Greetings!
Okay, we're kidding about the Oklahoma office (although they do say "the wind comes sweepin' off the plain" there.) But don't be fooled about our other great events ahead. Our recent weather has include snow, sun, cold and breeze - a recipe that seems to appeal to more than a few Oakcliff sailors that got out on Oyster Bay this week. Our Early Bird Match Racing Regattas are set for the next two Saturdays. If you're not already signed up, consider Springing into Action and joining us for these bracing, racing events and more! |
| Early Bird Match Racing Blooms April 2 & 9 |  Saturday's Early Bird Grade 5 Match Racing Regatta is looking strong, with eight teams lined up and our six shiny Shields ready to race. When teams are rotated out, they will be umpiring. It doesn't get better than this when it comes to doing it all, and learning fast.
Grade 5 events are perfect for everyone! Next week's event still has open slots for crew and skippers, so sign up now. Skippers, please try to register listing your full crew. And if you want to crew, sign up and we will match you to teams needing crew. There are always umpiring and race officer opportunities. So plan to spend a day of action on the water either on the race boat or making sure those sailors keep in line. Email us at race@oakcliffsailing.org for questions. |
| Check Your Boat's Health Prior to Launching | |
Boat US's Top Five Reasons Why Boats Sink in the Springtime:
1. Missing or damaged hose clamps: These clamps are often removed in the fall to winterize the engine, and then forgotten about in the spring when the boat is launched. Tight spaces in engine compartments make it difficult to see some unsecured or deteriorated clamps.
2. Unsecured engine hoses: Over the winter, freezing water can lift hoses off seacocks (valves).
3. Spring rains: Combine heavy rains with leaking ports, deck hatches, cracked or improperly caulked fittings, chain plates and even scuppers clogged by leaves and your boat could be on the bottom soon.
4. Broken sea strainer: Glass, plastic and even bronze strainer bowls can be cracked or bent over in the winter if not properly winterized, allowing water to trickle in when the seawater intake seacock is in the open position.
5. Leaking stuffing box: If equipped, a steady drip from an improperly
adjusted stuffing box (the "packing" around the prop shaft) has been known to swamp a boat.
Here's a great Boat U.S. Spring Commissioning Checklist complete with photos. Take your time, doublecheck, and do it right the first time to better your odds for a winning boating season!
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Dawn, Katie & Jimmy: 3 Happy Bucketeers |  Dawn came back from St. Barths with a tan and a lot to say. Here is her report. Last week I had the privileged of racing on board the yacht Helios. She is a 45m Perini Navi with lines the size of your forearm but at the end of the day she is sailed just like a 'normal boat'. Things do take a little longer and require a LOT more power. Pulling the spinnaker up took a full 2 minutes and then another 2 minutes to pull the sock up. We managed to tack in just over 4 minutes, down from 6-8 in the last regatta. Even washing the boat takes a full hour with the permanent crew of 9 plus the 10 racing crew washing and polishing with chamois. Visit from an Acorn:
As we were washing the boat down, I was very surprised to hear Acorn Katie Mooney shouting hello from the dock. I waved and then shouted back: you want to help wash a boat? Those of you who know Katie are not surprised to hear her answer was immediately YES! She dived right in and helped clean with gusto. The Captain and the Chief Stewardess thanked her for her help and gave her a tour of the boat from the owners area all the way forward to the crew mess and cabins. After Katie left everyone was very impressed with our special Acorn - Thanks Katie. The Last Race: This was my third regatta on board and every race provides more learning opportunities and each regatta we get a little bit better. Day one we had some rating issues, Day two we did much better but I was frustrated when we tacked on layline through our normal 110 degrees and got a lift causing us to overstand and 3 boats passed. Painful - but again - just like a normal boat. Day 3, we raced around the island and were heading into the same area. The owner had given me permission to be as aggressive as necessary. He was talking about the rocks but either way, I took a bit of a gamble that the lift from the day before had been geographic. We tacked 10 degrees short of layline which is a big risk when two corrective tacks would cost us 8 minutes. But ... We nailed it! The lift came in, other boats overstood or had to tack twice and we were slingshoted into first place. All of the sudden everyone was paying attention and as we rounded the last point on the island, Dennis said would it help if we hiked out? The answer- yes! Suddenly there were 32 people hiking out on a 358 tonne yacht and forming a team! Finale: On a personal and social note, we celebrated our win well and into the night. The sailors congregate at a bar at the head of the harbor and it gets so crowded that we often walk on the low tables to get to the other side of the bar. I was doing just that when I heard someone say, I think Jimmy is going to play. I spun around and there he was - the only person I have ever written a fan letter to - Jimmy Buffett! He fired up the guitar and played for about a half an hour and then hung out for the rest of the evening. So cool! Yes I did tell him about Oakcliff :-). |
Enjoy the week and please check our Oakcliff website and calendar to be sure you are part of the great things ahead!
Sincerely,
Oakcliff Sailing Center Team |
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| Dave Perry Says Get Out There and Race! |  |
Oakcliff Coach Dave Perry is back from the Congressional Cup with great advice for match racing enthusiasts. "The things we were were doing in the Congressional Cup are the same things you learn right from the beginning," said Dave. " The sooner you can get out there and do it, and the more you do it, the better you get."
Dave said he and his team were pleased to finish fifth and disappointed not to make the semis, finishing just one place out. Dave's highlights included entering as the lowest seed and finishing ahead of the #8 and #10 ranked skippers in the world in multiple matches, as well as beating previous past- Congressional Cup winner Johnie Berntsson. "It's exciting, it's a grade One, and it's racing against the best in the world," said Dave.
So come out and match race at Oakcliff, and the sooner the better!
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Sailing Fitnesss -
A Smart Way to Start |  | |
April is Inspirational
for getting in shape.
Don't wait any longer to register for our Oakcliff Fitness Assessment Saturday, April 9, with Fitness Pro Diane Wall. This 10 a.m. session will lead you through a stretch and group workout and then give you a chance to work with Diane to customize our Oakcliff Sailing Fitness Plan to your needs. You'll receive our three-phase workout cards and information upon registration.
And you'll be done in time to race in our Early Bird Match Racing Regatta from 12-4! |
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