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GILL Sponsor News: SAIL ALL IN, ALL YEAR LONG

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With cold water and unpredictable storms, gear preparation is difficult. You need to compete regardless of daunting weather. Keep yourself warm and dry this winter, no matter what the conditions may be.
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ICSA News: #6 Charleston wins Danmark Trophy; Cornell wins Susan Rogers Women’s Interconference; #1 Georgetown wins MAISA Match Race; SAISA Women’s Singles and more…

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By Chris Klevan
October 4, 2017– #6 College of Charleston won the 75th edition of the Danmark Trophy, held at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The Danmark, traditionally, is one of the most competitive interconference regattas of the fall season. Scheduled at the beginning of October, it marks the beginning of autumn and the period where the chips start to hit the table with Conference Championships looming at the end of the month.
After two days and 26 races of sailing in varied conditions, the Cougars of Charleston edged #12 MIT by 15 points. Clearly not out of their element in the first cold weekend of New England, the SAISA powerhouse picked up where they left off as last season’s champions. This rendition of the contending team features recognizable seniors, Stefano Peschiera and Grace McCarthy, A-Division winners at the Danmark with 93 points. The B-Division team however, is different than the one we saw at last spring’s championship. Finishing second in B-Division for the cougars was Junior, Augie Dale and Sophomore, Katherine Lounsbury. Last time we saw Mr. Dale was in his B-Division winning effort at the 2016 ICSA National Championship in San Diego, CA, where Dale was then flying the colors of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. After taking the year off last year to adhere to ICSA transfer policies, Dale’s return, coupled with the stellar sailing of Peschiera, McCarthy and Lounsbury, helped to solidify the continued relevance of the defending champions.
Winning B-Division was Trevor Long ‘19 with Marcus Abate ‘20 and Julia Cho ‘20 of MIT. The Engineers edged Dale and Lounsbury by 1 point in contributing to MIT’s second place team effort.
The #18 Roger Williams Hawks finished 3rd overall at the event with 228 points.
The lone interconference on the Women’s Sailing front was the Susan Rogers ‘75 Memorial Regatta. Sailed on the mighty Cayuga Lake, on the shores of Ithaca, New York, home to Cornell University, the regatta featured a breezy northerly with plenty of fetch for significant waves. Cornell might be located in central New York but their sailing venue is very exposed.
After 8 races sailed in each division, the home team, Cornell University won the event decisively. Finishing with 35 points, winning 10 of the 16 races sailed in the event, unranked Cornell defeatedeat #4 University of Rhode Island by 26 points.
Hobart and William Smith sailors Bailer Carter ‘19 and Anna Flaherty ‘20 won A-Division with 21 points in 8 races. Cornell University’s B-Division boat, Gabby Rizika ‘20 and Tara Bergstrom ‘18, dominated their division winning all but 1 of the 8 races sailed. That lone imperfection for the Big Red Ladies was a 2nd place finish.
The #19 William Smith ladies finished 3rd overall with 68 points after 16 races.
#1 Georgetown University won the 2017 Intrepid Trophy  held at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The newest MAISA Match Race Champion started the event off slow and qualified for the knockout stage as the 4 seed. Falling behind 1-0 to last year’s National Championship runners up, #4 Hobart and William Smith Colleges in the first round of the knockout, the odds were not in the Hoya’s favor. However, Georgetown won the last 2 races of the best of 3 series to face #9 Navy in the finals. Georgetown swept the Midshipmen to win the event. Both teams advance to this year’s Match Race National Championship held at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, November 10-12.
University of British Columbia won the NWICSA Match Race Championship held in British Columbia and in doing so, secured a berth to the ICSA Match Race National Championship, aforementioned above. Congratulation and good luck.
College of Charleston’s Sophomore, Kelly-Ann Arrindell won the SAISA Women’s Singlehanded Championship last weekend held at University of South Florida. Winning 4 of the 6 races and finishing with 9 points overall, her effort was nothing short of dominant. Marian Frances Williams ‘21 of Charleston grabbed the final qualifying spot finishing second at the event with 14 points. Both ladies qualified to compete in the Singlehanded National Championship held in St. Petersburg, Florida, November 4-5.
The #9 College of Charleston Women won the SAISA Women’s Fall, the South Atlantic women’s conference championship. Serving as the conference’s qualifier for the Women’s Atlantic Coast Championship, the event brings out the best women in the conference. The regatta was a combined division event.
Charleston’s victory was led by Ali Toppa ‘20 and Caroline Bracken ‘19. The Cougar’s top boat won 4 of the 9 races and finished with 21 points.
The South Florida Bulls finished second with 89 points while the Eckerd tritons finished 3rd, rounding out those qualifying for SAISA’s 3 spots at ACC’s.
Photo by Ken Legler
Written by Chris Klevan

College Sailing News: Week 4 Report

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#13 Dartmouth wins St. Mary’s Fall Interconference; Laser sailors qualify for Nationals; #11 Stanford wins Sail-off!
September 25, 2017
                                           Photo taken from the NEISA facebook page, © 2017 Rob Migliaccio, All Rights Reserved
#13 Dartmouth College won the St. Mary’s Fall Interconference with impressive performances in both divisions. Sailed at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the event marked MAISA’s second major intersectional as the fall season is now in full swing. Many of the nation’s top teams were in attendance and the fleets were mostly filled with college sailing veterans. Dartmouth was one such team, sporting a tandem in A and B-Divisions that may be the Big Green’s top squad.
“The racing was tricky, with pressure filling from the edges and many of the common moves toward consolidating and centering up not as beneficial as normal,” said Dartmouth’s head coach, Justin Assad. “Our team was able to start cleanly most of the time, and focused on being patient and balanced sailing the long tack with finding the next pressure.”
Brothers, Christopher ‘19 and Duncan Williford ‘18 sailed A and B respectively with crews, Rebecca McElvain ‘19 and Paige Clarke ‘20. The Williford brothers and crews represented the Big Green well, combining for only 3 races outside the top-10. They finished 2nd in both A and B-Division, winning the regatta over MAISA up-and-comer, #14 George Washington.
Assad continued, “Duncan and Christopher are unique young men, and the overwhelmingly positive relationship they share is infectious for our entire team.  They could trick you with their mellow and relaxed demeanor, but Duncan is an elected team leader and has a great attitude, and Christopher is a ferocious competitor.  They enjoy pushing each other and love to compete, whether it is winning practice starts or a quick game of pick-up basketball before lift, which leads to a successful dynamic when representing Dartmouth, as well as pushing the whole team to mirror their spirit of fun competition.”
The George Washington Colonials’ runner-up finish was led by senior, Kai Friesecke and sophomore Andreea Rainey-Pace. The A-Division boat finished the regatta with no races outside the top-9, winning A-Division over aforementioned Big Green by 10 points.
#1 Georgetown’s Andy Reiter ‘19 and Claire Mohun ‘19 won B-Division with 45 points after 11 races sailed. The Hoya Juniors were impressive over the two days finishing 9 of the 11 races inside the top-5.
The #9 Navy Midshipmen finished 3rd overall, with 143 points in the 22 races sailed.
The Men’s Singlehanded conference championships were sailed in SAISA, NWICSA and NEISA this past weekend, while the Women’s Singlehanded conference championships were sailed in MAISA, NIESA and NWICSA. Each of these 6 regattas qualified individuals for the both the Men’s and the Women’s ICSA Singlehanded National Championship, help in St. Petersburg, Florida, November 4th and 5th.
The SAISA Men’s Singlehanded Championship featured sailors from College of Charleston, Jacksonville University and the University of South Florida. Three of the 10 sailors competing would move on to the National Championship. Finishing first, with an impressive 15 points after 10 races was College of Charleston’s senior, Stefano Peschiera. Runner up was a freshman from Jacksonville, Gage Wilson. Capturing the 3rd and final qualifying spot was Gerald Williams ‘19 from the College of Charleston.
© 2017 Rob Migliaccio, All Rights Reserved
The NEISA Men’s Singlehanded Championship featured sailors from 14 different schools. 4 of the 27 boats entered would qualify for the Men’s National Championship, making it the most competitive qualifier, simply by percentage of qualifiers, featured on the ICSA schedule. Yale’s Nicholas Baird ‘19 finished 1st overall with 44 points after 10 races. Last year’s national champion, Scott Rasmussen of Boston College (‘20), finished second overall with 50 points. Tied with Rasmussen, but finishing 3rd, was 2015 ICSA National Champion, Malcolm Lamphere ‘18 of Yale. Alp Rodopman ‘17 of Tufts, finished 4th, rounding out the NEISA qualifiers.
University of British Columbia freshman, Benjamin McMaster was the lone qualifier from the NWICSA Men’s Singlehanded Championship held by Washington. Totalling 18 points after 8 races, the youngster won the seven boat regatta with consistency. Congratulations and good luck to all the men’s qualifiers.
Three Georgetown Women qualify for the Women’s singlehanded national championship after the Faye Bennett – MAISA Women’s Singles.  A Senior, Lola Bushnell was extremely solid in winning the 18-boat regatta with 37 points in 10 races. Finishing second, 11 points behind the Ms. Bushnell, was Lenox Butcher (‘20) of UPenn. Finishing 3rd was Riley Legault (‘19) of George Washington University, with 55 points. Tied with 56 points for the final two qualifying spots were two Hoya Ladies, Carly Broussard (‘21) and 2015 National Champion,  Haddon Hughes (‘19).
Washington University senior Laura Smit was the lone qualifier from the NWICSA Women’s Singlehanded Championship. Smit won the final 4 races to edge teammate, Farzanan Mohamedali.  With 13 points after 7 races, finishing strong was obviously the key to winning the six boat regatta.
Coast Guard Academy senior Dana Rohde won the NEISA Women’s Singlehanded Championship despite not winning a single race. Ms. Rohde, after a slow start, showed how consistency wins regattas by finishing inside the top-4 in 6 of the last 7 races of the 17 boat regatta. An extremely tight regatta, only 8 points separated Rohde from the 5th and final qualifying spot. Talia Toland (‘21) of Tufts, Anna Weis (‘20) of Boston University, Lindsey Baab (‘18) of Brown and Sophia Reineke (‘21) of Boston College finished 2nd through 5th respectively.
#11 Stanford won the 2017 PCCSC Match Race Championship in a sail-off with University of California Santa Barbara. The Cardinal and the Gauchos squared off on the match race/team race circuit of the PCCSC in what appears to be a budding rivalry. Stanford, the long standing champion of the conference has found competition at conference championships over the past year. Stanford was the lone qualifier for the Match Race National Championship held in Charleston, South Carolina on November 10th through 12.

2017 Optimist Atlantic Coast Championship Results & Report

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Camp Seafarer/Sea Gull in Arapahoe, NC hosted the 2017 Optimist Atlantic Coast Championship this year, and what a host they were. From the moment we arrived to the last hand-shake goodbye, the staff and volunteer regatta personnel worked incredibly hard to make us, and everyone, feel at home, enjoy themselves, and soak in the North Carolina hospitality and gorgeous surroundings. As a note to all one-design sailors, I would make this venue a priority for you, if possible, in the future.
Perfectly situated facing southeast on the north bank of the Neuse River, Camp Seafarer/Sea Gull is well-equipped to host USODA events, not always an easy task. Their spacious lawns, basketball courts, large swimming pool complete with zip line, enormous dining hall facility, was topped off only by a picture-perfect place to sail. We encountered almost no pleasure boat traffic, and had an amazingly gorgeous body of water all to ourselves. The weather seemed to know we were coming; forecasts of light winds were happily under-reported and the sailors were treated to two days of moderate-to-brisk NE-E winds from 5-22 knots over the six-race series. Epic sailing conditions.
When the dust settled, young sailing star Peter Foley, Coral Reef YC, FL,  came somewhat from behind to defend his ACC title of last year, and win again. Peter was very good on day one, but started slowly (for him) with a 26 in the very first race in the lighter winds. Having to carry that deep race the rest of the way left little margin for error for Peter, but as the winds built, he became almost untouchably fast. His boat handling in the big waves (3-5 feet) and wind (14-23 knots) was impressive to watch. He was very fast upwind with great technique, and even faster on the reaches and downwind.
Consistency, and avoiding the big mistake, was key. Easy to say, but not easy to do in a competitive 103 boat fleet. The RC decided not to divide the fleet, so we were full-on with all 103 boats on one line. If you look at the scores, the top 5 in this event were the only boats that had all top-ten finishes (with throw-out). Within that competitive group, Peter was clearly dominant, with no finish (other than the throw-out) worse than second.
Congratulations to the Foley family for having two siblings in the top 5, and to all the competitors for an event well sailed. Most importantly, thanks to the kind people at Camp Seafarer/Sea Gull for gracefully sharing their magical venue with the Atlantic Coast’s top Optimist sailors. If you ever have a chance to visit this place, jump at that chance. FULL RESULTS
TOP 5 OVERALL:

  1. Peter Foley, CRYC
  2. Tommy Sitzmann, FBYC
  3. Laura Hamilton, LYC
  4. Audrey Foley, CRYC
  5. Vanessa Lahrkamp, American YC

    2017 USODA Atlantic Coast Championship from Camp Sea Gull Camp Seafarer on Vimeo.

 
 

Chicago Yacht Club is Hiring!

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Summer Race Coach & Instructor Jobs- Housing Available! The Chicago Yacht Club is looking to hire coaches for the summer of 2018. Chicago Yacht Club’s Sailing School has been named one of the top programs in the country.
The members of our club share in a tradition for creating an environment for our club members to excel. We invite you to learn more about our club offerings and join us in our passion for the pursuit of yachting excellence.
Tradition. Passion. Community. These are the values we’ve been cultivating off the coast of Lake Michigan since 1875. As one of the oldest and most respected clubs in the world, Chicago Yacht Club is proud of the diverse membership we’ve built up. While we revel in the camaraderie and social opportunities of the club, our members come together with a passion for yachting and a love of the lake.
We welcome you and your family to not only participate in our over 125 racing events and yachting lifestyle, but also to be a part of our rich history and enduring legacy. We want to help you get involved, compete in your first race, join a racing committee, participate with our Foundation, take a class or seminar, get your kids passionate about boating and, of course, make lifelong friends.
In conjunction with the club’s management staff, our constantly-active committees coordinate a variety of social events, educational programs and seminars, holiday festivities, theater, museum and cultural outings, and regular Friday night committee and fleet happy-hour gatherings. From informal barbecues on the patio and potluck dinners on the docks to elegant wine-tastings and black-tie New Year’s Eve galas, our members always have a reason to celebrate their membership.
OUR COMMITMENT
Embracing over 140 years of experience paired with a wide breadth of services and opportunities, the Chicago Yacht Club is proud to advance the community’s knowledge, proficiency, participation and enjoyment of boating and the nautical arts. It’s our pledge to make the most of your membership at CYC through our host of regattas, races and contests—no other yacht club in the country presents more national-level racing than the Chicago Yacht Club.
The racing sailors, cruising sailors, and our powerboat squadron events fall primarily in the following categories: offshore and one-design racing, powerboat predicted log contests, and the relaxed cruising of both the sail and power fleets.
Whether you are a novice enrolled in our nationally recognized sailing school, or an “old salt” with seasoned sea legs, CYC is sure to satisfy you on and off the water, whether it be wind, fuel or oars that propel you. It’s no wonder Yachting Magazine declared the CYC “one of the country’s most distinguished yacht clubs.”
In addition to a variety of social events, dinners and festivities, CYC is an enthusiastic supporter of community sailing and philanthropy. We hope to build on our distinguished tradition through our Sailing School for adults and juniors, through the Sea Scout Program and by actively supporting benefit activities like the Jimmy Talbot Memorial Regatta and the American Cancer Society and others.

Sponsor News: Gill Launches New Hydrophobe Down Fall Line

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BUFORD, Ga. — Sept. 14, 2017 — This fall, Gill North America is proud to introduce the world’s
first Hydrophobe Down Jacket and Vest designed specifically for the marine environment. The
outer shell is insulated with water resistant 650 fill power and packed with 90/10 water resistant
duck down, making the products able to withstand spray even when worn alone.
Coated micro-baffle is used to resist water, creating a non-clumping coating, keeping
customers cozy and dry.
The products are versatile and perfect for any adventure, lightweight, easy to pack, and
available in both men and women’s sizes. The men’s Hydrophobe Down line comes in Charcoal,
sizes XS through XXL. Women’s Hydrophobe Down products are available in Pewter sizes 6
through 14.
Men and women’s jackets are $179.00. Men’s and women’s vests are $139.00.
To view product details and shop the Hydrophobe Down collection, visit GillNA.Com/
###
About Gill North America:
Gill North America is the North American importer and distributor of Gill brand technical
marine apparel. Gill provides a wide range of foul weather, sun protective clothing and
accessories well suited for use in the harsh marine environment. Gill products are available
throughout North America through approved Gill retailers .
For more information, visit us at www.gillna.com, www.gillfis

College Sailing Kicks off the Fall Season

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September 12, 2017–The first two weeks of the 2017 ICSA College Sailing Season are in the books. The effective season opener for the Atlantic Coast teams is the Henry A. Anderson Trophy  hosted by Yale University on the Long Island Sound. This was the 43rd installment of the trophy and results, despite coming early in the fall season helps us discern what is up on the East Coast, especially in New England.

Photo taken from the yale sailing facebook page, taken by Jody Lee.

This year, The Boston University Terriers won the event with 169 points after 16 races in each division. The B-Division boat, Robby Gearon (‘19) and Lexi Pline (‘19), pushed the Terriers ahead of Yale, who led throughout the day on Saturday. BU ground the Bulldogs down, passing them easly Sunday and maintaining the lead throughout the day. The BU veteran boat of Ravi Parent (‘18) and Emily Croteau (‘19) finished 3rd in A-Division and strung together ten straight top-10 finishes in the middle of the event to set the tone of BU”s comeback. Such a consistent scoreline, coupled with a standout performance in B-Division is what wins regattas.
College Sailor of the Year hopeful, Nicholas Baird (‘19) sailing with Graceann Nicolosi (‘20) starting their campaign off strong with a decisive win in A-Division. They finished the event with 73 points through 16 races and defeated second place, Matthew Kaplan (‘19) and Louisa Lindgren (‘19) of Bowdoin by 30 points.
Despite the impressive performance from BU’s B-Division tandem, the division was won by Dane Byerly (‘20) and Lydia McPherson-Shambarger of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The young Seahawk team won the division with an impressive 59 points over the 16 race event.
Though the Henry A. Anderson Trophy served as the East Coast Interconference opener, it was not the only major regatta of the weekend. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee won the Fall Fury hosted by University of Wisconsin, host of the 2010 ICSA College National Championship. The Panthers won the event with an impressive 54 points after 24 races, winning each division. Parker Trempton (‘18) and Brett Hutchinson (‘19) narrowly took home the victory in A-Division, 36 points. However, Jack Behrend (‘20) and Susie Voltz (‘19) dominated the B-Division, totaling 18 points in 12 races, winning all but 2 races sailed. Well Done!
Written by Chris Klevan
Photo by Jody Lee, taken from the Yale Sailing Facebook page.

Castine Yacht Club (Maine) Sailing Director Position Open!

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Come spend an amazing summer on the coast of Maine. Castine Yacht Club is looking for a sailor and leader to run our summer program. We have boats ranging from Optis and 420s to Colgate 26s and locally built wooden boats. We serve the entire community (summer and year round) and most importantly have lots of fun–pig roast, Lord Nelson model boat race, and the Pond Island Lobster Fest are just the start. You will have a great experience, time off, access to golf, tennis, competitive pay, and if you need it housing. We are looking for 2+ instructors–find a friend and come have a great summer.
Responsibilities include supervision of a 4-6 person sailing instructor staff, managing an established curriculum, parental interaction, teaching sailing and boating skills to junior and adult sailors and maintaining a professional environment for over 100 full and part time summer students. Some race committee duties and local travel required.

Castine Yacht Club is proud to offer its summer junior program to its members, community children, visitors and all Downeast coast residents.

Our program continues its strong tradition of teaching the art of seamanship via weekly classes beginning June 25.  Our classes will have students learning knots, charting, simple navigation, proper yachting etiquette, the skills necessary to launch and bring a boat back safely as well as how to make a sailboat go as fast as it can in all wind directions. Our classes are designed to have as much ‘on-the-water’ time as possible without sacrificing the lessons necessary for mastery of the equally important knowledge of boat maintenance, anchoring, docking and general yachting protocol.

Our classes begin with the Novice level for children just starting out – ages 6-8. This class meets three mornings a week and will include nautical games, hands on classroom lessons and time on-the-water in Turnabouts, Optis, powerboats, larger sailboats and rowboats.  See Schedule

Our Apprentice class is for our 8-11 year olds who may or may not have a summer of previous class time.  This class will be on-the-water in Turnabouts, Optis, powerboats, larger sailboats, our Castine Class sailboat and rowboats. This class meets four mornings a week and will focus on basic boating skills as well as the finer art of sail trim, knots and dead-reckoning navigation.

Our 10-13 year old Helmsman class will be held three afternoons a week mostly in Optimists. This single handed sprit rigged dinghy is a wonderful teacher as well as a tutor in humility.  ‘If one can sail an Optimist well, one can sail any boat he/she steps aboard.’  In addition to the Opti, we will be on-the-water in our Castine Class sailboat, powerboats, rowboats and larger sailboats.  Class time will concentrate on advanced rigging and line techniques, charting, general nautical awareness and the Racing Rules of Sailing. We will introduce racing. In addition to the three afternoon classes, the Helmsman level participates in a Wednesday picnic cruise.

This year, our older sailors will have the opportunity to participate in 420’s, Colgates or Mercuries for lessons in short course racing, general navigation and team racing as well as classroom discussions.  The class meets each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the afternoons.  On Wednesday, the class will participate in the picnic cruise. Inter-club regattas in 420’s will be held several times throughout the summer  See Schedule

Welcome to the 2017 College Sailing Fall Season!

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After a summer of rest, coaching gigs and internships, sailors return to their respective schools and look to the water, the 2017 ICSA Fall Season is upon us. With regattas starting in early September and ending in mid-November, spanning from coast to coast, the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) will sanction hundreds of regattas just this fall alone.
With so many quality regattas slated for the upcoming weeks, including singlehanded and match racing national championships, this Fall will prove to be an exciting one. All three fall national championships will be held in SAISA. The ICSA Match Racing National Championship will be held at the College of Charleston, in South Carolina, host of last spring’s championships. The Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded Nationals will take place in St. Petersburg, Florida. These three national championships help set the tone for the season, coupled with a women’s and coed fleet racing season which culminates in the Coed and Women’s Atlantic Coast Championships, held at SUNY Maritime College in New York and Connecticut College in Connecticut College respectively.
Last fall, Georgetown University won the 2016 ICSA Match Race National Championship held in San Diego, California. Also known as the Cornelius Shields Jr. Trophy, the match racing championship was a hard fought one as the best of three series went to 3 races against MAISA rival, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Returning most of last year’s championship team (AJ Reiter graduated spring 2017), Georgetown will look to repeat as champions this fall.
Boston College stood as the victors of both the Men’s and the Women’s Singlehanded National Championships in 2016. 2020 grad, Scott Rasmussen and Senior, Erika Reineke won the two regattas, respectively. Ms. Reineke graduated last fall after winning the Quantum Women’s Sailor of the year.
MIT won the 2016 Coed Atlantic Coast Championship at home last fall and The United States Coast Guard Academy won the 2016 Women’s Atlantic Coast Championship held at College of Charleston. The Beavers of MITshould return both starters from last fall’s championship effort and will be looking strong for the fall 2017 campaign. The Coast Guard Bears graduated 2016 Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year, Nikole Barnes. Questions remain as to who will step forward as this year’s power in women’s sailing.

River City Community Sailing in the spotlight with Topaz Sailboats!

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Topaz has partnered with River City Community Sailing (RCCS) in Elizabeth City North Carolina.  RCCS is the home of a new sailing operation designed to promote sailboat racing and community access to and involvement in sailing, as well as the enjoyment of thenatural beauty, ecological value, and historical significance of the Pasquotank River. The non-profit organization provides coaching, training, and instruction in sailing skills for youth and adult alike. All camps, adult sailing and advanced sailing feature Topaz sailboats.  Topaz Sailboats, distributed by East Coast Sailboats, offer the perfect combination of stability, durability, performance, and simplicity for a new generation of sailors.  Topaz Sailboats are ideal for teaching, racing, and recreational sailing and are a perfect combination of sailboats for all ages from kids through adults.
 

Get Involved: Join the Race Committee!

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By Airwaves writer Taylor Penwell
Sailboat racing involves many different roles in order to be successful. We have the skippers, crew members, shore crew, and of course, the race committee. Finding qualified people to be apart of the race committee can be difficult task. Often the most experienced candidates for the race committee are those who’d rather compete in a sailboat rather than be on the committee.
All of us sailors have attended the race where the race committee just didn’t “have it together.”
Here are some key points when it comes to being part of the race committee.
What is the Race Committee?
The term “race committee” includes any person or group in charge of “managing” a sailboat race. This includes everything from writing the sailing instructions to actually conducting the race.
What skills are required?
-Teamwork
-Ability to focus on a specific task
-Ability to follow instructions
-Ability to adjust quickly to changes
Do I need to know anything about sailboat racing?
No! Just be willing to learn and take directions.
How important is race management in sailboat racing?
No race is possible without the effort of the race committee. A race committee must be able to properly run and operate an orderly event for the satisfaction of the competitors. Without this, sailors might decide to not attend that regatta or race with the poor race committee.
What are the race committee’s goals?
The prime goal is to offer fair competition for all. A good race committee starts on time, delivers clear racing instructions and signals, sets a precise course and adjusts promptly to changing wind and weather. A well-organized race committee does a lot to set the tone for fair competition.
Another important goal is to give satisfaction to competitors. This is done by setting a good start line, setting a good course and finish line, and providing a racing event that is safe and fun, ashore and afloat. It requires foresight, detailed planning and above all, teamwork.
What are the rewards?
-Satisfaction of a job well done
-Working as part of a team
-An important role in an exciting event

-Being out on the water
-Action, fun, new friends
The Race Management Team
Mark Setter- Positions, sets, and relocates marks of the course. Relays changes in wind to the race committee.
Wind Reader- Observes and records wind direction at regular intervals
Principal Race Officer (PRO)- Chief executive of the race committee team. Makes the major race management decisions.
Line Sighter- Sights starting line to identify boats “on the course side” and tracks boats returning to the start. Sights finish line to determine order and moment of finish.
Sounder- In charge of sound signals (gun, horn, or whistle) that draw competitors’ attention to visual signals.
Scorer- Tabulates points and finishing times for finishers and calculates handicaps if required.
US Sailing is committed to ensuring successful race committees. They administer a national program of race management training and certification. The certifications make sure that race committees meet a standard. Having these US Sailing Race Management Certifications can build your skills, be invited to run all types of racing, and make friends.
For more information on US Sailings Race Management Training check out their website.
http://www.ussailing.org/race-officials/race-officers/race-officer-program/

Sail1Design Career Consulting 101

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Sailing Coach Job Hunt 101
For over a decade now, Sail1Design has helped sailing programs and professional marine-industry institutions find great candidates to fill open positions. Through the Great Recession, and now what we hope will be continued recovery, our Job Bank/Career Center has helped place thousands of candidates with coaching, sailing, and marine-related job openings throughout the US, and beyond.
In that time we’ve learned a little bit, and as always, continue to be impressed both with the incredible job opportunities available, along with the quality of candidates that use our site as a resource.
We know it can be difficult and sometimes stressful; here are a few tips, both for employers and candidates alike, that we’ve found help expedite the search-to-hire process.
EMPLOYERS

  • Take Your Time. The best ads for candidates are not hastily drawn up, but thoughtful, concise, and organized. In many cases this is the first experience candidates have with your institution, and will make an impression based on what you say, and how you say it. Our system offers job ads for all levels, and each is effective. Generally, the more exposure you invest in, the better off your application pool will be.
  • Don’t Say Too Much. Sounds crazy, but while every word counts in your description, more words, additional duties, and too much at first bite may leave too little negotiating room later. You want to have candidates call on you…. And their having questions about the job is a good thing. Don’t let your ad cause them not to call unnecessarily!
  • Be Positive & Creative. Add testimonials, photos, videos, that show off your institutions unique strengths. Visuals and positive testaments about your organization speak volumes to candidates! Even for candidates you may not hire, it’s amazing how things can change, and how our small community communicates. Candidates have taken the time to apply; your institutions reputation with all candidates will grow if you are proactive, and respond to applications professionally, and quickly. The candidate you say “no” to may be a good friend of the person you want to hire!
  • Do Your Homework. Search our Database. Sail1Design has a very healthy database of premium active resumes. Often employers search this before creating their job ad. Active candidates may already be waiting for your call!
  • Need More Help? Hire S1D. Sail1Design offers hiring services and job recruitment consulting. We have a combined 100+ years in the sailing industry and hiring process, so we can help! [email protected]

JOB SEEKERS

  • Build a Resume. Sail1Design offers a resume service, where you can create your own resume for employers easily to access. Log into our site and hit the “Post a Resume” button. Taking the time to create a job-specific resume speaks volumes to the hiring crew; it tells them that their institution is really on your mind! Sail1Design also offers a premium resume bank that employers can search through, often before they post a job. Make sure your resume is in there; you may get a call before the job is even posted!
  • Ask! Be ready with targeted, focused questions about each opportunity. Housing, time off, growth opportunities, etc. can expedite your search and also show employers that you are serious.
  • Communicate Often and Quickly. Job opportunities often come and go quickly. If you are keen on a job, make 100% sure the institution knows about you, your genuine interest, and your contact information. If you ever feel like the lines have gone down, it’s almost never a bad idea to follow up again. And, for jobs you applied for that may not be tops on your list, make sure still to follow up positively and professionally. You never know, you may end up wanting to be there.
  • Line Up References. Make sure you research opportunities, and line up personal references beforehand so hiring companies will be able to fast-track your application to the final group. References are enormously important in the tight-knit sailing world.

One Design Classes

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