Greetings!
The Saplings are all wrapping up their summer training and making plans to travel back to college and to jobs around the world. I think those of you who have sailed this summer would agree that their presence was a bonus for our 'regular supporters'. The learning and interaction has made everyone at Oakcliff a better sailor.
With Labor Day fast approaching as well as the Knickerbocker Cup and the Oakcliff International our week night schedule gets a bit scattered until mid September. Tomorrow night we HOPE the weather pattern will be conducive for one last Sapling/Supporter Wednesday night race. The races continue but most of the Saplings will be gone. Thursdays Classics are still on and even if there is no wind you will want to come to the BBQ as Bill is cooking up ribs! This weekend we have Sunday Match Race Drills and they go straight into racing with Hunt's match racing for classics regatta. |
Housing Needed - September 5-9
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 | Homeless Umpires
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We have a great line up of clean, well behaved sailors coming to Oakcliff for our International Invitational. We also have umpires traveling from around the world to volunteer their time but we do need to give them a place to stay. Right now we are 9 beds short! If anyone has room for September 5-9 we will be very grateful. Just email Bill and let him know and he will give you all of the details.
Also if you want to captain a match 40 ... under tow... we will be bringing boats back from Manhasset Bay on September 3. E-mail Bill if you can help - we provide snacks and hopefully this year there won't be a hurricane! bsimon@oakcliffsailing.org
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Storrs Wins Three-way Tie Breaker
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 | A Boatload of Saplings and Acorns
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David Storrs sailing with his regular crew of Mark Feck, Matt Wordell and John Levinson, supplemented by Alice Manard-Lenord came out on top of a three way tie in the weekend's Grade 4 regatta. It was touch and go with light an shifty winds. On Saturday matches 2 and 3 of flight 3 took almost an hour when the teams had to fight their way downwind and up-tide. The Bay Constable actually came over to find out if everything was OK.
Top local sailor Craig Albrecht with Mark DiSanti, Liz Duffy, past and future Acorn Katie Mooney and Jim Acquaviva were second.
The sweetheart story of the regatta was Sapling Jon Hammond sailing with superstar acorns Catalina Feder and Val Hommel as well as Saplings Ivy Binns, Madeline Gill her younger brother Teddy Gill. They were the top internal team and sailed a very strong regatta. They attribute some of their success to great coaching by Tom Burnham, giving him a five - gold - star rating. They also sailed the whole regatta keeping their weight low so from off the boat you could only see their heads. One person commented - "Look it is a bucket full of Acorns." Fast Acorns.
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Headed to San Francisco
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 | Ivy Binns San Francisco's Sapling
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I'm currently on a plane headed to San Francisco for three days. My missions are to network and spread the word about the Oakcliff program to the America's Cup World Series sailors and spectators. Also of course I am looking forward to seeing a couple of days of the racing. Tomorrow night I'll be stopping in at the South Beach Yacht Club, home to our Acorn turned Sapling Ivy Binns. They have asked me to talk about Oakcliff and the Bay Area connections such as Ivy and fellow Acorn, Zach Hall and to give my perspective on the "new" America's Cup. If you are in the area and want to stop in it would be great to see you. Just click here: South Beach Yacht Club to register.
I'll also try to keep everyone updated on any interesting happenings by posting on the Oakcliff Facebook Page.
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So I hope you enjoy Oakcliff this week and I'll be back next. If you are wondering why only 3 days in San Francisco and yet I am not back to Oakcliff until next, well it is because this weekend I'll be in Michigan attending my 30 year high school reunion. I am pretty sure they are all going to be really really old compared to how I feel... because I feel as young as a Sapling.. well most days!
So come out to Oakcliff and get a shot from the fountain of youth and train one last time with the Saplings.
See you soon,
Dawn Riley
Oakcliff Sailing Center
A bonus photo - Staff and Saplings all dressed up at the Mill Neck Manor: 
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