacht Club), Cyrill Auyer (US National team coach/Swiss coach/St Petersburgh Yacht Club); Mike Dowd (USA National team coach/Team CERT); Tino Galan (USVI coach); Bernat Gali (Spanish coach/Lakewood Yacht Club); Esteban Rocha (USA team coach for the Optimist World Championships/Lauderdale Yacht Club); Argy Resano (USVI team coach); Manny Resano (USA National team coach/California Yacht Club); Greer Scholes (USVI coach); and Omari Scott (USA team coach for the Optimist European Championships/Coral Reef Yacht Club).

 

The one-day TOTE Maritime Team Racing Championships took place, June 14. Out of 13 teams, the winner was Team USA Worlds, composed of Peter Foley (Coral Reef Yacht Club, Florida), Thommie Grit (Sarasota Yacht Club, Florida), Ryan Satterberg (Santa Barbara Yacht Club, California), Tommy Sitzmann (Lauderdale Yacht Club, Florida) and Stephan Baker (Lauderdale Yacht Club, Florida). This marked the first time that the sailors had competed together as a team.

 

The IOR/EMS was organized under authority of the Virgin Islands Sailing Association and it is a Caribbean Sailing Association-sanctioned event.

 

“We at EMS Virgin Islands would like to thank all the sailors, families and coaches; the race committee, principal race officers and international judges; and the St. Thomas Yacht Club for making this regatta such a success,” says Cobia Fagan, owner, EMS Virgin Islands, whose 8-year-old son, Coby, participated in the regatta for the second year and competed in the Green Fleet. “We are so happy to see many past participants return and several new sailors and their families visit the Virgin Islands and compete for the first time. We are looking forward to the IOR/EMS 2019.”

 

This year’s event will follow an eco-friendly theme. Sailors will be encouraged to recycle all plastic water bottles, use the reusable water bottle in the goodie bag throughout the regatta, keep all lunch bags and wrapping out of the water, pick up any trash on shore and accept drinks without straws.

 

The IOR is sponsored by EMS Virgin Islands, TOTE Maritime, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, K3 Waterproof Gear and TRIO Sportswear.

 

RESULTS

TOP 5 FINISHERS BY FLEET

 

RED FLEET

1. Peter Foley, USA (27)
2. Stephan Baker, USA, USA (32)

3. Tommy Sitzmann, USA (67)

4. Jackson McAliley, USA (70)

5. Tony Slowik III, USA (72)

 

BLUE FLEET

1. Audrey Foley, USA (105)

2. Charles Gil Hackel, USA (106)

3. Tanner Krygsveld, St. Thomas, USVI (121)

4. Freddie Parkin, USA (124)

5. Pearse Dowd, USA (141)

 

WHITE FLEET

1. Elliott Lipp, USA (406)

2. Ryan Moorhead, St. Croix, USVI (424)

3. James Pine, USA (428)

4. Nathan Pine USA (474)

5. Gian Marco Piovanetti, San Juan, PR (555)

  

GREEN FLEET

1. Alejandro Ferrer, San Juan, PR (44)

2. Brayden Zawyer, USA (53)

3. Elinor Alfi, USA (105)

4. Ava McAliley, USA (107)

5. Coby Fagan, St. Thomas, USVI (110)

For more information, call (340) 513-2234, Email: [email protected]. For full results, visit the STYC web site at www.styc.club or www.regattanetwork.com Please also visit the International Optimist Regatta on Facebook!

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

 

Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) Virgin Islands. EMS Virgin Islands offers an extensive suite of payment acceptance options through Electronic Merchant Systems, a proven leader of the industry. We work to give customers the opportunity to pay using their preferred method, including a feature rich, affordable POS system that includes EMV, Apple Pay and Google Pay.  We’re continually adding new solutions, allowing business owners to make their products or services available to the broadest audience possible. www.emsvirginislands.com (340) 513-9759.

 

U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the Eastern Caribbean 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, USA. Each of the three major islands–St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John–possesses a unique character of its own. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of watersports as well as immerse themselves in the territory’s rich culture by enjoying historical tours, culinary encounters, artisan fairs, parades, storytelling and other special presentations. www.visitusvi.com

 

TOTE Maritime. TOTE Maritime is a domestic ocean freight carrier headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, that offers freight services for containerized cargo between the U.S., San Juan, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. TOTE is the first carrier to operate liquid natural gas (LNG) powered vessels. www.totemaritime.com

 

Media contact:

Carol Bareuther

Tel: (340) 998-3650

Email: [email protected]

Skype: Carol.Bareuther

2018 S1D/Gill Coach of the Year Announced

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17 June 2018, Annapolis, MD — Sail1Design has been lucky to be part of some great moments over the years, mostly when we do our job, and take part in recognizing youth, high school, college, and one-design sailors. Reading nomination letters, hearing from our community about unsung heroes, sharing in the joy of the winners…… makes the whole Sail1Design project, now 11+ years in the making, more than worth it.
Remember, we only choose candidates from nomination letters sent in, so we sit back, and take what we get. This year, we were faced again with narrowing an incredibly deserving field. Not easy. In fact, we almost couldn’t finish the job. Two candidates stood out, for different but equally compelling reasons. After going back and forth, and at first considering having two winners, we settled on one. This year, the S1D/Gill Coach of the Year Award goes to Scott Iklé.
Scott is the Head Intercollegiate Coach at Hobart/William Smith, a position he’s held for 25 years. His roots there go even deeper, however, as Scott is a 1984 graduate of the college himself. Scott is a full-time, lifetime professional contributor to the world of competitive sailing, and is a standout sailor himself. He’s been worthy of an award like this for a long time, so we are elated that he was nominated. Scott has been incredibly successful over the years at Hobart/WS, and while this year the team didn’t win any of the big ones, we fell in love with his nomination letter, which came from one of his players. I think the part that touched us the most was the fact that he was nominated by one of his players, along with her “meet us halfway” description (see letter below) to show us his dedication to their team. Scott’s collegiate team’s results this year were pretty incredible as well, across the board. While most college teams would kill to be in the top 3 of any of the National Championship events, Hobart was there in all of them: 4th at COED Nationals (3 points out of 2nd), 3rd (tied for 2nd in record) at Team Race Nationals, and 3rd at Women’s Nationals. That’s pretty impressive stuff for one team, and this across-the-board average finish place at the three National Championship events was bested only by College of Charleston. Congratulations Scott, and well-earned.

Thanks to our sponsor, Gill NA, our winner will receive an embroidered, beautiful Gill Race Series Softshell Jacket. Below is some copy taken from the nomination letter Scott received. What a tribute.

For Scott Ikle:

Coming into college, I wasn’t sure I was going to have the skill or courage to make it past even the first day of try-outs for the Hobart and William Smith Sailing Team. But here I am today, newly graduated from HWS after spending all 4 years with the sailing team I’ve called home grateful for every second I spent here.   

To us, Scott really knows how to connect to everyone on the team.  Scott knows what every person needs to push them to the next level.   Scott also is not a coach who will pump your ego, but he will ensure you that you are able and have the potential to make things happen…  Scott is willing to go that extra mile for his team, to meet them halfway. This year at Old Dominion University, Scott quite literally met us halfway, wading waist deep in the water to be eye level and connected for our “between set pep talk” (that’s a huge feat, for those of us who know that Scott wears two pairs of spraypants at practice).  He knows when to push, and when to let go and let us shake off the bad race, helping us get ready for the next one. ….Scott has this unique ability to understand what his sailors need, whether it be in his office on campus, hanging onto his rib after a drill at practice, or standing onshore in between sets at a regatta.  In my four years at HWS, Scott has taken a team of the most unlikely people, who in 2015, did not qualify for any ICSA Finals in Newport RI, to being a strong cohesive team that placed 3rd in Women’s Finals, 3rd in Team Race Finals, and 4th in Coed Fleet Race Finals.  To all of us, Scott has proven to be so much more than just a coach, but a mentor, someone we can learn from while cracking some jokes along the way, but most importantly, someone we can confide in.  Scott has made Bozzuto Boathouse and the HWS Sailing Team an eternal home for his team.  And although Scott would probably deny this (being as humble as he is) I truly believe there is no person more deserving of this award than Scott Ikle.  

S1D Coach of the Year Winners
2018- Scott Iklé
2017- Bill Healy
2016- Bill Ward
2015- Frank Pizzo
2014- Chris Dold
2013- Steve Hunt

Worlds Team USA Wins 2018 International Optimist Team Race Regatta

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Matias Capizzano photo

Thursday, June 14 2018,   St. Thomas, USVI   — Coached by Pilo Rocha, the 2018 USODA Worlds Team of Stephan Baker, Peter Foley, Ryan Satterberg, Thommie Grit, and Tommy Sitzmann just topped 12 other teams and won the Team Race portion of the International Optimist Regatta, held in St. Thomas, USVI. International Optimist team race regattas are 4-on-4 events (whereas high school & college team racing is 3-on-3). The course is usually a “digital-N” (see diagram) and this regatta was the first chance for the US World team to work together. With 5 sailors, they have the ability to try different combinations, and all 5 Team USA sailors sailed in this event  to help secure the win.

The TOTE Maritime International Optimist Regatta Team Race in St. Thomas, USVI was comprised of thirteen teams of five sailors. As the wind picked up to 8-12 knots the weather became perfect for team racing, which was aided by flat water in making it a great day. In a close race, the 2018 IOR Team Race Championship Title came down to a best of three races between two USA teams-USA World Team (Stephan Baker, Peter Foley, Thommie Grit, Ryan Satterberg and Tommy Sitzmann) and Team Invisacrox (Nico Garcia-Castrillon, Spencer Dominguez, Kevin Gosselin, Truman Rogers, Kurt Stuebe). The USA World Team clinched the title, giving the United States wins for three consecutive years. “The team worked well together with good communication during each leg of the races. This is the first time these sailors raced as a team.“ USA World’s Coach, Pilo Rocha of Lauderdale YC said, “I was pleased with their performance and I look forward to working with them as they train for The 2018 World Optimist Championship in Limassol, Cyprus.”

Matias Capizzano photo

Conditions so far in St. Thomas have been outstanding, and the fleet racing portion of the event is set to begin Friday, June 15. For updates check our the IOR Facebook page! Photos by Mattias Cappizzano; Please check out Capizzano photos for some outstanding shots!
1st Place:   USA World 1
2nd Place:  Invisicrox
3rd Place:   ISV1

Matias Capizzano photos

S1D High School Team of the Year Awards Nominations Now Open!

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It’s that time of year!! Please send in your letter to [email protected] with your nomination for the High School Team of the Year.     Read below for more information

HIGH SCHOOL SAILING TEAM OF THE YEAR, presented by KO SAILING

Sail1Design supports high school sailing, because it is where future great one-design sailors, in may cases, are made. We are proud to present this award annually to the top high school sailing team in the country. Our panel of judges looks at the entire season of district events, and of course, the Mallory and Baker National Championship results. To win this award, at a minimum, the team must qualify for at least one of these events. We also look for participation in the Singhlended Cressy National championship in the fall. Finally, we encourage written nomination submissions. If you think your sailing team deserves this award, tell us why in a 200 word minimum letter, to [email protected]. This award is presented annually, in June, after the preceding year’s full high school sailing season.
Nominations close on 30 JUNE 2018AWARD WINNERS
2015-2016    –St. George’s School
2016-2017    –Point Loma High School

2017-2018    -???
 

Quantum Sails is Hiring!

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At Quantum, we’re connected to sailors everywhere through our love of sailing and our belief that facing every challenge head-on is infinitely rewarding. Quantum Sails is currently looking for a Grand Prix Sailmaker. (click here to see job ad)

For us, that means challenging convention – especially if that’s what it takes to help our customers and the sailing industry get to new, better places. As a company and as individuals, we embrace every single challenge you bring our way as our own.

Since 1996, we have focused on providing the best-performing products in sailing. Today, we’re equally relentless about delivering a higher standard of service, customer care, education, support and mentorship. It’s how we’ll continue to help sailors at all levels pursue their passions and achieve their aspirations.

Our commitment starts with our dedicated employees at more than 60 sail lofts around the world and includes hundreds more working behind the scenes to design, build and service Quantum® sails. 

Quantum has taken the art and science of sailmaking to the highest level to produce the most efficient and fastest sail shapes possible. Quantum’s proprietary iQ Technology® system was created by experts with over 20 years of knowledge and expertise in both sailing and the complexities of engineered structures. The computational tool set of iQ Technology® is used by our experienced designers to perform virtual testing and complex analysis of aerodynamic performance and determine the ideal structural requirements of each sail.

Integrating state-of-the-art sail design and manufacturing methods with on-the-water-testing, Quantum® sails are perfected to offer sailors of all levels outstanding performance, consistency and repeat-ability.

An Interview with Women’s College Sailor of the Year Dana Rohde

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Editor’s Note: It was very gratifying to review this article for publishing, as it made me recall the origins of this award. Since I am also a history teacher, here’s a little story for you. Way back in 2002, I owned “Quantum Sails Northeast” in Maine, and was running that business while coaching college sailing at Bowdoin. My loft was heavily invested in dinghy sails, and wanted to support college sailing, so I brought up the idea of a women’s college sailor of the year award to the partners of Quantum Sail Design Group. After some discussion, QSDG agreed, and that very next spring, I was off to Detroit on a plane, with the new crystal trophy sitting in the empty seat next to me, to present to the very first winner, Corrie Clement of ODU, the very first “Quantum Female Sailor of the Year Award.” Since then, it’s become a staple of the ICSA award ceremony, and it’s great now, as I sit here working with Sail1Design, to read an Airwaves report on the award I remember helping bring to life. Pretty cool. -ts

By Senior Airwaves Writer Taylor Penwell

How did you get into the sport of sailing?

My dad grew up sailing in Bellport, New York. He attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy where he met my mom, because my mom was so small he asked her if she wanted to learn how to sail. They were both on the team all four years of college, and were a part of USMMA team that won the coed nationals in 1982 and the team race nationals in 1983. My two older sisters sail, and my initial push to sail was due to my want to be like them. It did not take me long, however, to realize that I myself loved every part of the sport.

Where was it that you first started sailing?

My first sailing lessons were in Savannah, Georgia at the Savannah Sailing Center. This sailing center was on a small lake and was what was left behind after the 1996 Olympic Games. I took lessons here until I was about 8 and then began doing the summer program at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club in Beaufort, SC.

What appealed to you about racing?

I have always been a very competitive person when it comes to sports. So I inherently loved the competition of racing. When I began racing I was quite frankly awful at it, so the challenge to get better really excited me. I can still remember the distinct change in my racing when I stopped counting how many boats were behind me (because that was a smaller number of boats then those ahead of me) and began counting the number of boats in front of me. I am still working hard to get better and better at racing, and love the fact that you have never just figured it out or reached your best. You can always get faster, point higher, and become smarter.

What were some of the boats you sailed in your junior career?

I started in the opti like most other sailors, but really did not love it. I quickly transitioned out of the opti at the age of 12 and into the Laser 4.7. I quickly fell in love with the boat. It was faster, more technical, and more physical. I sailed the Laser Radial for most of my youth sailing, and trained with the Lauderdale Yacht Club (LYC) Racing team. I sailed club 420’s in some big regattas, but always jumped quickly back in the laser were my heart was. I also sailed High School sailing and that was always so fun, and made the transition into college sailing a little easier.

What were some of your favorite memories about sailing during your youth?

Oh man, junior sailing was awesome! I have so many good memories. The weekends I spent down in Fort Lauderdale sailing with the LYC team were always so fun. We would sail hard for long five hour sessions, come off the water and talk about sailing, then go straight back on the water to wakeboard and water ski – it was exhausting but a blast. Another cool memory was when I got to sail against my oldest sister Krysta at the Laser Midwinters in Clearwater, FL when she was a senior at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Krysta has always been one of my biggest idols in sailing and life in general, but I was never able to sail against her because she was seven years older than me. So it was just so fun being able to sail in a regatta with my sister. My best memory, however, was driving across country with my mom during the summer before my Junior year of high school to sail in regattas across the country. We packed up our small hatchback volkswagen with my laser on top and started out. Our first stop was Newport, RI for the Brooke Gonzalez clinic, then we headed to Chicago for the Lieter Cup, next to the Gorge in Oregon, then to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and finally home. There aren’t many opportunities in life to spend endless hours talking and hanging out with just your mom. This will be a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Tell us about some of your junior racing highlights?

Winning the 2013 Junior Women’s SingleHanded National Championship (The Lieter Cup), Placing 9th in the 2012 Orange Bowl Regatta in the Laser Radial.

When you were looking at college sailing programs, what things were you looking for?

I was so excited for college sailing, so I was looking for schools that gave me a good opportunity to sail every weekend. I wanted to sail for coaches that took Womens sailing just as seriously as coed and wanted to sail with a team that worked hard everyday to get better. The USCGA sailing team truly lived up to all my expectations. We sailed every weekend in the sailing season. The coaches took every part of college sailing and every sailor on my team seriously, they treated us all equally no matter what – making us the first team in recent memory to finish in the top ten in coed nationals while sailing all female sailors. And finally the team is extremely hardworking and dedicated to not just the sport, but to each other.

Why did you decide to attend USCGA?

This was honestly such a hard decision for me, I was so scared of everything that came along with going to a service academy: swab summer (boot camp), being away from family a lot, and huge culture shock. I did not know what I wanted to do in life though, all I knew is that I wanted to help people in some aspect and I knew I would be able to do that at the USCGA. I had been accepted to the Academy and could not pass up an opportunity that offered me so much in the end. It ended up being the best decision I ever made. Every fear I had ended up being no big deal, and made me stronger in the end!

How do you feel you have progressed since your freshman year sailing?

I feel that I have become a smarter and less emotional sailor. Our team talks so much about the specifics of sailing and works so hard to understand the game more and more. Brian and Chris are two of the best coaches that I could have asked for, and have worked with me in being a stronger and less emotionally driven sailor.

What do you attribute to your success during your college sailing career?

My coaches and teammates, my awesome crews that have sailed with me the past four years and taught me so much, and my family. My family has supported me tremendously before college sailing and has continued through college sailing. I’m pretty sure that they will miss spending every Saturday and Sunday refreshing TechScore.

How do your team and coaches help push you to be better?

The team is incredible. We are so competitive at practice, almost simulating the feeling of regattas everyday. We also, though, are so close and friendly off the water, which helps in sharing information and getting better as a team. My team also just makes sailing fun, and when you’re having fun you’re always getting better. Brian and Chris do so much to push us. They take the time to get to know each of us and know what makes us tick. They know when we need tough love, when we need encouragement, and when we just need sound advice. Brian and Chris act as members of the team, when we do bad in a regatta they take just as much responsibility in the result as we do and work just as hard to get better for the next time. They make us internalize our failures but do not allow us to dwell on them. In conclusion, I just feel lucky to have sailed on a team with such hardworking coaches and teammates.

Can you review with us about this past season?

This past year was so busy with school and military obligations, so sailing was my escape and enjoyment everyday. I tried to just take in and enjoy every regatta realizing that it was my last year, which is honestly so sad. I did not expect to have the success this season that I did, but it was so excited when it all started to come together for my crew, Maddie Ekin and I, It is always more fun to win races and regattas, but the most fun part was sailing with the team we had this year.

What were some goals you had going into this season?

I did not know what to expect from this year because I had not sailed in many A-Division women’s regattas prior to this year. Early on in the season, however, my goals became to help our team qualify for both coed and women’s national championship and become the best team we could be by the championship.

Had you sailed in College Nationals any other years on your career?

I have sailed in Women’s Nationals all four years of college sailing. The team has made it to coed nationals all four years that I have been on the team, and have actually sailed in coed nationals for the last two years.

How’d Nationals go for you and your team?

Nationals did not go exactly how my team or I wanted it to go necessarily. The team, however, learned so much in that week and a half which will be so helpful in the years to come because the team is only losing myself and one other senior. I am so excited for the future of the USCGA sailing team.

How did you feel when you were announced as college women’s sailor of the year?

It was a lot of emotions. I was so excited and humbled to receive the award, but also so sad that my women’s college sailing career was officially over! It was something I truly never thought I would ever receive when I entered college sailing, but something I had always had my eye on. I have sailed against so many incredible female sailors this year that have pushed me so hard, so it was extremely humbling to receive that award.

What does it mean to have this award bestowed to you?

So many incredible women’s sailors who I have always looked up to have won this award, so being named to this list of sailors has meant so much to me. It was the best way to finish my college sailing career and to realize that the hard work that I have put towards this passion of mine has paid off. Every time I look at this award I think of how much fun I had in college sailing and how many truly incredible people I met.

What are your plans after college?

I will be reporting to the Coast Guard Cutter Juniper in Newport, RI as a deck watch officer. I will be assigned to this cutter for two years. I will be serving in the Coast Guard for at least 5 years.

What did you study in school?

Operations Research and Computer Analysis

How do you intend to stay connected to sailing moving forward?

I want to stay very involved with college sailing by helping the USCGA sailing team and in any other way I can help. I want to continue to sail in any way I can, which I think will be pretty easy while living in Newport, RI. I do not have any specific plans right now, because I know that first few months of working in the Coast Guard will be extremely busy but I know I want to continue to sail.

What does the sport of sailing need?

Sailing needs more grassroots sailing programs to bring non-sailing families into the sport.

What advice do you have for junior sailors who are interested in racing in college?

If I could give any advice it would be to have fun with junior sailing and sail whatever boat makes that most possible. Don’t make sailing a job, make it your escape. Finally, do not expect to come into college sailing as good as you left junior sailing, no one does. College sailing is hard and not exactly like any other sailing you have done, come in expecting to work hard and with hard work you can accomplish everything you want to. Have fun with it, it’s the best sailing you’ll ever do!

Optimist Sailor Development: Coach & Athlete Relation vs Parent Involvement

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By new Airwaves Optimist Reporter Bernat Gali Bou
Optimist Sailing is without a doubt a unique class among the wide range of existing fleets in the Sailing World. Targeted solely for kids, none has got the history, the curriculum and the reputation the Optimist Class enjoys around the World, and that’s why it has remained almost untouched, respecting it’s design, since it was introduced a long time ago.
Being the introductory class to the youngest athletes in this sport, I find sailing one of the most complex yet exciting sports a young athlete can be exposed to. The wide range of skills this young sailors are introduced to since a very young age (technique, fitness, tactics, rules, strategy, meteorology and so on) shape them not only as athlete but as a whole person for the rest of their lives.
Especially in this particular young age, the coach & athlete relationship is very analogous to a teacher & student relationship one might find at school. In their young years, the exposure they have to different inputs coming from different places is off the charts; and as a Coach, I believe we have quite a strong impact on how the sailor will sail for the rest of their life. This comes with a very strong responsibility, because at this age a person develops her or his own personality, and coaches can really make a difference.
Throughout the years I developed many sailors around the World (Spain, Myanmar, New Zealand, Iceland, USA) and I recognize the need of finding a point of balance when it comes to parents and their degree of involvement in the Opti Sailing Career of their child. Particularly in the Optimist Class, parents obviously are the sponsors, whom invest in their children and their passion for Sailing. Coaches are part of this investment, and because this unique situation, I find it essential to engage them in the process. The significant investment in time, money, and effort made by parents is evidence of their desire to help develop. This desire should be channeled in the right direction for the sailor.
In my experience, the Coach & Athlete relationship develops from mutual respect, a sort of give and take, and obviously from providing the sailor with the necessary knowledge and support so he/she can reach his/her goals in the future. How do we fit parents in then? How can we, Coaches, engage the parents in a way they feel involved but don’t step into our job?
I don’t really have an answer for it, but I learnt that honesty and communication can make a big difference in whether the sailor benefits from it or not. I’m no parent, but I understand how difficult it might be to send your child out on the water and not being able to know if he’s alright, if he’s having fun, if he’s sailing fast.. maybe these are the reasons why we see the increasing number of Parent Boats in the water following races as spectators in the last year. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe having them in the water following races it’s a great step forward, you can do it in any other sport as well, and it only benefits the Sport to keep growing up.
What I’ve found challenging in my experience is when the sailor comes from a family with a background in Sailing, where sailing is a topic in any lunch/dinner and one of the parents (or both) might be very accomplished sailors in the present or in the past. At this point, the Coach & Athlete relation should be strong enough for the sailor to put the Coach’s opinion and instructions ahead of the parents possible opinion on the start strategy or the last tack when finishing the upwind. I say challenging as the sailor will always be exposed to feedback coming from both ways (Coach and Parents) and it can turn very challenging if this feedback isn’t similar. In order to be similar, the Coach and Parents should work together to provide the sailor with the appropriate information, and mutual trust plays a big part in order to show the sailor that we all row in the same direction.
Optimist Sailors are amazing little persons, who face challenges in the water everyday, and it’s important for them to know they have the Coach and the Parents support all the time. In order to accomplish that, I strongly believe information has to flow from Coach to Sailor and from Coach to Parents so we keep our extraordinary young athletes engaged and focused in sharping their skills in order to achieve all their dreams.

Bernat Gali Bou
USNT Coach
Lakewood Yacht Club Head Opti Coach
S1D Collaborator

Please also check out Sail1Design’s Coaches Locker Room Article: How to Handle Over-Zealous Sailing Parents

2018 S1D Coach of the Year Nominations Open!

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Greetings, sailing fans!!! We’re sending out our annual call this year for nominations for the prestigious Coach of the Year Award. In true grass-roots fashion, we pick the ultimate winner only from nominees supplied by you, our readers. We are thrilled also to announce that again, Gill North America is our Exclusive Sponsor for this award, and will provide the winner with a well-deserved gift!
2017 S1D/Gill Coach of the Year Nominations Now Open!!Sail1Design annually seeks your nominations for the Gill-S1D Coach of the Year, for a coach that embodies the qualities (and more) listed in the article below. Sailors, this is your award! The Sail1Design staff chooses the winner only from our readers nominations! This is a great opportunity to recognize a coach that you feel makes a difference!
Last years deserving winner was Yale’s Bill Healy. See a post from the Yale Athletics website detailing this honor. Please also read excerpts from the incredible nominations that Bill received here.

Please write a detailed nomination letter to [email protected] .  Nominations close on 15 JUNE 2018

Past S1D Coach of the Year Winners
2018-  ???
2017- Bill Healy
2016- Bill Ward
2015- Frank Pizzo
2014- Chris Dold
2013- Steve Hunt

All good coaches, regardless of their chosen sport, share some important fundamental qualities that transcend technical knowledge, or specific x’s & o’s. In other words, whether it’s a basketball, tennis, hockey, football, chess, or sailing coach, there are certain key characteristics to good coaching, and none of these really requires technical knowledge of the sport they are in.
Here are some of those characteristics: logistics, organization, energy, leadership, passion, creativity, patience, dedication, motivational skill, humility.
I would bet that you could take a good coach, put him or her in a new sport, and that coach would find some success. Think about the best coach you ever had, and visualize that person in another sport, and you might see just how that person could adapt and still be a difference-maker.
However, we all know that great coaches not only possess these core qualities, but indeed they are also masters of the subtleties, rules, and technical chess moves of the sport they are involved in. Very often, great coaches are former players themselves, and often they are good, but not necessarily great players. In any event, it seems virtually certain that actually having been in the arena at some level, having been a true game player, is a necessary ingredient for a great coach.
So then, what an important advantage sailing coaches have, since the sport allows lifelong top-level competitive opportunities. While it would be impossible for a middle-aged football coach to live, first-hand, what his players go through on the gridiron, middle-aged sailors and coaches can stay current, and can compete right alongside the world’s best sailors, and even win world championships in sailing. Opportunities exist in team racing, match racing, and all types of one-design classes offer regattas, year-round. In this manner, sailing coaches have the ability to get inside the sport, at the highest levels, learn more, and feel the same things that their players go through out on the race course. The empathy gained here is a very powerful tool that great coaches employ when coaching.
Getting into the rhythm of a sailboat race, realizing first-hand the excitement and frustrations of the sport, preparing mentally for each race, “knowing when to tack”, these are all things that coaches must be able to talk to their players about, and talking to them about these things is so much more clear and present when done by someone who is actually good at them, and has done them recently at a high level.
For example, it was always easy for me to say to a team, “make sure when you are in FJ’s at the starting line to allow yourself more leeward room to accelerate since the foils are small and the boats need to go bow down first before they start lifting.” It was really easy to say. It was quite another thing to actually do it, and to go out on the starting line, in FJ’s, and practice what I preached. That was a LOT harder, and I drew a great deal of empathy with my players from that situation and recognized better ways to talk about it and to talk them through it, having been there myself. This is especially true in team racing, where coaches can see plays easily on the coach boat or on the drawing board, but it’s one thing to talk about a mark trap at Mark 1; it’s another thing altogether to go out and be able to execute it. Without being, or having been, in the arena, sailing advice and technical coaching can be somewhat hollow compared to other sailing coaches who know it first-hand and live what they coach.
So, when you look to your coaches for advice or to get to that next level, or if you are a interested in sailing in a college program, take a moment and check out the coaches resumes, just as they will most assuredly be checking yours. The list that makes coaches good coaches should be there for sure, but see if the coaches list how, or if, they stay current in their profession and have the passion to go out on the racecourse themselves. Great coaches usually always have a story, and very recent one, of a lesson learned at a regatta they sailed in themselves. They love to sail and get better, if only to become a better sailor and coach.
While there is a short list of coaches who choose to (and can) do it all, many top collegiate programs now share these coaching qualities by hiring an assistant or co-head coach, who is very often a recent college sailing alumnus and is active in dinghy racing and brings that empathy, right away, to the team. The head coach then ties everything together with experience, maturity, management, and knowledge of the game.
If you’ve ever noticed, baseball coaches actually suit up for games even though they certainly won’t be playing. This historically comes from the old “player-coach” model, and perhaps, this connects them with the game and the player more intimately. Sailing offers the unique ability for all ages to compete at the highest levels of the sport, and great sailing coaches take advantage of this, “suiting up” themselves and making themselves better at coaching by sailing competitively.
About Gill
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, GA is the exclusive importer and distributor of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, US and Canada. Gill is a worldwide apparel and accessories brand serving the marine industry with over three decades of experience . Gill specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company develops and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear.

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