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2^nd Annual Neill Advanced Sailing Clinic Completed with Success, sponsored by Sail1Design

–Martha Pitt

This year marks the 2^nd Annual Neill Advanced Sailing Clinic, hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation and run by the Chicago Yacht Club Sailing School. The Neill Clinic, sponsored by Sail1Design, is a high level clinic for Club 420s from around the country coached by six of college’s best coaches – Justin Assad from Dartmouth, John Vandemoer from Stanford, Brian Clancy from Cornell, Nick Ewenson from University of Rhode Island, Amanda Callahan from Roger Williams University, and Ward Cromwell from College of Charleston, all who providing some of the best instruction the selected sailors could have.  After a successful inaugural event last June, momentum from that event carried through to this year with almost twice as many applicants applying to participate. Given the large number of applicants and the strength of the group, the committee chose to expand the group from just twenty boats to twenty-four to maximize the number of sailors who could participate.  In selection, the committee looked for both already top performers in the Club 420 fleet as well as less experienced sailors who show a strong commitment and drive to get to that level.  Using the CYC Sailing School’s fleet of twenty-four well-maintained boats, all the participants need to bring are their sails, gear, and enthusiasm!  On top of some fantastic sailing and instruction, the Neill Clinic sailors are treated to all sorts of additional opportunities and events throughout the week to round out a full and exciting program.

The sailors from around the country arrived in Chicago on Saturday, June 9^th and settled into their housing provided by the local participants in the clinic. On Sunday, they arrived at Belmont Harbor to already climbing temperatures and great breeze to get the program started. After welcomes and introductions, the sailors were split into smaller groups and matched with coaches for the day to set up their boats, tune their rigs, and hit the water. Though the temperatures were scorching on land, on the water conditions were perfect – a steady 10-15 knots from the southeast and some cool breeze blowing off of the lake.  Boat speed was the main focus, with long up-winds followed by plenty of spinnaker work on trapezoid courses. The session ended with the entire group coming back together for some competitive fleet race drills.  After a great day sailing 420s all the sailors got to try their hands at match racing in Tom28s hosted by the Chicago Match Race Center.  The beautiful breeze held, and though the sailors were tired from a full day of training in 420s, they seemed to find a second wind to enjoy the keelboats and a different style of racing. Following some exciting races, the sailors were treated to a delicious Italian dinner onboard the Match Race Center’s house boat before heading back to housing for the night to rest up for another day of sailing.

Through Monday and Tuesday, the groups and coaches kept shifting to maximize the range of coaching and practice that each boat could get.  The hot and humid temperatures leading storms through the Midwest on Monday made way for cooler weather on Tuesday, but the wind remained solid throughout both days allowing for lots of sailing for the kids!  The groups continued to work on boat handling and upwind boat speed with rabbit starts, starting and practice races, practice setting and dousing the spinnakers, on top of strength and conditioning to the long days on the water.  A big focus at the end of each day was taking the skills from the drills and applying it to race course situations. On Monday evening, the sailors came to shore to enjoy a pizza dinner and had a chance to talk to the coaches outside the sailing and coaching atmosphere.  To help finish up the event and lead into the final day of racing, the sailors were picked up at Belmont Harbor by a bus and treated to a quick tour of the city.  They then made their way down to the Monroe Station to enjoy a nice banquet and hear from guest speaker Bora Gulari.  Gulari is a world renowned sailor, having won the Moth World Championship and finding great success in a wide array of classes, and earning himself the title of 2009’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.  Gulari shared with the group many stories, some exciting video of the hydrofoiling boats, and some words of advice for the young sailors.

Wednesday, June 13^th, the clinic concluded with a short race day to allow the sailors to take everything that they had learned throughout the clinic and apply it to the race course. A tough easterly brought in lots of chop and waves, and unfortunately lighter breeze compared to the rest of the week, but still great sailing and competition for the participants. Following the racing, the organizers wrapped up the clinic with some closing remarks, coaches’ words of advice, and some annual awards donated by benefactor Victor Chigas and presented to the Most Improved Crew, Most Improved Skipper, and one showing the greatest Sportsmanship. This year, the Most Improved awards were presented to a skipper and crew from the same boat – Willy Crary and Andrew Hed from White Bear Lake in Minnesota. The pair got a lot from the coaching team and made huge strides over the four days of sailing, taking their sailing to a new level. The Sportsmanship Award, one of the most respected awards in the sport of sailing, went to CYC’s own Junior Member Will Holz.

The event was an enormous success, and has paved the way for many more to come! The feedback and reactions from the participants was that they had a great time, loved the coaching and the program, and that the Chicago Yacht Club was a gracious and generous host. All of that success comes from the hard work and support of our Neill Clinic committee, most notably Regatta Chair Sandy Curtiss, Katherine Holz, Carolyn Foulston, Ted Anderson and coaches Matt Clark and Bobby Collins whose work before and during the event was vital to a smooth program. We would also like to thank the sponsors – The Chicago Match Race Center for hosting an event and dinner for the kid
s, Atlantis Weathergear for providing the great jackets for the participants, Sail1Design and Patagonia for donating hats and shirts, and Access Financial for making generous donations to fund the event. And finally, a grand thank you to the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation whose generous support makes this whole event possible!

For more information on the Neill Clinic, pictures, and updates, visit www.NeillClinic.com, or like “Neill Advanced Sailing Clinic” on Facebook.  In the coming weeks, stay tuned for a new and improved video filmed and compiled by Chris Love, of Chris Love Productions which will feature some exciting footage of the on-the-water action and land activities and events.