Saplings Wrapping Things Up

Saplings Headed Back to College

Still Lots of Racing

August 21 2012

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.

In This Issue

HELP - We Need Beds

Storrs Wins Again

San Francisco

Sign Up to Sail Around the Sound

Bright Futures

Housing Needed - September 5-9

Homeless Umpires

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

Storrs Wins Three-way Tie Breaker

A Boatload of Saplings and Acorns

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.

Headed to San Francisco

Ivy Binns San Francisco's Sapling

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.

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:

Other Opportunities

We are getting calls from around the sound asking for sailors. Here are three opportunities:

Taylor Trophy
A one day Grade 5 match race championship is accepting requests for invitation. The regatta will be held at Larchmont Yacht Club in Ideal 18s. Email the YRA Office if you are interested

The Vineyard Race
Youth Division

There are at least two teams that are looking for 3-4 sailors between the ages of 15 and 24 to race with them in the youth division where they will be sailing the shorter, coastal course in the Vineyard Race. Email us if you are interested.

Trim Sails on the Ker 50

We also have a couple of spots left on the Ker 50 - specifically for those with trimming and driving skills. Go here to sign up.

Quick Links & Updates

Solomon's Video of Bacci

Solomon just got great reviews practicing for the Melges 32 Worlds in Newport. Before he left he finished his video editing project. Click on the title to view.

Andrew and Maurice and Marley are back from the Great Lakes where Andrew was running Natalie J a TP 52 and again he got good reviews.

Koko is currently on the Grand Slam Tour with Chris Poole's team of Riptide Racing. They were 8th in Chicago and are headed to Detroit.

Mind Mapping

These past few weeks I have been working with each of the Saplings and some of the Acorns to create their 'mind maps'. Mind mapping is a tool I have used forever. It is basically long term goal setting with some strategic planning built in. I work as a faciltator and they tell me what their goals and dreams are and together we come up with a physical diagram of their future.

I wanted to share how much fun and how rewarding it has been for me to get to learn even more about each person. I can tell you that they all have developed pretty specific goals and some long term dreams but all of those dreams are possible. From working in rigging and engineering, to owning a custom boat building shop to racing the Volvo to designing fast racing boats. Not to mention some personal goals that sometimes involve 2.5 kids and a career as a professional photographer, or a coach. If they can dream it, they can do it.

I can't wait to see how this all plays out!