Greetings!
Yes it is getting close to back to school time for many as well as our Summer Acorns but not quite yet. Read below to see how they are pushing through the finish line. Also if you happen to be reading this newsletter and are interested in becoming an acorn or know of someone who might please click here and fill in the application. Also one of our current acorns, Jacon Mayer has taken our curriculum and created an animated descriptionof the program which will be on-line shortly. In the meantime, the rain hasn't washed us away so why don't you sign up to sail with us tonight for match race drills or tomorrow's Wednesday Fleet Race. We had 4 Shields out on the line last week as teams are preparing for the Nationals September 21 - 24. Read below for some very interesting information.
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Offshore Acorns... Fastnet and Beyond
|  The All American Offshore Team should be finishing the Fastnet about the time you are reading this newsletter. They have really upped their game in terms of the coverage coming off of the boat. If you haven't already read the blog - click here Hopefully you also get a moment to watch some of the video coming off of the boat. It is really amazing stuff! Also we will once again have two acorns on the Ker 11.3 for the Vineyard Race - Claudia Delahoy will join Jeff MacFarlane racing double-handed. Acorn Mike Nicoletti will move over to the Ker 50 and train with Sapling Mike Komar in a fully crewed and sponsored team. Interested in expanding your offshore experience? Apply to be an acorn. If you are reading this or watching their reports from the water or reading their blog and are inspired to support Oakcliff's All American Offshore Team please contact us about making a donation. We need more than the hard work of the sailors (trust me, we're working them hard), We need funding. We want to keep this amazing program up and running and your support and the support of your friends and your companies are key. Together we can continue to make a difference in lives of young sailors and subsequently in the lives of all of us. For more information on how you can support Oakcliff and the AAOT email: driley@oakcliffsailing.org |
| Only Three Thursdays Left | 
There are only three Thursday night Classics Races left. Bonus for those of you who race, the awards ceremony will be held Thursday September 1st in conjunction with the Oakcliff International which is a Grade 2 and you will be able to mix and mingle with the visiting world class athletes. Last week it was the Chamber of Commerce, and live music! |
On the Match Racing Front... Vlad Victorious!
|  First of all, congratulations to Vlad who, sailing short handed with Koko, acorn Claudia and Ladi won last week's Oakcliff Open, a Grade 5 Match Race. The key in their success is that they matured from using the rules as a weapon to using them to control the other team and go on to the win. They also worked extra hard sailing 'man down'. The racing was very tight and creative across the fleet with new people showing up and pressuring the 'regulars'. There is another Open this Saturday and after that you will have to wait until Tuesday September 13th to sail on a Match 40.... unless you would like to help us deliver the boats to and from the Knickerbocker Cup. We'll be towing them to and from on Monday August 22 and Monday August 29th. (If you can help please email bsimon@oakcliffsailing.org |
Super Models Ride The Dolphin
|  And for something totally different, last Friday the whole Oakcliff team was involved one way or another with a Nieman Marcus photo shoot. It all began just over a week before when supporter Daniel Frank called up and explained that they were looking to shoot a resort wear collection on a boat with sails painted to look like a butterfly. I'm always up for something new. It went back and forth and before we knew it we had committed to using Dolphin and began R&D on which paint would work best on Dacron. 
The artistic team spent 3 days in extreme heat creating the sails. Friday mid-day - Hollywood showed up! About 25 people from producers to make up and hair, photographers, assistants, wardrobe, artists. The Oakcliff Acorns and Staff got involved from driving tenders and support boats to assisting aboard Dolphin. Alec, Jacon and Koko were the lucky ones who were able to help direct the models where to sit and stand. Not to be outdone Vlad took his turn when we were back at the shop. When we said that we were doing something completely new and different and giving Acorns a FULL 360 degree exposure to sailing and business and life. We were serious. The absolute best part of this day was when the producer thanked us all and said that it was obvious we all took pride in our work and in Oakcliff and it was a pleasure working with professionals! Nice work team! |
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From a wildly diverse foundation, known as Oakcliff Sailing, we wish you a safe and sunny week.
Sincerely,
Dawn Riley
Oakcliff Sailing Center |
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| Rambler Capsizes |  | As you may have seen, Rambler 100 capsized in the Fastnet Race, just after rounding Fastnet Rock off of Ireland. We raced against her in the Round Block Island Race. She also was the 1st to finish in the Trans Atlantic Race. The keel bulb snapped off and the boat overturned. Navigator Peter Isler put out an instant mayday and escaped the hull. The majority of the crew was able to walk over the hull and onto the bottom of the boat, just like a dinghy. They were able to pull quite a few of the team onto the hull. There were 5 individuals who could not be pulled up and they linked arms and drifted for over 2 hours before they were located and rescued. Very scary. Below are a few links to explain more, including one with good friend Jerry Kirby. Note the importance to the life jackets they were wearing.
Photos of the Rescue
Listen to Kirby
Final note - I can't quite tell from the photos but I know that the lifejacket I would want is the Spinlock.
We did our research in the comfort of a pool and then approached Spinlock for their support. The AAOT is wearing them right now. 
Good news for our supporters you are now able to purchase your very own from our retail store. |
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| Charter Your Shields. Going Fast! |  | If you didn't hear, we are co-hosting the Shields Nationals here at Oakcliff September 21- 24. We also have added a Shields Tune -Up Regatta making it easier to finish your qualifications for Nationals and giving you an intense warm up.
The Tune Up regatta will consist of up to 10 races over 2 days, September 10th and 11th.
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