So the sun has finally warmed us up a bit, the rain has watered the grass, the leaves are fully out on the trees surrounding Oyster Bay and  and our "regularly scheduled programming" is in place. 

Tuesday Match Race Drills have been going since the first week of April, Wednesday Fleet Racing with coaching officially started tomorrow. The Classics Spring Series begins this weekend.  We had our first very successful Grade 5 Clinegatta last weekend with a Grade 3 Clinegatta led by Dave Perry this week. There are spots for the Thursday and Friday Clinic.  Full enough for you?  As opposed to Key West: Oakcliff is Close to perfect and almost normal.

 

Match racing is graded by ISAF from  5 through 1 with Grade 1's being the top. These are the most complicated to run with many requirements, one of them being that a certain number of skippers carrying a certain number of  skipper points need to be in attendance.  Points are gained every time a skipper races in a graded event. 

At Oakcliff we are hosting five Grade 5 regattas which are an excellent way for you to start collecting your points on your way to the top.

NEW this year and in a nod to our supporters who can't make it out to Oakcliff during the week, we have added a morning clinic, turning even our Grade 5 events into 'Clinegattas'.  The clinic from 10-12 followed by racing from 12:30 to 5 is a low risk, high reward way to get your feet wet  in match racing.  The debrief usually continues at Jack Halyards capping a fun day on the water.

Congratulations to everyone who competed last Saturday, including Ron Stattel for steering his first match race ever and giving the other teams a run for their money.  In the end,  one of Oakcliff's travel teams, Team Q won the day.

The next one is June 1st and you can sign up here.  If you are still not sure feel free to email Bill Simon or call on 516 802 0368 and he can talk you through the process.

Temptation Oakcliff - the Ker 50 led by Art Santry and crewed mostly by Saplings raced a blustery and fast EDILU race on Saturday claiming line hours, 3rd place and a LOT of silver.

It was an excellent first race of the season for Team Temptation Oakcliff and our new Saplings. 

John Colburn and Chris Smith have joined Elizabeth and Sarah and their bios will be posted shortly.  Another 9 sailors will show up in the next three weeks and in between on-shore lessons, boat-shed workshops and match racing locally, they'll be off to Annapolis and Halifax and many places in between.  For instance this Saturday 6 will be sailing as media crew members on the Atlantic Cup.  Watch their work here.

Speaking of Saplings and Acorns, did you know that Oakcliff scholarships over $150,000 of tuition each year?

Director of Development Anthony Pulgram is working to help raise those funds and every bit you donate helps.  Supporters, sponsors and donors all help.  New this year, we have set up funds to help specific areas such as classics, scholarships and travel and training. More information can be found here.

 

 

The tragedy that unfolded in San Francisco is breaking many hearts.  I have posted my thoughts on my personal blog.

Long Beach Society Pages
The Congo Cup is one of the oldest match races around and thus is society page worth.  Great friend to Oakcliff, Jo Murray wrote the article amid the tremendous work she and David Murray put out in organizing the event.