I'd like to add my kudos to the Jericho Sailing center. What a class act
and a great group of people. They went out of their way to make us feel at
home, and that we did in a big way. I was most impressed with the disabled
sailing program. Those boats spent more time on the water every day than
in the yard. This is one program I'd like to see added to any sailing
center.
Ron, Mike, Mark, did a great job in organizing the event. Special thanks
to Peggy, Roxanne, and Karl for the photo's I've received and the many
more I hope to receive. What a lovely backdrop for such a race.
I think we should try to support Jericho with their "Jericho Classic" next
spring. We'll have to check the schedule when it comes out next year.
With several boats getting very neer to hitting the water either this fall
or spring next year, 2008 should be one great year to be a Swifie.
Thanks to all who came to the event and I was sorry to miss those who
didn't. Best of luck to all and I hope everyone got home safely.
Keep your sticks in the air and that sander running for those still
working.
On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:45:24 -0600, <BDally6107@xxxxxxx> wrote:
YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN THERE!!!!
With the exception of a little rain the first couple of days of the
clinic,
the 2007 Swift Solo North Americans could not have gone better. We had a
variety of wind conditions and nice weather for the event itself.
Above all else, we were shown a great time by the Vancouver Fleet and the
Jericho Sailing Center. Mike Cotter (the sailing center manager) has
assembled
a first class staff of really helpful people. The facility is
privately run
but open to the public and attracts a large number of onlookers to the
outdoor restaurant / pub deck on the second floor. Both the disabled
and the
junior sailing programs are well run with an amazing amount of
attendance.
Ron Watt did a great job as Regatta Chairman and with the help of Mike
Jocelyn and Mike Cotter, the event went off without a hitch. Peggy
Watt, called
on her resources to put together great gift baskets as trophies and again
volunteered her expertise and time to photograph the event (look for
pictures
soon)--thanks again Peggy.
Special thanks to Ronstan, Fisheries Supply, Banks Sails, and Forte for
sponsoring our diners and awards. These companies have came through
for our
class from the beginning and this year was no exception.
Karl Schulmeister put in a lot of time for us running the clinics and
taking
video and pictures. Thanks for all the help Karl--great job!
Robert did an outstanding job of running the AGM. New officers were
elected
(Robert is our new Pres, Chris Wickham is our VP, Warren Stevens if our
Treasurer, and I am the Chairman of the Technical Committee and Class
Measurer).
Look for the minutes soon.
I'm still a bit tired and I know I've missed a number of people who
deserve
a lot of thanks.
As for the racing--several images come to my mind as I think back:
Mark White has blazing speed upwind in the 6 to 8 knot wind range and I
can
still see him pointing higher and going faster than me and everyone else
on
the way to the weather mark. He will be impossible when he has another
year
under his belt and learns to shift gears better.
Mike Jocelyn also is very fast in the fluky stuff to weather and was up
in
front at the first mark a number of times.
It was also good to see Chris Wickham get a chance to sail a bit since
his
boat is not quite finished yet. Karl took some great video of Chris
sailing
my boat.
While Mark was given the award for the most improved since last year,
Roger
Wright is the guy if you look back two years. His downwind speed
improved
significantly during the event--thanks in part to Karl. Both of these
guys
have made amazing improvement.
Robert continues to be really fast in the heavier stuff to weather and
was
always in the hunt at the finish.
Keith Council has come a long way and has admirable determination.
Look for
him to be in the hunt in the future
Ron Watt and I were involved in a knock down--drag out with duplicate
individual and total scores through the first nine races. The tenth
race saw a
repeat of the very tight racing until the last weather leg when Ron
broke down.
It's anybody's guess what might have been the result if that breakdown
had
not happened.
Ron Radko and the Musto guys were a great addition to the regatta with
Ron
finishing up front a number of times (he's really improved a lot this
season).
We are becoming more like one class both on and off the water and
future
will be brighter for both classes because of this camaraderie. Class
guys--all!
Thanks to everyone who attended and/or helped out. We can all look
forward
to a great year for the class and to next years regatta (somewhere in
the
eastern half of the country--seems to be a lot of talk about Fort
Desoto again).
I've got to go clean up my gear and put it away now--not an unpleasant
job
as I think back on the people and fun of the past 10 days.
Bram
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--
Live large, love lots, and sail fast!
The mark of who you are is determined by what you do when you don't have
to do it.
USA 050 Fugu
77959 Wasabi
Robert Harper
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