Exciting and physical racing greeted competitors last weekend as the took to West Harbor in Oyster Bay, NY. Winds were WSW to NW and ranged from a steady 12 to a gusty 30 knots. A coordinated team boat handling technique was critical in order to prevent stalling and to maintain steerage during the luffing situations of each prestart. In these conditions a speeding SM 40 will travel 1 boat length every 2.5 seconds! This kept the tacticians busy and added an extra emphasis on time and distance as the clock counted down to zero.
 
Congratulations to Jon Singsen and his team of cadets from King's Point for winning the 2011 ISAF Grade 3 Oakcliff Fall Invite with an undefeated 11-0 record. Peter Wickwire and his team representing the Royal Canadian Yacht Club finished second. Team Oakcliff rounded out the podium with a crew of bowman Kevin McKeon, pitperson Jordan Murphy, headsail trimmer Vladimir Shablinsky, tactician Mike Komar, and skipper Kevin Dooley. Special thanks to Race Officer Vicky Jo Niener, Chief Umpire Bruce Cook, and to all of those that donated their time and efforts to make this race possible.
 
The Next SM 40 Grade 3 Match Race at Oakcliff is scheduled for May 5-8, 2011.

STATS: Wind: WSW to NW at 12-32 knots. Variability >30 degrees. Temp 52f  Flood current at .5kts. Average Race Duration 16 minutes. Starboard W2 Racecourse. 8 teams completed 22 flights of round robin and knockout racing in 6 SM 40's on West Harbor.

We have 4 lasers at Seawanhaka for our supporters to use for their winter racing.  The blade bags and sails are at Oakcliff.  If you are interested  you just need to e-mail us at race@oakcliffsailing.org or call us at 516 802 - 0368 before Friday noon so we can arrange for you to get the blades and the sails.  Click here for SCYC winter sailing details.   PS: I know the photo doesn't represent frostbiting but it was the only one I could find of a laser :-)

This Saturday Gary Jobson is attempting something that has never been done before.  Three hour long shows, back to back on ESPN Classic.  

11:00 - Thompson Reuters Presents Man Against Nature; Long Distance Racing.  I'm pretty sure that there will be some good footage of Oakcliff's Farr 40 Nimbus as the boat Gary and his TV crew as well Oakcliff supporters, the Quaglio's  tried to pass our team.

12:00 - Rolex Presents; 2009 NYYC Invitational on the Swan 42s

1:00 - America's Cup 12 Meter Era Retrospective.  This covers the 12 Meter Reunion in Newport this summer.  I was lucky enough to be there for a part of this and if Gary has managed to capture a fraction of the impact of that era it will be very worth watching... or at least setting your DVR to record.

(all times EST)

We'll have four teams racing this Saturday.  John Baum, Ben Sternberg, Stephen Yip and Anthony Pulgram.  The skipper's meeting is at 12 noon and we will be done in time to wander down the road for a warm-up bowl of chowder.

They are all still finalizing their teams so if anyone is interested in racing and ESPECIALLY if anyone is interested in helping out on race committee or umpiring we can use you.  Just click here to sign up and indicate what you would be willing to do.  Alternately feel free to call Dawn's Cell 415 760 7642.