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Club Profile: Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club

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Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club (BHYC) in mid-coast Maine has been celebrating yachting for over 100 years, welcoming boaters who want to experience the fabled Downeast cruising grounds and picturesque Boothbay Harbor. 
Our location on the water in West Boothbay Harbor offers a panoramic view of the harbor and the boats that utilize it. We have an extensive mooring field and offer full time tender service in the summer months. A large number of rental moorings are available to visiting yachtsmen and yachtswomen. We also offer a full service waterfront dining facility open for lunch and dinner with professional chef and staff.
BHYC is home to over 300 members and families and is the perfect destination for visiting sailors. With extensive guest moorings and a full-service clubhouse, BHYC hosts both individual yachts and affiliate clubs with ease.
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Our myriad activities offer programs for all ages and interests – sailing lessons for juniors and adults, as well as junior and adult tennis. Our summer cruise schedule is an exciting way to explore the Coast of Maine, and sailboat racing, including several annual regattas and our racing series, builds great memories and skills.
The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Junior Program provides a summer of outdoor fun with Sailing, Tennis and Golf programs available. Membership is not required for participation in the Junior Program (but members do get discounted fees!), and scholarships are available from the support of the BHYC Junior Program Foundation.
In 2015, ten weekly Monday through Friday sessions begin June 15th and end August 21st with special events throughout the summer. The schedules are arranged so that sailing, tennis, and golf may be pursued separately, or in combination.
News Flash:    BHYC is hiring a Junior Program Director!!!
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Sailing
The Junior Program Sailing program was established in 1954 with youngsters initially sailing in Turnabouts. Today, Junior Program sailors sail in either club-owned Optimists or 420 sailboats, with turnabouts available for older beginning sailors.  Aimed toward youth ages 8 – 18, and with all levels of instruction from beginners to advanced racers, we invite you to find out more about the program.

High School Sailing in New Jersey on the Rise 

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By Rachel Bennung
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High school sailing in New Jersey has been growing throughout the years. In the late 90’s there were only about five teams. Currently, there are twenty-one active teams in New Jersey. However, there are a lot more teams beginning to form and the existing teams continue to attract more sailors. This fall there have been some exciting regattas held in New Jersey. Here is a recap of the regattas so far this fall and a look into high school sailing in New Jersey.
On September 12th Toms River Yacht Club hosted the NJISA 2015 SailFest Regatta. Twelve teams attended, three of those schools were able to form two teams. Making a total of 15 boats on the line. SailFest Results
On September 19-20th Surf City Yacht Club hosted the Radial and Full Rig Laser MASSA Cressy Qualifier. A total of 30 laser radial sailors attended and 14 full rig sailors. These sailors were competing for a chance to attend Nationals which will be held at ODU in Norfolk, VA at the end of October. Two sailors from New Jersey will attend Nationals this year, Michael Ehnot in Radial from Christian Brothers Academy, and Michael Munger in Full Rig from Rumson-Fairhaven High School. Radial Results and Full Rig Results
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October 10th Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club held the NJISA 2015 Fall Fleet Qualifier. A total of thirteen teams attended to battle it out for a chance to qualify for MASSA Fall Fleet Race Championship I and II held in Virginia the following weekend. Fall Fleet Qualifier Results
There are currently three major practice and regatta sites for high school sailing in New Jersey. The first is Toms River Yacht Club where the high school sailors are able to use the Ocean County Community College’s fleet of eighteen 420s. Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club is the second site where high school sailors use Monmouth University’s fleet of eighteen FJs. Finally, Perth Amboy hosts practices and regattas at a municipal at the southern end of Perth Amboy in FJs.
In addition to the regattas every week Perth Amboy and Toms River Yacht Club host a fall series. Perth Amboy holds their series on Tuesdays and typically have 5 teams attend. However, some teams are able to make multiple teams getting more kids on the water and more boats on the line. At Toms River the series typically has 10 schools attend, however, again some teams are able to form another team, typically getting 15-16 boats on the line.
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Every season high school sailing in New Jersey continues to grow with more kids getting involved and more regattas every season. Just in the past couple years we have seen multiple new teams emerge. As the number of teams grow so does the talent. It’s an exciting time in New Jersey high school sailing and can only get bigger and better from here on!
 
 
 

Frostbite Racing at Boston Sailing Center

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The Boston Sailing Center is kicking off their 24th year of Frostbite Racing in Boston Harbor! With an anticipated 18 J/24’s on the line again this season, there is space for a few new teams in this often sold out program. Racing begins on Saturday, November 7th and runs until March 26th. Racing is held in Boston’s Inner Harbor so teams can rig and be at the racing area in less than 30 minutes. The first race is at noon and boats are typically back to the dock before 4pm. Post-race wrap-ups feature video review of the day’s racing and a de-brief with race committee or guest speakers, along with spirits and chili. It’s a great way to keep your skills sharp in the offseason, and the Center provides the boats!

Contact the Boston Sailing Center if you would like to get involved. There is availability for either full time or half-time teams, as well as an extensive crew list. There are always opportunities to crew, so let the BSC know if you’re looking to get a spot on a team, or just sail for a Saturday or two. More information can be found here. http://www.bostonsailingcenter.com/racing/frostbite.asp
The Boston Sailing Center also offers two levels of Racing Classes for those new to racing, or for the seasoned skipper. http://www.bostonsailingcenter.com/instruction/racing.asp

2015 505 North American Championship Results & Report

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North American 505 Fleet Gets Early Preview for Worlds; Hamlin/Zinn Lead the Way
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Warm Chesapeake water coupled with a pleasant September high pressure system forced the fleet of the 2015 International 505 North American Championship into three days of on-the-water chess in consistently light and shifty wind, before the northerly kicked in for a final honking day of high octane drag racing. This one-two combo may have been mentally draining and physically demanding for the 33 boats that attended this continental championship event hosted by Severn Sailing Association and Eastport Yacht Club September 17-20, but it will surely give them a leg up on the rest of the globe when they return to these waters in two year’s time to compete for the 505 World Championship.

na1A compact fleet on the second day of the 2015 International 505 North American Championship

Howard Hamlin and Andy Zinn managed to stay close enough to early leaders Ethan Bixby and Christopher Brady through the light stuff that their picket fence on Day 4 put them comfortably atop the podium. “I thought Ethan was totally untouchable,” said Howard after the victory. “He was going really well in the light stuff, but he just didn’t have it in breeze. We’re more all-around.” Bixby and Brady posted their only double digit scores in all three of the final day’s races and barely held onto second. Reigning World Champions Mike Holt and Carl Smit struggled early but found their stride on the last two days and finished third.

na2Peter Scannell / Patrick O’Bryan (left) and Lin Robson / Stephen Long (right) battle it out on Chesapeake Bay.

Hamlin and Zinn have been sailing together for ten years, near their home base in Long Beach and around the world, but this was their first taste of Annapolis. “It’s a nice feeling to be a California drag racer and be able to win in a shifty light place. We’re not going to read too much into it though—we won’t necessarily see the same conditions at Worlds.”

na3USA-7197 with a jump on the the fleet, in its hallmark “gate start” on the final day of racing.

Some of the other top contenders for 2017 are taking notes now. “We all work on our speed and the boats and everything else,” said Mark Zagol, who sailed with Drew Buttner and finished sixth this weekend, “but this event just shows how important the mental aspect of sailing is going to be for that regatta. Lots of lead changes, and challenging wind—gotta be ready to battle for an entire week.”
For Craig Thompson, who won the 505 East Coast Championship in August with regular crew Mike Curtin but struggled at this event, it was all about lessons learned: “In Annapolis, you can’t be one dimensional. That’s why Howard and Andy won. Big breeze, medium breeze and shifty, light wind, it doesn’t matter—they could even grind it back when they found themselves in the cheap seats.”

na42015 North American Champions Howard Hamlin (helm) and Andy Zinn (crew) lead the pack on the final day.

While many 505’ers used this regatta to start preparing for Worlds, the primary focus for the 66 sailors hailing from all corners of the US and Canada was simply to perform the their very best at the pinnacle 505 event for 2015 against some of the world’s top 505 sailors. Local sailor Ramsay Key has been away from the boat for a time, but was sure to find himself a ride when he found out this regatta was coming to his hometown. “Having raced a number of different boats,” said Key, “I don’t think there is a better boat that the 505: its part tactical collegiate dinghy, part high performance skiff, and part engineering.  Nothing is better than hoisting the chute in 15 to 25 knots and taking the sleigh ride downhill!”
This event caps off the major events for the class this year, but there’s plenty to look forward to in 2016. After the first three grand slam events, Key and anyone else from the International 505 fleet who can make it back to Annapolis will have another chance to tune up on the same racecourse as SSA and EYC team up again to host the 2016 505 East Coast Championship in preparation for the US to make a big showing at its home event in 2017.
Top ten:
1 Howard Hamlin/Andy Zinn 1, 4*, 4, 3, 3, 5*, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 21
2 Ethan Bixby/Christopher Brady, 2, 1, 5, 1, 2, 4, 2, 2, 15*, 12*, 10, 29
3 Mike Holt/Carl Smit , 16*, 2, 9*, 8, 4, 1, 1, 3, 4, 3, 5, 31
4 Jesse Falsone/Keith Davids, 10, 3, 13*, 7, 1, 2, 4, 1, 8, 7, 11*, 43
5 Riley Gibbs/Reeve Dunne 3, 6, 1, 15*, 16*, 6, 8, 13, 9, 2, 3, 51
6 Andrew Buttner/Mark Zagol, 4, 11*, 7, 2, 5, 8*, 5, 6, 7, 8, 7, 51
7 Tyler Moore/Rob Woelfel 5, 9, 8, 10*, 6, 3, 9, 14*, 2, 10, 2, 54
8 Stuart Park/Ryan Cox 13, 5, 17, 5, 21*, 20*, 6, 11, 3, 4, 9, 73
9 Jeff Boyd/Rachael Boyd 6, 16, 2, 4, 7, 7, 7, 12, 19*, 18, DNC*, 79
10 Henry Amthor/Dustin Romey, 18*, 22*, 3, 9, 17, 17, 10, 7, 10, 5, 4, 82
Complete results at http://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=1440

Bridging Culture Through Sailing: The Youth Sailing Exchange 2015 in Review

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By Sara Morgan Watters       Three countries, eight junior Optimist sailors, one passion: the love for sailing. This is what the 2015 Youth Sailing Exchange (YSE) looked like in its third summer running. Optimist sailors from the U.S. and Spain got to experience first-hand the meaning of cultural exchange. During their five week journey, sailors traveled between Spain, Wales, and the U.S. to train, compete, and most importantly learn about each other’s culture, country, and language.IMG_4974
Unlike just competing at international regattas, the YSE allows sailors to get the international exposure while experiencing it at a much deeper personal level. Sailors are hosted by a family, a team, and a club where they gain cultural understanding by immersing themselves in that environment. Language learning, cultural understanding, new friendships, and traveling are considered equally important as improving competitive racing skills.
This summer was no exception as sailors competed at local, national, and international regattas representing their respective countries, while traveling and training as one team. They began in Barcelona, Spain where they trained with one of the most internationally recognized Optimist coaches, Magda Resano, and her team at Club Nautic El Balis. Their time sailing in Barcelona was balanced with activities, such as sightseeing around Barcelona, paddle boarding on the Mediterranean and learning about the Spanish and Catalan culture.
IMG_4860The schedule of the YSE intentionally coincides with a major national or international event, where sailors can test their skills against the top sailors of those countries. In this case, the team traveled to Pwllheli, Wales where they competed in the Volvo Gill Optimist British National Championship. Sailors performed well with Mariner Fagan, Annapolis Yacht Club, finishing 8th and Jordan Bruce, Annapolis Yacht Club, finishing 17th overall.
IMG_4818Together the group flew to Annapolis, Maryland, where they began the second phase of their summer. There they trained at Annapolis Yacht Club with coach Tomás Ruiz de Luque. Being based in Annapolis allowed sailors to enjoy the benefits of the Chesapeake Bay while being close enough to visit Washington D.C. and New York City, which their host families graciously integrated into their busy schedules.
The New England Championship served as their next major event, drawing close to 300 sailors from all over the U.S., making it one of the most competitive events offered in the States. YSE sailor Maddie Hawkins, Annapolis Yacht Club, placed second overall along with two other top 30 finishes from the YSE team.
IMG_4992While the sailors who participate in the program are competitive at an international level, they learn through this experience that their competitors are sailors like themselves and that racing is just part of the overall international experience. This helps foster understanding, empathy, and caring. Instilling these qualities at a young age is just one way sailing can contribute to making this world a better place.
The opportunities around the Youth Sailing Exchange are endless, but it takes the right groups of people to execute it. Keeping it affordable through structures like free hull chartering and volunteer host families, make this experience a community effort between the Club, the families and the coaches. The fun and joy this brings to the sailors and host families is unsurpassed and rewarding and we look forward to expanding this opportunity in 2016.IMG_4878
IMG_5140Do you want to take part in the YSE? We are currently looking for host families, Clubs and/or travel teams that would be interested in participating. We are also looking to begin to offer an exchange to sailors in the 420, laser, and windsurfing classes.
Sara Morgan grew up sailing in Maryland, but started the YSE while living in Barcelona, where she worked as an English teacher. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Cross-Cultural Psychology in Wellington, New Zealand. You can contact her for more information about how to become involved at saramorgan.watters@gmail.com
You can also check out the website www.youthsailingexchange.com or facebook page, www.facebook.com/sailingexchange
 

LaserPerformance Announces Class Approved Laser Standard Mark II Sail

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LaserPerformance is pleased to announce that the new Standard Mark II Sail has just been signed off by the Laser class and ISAF for most competition. The sail will not be legal for ISAF World Cup competitions nor for the 2016 Olympics. Following the Olympic Games in Rio, the sail will be class legal for all competition. This new class approved sail is more durable due to its bi-radial construction, it is manufactured out of longer lasting 4.5 ounce Dacron cloth with optimized sail patches, tapered battens with Velcro batten pocket closures, and the new luff tube design is easier on the upper spars.
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Official launch of the class approved Mark II sail is set for November 1st, 2015 and we will accept pre-orders starting today on Laserperformance.com and through our dealers for the retail price of £395/$505.
Now that the Mark II sail has been class approved, it is the perfect time to pre-order yours today.
If you purchased the Laser Mark II Training Sail earlier this year, remember to use your rebate coupon for £50/$50 towards your new class approved Mark II sail.
Specs:

  • Bi-radial construction
  • Larger window
  • Tapered battens in Velcro fastened pockets
  • Luff tube mast joint patch
  • 4.5 oz Dacron sailcloth
  • Optimized patching for durability
  • Red sunburst
  • ILCA Sail Button

For more information, please contact shaina.vlaun@laserperformance.com

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