I don't know how it can get any better.  Oakcliff's Ker 11.5 won the largest division in the Round Block Island Race.  Sapling Grad Madeline Gill led her team of saplings and grads to a decisive win over seven other teams our Grade 5 Cinegatta. Saplings Elizabeth and John raced the Ker 11.3 to a second place finish at the Stamford Double Handed Race.

Today, the United States Olympic Committee and US Sailing dedicated a scholarship for Oakcliff's Acorn Program on behalf of IOC President Jacques Rogge's 80th birthday.  We signed two new sponsors and 4 Nacra's showed up with more on their way!

The Classics experienced spectacular sailing last weekend and are set for the final showdown on Saturday to be followed by a most excellent prize giving for the classics.  Sailors from the Grade 3 Dave Perry Clinegatta will join in.   These are some of my favorite events with the mixing and matching of ages and genres of sailing.  There will be clams steamed over a hot grill in huge paella pans of wine, garlic and of course a little butter.  Tina from Sweet Tomato is providing all of the sides and salads.  Please sign up so we get a headcount.

Every week we have Tuesday Drills, Wednesday Fleet Racing and starting next week Thursday Classics. Go to the Calendar to sign up.

Read on for more fun details

Sapling Graduates Madeline Gill and Jon Hammond returned to Oyster Bay to launch their 212 Racing Campaign - an Oakcliff Travel Team.  Madeline and Jon pulled in current Saplings Sarah Ragle, Jake Arcand and Pat Murphy and dominated an eight-deep field for the win. 

This was a big confidence booster for Madeline who will be leading a team competing in the US Sailing Women's Match Race Championships later in the month.  Sarah will remain on bow with Sap Grad Ivy Binns trimming and supporter Ann Schwagerl in the pit.

At the last three events at Oakcliff, the team with the most women on board won.  This regatta a female skipper won and an all women's team was in 5th.  It is personally so cool to see such diversity on the Oakcliff Racecourse.  It is definitely more than I have seen anywhere else.

Also of note is both Australian Max Vos with his all sapling team and Supporter George Franke with Chris Kennedy onboard were skippering their first match race. Danielle Gallo with her all women's team found their stride mid regatta.  The skill set of the fleet was wide on paper, but on the water, the racing was very very close!

Katie Mooney, returning Acorn, took the train from Tabor Academy to Oyster Bay hoping to get a ride for the Round Block Island Race.  She showed up on the dock with her gear and asked if she could at least go out in our support boat to watch the start.   As they were leaving the dock we found out that one crew member was stuck on the train so she told her Dad, "I'll call if I'm not coming home tonight."  Katie ended up being drafted for one of the wettest, coldest and fastest Round Block Island races we remember and they won!  That is a true lesson in making your own opportunities.  Read here for the full story.

Temptation-Oakcliff the Ker 50 was a solid 3rd in class. 

Vlad and Mike Tolsma aboard the Ker 11.3 sailed double-handed and led almost the whole fleet all the way to Block Island. 

The Farr 40 had sail damage in the 40 knots of wind but were able to sail home under Storm Trysail and #4 jib and now are eligible to join the Storm Trysail Club.

Elizabeth Shaw and John Colburn were two Saplings who came early for some bonus time.  Quickly learning that being a self starter around her pays off, they proposed to race the Stamford Yacht Club Double Handed Regatta.  After sailing three medium distance races over Saturday and Sunday they finished in second.

Their success can also be attributed to the fact that Liz has done a lot of miles fully crewed and short handed and John sailed around the world in the Clipper Race.  Liz reported that the organizers and fellow sailors were super nice and coming from a Canadian that is saying something!

Jeff MacFarlane was back at Oakcliff to navigate the Ker 11.5 to victory, broken hand and all and then it was back to Europe to get his Mini Campaign Sorted.  He posted this on Facebook a few hours ago:

It is official 759 just went in the water, it is now the boat I am campaigning for the 2013 Mini Transat! Tomorrow will be my first sail on the boat. I am sailing 100 miles or so from Lorient to Douarnanez for the Trophee MAP race that starts on the 13th.

You can't see it but in thanks to all of the support from Oakcliff and our Supporters there will be bright and cheery Oakcliff stickers on the hull!   You can still donate by going HERE.

We provided a corporate event for Thomson Reuters  Wednesday. On Thursday they asked us to take out kids from the Waterside School.  WE ALL had a blast and I have to say, I've been doing this type of thing a lot and this is one of the first times I saw naturals.  Both in the kids and in some of our staff and saplings who were simply excellent coaches.