JibeTalk

Competitive conditions at annual Law Trophy

Commodore Law Trophy Regatta is the first JSA of LIS regatta of the summer sailing season on Monday to Tuesday, June 29 to 30. It is open exclusively to sailors who qualified for JSA Champs the previous year or were accepted by resume. The regatta is hosted at Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, where it was first sailed 86 years ago.

As the regatta’s exclusivity makes for competitive sailing conditions, Law Trophy’s top two finishers in Laser Radial and Club 420 classes are sponsored by JSA at the Area B Qualifier Regatta on July 17 in Bay Shore, NY for US Sailing Junior Singlehanded and Doublehanded Championships.

This year, Law Trophy demonstrated winds that filled by afternoon. Race Committee called postponement due to lack of wind in the morning both days.

Wind averaged four miles per hour, blowing from the West and reaching a 13 mph maximum on Monday, June 29. It grew stronger at a five mph average, 17 mph maximum and 26 mph gust on Tuesday, June 30.

Competitors sailed in clear skies and temperatures around 70 degrees Farenheit. C420s and Radials navigated eight races total. 48 sailors, including 18 C420s and 12 Radials competed.

In C420s, Max Anker and Jack Childs (Riverside Yacht Club) won first, James Paul and Christopher Lukens (RYC) won second and Emery Wallace and Brooklyn Curtin (Cedar Point Yacht Club) won third.

In Radials, Gerard Eastman (Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club) won first, Cooper Yeager (Stamford Yacht Club) won second and Matthew Priebe (SEAW) won third.

View full results here.

See photo album here.

Racing Clinic inspires, improves

JSA’s annual Racing Clinic, co-sponsored by Oyster Bay Sailing Foundation helps sailors improve their ability to qualify for JSA champs in August. Conditioning, on-the-water drills, and interactive discussions about boat speed, tactics, and rules take place during the clinic.

At Port Washington Yacht Club on June 27 to 28, head coach Stan Schreyer and coaches Morgan Wilson and Marlena Fauer brought their enthusiasm, knowledge, and racing experience to train sailors in Club 420s, Standard Lasers and Radials.

Both days of the clinic began with rigging and preparing for sailing. Stan explained the goals and drills.

With overcast skies in the morning on Saturday, light rain began around 1 pm. Wind picked up in the afternoon, gusting to 25 miles per hour.

Sailing focused on boat handling and speed. Marlena led two 420s while Morgan led nine lasers, and Stan alternated between groups.

Returning the next morning, on Sunday, weather stayed overcast and wind speed averaged around 12 mph. Stan discussed racing strategy, including pre-race planning and using visual aids to recognize wind.

On-the-water drills focused on starting and racing tactics. Morgan led a mark rounding drill with the lasers, with her coach boat as the mark.

Debrief followed and sailors derigged. The clinic’s inspiring coaches successfully prepared sailors to improve their technical skills this racing season.

Head Instructor Workshop prepares instructors to coach sailors

Head instructing sailing means more than teaching sailing. It means managing other instructors, working with parents and more. At the Head Instructor Workshop on June 11 at Beach Point Club, this year’s 35 head instructors, program managers and other senior staff learned from experienced coaches on how to instruct in order to prepare for a successful summer season.

Beginning the meeting, Jeff Bresnahan, head coach at Connecticut College’s sailing program discussed difficulties about teaching to the whole class. Instead of teaching to the top level sailor, he advised instructors to consider all sailors and their different learning styles.

Additionally, Jeff discussed instructor liability and strategies for handling water bottle and trash situations in sailing programs.

Following, Clemmie Everett, former Sailing Director at Noroton Yacht Club and JSA Board Member talked about working with types of sailing instructors as a lead instructor.

Clemmie warned instructors to stay positive, set goals and communicate, while leading by example in order to manage the veteran, the newbie and other instructor personalities.

Next, Kevin Broome, Sailing Director at American YC spoke on safety and best practices. He noted the importance of setting sailors up for success, including by checking the weather.

“When in doubt, don’t go out” and “If you’re unsure, it’s time to moor” Kevin wrote on the PowerPoint presentation.

Also, Kevin demonstrated to instructors a safety kit, which carries items instructors need on the water.

At last, Alicia Martorella, Sailing Director at the WaterFront Center described ways to stay GREEN in sailing.

Participants exchanged contact information at the end of the workshop.