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ICSA Team Race Rankings, 10 April 2013

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Compiled & managed by Martha Pitt

10 APRIL 2013: Lots more movement in the rankings this week, after some sleeper teams have awakened at a few more team race events over the past two weeks!  Yale makes the biggest jump from 7th place in the previous rankings up to 2nd this week, after winning the SNETR and the Friis/Marchiando. We haven’t seen much team racing from College of Charleston recently, so they slipped down passed Yale and Georgetown, but are still ahead of 5th ranked BC who had some trouble at the SNETR but made up for it by finishing 2nd at the Friis/Marchiando Regatta hosted in Boston.  Tufts is also creeping their way up through the rankings, “tired of being the spoiler,” according to Coach Legler. Harvard crushed the competition at the Ferrarone and along with MIT have put themselves on the board, making it into this week’s top 15 after not having been ranked.

A few team race nationals qualifiers have already been completed – in the PCCSC Championship, Stanford dominated and finished undefeated, followed by the UHawaii Rainbows who secured the second berth with a 7-3 record. Georgetown and St. Mary’s tied at the Captain Prosser Trophy, MAISA’s qualifying event, with the Hoyas winning the tie breaker for the victory, the Seahawks taking second, and Navy taking the third and final nationals berth.

Click HERE to see the Rankings & Coach Comments

Coaching Sound Bites, by Ken Legler

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Coaching: 
Telling them ain’t learning them.  (From Gary Bodie’s grandfather)
“Make that kick,” instead of “Don’t miss.” (From Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson)
“Sail clean,” instead of “Don’t foul.”
If you are not improving, you are going the other way (From former NHL coach Dave Lewis)
 

General Success:

The team that wins is not the most brilliant; it is the team that makes the fewest mistakes.

When the crew makes a mistake; it’s the skipper’s fault.

When the skipper makes a mistake; it’s the crew’s fault.

Sail from the dock to the starting line like it’s a race.  (From Jonathan McKee)               

Starting:

Pay close attention to the shifts, lulls and puffs on your final approach.
Find the line.
Start where the others are not.
 
Speed:
Mast forward for power, mast back for speed. (From Dave Ullman)
Speed through the turns is half the speed game in college sailing.
Over tack and hike immediately in the heading puff.
Whenever the boat is downspeed, such as pre-start, the crew steers with weight and trim.
Tacking when overpowered is slow, tacking when underpowered is fast.
 

Strategy:

Strategy is good, tactics are evil.

Play the favored side of the fleet, not the corner of the course.

Foot in the big lifts.

If you are in a 40 degree lift and you get a ten degree header, you are still lifted.

Aim your bow at the mark. (From former coach Joe Duplin)

Lateral Separation is better on the long run leg.

At a crowded weather mark, overlay the mark and the traffic.

 

Tactics:

When boat A hails “starboard” to boat B, boat C gains.

Never get fouled.

Sit down, danger lurks to leeward.

The passing lane is outside the wake.

At a crowded leeward mark, slow up to win.

Round the gate mark with the path of least resistance. (From Dave Ullman)

 

Current:

Unlike the wind; the current is a known variable.

100’ of drift in 1 minute equals 1 knot of current.

Overcompensate for current as others under compensate.

 

Team Racing:

The team that wins the most team races is not the best team racing team, it’s the best team.

Fleet racing principles, especially speed, wins 75% of team races.

First place alone does not make a winning combination.

Calling out the play not only tells the other team what to do, it tells them when to do it, as in immediately.

Soccer coach: Don’t wait for the ball to come to you, go to the ball.

Team racing coach: Don’t wait for the play to come to you, go to the play.

Pass your guy. (From former TR World champ Tim Wadlow)

To control your opponent’s boat, you must first control your own boat.

To control your opponent’s mind, you must first control your own mind.

               
Travel safety:
What time you arrive at a regatta is not a function of how fast you
drive, it is a function of what time you leave.
Avoid the three deadly D’s: Drunk, drowsy, distracted.
 

Personal risk management:
Never, ever break two laws simultaneously.
 

2013 Youth Match Racing Opportunities in the U.S.

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Re-printed with permission of Dave Perry

Compiled by Dave Perry, Chairman, US Sailing Match Racing Committee

Match Racing is one of the fastest growing disciplines in the sport of Sailing. It is fast-paced, very combative tactically, and it demands you to be pushing the boat, your team and yourself to the highest limits of boat handling and boat speed at all times.

Some of the very best U.S. sailors in our sport are former or current match racers, such as Ed Baird, Anna Tunnicliffe, Terry Hutchinson, Sally Barkow, John Kostecki and many many others.

And Match Racing is both an end to itself if one chooses to go that route, or a tool to sharpen one’s fleet and team racing skills and to help a sailor get to the next level in their sailing career.

The US Sailing Match Racing Committee is actively working on ways to get the more advanced 16-22 year old U.S. sailors into match racing, and this letter will let you know some of the opportunities we are working on.

  1. 1)The Rose Cup, a National Youth Match Racing Event –

which is a qualifier for The Governor’s Cup (an international youth match racing event)

We are running a national youth match racing event this summer, called The Rose Cup, which will be hosted by Sail Sheboygan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, June 19-23. The event is for sailors aged 16-20 and will be in the 3-person Elliott 6m’s, the boat raced in the match racing event in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Ten skippers from around the country will be invited based on requests for invitation; and requests received by April 15 will receive preference. The Request for Invitation form, the Notice of Race, and a four-color brochure with all the details are available on the Sail Sheboygan website (www.sailsheboygan.org) or by phone at 920.889.0758. The winning skipper of the Rose Cup will receive an invitation to the prestigious 2013 Governor’s Cup, a premier international youth match racing event, held at the Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach, Calif. on July 16-21.

  1. 2)Regional Youth Match Racing Clinegattas (a clinic and regatta in one event)

May 31 – June 2 – North U Youth Match Racing Clinegatta, in J/22’s

San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego, California  (www.sdyc.org/juniors)

Aug 8-11 – North U Youth Match Racing Clinegatta, in Sonars (boat used for the ICSA National Match Racing Champs; see below). Oakcliff Sailing, Oyster Bay, NY (www.oakcliffsailing.org) Bill Simon: 516-662-4926

October 4-6 (to be confirmed) – North U Varsity (advanced) Match Racing Clinic, Annapolis in J/22’s. Watch the North U website (www.northu.com)

October (date tba) – North U Varsity Match Racing Clinic, at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg, Florida, in Sonars. NOTE: this is the host for the 2013 Intercollegiate Match Racing National Championship in November.

For other youth match racing opportunities, check in with:

  • the Chicago Match Race Center (chicagomatchrace.com)
  • the Titusville Match Racing Center (Titusville, Florida; contact Larry Landrigan at 407-467-8787)

(more)

  1. 3)Intercollegiate (ICSA) Match Racing (http://collegesailing.org/)

The intercollegiate national sloop championship is done in match racing. Sailors in college interested in match racing should alert their coach, or look at the ICSA schedule for match racing events and qualifiers.

Oct 12-13 – Intercollegiate Match Racing event sponsored by the Storm Trysail Club at the Larchmont Yacht Club in Larchmont, NY. For info, check with your coach.

Nov 22-24 – Intercollegiate National Match Racing Championship, St. Petersburg YC, Florida in Sonars

 

 

  1. 4)Other events good for youth sailors (especially those in college looking to prepare for the ICSA Nationals which are in Sonars)

 

June 12-16 – Great Lakes Championship, Rochester YC in Rochester, NY, in Sonars

                     June 12-13 will be a North U Varsity (advanced) Match Racing Clinic coached by Dave Perry

Aug 10-11, York Cup, Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Sonars

 

  1. 5)Calendar of Events

The most complete calendar of Match Racing in the U.S. is the US Sailing Calendar, which you can sort by Match Racing. For a more comprehensive calendar of match racing world-wide, use the ISAF Calendar.

US Sailing Calendar: http://racing.ussailing.org/Match_Racing/Match_Racing_Calendar.htm

ISAF Calendar: http://www.sailing.org/regattasearch.php (then under Discipline, select Match Racing)

 

 

  1. 6)Information and Resources for Match Racing, including Dave Perry’s Match Racing Playbook and free DVD Welcome to Match Racing, which explains how match racing works and what the tactics are

 

US Sailing Match Racing Resources website: www.ussailing.org > Racing > Match Racing > MR Resources

–          Welcome to Match Racing DVD can be viewed for free on line (scroll down on the Resources page)

–          Calendar of match racing events in U.S.

–          Much information on Match Racing

North U Match Racing website: www.northu.com > All Things Match Racing!

–          Dave Perry’s Match Racing Playbook; a comprehensive book on how to match race, and drills to do

–          Match Racing – a CD with video shots, by Henry Menin and John Cutler

–          Dave Perry’s Welcome to Match Racing DVD – free other than the cost of shipping

SAIL1DESIGNERS OF THE MONTH: STANFORD U. SAILING TEAM

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 By Airwaves writer Martha Pitt

Few could deny the impressive success of the Stanford Sailing Team so far this season. For a team with only ten boats at practice (relatively small compared to much of their top competition), they have managed to race in up to four events in one weekend, three-quarters for which they had to fly across the country to compete. The team is young too! With just two seniors on the team, the juniors and underclassmen are proving that Stanford will be a force for years to come.

This team has been building momentum for a few years, having recruited a huge class of talent back in the fall of 2010. The new sailors were fast, but still had a lot to learn about college sailing and team racing at such a high level. Since then, Head Coach John Vandemoer has been conditioning his young team out on the west coast, providing them with the guidance and experience necessary to compete with the ICSA powerhouses that primarily reside on the east coast. Many of the same players have been sailing for the Cardinals for the past few years, and it seems as though they are finally hitting their stride!

 

While the team has been successful across the board, much of the acclaim that they have received has come from their victories on the team race course. “We are very proud of our team racing success,” says Vandemoer, “especially because we started 10 different boats in the 5 team races we sailed.” They have been the unanimous pick in the Sail1Design ICSA Team Race Rankings since the beginning of March, winning five team race events with a different combination of boats at each, proving not only their ability to win, but also the depth on the team. Their stellar finishes across the ICSA results have also placed them in 2nd in the Sailing World rankings, just behind Yale, and 6th on the women’s side.

The coaches, captains, and sailors alike attribute much of the success to the hard work of the team as a group. “We only have 10 boats at practice so it really means it was a team effort,” commented Vandemoer. “The team has really worked hard together to share information and become great teachers to each other. Coach Hayes has worked hard preparing our team for the new bottom reach and the new run, his work has really helped.” This is Clinton Hayes’ second year coaching the Stanford team, but his contributions seem to be making a big difference with the group and he is equally happy to watch them work hard and to succeed. He notes, “The team is small but dedicated. We usually only have about 9-10 boats at practice but are consistent at that number everyday. We will add more next year with only 2 seniors graduating. I have to give a lot of credit to the captains, Helena Scutt and Katie Riklin. They do a lot to motivate the team and keep them on track while still keeping things fun. The team works hard in the weigh room 2 mornings a week year-round and that has really paid off.” Captains Scutt (’14) and Riklin (’13) have put a lot of value in creating a positive and supportive team atmosphere for the team to grow both at practice and during regatta weekends, even when the team is apart, explaining, “we have a really strong team bond and make a conscious effort to support each other when we are on different coasts each weekend. At the same time we take each victory as a true team victory because we know that our depth in practice is the source of our improvement.”

The winning team at St. Mary’s College

To handle the balance of schoolwork, practice time, travel, and competition, the coaches and sailors are very conscious of over-exertion and burnout. Coach Hayes says that they’ve paid particular attention to it this year, and planned their season accordingly, taking advantage of the fact that they can sail 12 months of the year and by “not taking any real time off, and instead just practicing 2 days a week January to now. We will start 3 days a week soon. The team is much less stressed compared to this time last year. It’s worked out great.” He also noted that they do their best to avoid any one sailor traveling two weekends in a row, which is less than many other teams, even those just traveling by van. To help avoid team burnout, Scutt and Riklin have made sure that they “treat practices as an escape from our schoolwork and other stresses” rather than an additional stress. “It allows us to focus and make practice very productive.”

But the coaches and team have been keeping the entire season in perspective, and know that they have the whole second half of the season to get through. “We have a long road ahead with lots to work on,” says Vandemoer. “Our focus is to improve. We are not focused on winning regattas but rather focused on getting better every time we are on the water.” The team is taking the season day by day, focusing on the daily improvements each time they hit the water, whether that be at team practices or at regattas. With such a deep team, the coaches are going to have a hard time making roster decisions later in the season, but I’m sure that they welcome that problem!

Stanford’s winning team at the John Jackson

Congratulations to Stanford thus far in the season, and keep an eye on the Cardinals through the remainder of this championship season!

Club Profile: Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation

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By Airwaves Writer Clinton Hayes

Mission and History

The Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation (PYSF) is a non-profit 501c (3) organization that was formed in the year 2000. From its inception, PYSF has been dependent on the support of volunteers and donations from the community for its success. Their primary mission is to coach, teach, and nurture youth sailors in the San Francisco Bay Area by providing instruction, coaching, practice, and racing opportunities.

After finishing up a 2012 Olympic Campaign, finishing 5th in the Elliot 6M women’s match racing, Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer was hired as the Director and Head Coach. Since her hire, the foundation has experienced a boom in both participation and overall organization. In her own words, “Before leaving for the Games I knew I was going to need something to keep me busy when I returned.  And the PYSF job certainly has done that! The program was in need of a full-time director to help instill consistent organization, practices, and a logical plan for the kids and parents to follow.” 

 

Sailing Opportunities

PYSF’s primary sailing area is the Port of Redwood City turning basin, the same home waters of Stanford University. They also have access to open water on South San Francisco Bay, a short 10 minute sail from the basin. Conditions range from 0-5 and very shifty in the winter to 20+ knots nearly every day in the summer. Its South Bay location protects them from the notorious San Francisco summer fog. Most summer days are sunny and 75-85 degrees.

Due to the temperate climate of the Bay Area, PYSF is able to offer programs 12 months a year in 420s, lasers, and Optis. In their year around program, The Foundation currently has 29 kids registered in the high school program, 17 in 420s, 15 in Optis, and 3 in Lasers from ages 8-18. Their Race Teams meet multiple times a week and focus training on long course, boatspeed, and boathandling. The summer is comprised of 4 session that offer everything from learn to sail to advanced racing. PYSF also provides boats for anyone who does not own their own.

(See the schedule here)

In addition to their Junior Racing program, PYSF offers high school sailing to any high school sailor interested. The sailors do not need to be part of an official HS team, and sailing experience is not an absolute requirement. They currently have sailors from over 14 schools. Most schools start sailing Pacific Coast High School Events as Conglomerate Teams, made up of multiple schools. They are allowed a 2-year grace period to get enough sailors to fill an A and B division from the same school. Many local schools have successfully started full sailing teams based off this model. 8th graders are also allowed to practice and compete with PYSF once they complete the Introductory FJ class. To help strengthen the high school program, PYSF just purchased an identical fleet of FJ’s from a college on the East Coast. This will allow them to offer an equal practice platform and host some provided boat events, a rarity on the west coast.

 

Challenges and Future Plans

In a sense, PYSF has many of the same challenges as all clubs face, participation, funding, etc, but without the structure and sometimes burdensome yacht club politics, they are free to set their own agenda. A main goal for them is to “get sailing to be a consistent part of the kids’ over-scheduled lives.” The year-round sailing climate certainly helps with this but they also have a scholarship program to help families with financial need get kids on the water. When asked how scholarships will help PYSF meet challenges and future plans, Molly responded, “Sailing can be an expensive sport and PYSF wants to make sure that the opportunity to get into a sailboat is available to everyone. Our challenge is to grow the sport and instill a love for it. If awarding a scholarship helps me reach another kid, then it is a win for everyone.” Since August, they have awarded three scholarships and expect to get 2-3 more requests through the summer.

As an Olympic racer herself, it’s no surprise that Molly has made racing a primary focus for The Foundation: “I am here to help implement a feeder program for kids from 8-18 years old that will help get more NorCal sailors into the National sailing scene. I would also like to see the program’s healthy learn-to-sail classes feed into more kids racing from ages 10-13.”

The fact that they are the only junior racing program in South San Francisco Bay should also help their cause. Many kids commute more than an hour each way to get good coaching up in the city. Now many of these kids are able to sail more locally. Some have even started high school teams and have been able to bring new people into the sport. As Molly explains, “Most importantly I want to get these kids the opportunity to see how fun the sport is, gain friends with common likes and hopefully go on to their college teams, join area Yacht Clubs, and become sailors for life.”

For more information on PYSF visit their website:  http://www.pysf.us/

 

VX ONE

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The core principle is that the sailor gets to sail what is, within an affordable price, the most technology for the dollar available anywhere on the market today. Simply put, a “Big bang for the buck”.

The VX ONE is a fresh and exciting sport one-design for the international two to three person racing enthusiast. The design concept is born of a careful review of performance one-design demographics within this category worldwide. The VX ONE offers sailors from Junior to Advanced a vehicle for perpetual enjoyment of performance sailing in an affordable, durable, and technically advanced package, and at a realistic price.

The VX One Design offers:

*Team Design Approach: The VX team includes lead design and concepts by Viper 640 designer, Brian Bennett, naval architecture and design engineering by Ross Weene and Rodger Martin, rig development and engineering by John Clinton and the Southern Spars team, and deck layout by Harken. The VX is designed with Multisurf  Yacht design software, 3D modeled with Rhino ceros, and VVP analysis by the Wolfston unit (UK) software. Hull tools will be cut with precision 5 axis CNC equipment for perfect geometry and replication.

* Optimized Construction Techniques: The VX will be built using a conservative level of technology. Major components will be resin-infused with Vinylester and e glass with PVC cores, and Armorflex gelcoat. This is the most environmentally considerate approach to building a production boat and will provide a tough, durable craft, with optimal performance and longevity. Due to the 3-D design process, all parts and systems can be duplicated with precision and stocked for quick turnaround if needed. This will be a boat that will give many years of racing service.

*ISAF One Design Development: The VX is being developed from the start using ISAF templates and guidelines to guarantee strict international design and build tolerances, and class management development.

* Cost-down engineering: A difficult task requiring experience and an understanding of the dynamics involved in producing and marketing race boats, this is a process where we look carefully at the target market and competition to determine what we feel customers will pay for the finished product, and engineer the project from this figure backwards.

* Logistics Efficiencies:  Sailing is an expensive sport and suffers from varying degrees of inefficiency. The VX is designed to consider the long-ranging impact of shipping and moving multiple boats and associated equipment efficiently. On initial delivery, the VX can be delivered 3 units per 20’ container, or 8 units per 40’ HC container. The hull is light enough to comfortably stack 3 high on a road single trailer. The Southern Spars Carbon rig is shipped in 2 pieces for easy handling and stocking.

Specifications and Features

Some basic facts: (VX One version)

  • LOA    = 19′/5.79m
  • LWL   = 18.83′/5.74m
  • Beam   =   7.17′/2.19m
  • SA Main + Jib  = 215 sq ft./19.97 sq m.
  • SA Gennaker  = 280 sq ft./26 sq m.
  • Draft, keel down = 4.33′/1.32m
  • Crew Weight tolerance = 380 – 450 lbs (2-3 person)

Features

  • Boats built and serviced in the U.S.A.
  • GNAV (above boom Vang)
  • Self Tacking Jib on Harken Radial track
  • Recessed Harken  Jib furler
  • Large mouth Gennaker launcher
  • Single line Gennaker halyard/ retrieval/ pole launcher
  • Clear coated Carbon mast by Southern Spars (NZL)
  • Clear coated Carbon Gennaker prod
  • Clear coated Carbon Boom
  • Simple, uncluttered cockpit
  • Extruded and Anodized Aluminum keel for perfect shape and durability
  • High performance profile Carbon-Glass rudder
  • Simplified rig concepts utilizing sensible engineering to provide for easy tuning
  • Storage for Day gear/ Provisions
  • Under deck paddle storage
  • Optional Outboard bracket (2 Hp  Outboard) for recreational use
  • No paid professional programs at VX One level*
  • See SS version for pro/am rules.
  • All sailors welcome.  No owner-driver restrictions.

http://vxonedesignracing.com/vxodr/

 

The VX is developed and produced by Bennett Yachting Technologies Inc., a company specializing in and dedicated to building and servicing performance One-Design yachts. Our mission is to maintain the highest standards of quality in manufacturing and service. We are passionate about what we do and aspire to provide a 100% positive customer service experience.

We know that your recreation time is valuable. The race-boats we offer are built with the best technology and engineering available and use the most environmentally considerate systems in a controlled environment to produce consistently high results. To this philosophy we add the partnerships of the best associates in the business to source our components, rigging and materials. Boats and spare parts will be stocked in our Savannah, Georgia facility for quick turnaround.

Brian Bennett [email protected].

Brian grew up in Auckland New Zealand sailing and racing one-designs on the Hauraki Gulf,  the axis of yachting in New Zealand, and the home of many of the today’s great Kiwi yachtsmen. After a successful sailing career in New Zealand, Brian traveled to  the UK and Europe to sail Contenders, FDs, and 505s while running  a one-design loft for Ratsey sails, then onboard a Whitbread maxi for the 1980 – 81 WRWR as trimmer/ sail maker and helmsman. This was followed by a tour with the 83 Victory British Americas Cup team as sail trimmer and sail maker.  Since ’83 Brian has been involved in the business of providing experienced project management  services in New Zealand, and the US, running  a high quality “speed shop” in New England, and designing and building the 1997 Sailing World magazine “Overall performance Boat of the Year” Viper 640. He has sailed countless events in numerous one-design classes. He is a Governor of the Viper 640 class, and is passionate in his support for the future of small sportboats.

Logistics

Our manufacturing and service facility is just 15 minutes off I-95 in Savannah, GA, just around the corner from the 4th largest container terminal in the US, and also close to rail and road transport facilities for ease of shipping service.

Office Telephone:
912-236-3911
Email:
[email protected]		 Mailing address:
PO Box is 13732
Savannah, GA 31416		 Street address:
4110 Meding St.
Savannah, GA 31405

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