Greetings!
Pundits speculated that women wouldn't be able to handle the Match 40s in heavy wind; they were wrong. Eight teams fought for every inch providing some of the most exciting racing of the year. Meanwhile 12 Acorns used the high winds to rip up Cold Spring Harbor in the Olympic class 49ers and Nacras - hitting 20 + knots and only capsizing a 'few times'. Read on for all of the action.
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 U.S. Women's Match Racing Championship:
Oakcliff Women Sail Strong
Congratulations to Steph Roble and her Epic Racing team. This was her 5th attempt and first win. SapGrad Liz Shaw (second from left) added local knowledge and strength.
Further down the fleet, SapGrad Madeline Gill's 212 Degree Racing team just missed the semis finishing fifth. Danielle Gallo with an all NYC team representing Oakcliff had some of the most intense matches ending up sixth. The youngest team, led by USVI Augustina Barbuto, who qualified through the Rose Cup hosted by Oakcliff, pulled in Acorn Kat Schiber and finished a solid seventh.
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Roble's winning finish against Breault
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For the overall results, please click here. Also, HUGE THANKS Larry Kennedy for taking photos for the event. His photos can be seen here.
Congrats to all sailors!
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 | | Kilian (left) and Sean (right) |
Mousse and Brandon Take On Stratford Shoals
Last Saturday Sapling Brandon and Acorn Team Duclay sailed the 35 mile Lloyd Harbor Ed Dole Memorial Stratford Shoals Race.
Brandon sailed aboard First Light, a Tartan 101, and enjoyed sailing with a new crew of sailors. The five hour race seemed really short after the six day race to Bermuda, and he almost forgot what it felt like to sail in breeze! First Light placed 3rd in their class for the race.
Oakcliff's Mousse, a newly donated Olson 33, participated in its first race of the year. Acorns Kilian and Sean Duclay spent many weeks prepping her and were excited to race with their father, Thierry. A competitor filed this report.
Mousse mistakenly forgot to honor the mark and had to douse their kite, hoist a jib and went back to round correctly. The fishermen at Can 13 must have been more than a bit perplexed at this sight... Halfway to the light the whitecaps were starting to form to the South, and here came Mousse, clawing her way back up the fleet, never letting up and flying her spin all-out in a great display of tenacity. She was observed to spin out only once and the gusty move paid off as she rolled three boats in Division 4-- Orion, Rift and Finale, which coincidentally is owned by Mousse's former owner!
Congrats to Brandon and the Duclays!
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 | | Victory '83 during NYYC Race Week |
Sapling Parker Sails to Victory Again!
Sapling Parker Lyman again sailed aboard Victory '83 racing for the 12 Metre Newport Trophy, a part NYYC Race Week.
Parker sailed with the crew last month and was suppose to serve as support crew for this event. However, he was called into action and filled in as a grinder.
The team had two 1st place finishes, one 2nd, and a 3rd to secure the win!
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High Performance Acorns So Fast They're Gone
Twelve very skinny sailors showed up about two weeks ago and were immediately immersed into the Oakcliff chaos. From rigging to nutrition to physical training they were kept busy. They are already off to other events including the 29er Worlds.
The conditions were by no means 'normal Long Island Sound sailing' as in there was a lot of wind. This pushed the sailors into situations that would challenge many of the pros. It also allowed for them to sail fast. So fast in fact that I didn't get time to post their bios. We'll get you to those next week.
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We thank you for your support and one more time, we really do need your help in building housing for our training and visiting sailors. Call us on 516 802 0368 or email for more information.
Sincerely,
Samantha Pilz
& The Oakcliff Sailing Teams
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Safety at Sea Seminar
Oakcliff is hosting an ISAF Safety at Sea Seminar this weekend July 19 & 20.
Get into a life raft, fire off flares, learn about heavy air sailing and get your internationally recognized ISAF Certificate, which is good for five years.
If you think a Sydney Hobard or Fastnet or Bermuda Race is in your five year plan, get ahead of the game and sign up for this seminar.
There are only a few spots available, so if you are interested, please email Dawn here.
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Spots still available for Grade 3 Clinegatta!
Oakcliff's Summer Invitational Clinegatta July 31 to August 3 is Dave Parry's last Clinegatta of the year. That translates to you last time to get his special breed of coaching.
We are still looking for teams to fill a few spots and volunteers to assist Dave on the water on Thursday and Friday afternoons.
There will be high level competition with teams from Singapore, Canada, and Chicago. Request an invitation here .
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 Sailors, Mark Boat Operators, and Umpires Wanted!
Oakcliff's July Open is in need of help on July 26th!
We are still looking for teams to fill a spots, and we need more mark boat operators and umpires to help make the event run smoothly.
Email Bill if you are interested in sailing, helping with marks, or umpiring the event.
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You Have the Power to Help Athletes... For Years
Donate today to build Oakcliff's bunkhouse and your name will inspire young athletes! Leave your legacy through the following options:
Top Bunk or Bottom Bunk - $500
Choose either one and determine where your destiny rests.
Toilet stalls - $500
Place your mark on a throne.
Shower Room - $5000
We promise that there will always be hot water for you.
Bunkroom - $30,000
Decorate the room however you choose.
Great Room - $40,000
Sponsor this room and enhance the learning of our athletes.
Bunkhouse - $150,000
Influence new sailors for years and years to come.
Donate here 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. In 2013, Oakcliff Sailing was named a US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider National Training Center.
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 Win a KJOY Contest!
Click here to win tickets for a sunset cruise and dinner for 4!
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