I was just thinking - in order to keep up with Oakcliff you really need to be on Twitter, Facebook and get this newsletter.  It is crazy how exciting these past couple of weeks have been and it just keeps getting better.   Read on for results on the perfect weekend between a 10 team Grade 5 to a perfect practice on the Farr 47 followed by an entertaining dinner at the Clam Shack in Bayville which may have even created a love match.  Things are good at Oakcliff!

 

Last weekend Sapling Liz Shaw was the PRO for her first match racing regatta and knocked it out of the park!  To be fair she is a National Race Officer in Canada and she was also aptly assisted by a great group from the Manhattan Yacht Club who TJ Shea invited out to Oyster Bay.    We love to share! 
Results from the Grade 5: Jon Hammond, Alex Rudkin, Anthony Pulgram, Dylan Vogel, Max Vos, Chris Smith, David Storrs, Tom Talbot, Danielle Gallo, Ron Stattel - but many of the teams rotated positions onboard so the results were as above PLUS their teams.

This weekend we have a Youth Clinegatta  We have 10 teams who will be racing in sonars loaned to us from SCYC.  They have received two intense days of  coaching from Andrew Campbell and Jay Kehoe so the action on the water should be pretty intense.    We have enough help to run this event but you are always welcome to come out and watch the racing.  The RC is on VHF 69. 

If you would like to help volunteer in future events we are still looking for help for August 24-26 for mark boat operators and on the 25th to tow boats to Manhassett Bay for the Knickerbocker Cup.  Email Bill for more information.

Our very own SapGrad  Krevans was here with his American Youth Sailing Force Team last week training on the Nacras.  Will Tiller, Harry, Stewart and Geezer of Full Metal Jacket Racing (FMJ)  were also here for over a week training in the Nacras as well as helping coach match racing, umpiring and generally inspiring and entertaining our Acorns, Saplings and Supporters.  


That means that we had TWO Red Bull Youth America's Cup teams who traveled to Oakcliff to train .. and to be a part of the movement.  FMJ put together this fun video on their last night.  It was a nice surprise to wake up and see it on Facebook.

Perhaps the coolest day of their overlapping was when we all went to see Steve at Hammer Human Performance and Sport.  He was so excited to have 32 athletes in the house that he kicked our butts.  I can assure you that there was a bit of competition between all the different groups and everyone pushed themselves to sweaty exhaustion!

    

Two completely unexpected but welcome stars dropped in and when they come in we put them to work. 

Nicky Souter 2009 Match Racing World Champion and one of Australia's best sailors came by for a visit.  Even though when she sailed with us in St. Barth's I talked a lot about Oakcliff  and even gave her a sticker and brochure, she was still overwhelmed at all that was going on and that was just onshore.  I offered to get her out on the water to see the match racing clinic we were hosting and  a Sapling recognized her and pulled her onboard.  After about 3 hours of sailing she headed back into the city with a smile on her face and renewed excitement about match racing.

North Sail's Tom Castiglione stopped in the next day with Pete Colby and a good friend of mine, Kimo Worthington who has done 7 Cups, 2 Volvos and has just been named Sales Manager of North Sails North America.  We put them on the spot to share their experience and they entertained as well as gave very valuable insight on everything to how to be a professional to the intricacies of Thin Ply Technology.   After they spoke the 50 plus Acorns and Saplings fired off questions for over an hour and as Kimo was trying to get out the door they may have asked him for a job or two.  Excellent connections and so happy that our programing is dynamic enough to take advantage of these opportunities.

Next week the Farr 47 and Farr 40 Worlds teams will be in Newport and we will return the favor and have our 'future stars' go on industry tours at Hall Spars, Future Fibres and  NEB to name a few.  If anyone out there wants to meet potentially great employees email Jay to schedule a visit to your facility.

 

Finally we wish our Acorn/Sapling team luck as they head to Newport to race in the Ida Lewis Distance Race.  Also good luck to the Oakcliff Youth Farr 40 Team.  We hope that all of your tremendous hard work pays off as you line up at the World Championships.  Finally the Ker 50 will be on the NYYC Annual Cruise so if you are reading this from Maine, stop in and say hello.  Just look for the Oakcliff stickers on the boats.

 

 

 

In the Press
A on line magazine Get Wet Sailing shared some Oakcliff wisdom specifically aimed at women in the sport and the men who want to do well. 

We're in Scuttlebutt and SailBlast

Michele Slade wrote a great story that captures the chaos that is Oakcliff and pointed out that we are hosting the very first Nacra 17 and 49erFX nationals.  Save the date - August 22 will be the 'rope cutting' and party as we welcome these Olympic Hopefuls to Oakcliff and Oyster Bay.