2017 Orange Bowl Regatta Reports

Orange Bowl - RWB Fleet  Regatta Report: Coach Hector Guzman A day prior to the start of the event, the team met for one last practice session. We worked on fine-tuning our boats and sails while getting used to the conditions around the racing area. To finish the day and our preparation for the regatta, we partnered up with other teams and worked on starts and short races to get a good feel for what the next day would bring us. Throughout the event, we saw light to medium winds from the NE and the N along with short chop – which made for similar conditions to the classic Westerly in Chicago. This helped the team adapt and look fast and comfortable. This year’s Orange Bowl was an extraordinary experience full of lessons, laughs, and challenges where the team took a step forward to the next level. Sailing with current and 70+ boats on the line was demanding but yet rewarding when executed properly. Learning how to read the clouds to predict wind shifts was one of the highlights of this event. This process required us to be disciplined and attentive to detail. Furthermore, it taught us the importance of hypotheses testing and the value of their conclusions. Discovering patterns allowed us not only to understand the present but to predict the future - a fundamental tool/ability for sailboat racing. A respectable performance featured two overall finishes in the gold fleet, one silver, and two bronze while the team showed an outstanding attitude and desire to improve by continuing to work hard. Once again, I enjoyed coaching the team and look forward to many more experiences like this one. Orange Bowl - Green Fleet  Regatta Report: Coach Julia Melton We had seven Chicago Yacht Club sailors on the green fleet course with a little under 70 boats total in the fleet. The sailors learned a lot in the four days of racing such as the importance of staying hydrated and focusing on three simple things: positioning in the boat, sail trim, and direction. The positioning in the boat is critical because proper positioning allows the skipper steer in a straight line. Keeping the boat flat upwind was critical. In shifty conditions like Biscayne Bay sailors need to be deliberate with their movement to keep the boat flat. The second simple thing to focus on is sail trim. I always stress the importance of sail trim with my sailors. Sailors should make macro adjustments by sheeting in and out and then micro-adjustments by watching your telltales on the sail. The focus should be on your sail about 87-95% of the time, depending on the conditions. The other small percentage is used to check in with the fleet, course, waves, etc. The third simple thing we tried to focus on during the race was our direction around the course! This concept of "direction" may seem obvious, but newer sailors often forget about it on a green fleet course. Sailors need to make sure they are sailing in the right direction (towards the next mark!). This means navigating the least amount of distance to the next mark on the course. For example, upwind sailing the lifted tack and not sailing past layline. The CYC sailors supported their teammates on and off the water. The top finishers were Evan Wern finishing in 16th and Grace Renz finishing in 23rd. All of our Green fleet sailors did a remarkable job, and most importantly, they were all smiling on the last day!

Shepherd Regatta Results & Upcoming Winter/Spring Regattas

2017 Shepherd Regatta

CYC Opti sailors brave the cold weather at the 2017 Shepherd Regatta!

We had a brrrrilliant time at the Shepherd regatta last weekend! CYC had a strong showing with 5 sailors in RWB and 8 sailors in Green fleet. Our team learned the importance of keeping a sharp mental focus when it’s cold. (Temperatures were in the 30's on Saturday and in the lower 40's on Sunday with consistent rain!) This regatta was a great way to finish the fall season with top finishes in both fleets. Way to go team!

You can find the full results here: Shepherd Championship Final Results

Upcoming Winter/Spring Regattas

CYC will be supporting the following events for Green and RWB this winter and spring:

Date	Regatta	Location	Blog Sign-up	Registration/ NOR
Dec 26th-30th	Orange Bowl	Coral Reef Yacht Club, FL	Deadline past	Registration deadline past
March 2-4	USODA Sunshine State Championship	US Sailing Center Martin County, FL	Sign-up on the blog here	NOR
March 9-11	USODA Gulf Coast Championship	Fairhope Yacht Club, AL	Sign-up on the blog here	NOR

Today is the sign-up deadline for Sunshine State Championship and Gulf Coast Championship. Please mark yourself down if you wish to participate so we can get an accurate headcount. There will be a Friday practice at the venue for both events.

If you are not bringing a boat to Orange Bowl, you can still charter a boat at Sunshine or Gulf Coast Champs. 

Please reach out if you have questions. 

JM

Cold Weather Sailing Guide

Cold Water Sailing Guide

Very helpful tips for sailing in cold weather! Pdf is also found on program documents tab.

Good Boathandling Videos to Watch!

Green & Lime Fleet Families!!
We've had a great month of practice! Both Green & Lime are raising their game to the next level. Both Teams are working on more efficient boathandling, particularly tacks - leading up to to roll tacks. A picture is worth one million words, I told both groups I'd send some links to videos for them. There's lots of video out there;  boats capsizing, surfing waves, feel free to search around for lots of Opti sailing fun from all over the world!

Here are links to some YouTube Videos.  Please share these with your sailor, and feel free to watch them with him/her!! Look at the body/leg/feet/hand positions.
Some by the RYA... (Royal Yachting Association) Great Britain's National Sailing Authority. They are great demos of tacks!! 

Tacks in Medium Breeze:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0o1Kn9aVy0

Tacks in lighter & lumpy, Crossing boat with a hand on the centerboard trunk (not RYA).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1aemnBBMPA

Jibing in Medium Breeze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdUxvFfreNU

Accelerating (on a start line)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b709I2Bbm8U

All the sailors should join the US Opti Class - for more info and for a great video, Checkout USODA.org

Reach out with questions!! 

Cheers!

-Coach Amy

Accommodations for Upcoming Regattas

CYC Green Team,

USODA Midwest Championship at Tawas Bay Yacht Club. Team Picture: CYC RWB and Green Sailors.

We had a blast at the USODA Midwest regatta last weekend! Many of you are discussing plans for the next two upcoming regattas, which is awesome! I’ve had a couple questions about hotel accommodations. You are welcome to stay wherever you would like, but below is where I’ve booked rooms for the coaches.

1. US Junior Olympics regatta @ Macatawa Bay Yacht Club October 7-8^th. There are 20 rooms left at the Quality Inn and several other hotel options in the Holland area. I did not reserve a room block, but if you would like to stay at the Quality Inn , it’s about 12 mins away from MBYC. There will be no practice on Friday. The drive is about 3 hours so you may want to arrive Friday evening if you’re not a morning person.

Quality Inn:

422 E. 32nd St.

Holland, MI, 49423

Front Desk:(616) 392-1000

2. Halloween Spectacular @ Lake Geneva Yacht Club, October 28-29^th. Please see the Notice of Race (NOR) attached. The NOR has a few hotel recommendations.  I booked a room for the coaches at the Fontana Village Inn about 8-12 mins away from the Club. There will be no Friday practice so if you are up for making the 2 hour drive on Saturday morning, then you only need to book for one night.

Fontana Village Inn: 

100 E Dewey Ave, Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI 53125

fontanavillageinn.com

I will send out a detailed regatta schedule a week prior to each event. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions. I’m thrilled with the amount of enthusiasm and participation that we have for these upcoming events!

Thank you,

Julia Melton | Sailing School Director

USODA Midwest Regatta Logistics

Opti Team,

Next weekend is USODA Midwest Championship at Tawas Bay Yacht Club! Amy will be coaching Green Fleet and I will be coaching RWB for this regatta.

Please come help load your boats on Wednesday Sept 13 at 5:15pm. If you are unable to load your boat at that time then you have two options:

1. Load your boat to the 6 boat Opti trailer on Sunday after practice. NOTE THAT 6 BOAT OPTI TRAILER WILL NOT BE ARRIVING TO TAWAS BAY UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT SO DO NOT LOAD YOUR BOAT TO 6 BOAT TRAILER IF YOU PLAN TO PRACTICE ON FRIDAY.

2. Ask another family to load your boat for you. IT IS NOT THE COACHES RESPONSIBILITY TO LOAD YOUR BOAT.

I will be arriving to Tawas Bay Thursday night with the trailer of boats practicing on Friday and Amy will be arriving late on Friday night with the 6 boat trailer.

Weekend Schedule:

Friday, September 15

9am-12pm CYC Green Fleet Practice

12-4pm CYC RWB practice

3-6pm Check-In: Competitors & Coach/Support Boat Flags

6:30pm Welcome Reception

Saturday, September 16

*Arrive to Club as early as needed to be rigged and ready at 8:25am.

7:30-8:30am Check-In: Competitors & Coach/Support Boat Flags Continental Breakfast

8:25am  Rigged and Ready

8:30am CYC Team Meetings

8:45am Coaches Meeting

9:00am Competitors, Coaches and Parents Meeting (Mandatory)

*CYC Team Meetings again after Competitors Meeting.

9:30am Harbor Start

1030 First Warning – Championship Fleet Lunch on the water

After Racing Competitors Dinner

Sunday, September 17

*Arrive to Club as early as needed to be rigged and ready at 7:40am.

7:00-8:30am Breakfast

7:40am Rigged and Ready

7:45am CYC Team Meetings

8:00am Coaches Meeting

8:30am Harbor Start

9:30am First Warning – Championship Fleet Lunch on the water

1430 No first warning signal after this time

After Racing Awards Ceremony

Be sure to read the Notice of Race before arriving to the event. Also, please sign up to bring heathy snacks for the kids to share on the coach boats. We will have jugs of water on our coach boats so pack a refillable water bottle that your sailor can clip on to the boat.

Essential items to bring:

-sailing gear: booties, spray gear, gloves, layers (fleece, wetsuit, spandex, etc.)

-PFD

-refillable water bottle

-healthy snacks

-sunblock, hat, sunglasses

-race team pinny

-notebook to take notes

-binoculars (for parents on land)

We are looking forward to a fun event! Please let me know if you have any questions.

LINE HONORS is offering all student sailors 25% off

LINE HONORS is offering all student sailors 25% off all GILL, ZHIK & ROOSTER products through September 30, 2017. 

Use coupon code - "STUDENT17"

Please note...special ends on 9/30/17

Bob Hillier | Owner

LINE HONORS | YACHT RACING OUTFITTERS

726 Geneva St. 

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin  53147

USA

(262) 248-8800 | (866) 661-5454

www.linehonors.com

"From an Inland lake to the Southern Ocean, we have the sailing gear for you"