Greetings!
We are in full winter work mode at Oakcliff. The Hurricane added a bit more work but overall we are in good shape. I know it isn't even Thanksgiving and we have a lot of work ahead of us - but we always try to stay positive :-). No effort is required when talking about our graduates. They are doing great things. Also please spread the word. Applications are now being taken for next year's programs. We've already received inquires from as far afield as England and France. For more immediate learning, Hunt's Financial Seminars are being held every Saturday at 10am. Just stop in to 2 South Street to learn about his take on the markets.
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| Max to Mexico |
 | | Max, Solomon, Seth and Collin |
A report from Sapling and now business owner Max St.Maurice:
I've recently become co-owner of the International Sailing Academy, a winter Laser training camp near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I've spent the last 2 years working at the local North Sails loft and for ISA, and loved the area enough to commit to the company. I would have never thought my 6 month internship in urban planning, which originally sent me to Mexico, would've ended this way, but I'm glad it did!
Combining the ISA with Oakcliff's summer program, I now have a job that allows me to keep training, as I hope to get on the World Match Racing Tour one day soon. At ISA we've set up a top notch winter training facility - we provide housing, meals (our chef travels with the US Sailing Team), boats and coaching. We have a daily thermal giving us 12-20 knots every afternoon and a light, shifty building breeze in the morning. So whoever shows up is able to focus only on training - and in their spare time can go to the gym, surf or mountain bike. I know I'm biased, but it really is a sailing paradise!
Aside from us, there's a great sailing community. Big events like the Pan American Games and J24 Worlds have been hosted recently, and every 2 years is MEXORC, an awesome big boat regatta. There is also a thriving cruising community and all the amenities required for sailors. If anyone is interested in what's happening, you can sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of this page or check out our website. If you're ever in the area for a vacation or want to come sailing, let me know! Here's a video of Tom Slingsby's visit (2012 gold medalist) Vimeo
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Race Management Seminar at Seawanhaka
|  Our friends across the Bay are hosing a race management seminar. This is similar to the one that we hosted last winter with Luigi's guest appearance. If you are interested in attending please email John Mooney or call the front desk at 516 922 6200. You can also register directly with US Sailing |
Keep Your Pocket Knife Away from My Compass
|  All of the classics are in Greenport and were safe and sound through the storm. Thank you to the 16 sailors who helped take the bulk of them back in a wet and wild ride. If anyone is looking for something to do on a cool fall weekend I can't recommend Greenport enough. Wooden Boat Work's is a magical little yard and as a surprise bonus there is an artist in residence Cindy Pease Roe. Cindy does some amazing work and is especially creative with plastics picked up from local beaches. A funny - kind of - story from the Dolphin delivery. Mike reported that Erich and Mary were the perfect crew and the moon lit their way. Mary was steering for a while and Mike was confused as he gave her a compass course but they kept ending up off course. It turns out that she had a riggers knife in her pocket and every time she would stand up to steer, and thus move towards the compass it would swing by 30 degrees or more! Something to be aware of. On a more somber note the long time owner of Dolphin, John Lockwood passed away last week. He proudly owned and successfully campaigned Dolphin for 50 years. His family and friends will be honoring him this Saturday at noon next door to the Old Cove Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, donation are being accepted in John's name by the Old Cove Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation, 14 Old Harbor Road, New Suffolk, NY 11956. I talked to his wife at the Whitebread skippers meeting and she mentioned that they were so so happy that Dolphin was being well cared for. Our cutest little boat. |
A Thank You Letter from Jacon
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To the Oakcliff Family,
I want to express my gratitude to all of you for the opportunities I have had in the last eighteen months, and for the enormous amount I have learned. The first thing I learned at Oakcliff - this I remember very clearly - was just how little I actually knew about sailing. To a large extent, I didn't even know what I didn't know. Despite that, I was given opportunities that were both important to the success of Oakcliff and challenging to me, like navigating the Halifax race, and running the student programs. Entrusting young, relatively inexperienced members of a team with important roles is a pretty damn good way to earn loyalty, and never have I been part of an organization that does it better than Oakcliff.
Though I have moved back to Vermont to pursue my other passions (mountains), Oakcliff will always have a place in my heart. I'd like to thank Dawn, of course, for giving me the opportunities I have mentioned. I would also like to thank the staff - Bill, Ladi, Andrew, Vlad, Koko - for staying relatively patient with me as they taught me about business, engines, composites, rigging and a wealth of other topics. I would like to thank the supporters of Oakcliff, who bring in positive energy even when the staff is flagging, and who seem to materialize for the dirtiest, least-desirable jobs (I'm talking about you, Jim Aquaviva). I'd like to thank the Board of Trustees and the Lawrence family for making Oakcliff possible: you've hit on exactly what sailing in this country needs.
And finally, I'd like to thank our students: the Acorns and Saplings of 2012, who tolerated the foibles and inadequacies of a program in its infancy and managed to excel as sailors and as leaders. You (and I) are now alumni of Oakcliff, and as our ranks grow more numerous, we will become the heart and soul of the Oakcliff legacy.
Thank you, and see you on the water.
Jacon
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A few more updates on Saplings: Chris is doing a great job at Oakcliff.
Ivy reports that she is back in San Francisco, happy, getting all A's and crewing on a J-105 and that they were 1st in division and overall in the NOODS. She also wrote: "Oakcliff such an amazing place. I learned so much (sailing and life wise), and had an amazing summer. Thank you!"
Amongst the acorns: Andrea is still racing in Sweden and from her facebook posts continues to win in life and on the water. Val is staying tough in the ROTC and is pursuing a spot at the Coast Guard Academy. Aiden is doing great in school and looking forward to track season in the spring.
Oakcliff and soon to be Webb Graduate Randy Neureuter is interviewing for design house jobs and from one of the calls I received yesterday it looks like he will be successful shortly.
Jon Hammond is fitting in perfectly in India and Madeline may be joining him as a keel boat instructor shortly
Solomon is competing in the Collegiate National Match Racing Championships as we speak and will be back as an RA at Oakcliff next summer. Collin is working hard in his last year of school and is forming plans for next summer that may see him and his team coming back to Oyster Bay. It seems like we will once again drop the median age of the town by a few years.
Our Graduates are doing great things and frankly I am so happy that we keep collecting great sailors and people.
Sincerely,
Dawn Riley
Oakcliff Sailing Center |
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A Letter from The Queen
|  | Last Thursday night amongst a large crowd of NYYC dignitaries and sailors, Art Santry was officially presented with The Queen's Cup. Along with the trophy came a letter from THE Queen. You can read the letter here. Mike Komar and I were honored to be included in the dinner.
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| Quick Links |
NOAA Photos of Sandy
This link will take you to a site where you can see photos before Sandy and then you roll your mouse over the photo to see the same area after Sandy. America True Youth DayHere is a video of a day in San Francisco. So cool that this is the legacy of an America's Cup team that is still going strong 12 years later.
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| Our Sponsors |
Jack Halyards
Thanks to Jack Halyards for keeping so many people warm through the Hurricane... and well hydrated.
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Bold Little Sailor
|  | Pre-Sandy 12 year old Justin Smith sailed his Opti across Long Island Sound to promote awareness and raise funds for clean waterways. He is currently over halfway to his goal of raising $5000 for the National Fish and Waterways Foundation. For more information call his Dad Brian Smith 516-650-0838
Justin discovered sailing all on his own, sailed and the Waterfront Center and SCYC and shopped at Oakcliff. Future Acorn? We hope so.
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Winter Sailing
|  | Seawanhaka CYC holds frostbite racing in Lasers. Oakcliff has 5 Lasers which supporters are welcome to use.
If you would like to use an Oakcliff Laser or if you need a Gill Dry Suit please email
race@oakcliffsailing.org to make arrangements.
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| Jeff MacFarlane |  | Jeff has has an amazing summer and fall racing and WINNING in Europe. Here is a link to a blogger who has been following Jeff.
Also of note - corporate sponsors - Jeff's campaign WILL give great returns. Here is a link to his web site and you are welcome to call me if you have any questions about how sailing sponsorship works. 415 760 7642
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OD and Ervin a Newport Story
|  | Graduates Andrew OD O'Donnell and Ervin Grove are living together in Newport RI. OD is making his mark at IYRS while getting his composite skills to a professional level and Ervin is learning a lot while enjoying his work at Southern Spars creating composite rigging.
They report that they are having an absolutely wonderful time representing Oakcliff to the Marine Industry and that their apartment is "crawling distance from the IYAC". Enough said. |
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