Until about a week ago I don't think anyone thought that summer was actually going to arrive.  Guess what - it is here.  Tonight is the 2nd night of Tuesday Match Race Drills and tomorrow is the first Wednesday Fleet Race with Coaching. As we know summers fly by so don't miss the boat - go to the calendar and  SIGN UP NOW. 

The few, the strong and the proud raced AYC Spring and brought home silver.  Jeff MacFarlane has 3 days until the start of the Atlantic Cup and we are proud to announce Heron Financial as a sponsor of the Spring Clinegatta. Read on for all of the exciting details. 

Over the past two weekends the Farr 40 sailed a spectacular 1st day with three bullets and then pushed through 7 more races and came home with a solid 2nd place overall.     

The Ker 50 used the back to back weekends more as a shakedown in preparation for the Bermuda Race.  They also had a bit of an unplanned man over board drill.  Bob Z learned the perils of being very tall and not having the proper angle in pulling the line from a primary winch.  Just after the gybe, he gave one last super pull and stripped the winch. Bob's 245 lbs was no match for the 2,658 square foot spinnaker which promptly pulled Bob headfirst towards the turning block and catapulted him over the side for a COLD first swim of the season.  He was recovered quickly but please - people - don't do this again!

Thank you to everyone who signed up and sailed, we hope you learned and enjoyed.  Special congratulations to those who raced on the Farr 40.  Sue DiSanti, Liz Shaw, Jim Acquiviva and Mark DiSanti who are pictured above and seem to have enjoyed making it to the awards party.  Also on board: Drew Wilkens, Deb Romaneli New Saplings Avi Lessman and Doug Renyolds, Bill Simon, Jay Kehoe, Eni  Szekely and Anne Corvi.  Nice Work! 

Equally exciting is Dave Perry's return to lead the clinic portion on May 15 and 16. There is only one invitation left to be requested for the event.  Alternately you can sign up for the clinic portion only, Thursday and Friday and Bill will place you on a team for training.

We'll keep you updated with Twitter and Facebook and the Website and the Newsletter but feel free to come over to watch the racing, stop in after sailing to see replays of the races and definitely get ready to enter the raffle.  Details to follow. 

Jeff MacFarlane and Jake Arcand are in Charleston preparing to race the 642 miles to NYC.  With a noon start on May 10 the boats are expected into the North Cove Marina sometime around the 14th.     

Track Jeff and Jake on the Atlantic Cup Web Site Especially for those of you in Manhattan you should go down to the marina and say hello.  There will be activities on the 15 and 16th and the restart is on Saturday the 17th.

Jeff would be the 1st to tell you that this is the next step in a long journey which he is not  traveling alone.  Of course Oakcliff has been supportive but that is Oakcliff in the broadest terms.    

The Class 40 is on loan to Jeff and Oakcliff from the USMMA-SF and the support of board member Ralf Steitz.  Jack Halyard's has just signed on as a sponsor of Jeffery MacFarlane Racing.  I wonder if the stickers will say "Eat at Jack's" ?  There are also many individual supporters who have helped.   

Jeff and Jake, as with all of our SapGrad and Acorn Alumni they are out searching for success and always in need of sponsor and financial support.  Here is more information on how to support them through the Travel Team Fund. 

Don't Mess with Mom...     

But what about a sneaky Saturday Match Race this weekend?  The Grade 5 Clinegatta has spots for one or two teams left.    

If you don't have a team you can still sign up and Bill will do his best to place you with a team or on an umpire boat. Either way: Sign up Here.  

 Classics Begin in 2 Weeks  

The Classics start next weekend too.  I TOLD you summer is here.  OK, it is the spring series but it will feel like summer as you step aboard a beautiful yacht for a race out and back and out and back.   

Jeff Truelove and Mike Smith and their teams have been working hard and the gleaming works of art should be showing up in Oyster Bay soon.  

To sign up to race - click Here     

Deliver Dolphin? 

Speaking of the gleaming Classics, Dolphin and her master Mike Smith are looking for delivery crew from Greenport to Oyster Bay.   

Mike is thinking Monday night with the 80 degree temperatures forecast might be the perfect night.  Email Him  if you are interested.   

South Shore Sailors - Time to Party with Hunt and Betsy! 

Hunt and Betsy are being honored for their work again and this time it is is by the Long Island Maritime Museum.  The party is being held at the Snapper Inn in Oakdale THIS Thursday May 8.

We know many of you couldn't make it into the city to support other synergistic causes like Mystic Seaport so now here is your chance.   

Check out the details and buy your dinner tickets here.

You will also get to see a pretty spectacular collection of slides which will play throughout the cocktail party. Thanks to Yana, Carl, Kirk, Molly and Cheryll for contributing. 

Donate to Oakcliff and  your name will be spotlighted on our new donor board.  Better yet you get to go sailing.  Best yet you are supporting young sailors and aspiring athletes.  

Donate here or Call 415 760-7642 or email race@oakcliffsailing.org 

Oakcliff Sailing is a high-performance training center for sailors who have progressed beyond traditional coaching methods.

We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and located in Oyster Bay, NY.  

 

Visit OakCliffSailing.org