From the Classics Prizegiving to a Columbus Day full of travel regattas  to this weekend's Oyster Fest we are jumping right through the Fall.

Hunt's financial seminar starts at 10 on Saturday with match racing for classics sailors after.  Be at the dock at 12:30 for a 1:00 start on Saturday and 9:30 for a 10:00 start on Sunday.  If you haven't done this before it is a fun, sometimes relaxed, sometimes intense but always civilized, 2 hour match racing experience. 

The Oyster Fest will be a bit crazy but they should still allow for you drive in and when you are stopped tell them that you are going to Oakcliff/OBMC.  Ronnie and/or I should be on site so please just say hello or let one of us know what your car looks like so we can keep track.  Also arrival time is best after 9:30 on Saturday as there is a 5K run earlier.  On Sunday the earlier the better to avoid the crowds.

We are constantly amazed at the hidden talents of our supporter.  Did you all know that Sue DiSanti for instance was an artist? Richard Bonomo?  Diane Schottenstein? We are sure that there are others.

We are putting out a call to all artist to consider displaying your nautical work at 2 South Street.  Your friends and fellow sailor want to admire your talent and we are planning to host more social events where we can showcase the diversity that is Oakcliff.

We are currently putting together the printed program for next year's Acorn and Sapling sessions.  If anyone has any good photos, especially of the kids, or as Vlad says, the keeeds, please send them to Jacon ASAP. 

We are hoping to have the all of the information in, programs printed and the applications for 2013 live by November 1st.

I hope you took a moment to read the sidebar about the great success of last year's 'kids'. ;-)

It looks to be a great weekend for the Melges Fleet in Manhasset Bay Fall Series.  We've had some fun with the team names.  Look out for:  Just Andrew, Black Thunder, The Keeeds, Some Assembly Required, Team Russia and  of course, The Knuckleheads.  

We also had two teams traveled to Duck Island Yacht Club last weekend where they fought tooth and nail with each other finishing 4th and 5th in a strong 13 boat fleet separated by only 2 points.  A big shout out to the great hospitality of Todd and his team over there in Connecticut.

I finally made it out to the Whitebread Race, essentially a 35 miler around Shelter Island that attracts a huge (123 boats) and diverse fleet.  When I first heard about this race I thought some silly person was mispronouncing the Whitbread Round the World Race but was soon put straight.  Anyway, I finally made it out to see what all the fuss was about.  This  year's race  began in a nice 10-15 and finished in over 20 knots with sunshine all the way around.  A pretty amazing race with beautiful scenery! Despite a few glitches, one involving the head on our Ericsson 38, we finished a respectable 6 of 16 in our fleet.  It was amazing to see so many Oakcliff Sailors at the party afterwards. Congratulations to Ann Schwagerl for executing multiple sail changes and thanks to Patty Frank and Ian Evans for hosting us. 

One final note - we could use housing for sailors in our final Grade 3 Match Race.  This is just a weekend long event so if you can slot in a couple of sailors for October 26th and 27th we'll be very grateful... and may even send them over with some Halloween Candy Treats.

 
And that is a wrap folks.  I hope to see you out and about this weekend.

In San Francisco?  Have nothing to do now that the World Series is over?

Consider going down to India Basin on Saturday October 13 from 10-12 to help with the Sea Scavenger Shoreline Cleanup.  Sea Scavenger has recently partnered with the America's Cup Event Authority to facilitate monthly clean ups.

America True incubated Sea Scavenger and on this day will also be running their 12th annual America True Youth Day at India Basin.  From 11 to 3 America True and their great partners and volunteers will be getting a hundred or so kids out on the Bay.   It is amazing to see these kids experience the water that is in their own backyard and yet they hardly ever get to enjoy.
Email Dan to volunteer or just show up and share in the fun.  Maybe some day we will have a permanent site here and the kids will be able to go out ANY day of the year.

 

SAVE THE DATE:
Looking forward: October 27 and 28 Seawanhaka will be hosting their Laser Clinic. If you are keen to get out on the water over the winter save these dates and more registration information will be available soon.

 

Jon Hammond from India
You can follow Sapling Jon Hammond's blog and share his experiences as he teaches sailing in Mumbai India by clicking above.

Max St.Maurice in Mexico
Max reports that he is now a business owner. His International Sailing Academy runs top notch training camps for Laser and Opti sailors.   We are confident that his time at Oakcliff helped set him to be a successful leader and he already was a great coach.  If anyone is interested in training in the warm Mexican sea-breezes click above to book your training session.

Jeff MacFarlane Arrives in Barcelona
Jeff continues his quest for short handed sailing dominance.  The first step was Oakcliff and now he is pursuing a Mini Campaign.  He has just sailed the boat to Barcelona and will be returning to the US in a quest for the ever elusive sponsorship dollars.  If anyone is interested in sponsoring please click here.

Responsibilities: Ping the line, hiking till it hurts, offset leg hike even harder, hoist the kite, in big breeze run to the back of the boat,  gybe the kite, pull on the retrieval line, hiking around the mark, Repeat!