Written by Chris Klevan
Photo taken from Navy Sailing Facebook
March 19, 2018– Last weekend #1 Roger Williams University won the Graham Hall Team Race, hosted by the United State Naval Academy. Once deemed the spring season opener, due to its placement on the college sailing schedule, the Graham Hall remains as the first big-time team race of the season. Today, it serves as a double point-earning regatta for the newly formed Mid Atlantic Team Race League as well as the first opportunity for the best of MAISA, the South Atlantic and New England to get together on the same body of water. Moreover, the Naval Academy runs some of the best regattas on the circuit.
Unfortunately, this year, the conditions forced a truncated version of the epic regatta. Typically the 16 teams sail each other each once, a round robin. That round is then followed by a “gold/ silver,” top-8 and bottom-8 rounds, two half round robins completed simultaneously followed by a championship round, usually a final four. This format is identical to the ideal format at the ICSA Team Race National Championship and is part of the reason this regatta tends to be so exciting.
Roger Williams started strong, dropping only 2 races in the first 15 sailed, one versus #5 Hobart and Williams Smith College and another surprising loss to University of Virginia to open their event. However, despite a strong start, the Hawks, who have been dominant to start the season, were looking up at an undefeated, 15-0 Hobart and William Smith.
When conditions were flat, HWS was tough to beat. “When we were behind in the first round, it was typically in the 2,3,6 combo, trying to beat the 1,4,5,” said HWS Head Coach, Scott Ikle. “We knew what we needed to do and we executed.”
Photo by Belle Strachan
After an extremely strong fleet race season in the fall, it is widely known that HWS has two of the best in the game today. Hector Guzman ‘20 with Maya Weber ‘20 is one of the fastest boats in the nation. In Guzman and Weber, coupled with the experience of College Sailor of the Year darkhorse, Greiner Hobbs ‘18 with Haley Okun ‘18, HWS also has two of the best boats on the team race circuit. The key to this team’s championship bid looks to be Charles Miller ‘19 and Lindsey Kloc ‘19. Kloc has already established herself as one of the best in the front of the boat, Miller is more of a question mark due to inconsistency. You need 3 great boats to compete this year and, though still early, Roger Williams has shown that is exactly what they have.
Martim Anderson ‘18 with Rebecca Anderson ‘18 and Mack Bryan ‘18 with Jennifer Agell’19 are as fast as any other two boats on the water. Connor Harding ‘19 and Michael McBrien ‘18 are now well versed in the subtle art of beating another boat and are the perfect compliment to the two aforementioned speedsters. The lessons this team learned throughout the offseason, including last summer, have prove critical for putting together performances capable of winning major regattas.
Despite falling behind in the first round, including a rare loss to UVA, Roger Williams seemed unphased and finished strong, 4-1 in the round of 6. HWS went 1-4 in the same round.
“In the round of 6 we did not get off the starting line nearly as well,” stated Ikle. “On top of that, we were spinning a lot. Against those top teams, if you’re getting beat off the starting line and are looking at a break-away 1-2 due to penalties, you’re not going to win many races.” HWS finished with a record of 16-4 while RWU snuck past them at 17-3.
#4 Yale finished in 3rd at 15-5, with a perfect 5-0 final 6 round. Do not sleep on this team! Coming off a spring break where recent Yale Alums flock to Florida to battle with the current team, this still young team, may just be coming into their own. Backed by perhaps one of the best team racers in college, 2-time champion, Malcolm Lamphere ‘18 and College Sailor of the Year contender, Nic Baird ‘19 this team is capable of beating anyone- they proved just that at the Graham Hall. Commenting on Yale’s embarrassment of riches, former College Sailor of the Year and Yale Alumni, Graham Landy said, “That kid Sean Harvey is going to be good by the end of the spring. I bet Malcolm [Lamphere] is the best team racer in college. He’s got some skills.”
Notably, #2 Georgetown and #3 College of Charleston did not sail as well as we have come to expect at Navy, especially Charleston who finished the regatta with a 12-8 overall record. The Cougars sailed with the same six sailors throughout the event. Despite filling the voids left from last year’s championship team with capable hands in Augie Dale ‘19 and Katherine Lounsbury ‘20, it is clear there is still work to be done to return the 3 boats in Maroon and White to the level they found at the end of last spring.
Like they say, the other teams have coaches too. The following weeks should prove pivotal in the development of the teams vying for the 10 East Coast spots at the Team Race National Championship held at Old Dominion University, May 26-28.
*Team Race Rankings taken from the Sail1Design College Team Race Rankings published March 9, 2018.
Photo by Rob Migliaccio
#2 Boston College won the St. Mary’s Women’s Interconference held at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Squeaking out a 3 point victory over the #4 College of Charleston Cougars. The Eagles put together a team effort in the win with a 5th place finish by Isabella Loosbrock ‘19 and Emma Perry ‘19 in the most competitive A-Division we have seen yet this young season. The regatta win, however, was punctuated by an impressive B-Division victory by Sophia Reineke ‘21 and Lily McGrath ‘18.
With the continued improvement of Lossbrock and Reineke, it is hard to predict how good the Eagles can be on the women’s circuit. The standard, however, is the Yale women’s team. Though the Bulldogs finished 4th and 27 points behind the lead, they did so without their top women’s sailor, Casey Klingler, a senior this year. It was impressive to see the depth of the Yale team sailing sophomores Louisa Nordstrom and Christine Klingler sailing A and B respectively. Coupled with senior Kb Knapp and freshman, Catherine Mollerus in the front. The performance of such a young team bodes well for Yale in the future.
Finishing second at the event, close behind the lead was the College of Charleston women. Who, before Boston College showed up, had been atop the women’s scene early in the spring. Also a team effort, both Charleston boats finished in the top three of each division, Alie Toppa ‘20 with Annabel Carrington ‘19, only 3 points off the lead, again held by Coast Guard’s Dana Rohde ‘18 and Maddie Ekin ‘20.
#5 Brown University finished 3rd overall with 98 points.
#18 Harvard University won the Southern New England Team Race hosted by Connecticut College. The Crimson finished with a record of 14-4. The conditions were sporadic, according to the regatta report, featuring “SW-NNW with about 3 knots to 22 knots of breeze,” during racing on Saturday. Sunday was less puffy but more chilly. One, 10-team round robin was completed on each day resulting in a total of 18 races sailed for each team.
Harvard was extremely solid throughout the weekend, going 7-2 on each day. #8 MIT finished second at 13-5 and #19 Boston University finished tied with the home team, Connecticut College for third place at 12-6.
Though this regatta was deemed an interconference regatta, it was filled almost exclusively by NEISA schools. The schools competing are those vying for the last spot or two allotted to New England as it seems like a foregone conclusion that, based on recent successes and a history of excellence on the team race circuit, the first two spots will be claimed by Roger WIlliams and Yale. Boston College seems like the likely choice to claim the 3rd spot in NEISA, but they have a lot of turnover from last year, and therefore harder to forecast. It’ll be interesting to see how they fair in the coming weekends after a win in MAISA last weekend.
All NEISA teams competing at the SNETR, Harvard, MIT, BU, Conn College, Bowdoin, Brown, Tufts and Coast Guard will all be looking to steal some wins from the perennial favorites with hopes of claiming one of the remaining, highly coveted spots. The big question mark remaining is #13 Dartmouth, who has yet to make an appearance this spring.
Meanwhile, in MAISA, like NEISA, two of the 4 spots granted will likely be claimed by Georgetown and Hobart and William Smith. The teams that will take the final 2 spots are much harder to predict. Due to the parameters of their team race league, it seems like the MAISA Championship, the Prosser Trophy will feature, HWS, Georgetown, George Washington, Navy and St. Mary’s- all competing for the top-4 and a trip to nationals. Old Dominion, Kings Point, SUNY, Fordham and Cornell will all be contending for the last pre-qualifying spot next weekend and later, will be duking it out for the 2 spots granted to the MAISA Championship by the MAISA Team Race Challenge, held at Cornell.
Watching these teams develop over the coming weeks will be very interesting as the gains made in the near future will help give us an idea of who will be representing each conference come May.
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Nacra 15
Looking for a youth boat built for speed and excitement? Maybe a pathway towards the Olympics? The Nacra 15 offers just that to youth sailors around the world. This semi-foiling catamaran is one of the six boats endorsed by the Olympic Development Program. The whole idea of the Nacra 15 is to capture youth sailors and have them continue sailing for life. This doublehanded boat requires teamwork and is making sailing fun and exciting for youth sailors all over the world.
The History
The production of the Nacra 15 began in 2015 and was designed from scratch to the ISAF criteria so it could become the official ISAF youth catamaran. The purpose was to replace the older catamarans and create a new catamaran that had a more modern design along with the ability to hold more crew weight. The Nacra 15 is a mini version of the Olympic Nacra 17, and thus creates a pathway towards the Olympics for youth sailors. The Nacra 15 plans on representing the future of cat sailing for youth around the world.
The Boat
The Nacra 15 is a semi-foiling catamaran which carries two curved daggerboards that provide lift. Less drag and more lift makes this boat faster and more exciting! The boat is 15.4 feet long and includes a mainsail, jib, and spinnaker. This official World Sailing youth multihull is exciting and fast but is safe for youth sailors. This boat is an excellent way for youth sailors to learn to work as a team. The Nacra 15 is one of the trainer boats in the Youth Olympic Development Program and serves as one of the pathways for youth sailors on a journey to the Olympics.
For More Information on the Nacra 15:
http://www.nacra15class.com
http://www.nacrasailing.com/project/nacra-15-pathway-for-youth-sailing/
Hudson River Community Sailing is Hiring!
Hudson River Community Sailing is hiring: Teach Sailing in New York City! Spring/ Summer 2018
Founded in 2007 to serve the urban community, Hudson River Community Sailing partners with public schools to offer credit-bearing academic programs, internships, mentoring, and college readiness. Our youth development platform uses sailing, boat operation, and boat building to further academic skills and instill the qualities of character necessary for college and career success. We also serve the broader community through affordable marine education and recreation for individuals, groups, schools, businesses, and families.
Hudson River Community Sailing develops leadership and academic success in underserved New York City youth through sailing education and provides maritime education and recreation to the community at large.
Hudson River Community Sailing is hiring: Teach Sailing in New York City! Spring/ Summer 2018
Adult sailing instructors teach sailing to adults aboard our J24 sailboats in New York Harbor. There is a lot of boat traffic and fast currents. The stress is on student participation and student-focused learning. All of our sails are hands-on, and the typical student has zero sailing experience. Your interpersonal skills will be as valuable as your sailing skills.
HRCS believes everyone can learn to sail, and that sailing provides a unique opportunity for growth and discovery. We use sailing to fulfill our mission: developing leadership and academic success in underserved New York City youth, and providing maritime education to the city at large. We do this within a vibrant community sailing center, where we offer professional instruction, membership, veterans courses, summer camp, group and corporate events, and community regattas.
St. Francis Yacht Club is Hiring a full-time Dockmaster
St. Francis Yacht Club, within view of the Golden Gate Bridge, is a year-round host of over 125 days of racing on San Francisco Bay. The club is renowned for its expertise in facilitating world and national championships. With well over 40 regattas on its calendar annually, including being the first club to host kite course racing and the Rolex Big Boat Series, the Club is widely regarded as having one of the top racing programs in the country.
The Dockmaster is the ambassador of the St Francis YC docks; they are the primary person with whom a member or visiting yachtsman will interact with when arriving by vessel. The Dockmaster oversees the general maintenance of the docks and all floating assets. This individual possesses strong interpersonal skills, thrives in a team environment, and has a strong work ethic. To learn more about the Dockmaster position and to apply CLICK HERE
St. Francis Yacht Club was founded in 1927 by a group of 21 San Francisco Yachtsman with a vision of a club in the City. Ground was broken for the clubhouse that year, and events were held on members yachts until the club was formally opened in 1928. In 1959, the Club acquired its Tinsley Island Station, located on the Sacramento Delta. Tinsley offers members a warm boating destination to escape the traditional summer fog on the Bay. In 2002, the membership celebrated its 75th anniversary of activity on San Francisco Bay and around the world.
The yachting interests of our 2300-plus members include racing, cruising, sailboarding, kiteboarding, water-skiing and more. Our sailors have challenged and defended for the America’s Cup, brought home Olympic medals, and won prestigious races such as the Whitbread, Transpac and Pacific Cup. Whether cruising in the Mexican Sea of Cortez or racing in the Olympics, a St. Francis Yacht Club burgee is apt to be seen.
St. Francis Yacht Club is a year-round host of over 40 regattas on San Francisco Bay, including the annual Big Boat Series each September. The Club was host to the 2000 US Olympic Sailing Trials, and continues to host World and National Championships. StFYC is also dedicated to the development of young corinthian sailors. Our junior sailing team (ages 10 to 23) races locally and internationally in Optimists, Lasers, Radial Lasers, 29ers, 420’s and Flying Juniors. Each year, our Club hosts the Laser Sailing Symposium, with invitations to the world’s most competitive Laser sailors.
Our San Francisco clubhouse provides a boating and social venue for our members and their guests. It features large deep-water guest docks, outstanding dining and incredible vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. This is the premier location to view yacht racing on the renowned City Front. The Club’s annual calendar includes a wide variety of social events from theme parties, and winemaker dinners, to cruises both locally and far away.
Club Profile: Christmas Cove Improvement Association
News Flash: CCIA is hiring a Waterfront/Program Director!
The beginnings of the Christmas Cove Improvement Association reach back more than a decade before its formal organization in 1900. The first summer visitors, mainly from the Boston area, began coming to Rutherfords Island and Christmas Cove in the early 1880’s, attracted then as now by the beauty of the surroundings and the fresh, cool ocean air.
“Since its founding in 1900, the Christmas Cove Improvement Association has served as a constructive and unifying force among the residents of the area. Basically family-oriented, it has, in a quiet and simple manner, brought a sense of cohesiveness and community to old and young alike. Intended to be neither a country club nor a yacht club, the Association is unique in its character. While respecting the individual’s desire for privacy, it has nonetheless been an important influence on the quality of life enjoyed by several generations. During its history, it has flexibly adapted itself to major changes in the external world. At the same time, it has successfully pursued its primary mission of uniting area residents in a common bond of mutual respect and interest.”
They did not as yet own cottages and there were not hotels then, so they boarded with some of the families living at the Cove. During the early years, the most convenient approach to Christmas Cove was by water, for although there was rail service to Newcastle, a rough stage ride of sixteen miles still remained before the Cove was reached. Traveling by water from Boston was not uncomplicated either, beginning with an overnight steamer from Boston to Bath, followed by a change at Bath to one of the Eastern Steamship Company’s vessels for Boothbay. A relatively short carriage ride brought the traveling family to East Boothbay, 
where the final run to Christmas Cove was made by sailboat. TheChristmas Cove Improvement Association Casino was built in 1902 and replaced the old Thorpe family fish house just north of the pool dam which had until then been the place for social gathering and religious services. The most popular activities included tennis, swimming, boating, organized social events including entertainment on Wednesdays and Saturday, watching the world and steamboats go by and, of course, evening Vesper services on Sundays. By a few years later, there were many, many hotel rooms at the Cove and families had begun buying cottages.
News Flash: CCIA is hiring a Waterfront/Program Director!
After the quiet period brought on by the Depression and World War II, another spurt of CCIA growth began. The first Christmas Cove Improvement Association float appeared in 1946, the first sailing races were in 1948, the Junior Program began with tennis and swimming in 1950 and added sailing two years later. Volunteer parents and older children were the initial instructors. As the Program rapidly grew much larger, salaried instructors were hired. Other milestones to appear were the Christmas Cove burgee in 1962 and the first fiberglass CC 21 sailboats in the 70’s. All along, the management, maintenance and growth of the Christmas Cove Improvement Association occupied the time of many volunteers every summer and also in the off-season. It still does.
As Lanny Warner, a long-time summer resident said so well, “what attracted the first comers has continued to attract others. It is the delight of access to Cove and Bay and River, of the sweep of ocean view to the off-shore islands, to Pemaquid Point, and to Monhegan on the horizon. It is the pleasure of having a boat moored close at hand in a safe anchorage; a day of sailing and racing; of swimming for the hardy; of tennis for young and old; and of walking roads and paths. It is the joy of renewing with old friends again after a winter of separation. Finally, it is the casual, low-key tempo of the community that holds us. Let us keep it that way for our children’s children.”
Club Profile: Grand Bahama Sailing Center
News Flash: Grand Bahama Sailing Center seeks a full-time Director/Head Coach!
In 2006 a small group of local business people and keen sailors approached Sir Jack Hayward with the idea of resurrecting the Sir Charles Hayward Yacht Club. The two story building located at the end of the canal approximately half a mile West off the Grand Lucayan Waterway was built by Sir Jack in 1976 and named after his late Father. Built in traditional Bahamian style, the structure has French doors leading from the main room out to a balcony overlooking the water. An extensive patio leads to a swimming pool on the same level. The ground floor comprises of wash rooms and an apartment. Adjacent to the club building are two hard tennis courts. The Club was active in the 1970’s/early 1980’s and the small number of boats were privately owned by its members. The social scene was well supported and there were a number of lively regattas.
In the late 80’s many of the expatriate members left the island and support of the club diminished. It ceased operating as a club, closed its doors but some time later reopened as a restaurant called ‘Scorpios on the Bay’. They ultimately closed their doors and the property was dormant for several years. In 2001 the building was taken over by the Grand Bahama Development Company and operated as a sales office. This too was an unsuccessful enterprise and it closed three years later. When Joe Thompson, Chris Paine and Sarah Rolle approached Sir Jack in 2006 with the idea of starting a children’s sailing Club, he embraced the idea with great enthusiasm. A lease was granted by the Grand Bahama Development Company and the Grand Bahama Sailing Club Ltd was incorporated on 12th June 2008.
The club building, although structurally sound, needed some repairs and a face lift. A group of volunteers set about the design and construction of a sail storage facility and shed to house the boats. Fourteen Optimist dinghies were initially purchased by private owners with the condition that they all were put into the ‘Club Pool‘ for use by all members. Sir Jack provided substantial personal funds to make the improvements to the infrastructure and facilities which include the resurfacing of the tennis courts. In 2012 the Club took over the management of the Club docks whereby slips are rented to boat owners generating additional revenues. The Club remains a nonprofit organization relying on memberships, funds raisers, social events, and donations for support.
News Flash: Grand Bahama Sailing Center seeks a full-time Director/Head Coach!
Though a mainly volunteer driven organization, the Club has prospered with both social, sailing and tennis activities. In 2010 sixteen children participated in the annual Optimist National Championships in Nassau and have represented the GBSC every year since. In 2007 the Club held its first Summer Sailing Camp. Attracting both experienced sailors and beginners, the two week camps were well received, 
overseen by both local and visiting coaches. A prime objective of the GBSC is to support underprivileged children and today the Summer Sailing Camps offers places to over 50 children who are sponsored by both the private and corporate community. The four two week camps have grown in popularity and typically over 100 children take part. In addition children sponsored by various civic organizations (Salvation Army, Columbus House, Rotary Clubs, etc) are encouraged to sail year-round. In 2010 the Club hired a full time sailing Coach, David Valentine. A graduate from Texas A & M and avid sailor, he established sailing programs with children from both private and public schools on Grand Bahama. This led to children competing in regattas in the Caribbean, the US and several sailors representing the Bahamas in the ISAF world Laser championships Ireland and Cyprus. Sailing was promoted in a number of island communities with local regattas being held in High Rock and West End.
Today the Club fleet comprises of 21 Optimists, 9 Lasers, 6 Flying Juniors, a CAL 25 and three coach boats.
