Greetings!
Have you missed us? It has been over two weeks since the last email but that doesn't mean that we haven't been thinking of you. We have been working hard to get the IRC boats together and this weekend we will be fielding 4 strong boats for the American Spring Regatta. We also hosted the ABC qualifiers and have had a couple of great Tuesday match racing evenings. Read below for all of the details.
Also read below to make your plans for the next couple of weeks. Remember you can sign up for all events on the Oakcliff Web Site Calendar.
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Sail the Sound for Deafness
|  Oakcliff was approached by the Mill Neck Family of Organizations to partner with them on a charitable regatta. We decided that the Classic Sunset Sail on Thursday August 9th would be the perfect night. There will be fundraising spots available for supporters of the Mill Neck Organization as well as the opportunity for guest yachts to join in. After sailing, there will be a cocktail party at the absolutely beautiful Mill Neck Manor. Tickets for this will be on sale shortly.
Being a charity it is unusual to raise funds for a cause but this one seems to have touched many of our supporters. The Mill Neck Family of Organizations, is a group of organizations serving people who are Deaf and/or have other special communication needs, locally, nationally and around the world. Programs include Deaf education, early childhood education for children with speech and language delays, services for Deaf adults, audiology and sign language interpreter services. Click here to read the full release. |
Lessons Learned from and Easter Rescue
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With the recent tragedy off of San Francisco it is refreshing and educational to read about a rescue gone right.
Over Easter a boat sank off the coast of southern Australia while competing in an offshore race. This report (link below) was written from the account provided by the skipper of the rescuing yacht. Winds in the race ended up being far in excess of what was forecast, with a long period of 40 - 50 knots and gusts to 70 knots with huge seas. Two hours prior to the boat sinking, the boat's liferaft had been washed off the deck, and with no boats in close proximity, the six crew had to abandon ship into the cold waters of Bass Strait and spent two hours tethered together waiting for rescue by another yacht. All crew members were picked up safely with the only injury being one crew member suffering mild hypothermia.
The rescuing boat had only four on board, and most were very inexperienced in ocean racing, but the story of how they found the crew in the middle of the night, and how they subsequently got them on board in 40+ knot winds and huge seas makes interesting reading. While we all do lots of courses and read the "theory" of how to undertake rescue operations, practical experience invariably provides us with valuable lessons. There is an official investigation under way and no doubt the report from this inquiry will build on this first hand account. The crew of the rescuing boat have been widely praised for their navigation skills and seamanship in the rescue.
The full report can be read here. |
| Wednesday Night Race Coaching | 
Last Wednesday night, Bill Simon attended the Sagamore Yacht Club's kick off meeting. There is a lot of enthusiasm for the new Oakcliff Class. Each Wednesday night Oakcliff Supporters will race in their own class and we will provide coaching before AND during the racing. We will be offering, Shields and Match 40s or you can bring your own boat. The debrief will be held at the Sagamore Clubhouse. The first night is May 9th. Sign up here if you are interested in jumping ahead of your competition. |
Road Notes and Updates
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 | Short-handed Cockpit
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I was up in Newport RI last weekend for fundraising meetings as well as the US Sailing Board Meeting and am happy to report that things on these fronts are moving forward with pace. Watch this newsletter for exciting updates in the coming weeks.
I also sailed on a Class 40 with Jeff MacFarlane and Joe Harris. Joe is looking to partner with Oakcliff in the future. In the meantime, it looks like Jeff will be racing the Atlantic Cup with the very accomplished French sailor Sebastien Rogues. Remember Oakcliff is providing both media crew members and inshore racers for various teams in the Atlantic Cup. It is a VERY cool opportunity on both sides.  | At the French Consulat
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MOD70; Last night I was the MC for a press conference announcing a pretty incredible event. The Multi One Design Series. Huge 70 foot offshore trimarans will race in a number of series and tours over the next 8 years. The kick off event will be a transatlantic from the foot of the Statue of Liberty to Brest France. A cool side note, the boats will arrive on July 3rd, be here through our Fourth of July and arrive in France just before their July 14th otherwise known as Bastille Day.
When they are in Manhattan they will be doing speed matches where the boats will compete two by two to see which can go the fastest. Speeds are expected to be in excess of 45 knots - probably faster than any car in the Holland Tunnel! Click Here to Read More!Finally, Mike "Nico" Nicoletti called and confirmed that when he gets back from racing Melges 32s in Palm Beach, he will be accepting a scholarship and entrance to the Simon School of Business at Rochester University. Congrats Nico!
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If you have made it all the way to the end of this newsletter congratulations. I will try not to skip weeks in the future as there is a LOT going on at Oakcliff. Don't forget to sign up for Tuesday Match Race Drills and hope to see you here soon.
Sincerely,
Dawn Riley
Oakcliff Sailing Center |
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A Competitive AYC Regatta Ahead
|  | We have had so much interest in racing American Spring Series that we have had to juggle to get everyone on board. We will be fielding both of the Farr 40s as well as the Ker 11.3 and the Ker 11.5 and joining into a strong class of 12 boats! Maybe big boat sailing is coming back on Long Island Sound. And just maybe Oakcliff has been a part of this resurgence :-)
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| We Love our Gill! | 
We are always happy and dry and comfortable and protected when we put on our Gill gear and get ready for the race. It is an added layer of confidence. Would you like some of this? Stop by or email us to place your order |
| Classics Coming Soon |
 | | The Beautiful Caper |
| The NOR is up and the Oyster Bay Classic racing will begin again soon. Saturday May 19th kicks off the seven-race Spring Series. The final race and prize giving will be on June 9th and will once again be at 2 South Street. You are welcome to sign up on the calendar now and we look forward to seeing you on the gorgeous gentle yachts as the race around Oyster Bay.
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| Match Racing Results |
 | A Very Tight Finish
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| Congratulations to Anthony Pulgram for winning our first Grade 5 of the season. Consistent sailing and keeping cool under pressure were the keys to his success. He was able to celebrate courtesy of Jack Halyards.
The ABC Qualifier Regatta and Clinegatta was intense. Chris Poole and his team from Maine Maritime not only traveled the furthest but they also sailed the fastest. The weather forecast was miserable for Sunday so the Race Committee, Umpires and sailors all worked together for a very very long and hard day on the water but managed to finish before the soaking rain began.
Congratulations to Chris Poole and Team Q for qualifying for the regional regatta on their way to compete in US Sailing's Match Race Championship!
Also a big thank you to Cheryll Kerr for her wonderful photography. More can be seen on the Oakcliff Sailing Facebook Page.
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