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Blog
Sailing Collegiate Dinghies Clinic at Harvard
August 18-20, 2009
Program
This three-day clinic is intended for high school and college sailors who wish to learn collegiate sailing techniques and practice like one of the top college sailing team in the country. It will be a great opportunity for sailing teams that need a little extra coaching boost to get some additional instruction. All aspects of sailing the Collegiate FJ and 420 will be
covered. Specific topics will include straight-line speed, tacking, gybing, and boat handling for starting. Please note, strategies and tactics may be covered in the clinic, however the focus will be on sailing the boats well. Sailing will take place in Harvard’s fleet of FJs and 420s. Space will be limited. It will be limited to 20 sailors on a first-come firstserved
basis. A minimum of 10 students is required for the clinic to proceed. The clinic will be expanded to a maximum of 36 sailors and a second coach if at least 34 or more sailors register. No housing is provided.
Eligibility
• Must be of high school age. (14+ years)
• Skippers may sign up alone. Although it
is highly recommended that you attend
with your crew for a more productive
clinic.
• Crew must sign up with their skipper.
• Must be able to pass the Harvard
Recreational Boating Swim Test, which
involves swimming 100 yards
consecutively with no assistance.
Coach
Bern Noack has been a collegiate coach for 20 years. He has coached more than 30 All-Americans and 4 College Sailors of the Year. As the Harvard Assistant Sailing Coach, Bern led the Crimson to the 2002 and 2003 Intercollegiate Sailing Association North American Team Racing Championship and to the 2003 Men’s Single-Handed Championship. In 2005 the Crimson won their 5th consecutive Fowle Trophy as ICSA’s “Team of the Year.” In addition, Bern coaches many high school and junior
sailors at clinics nationwide.
Schedule
Items Times Location
Swim Test August 18, Tuesday, 10:00 am Blodgett Pool
Corner of North Harvard St and Soldiers Field
Rd in Boston, MA
(617) 495-1789
Clinic August 18,Tues, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
August 19,Wed, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
August 20,Thurs, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Harvard Sailing Center
45 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA
(617) 495-3434
Drop off / Pickups
• First day: Students must first go to pool for
the swim test. After the test, the students must
provide their own transportation to the Harvard
Sailing Center. Pick up is at 4:00 PM at the
Harvard Sailing Center.
• Second & Third day: Participant should be
dropped off at or drive to the Harvard Sailing
Center and be picked up at 4:00 PM at the
Harvard Sailing Center.
Bring to Clinic
Please bring the following personal items to make the
experience more enjoyable.
• appropriate sailing clothes required (for Spring clinic
wetsuit or drysuit is required)
• a bailer (laundry detergent
jug with bottom cut off)
• bathing suit for swim
test is required
• sunglasses • sunscreen
• a hat • change of clothes
Food
Please bring lunch. Refrigeration is available.
Lunchtime is sometime between 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
Valuables
Valuables may be stored in lockers at the sailing
center. You must provide your own padlock.
Application Deadline
The four-page application form must be completed
and a check made out to Bern Noack must be
submitted by August 1, 2009. Please send the
application form and check to Bern Noack at 42
Watson Rd, Belmont, MA 02478.
Housing
This is a day clinic only. No accommodations are
provided.
Fee
$175.00 per sailor. Please send a check payable to Bern
Noack with the registration.
Contact Information
Telephone: (617) 489-3987 Email: [email protected]
Address: 42 Watson Rd, Belmont, MA 02478
COLLEGIATE COACHING SPOTLIGHT: INTERVIEW WITH BILL WARD
College sailing has become progressively more organized over the years, largely due to the increased presence of full time coaches. This past week, I sat down with one of the best – Bill Ward of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Bill’s coaching resume includes five national championships, Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, the BUSA tour, and the Pan Am Games.
You put together yet another great fall season – tell us a bit about the team and how you achieved this success.
Our team is smaller this year and we don’t quite have the depth we’ve had the last two years. Having said that, we do have a talented, motivated group that is hungry for success. We spend most of our time in the Fall building fundamental skills that will hopefully enable us to have improving results throughout the season. We also devote a significant amount of time to preparing for the Fall nationals, with the goal of qualifying for all the nationals.
You had an outstanding spring with last year’s team, and then what I can only assume was a somewhat disappointing nationals. Were you left scratching your head, or can you pinpoint what happened?
Last year’s Nationals was disappointing for our team. We were the defending champions in Women’s and Team Racing and we had really strong results throughout the Spring season. We were in contention to repeat as champs, but had bad last days and ended up 6th at both regattas.
College Sailing is so competitive that you can’t expect to win any particular regatta. We had some injuries leading up to Nationals that really affected our preparation. We also caught a few bad breaks during the competition and that’s all it takes to knock you off the podium. I don’t think it was too much of a mystery to us as to why we didn’t perform up to our expectations.
The Co-ed Dinghy Nationals, however, went well for our team. We were in contention to win up until the very end of the regatta. In this sport, that’s a successful event. So taken all together, last year’s Nationals was still a good result for our team.
Every program has its own culture and identity. How would you describe these in regards to your program? What kind of sailors are a good fit with this program?
We try to be a program that pushes people to excel. We want to improve our sailors in all aspects of the game and not just College Sailing- specific skills. The kind of sailors that are a good fit for St. Mary’s have a passion for the game and a strong desire to improve.
What are some of the biggest adjustments you see that junior sailors need to make to be successful in the collegiate game? What habits do you tend to have to break?
High School Sailing has gotten so big, that many sailors come to College with a lot of experience in the type of racing we do. The boathandling is more refined at this level and team racing is much more advanced. The toughest bad habits to break usually are in fundamental areas like boathandling.
College sailing has evolved a lot – just in the time that you and I have been a part of it. What are the highest impact changes you observed, and where do you think we’re headed?
There are more good teams with funding and coaching. That’s the biggest difference- growth. Hopefully that will continue with more schools deciding that sailing is a worthwhile sport to invest in.
What are you able to take back from your personal sailing to coaching, and vice versa?
I take a lot back and forth from sailing to coaching. I still love to play the game and there is no substitute for experiencing the real thing when you are trying to help other people prepare for competition. As a coach, you see the big picture and that can only improve your sailing.
You’ve coached at a wide range of levels. What are the main differences and how do you adapt? Did the Beijing Olympics feel like just another day on the water?
Different sailors are working on different issues. At higher levels, usually you are trying to solve more complicated problems. We tried to make the Olympics feel like just another day, but it didn’t.
What do you enjoy most about coaching, what drives you?
I like helping people achieve their personal goals and the thrill of competition. I feel like I am always challenged and that drives me.
Thanks for your time Bill, and best of luck in the Spring.
Dan Rabin
Assistant Sailing Coach
Brown University
The Fan Pier Team Racing Challenge
Presented by the Boston Sailing Center
May 4-5 and 7, 2009
Notice of Race
Rules- The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the (2009-2012) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), Appendix D. and the prescriptions of US Sailing.
Eligibility and entry- This regatta is a 3 on 3 Team Racing Event in Solings with spinnakers and 3 persons per boat. All boats will be supplied by Boston Sailing Center. The regatta is open to the first 12 Team entries, fully complete with payment. Regatta entry is available on the
following website:
https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=2137
Fees- The entry fee will be $50 per team. Each skipper is also required to pay a refundable damage deposit of $250. The deposit will be collected at check-in on May 4th and 5th.
Schedule-
May 4th- 3:00pm First Warning for Full Round Robin, 6 Teams
7:00pm Refreshments and Food available at The Fan Pier
May 5th- 3:00pm First Warning for Full Round Robin, 6 Teams
7:00pm Refreshments and Food available at The Fan Pier
May 7th- 3:00pm Finals for the 4 Qualifying Teams from May 4-5
7:00pm Awards Ceremony- Refreshments and Food available at The Fan Pier
Sailing Instructions- The Sailing Instructions will be available online prior to the event. Venue- Racing will take place off the Fan Pier Pavilion and will be visible from shore. Spectators are encouraged to come down to the Fan Pier to watch the races.
Format- Two separate qualifying rounds will be conducted, the first on May 4, 2009 and the
second on May 5, 2009. Each round will have 6 teams competing for a spot in the finals. Time
permitting we will attempt to complete a full Round-Robin, however, more races will take place
if time permits. The two best finishers from each qualifying round will return May 7, 2009 for
the Finals.
Safety- All competitors shall wear a U.S.C.G approved PFD at all times on the water.
Disclaimer of Liability- The captain of each team must acknowledge the liability waiver on the
entry for the entire team.
Further Information- Please contact Chris Lash, [email protected]
15 Year-Old to Sail Non-stop around the world!!! Wow!
Youngest to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the World
Jessica Watson is setting out to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the World. Since Joshua Slocum first sailed singlehanded around the world in the late 1890’s, sailors of all nationalities and ages have been drawn to this ultimate challenge: The Everest of sailing.
Slocum’s epic tale of his voyage, “Sailing Alone Round the World”, has captivated a global audience of readers for over a hundred years. Following on, record-breaking solo circumnavigations by heroes like Francis Chichester and Robin Knox-Johnston have captured the attention and the hearts of people all over the world.
Jessica is driven.
Inspired in her turn by Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the world and by Jesse Martin, the youngest person to do so, Jessica Watson has set her sights on shattering Jesse’s record. In the process, Jessica hopes to inspire young sailors, adventurers and everyone with a dream in their heart.
Visit Jess’s website: http://www.youngestround.com/
US SAILING ANNOUNCES NEW COLLEGE SAILING SEMINAR
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (March 6, 2009) – In conjunction with the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), US SAILING is featuring a new seminar for young sailors competing at the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship and Chubb U.S. Junior Championships on June 26th and August 10th respectively. US SAILING’s College Sailing Seminars sponsored by Gill North America provide a forum for young sailors to learn about opportunities in college sailing.
The seminars will include informational presentations on sailing at the intercollegiate level, as well as interactive question and answer sessions for youth sailors with college coaches from around the country. A wide range of subject material on college sailing will presented and discussed, including sailor evaluation, varsity and club sailing, ICSA rules on financial assistance, eligibility, and integrating college sailing with Olympic aspirations.
“I frequently get asked by junior sailors and their parents about how to navigate the world of college sailing,” said Mitch Brindley, ICSA President. “The US SAILING’s College Sailing Seminars are designed to educate sailors and provide them with direction on opportunities at the college level and are a forum for sailors to learn more about how to prepare for sailing in college.” These championship regattas represent the perfect venue for aspiring college sailors to learn more about their options and interact with some college coaches.”
Applications to compete at the 2009 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships close on March 15th, 12 a.m. EST. All interested coaches who would like to participate in US SAILING’s College Sailing Seminars, please contact ICSA President, Mitch Brindley at [email protected].
About US SAILING:
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org
CONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
[email protected]
(401) 683-0800
