A quote from Ed Adams

A recent article in Sailing World quoted multi-class National, World and Olympic champion Ed Adams. When asked by parents "How can I make my kid be the next Olympian, the next gold medalist?," his reply was that "...doing well in sailing is probably 25 percent athletic ability. And it's probably 25 percent preparation: taking the kid to regattas, getting him good equipment, hiring him some good coaches. And it's 50 percent ambition and drive, which is not something you can purchase."

The quote struck me as something our team needs to focus on. No, we will probably not be producing Olympians. Look instead at the quote as a roadmap on how to get better. Yes, there are some physical aspects of dinghy sailing that are advantageous: flexibility in drifters,  light weight in moderate conditions, height and upper body/ hand strength when it blows. The "good equipment" comment is pretty much a non-issue for high school sailing since we rotate boats, but at least now we have our own equipment. It's the 50 percent "ambition and drive" that will allow us to have the greatest improvement and that's on you.

As winter approaches, sailing small boats winds down, but if you have the will you can still improve. First, keep up with all school work. Then keep in shape physically. Excess weight is seldom useful. Cross training with other sports is advised. Study the Racing Rules. Read articles on techniques specific to small boats. Think sailing. Look for opportunities to sail (it would be on a keel boat, or in a mid-winters regatta in Florida.)

We will get on the water again in the late spring/early summer!

Cross Posting from the Rowing team blog

For those who might be interested in "big boats," i.e., not dinghies, I'm cross posting from the rowing blog. Jay O'Brien is the assistant coach of the school's rowing team. In addition to his skill in teaching  and coaching rowing he has lots of experience in sailing onboard a Swan 44 out of New York. Recently he competed in the Rolex Middle Sea race in the Mediterranean Sea. I posted about his adventures, reproduced below.

Congrats to Coach O'Brien!

Coach O'Brien is the navigator on Triple Lindy, a Swan 44. The crew just won their division in the esteemed Rolex Middle Sea Race in the Mediterranean Sea. This year's race had conditions that were called "gnarly" by one website and on the Triple Lindy team blog the crew reported "dropping off a 30 foot wave."

Triple Lindy, with a dark blue hull and carbon sails, nailed the leeward end of the start for her class, shown at 2:14 in this video and at 0:28 in this one, and then went on to defeat 21 other IRC Class 5 yachts. She finished 10th overall of 70 starters in (ORC - Offshore Racing Congress) and 13th overall of 91 starters (in IRC.).

 Since the owner is retiring this boat, it was the last race for the boat with this crew.

The picture below show Triple Lindy entering Malta Harbor five minutes from the finish. Coach O'Brien is on the rail wearing the yellow trous.

Here is the link to the team blog. Congrats to the whole crew!

JV Championships

On Saturday, November 4th, Zach, Gus and Tyler braved some cool and brisk conditions on Mill Creek and competed in an eighteen boat JV Championships. The aeronometer at the Willoughby degaussing station recorded breezes 15-20 during the racing. The bay water temperature had dropped to 68 degrees, the coolest we've seen all season.

Here is the summary report from the regatta organizers:

Saturday, November 4:

Eighteen teams from 11 VISA schools met on the coast of Mill Creek at historic Fort Monroe for the final JV regatta of the season. Overcast and damp but not raining, at a raw 60 degrees F, seas were lumpy, an winds held at NE 10-12 mph with higher gusts and minor oscillations. JV sailors competed aggressively, many continuing competition in good spirits well after they were drenched by righting their vessels.

Six W-4 races were completed in a single division allowing for sailors to rotate in as needed every 2 races. One protest by Norfolk Academy in Race 3 resulted in a DSQ For Grafton Team 1 for failing to honor a starboard tacker.

Congratulations to Norfolk Academy for finishing in first place, followed by Poquoson Team 2 in second, and Hampton High School in third place.

A number of boats capsized and retired, but Zach and crew stayed upright and finished every race. Our finishes were  9-12-11-12-12-11 placing us 12th of 18, our highest overall finish of the year.

Thanks to Mr. Suhr who acted as "coach" and adult representative

 and to Mrs. Bromley for the pictures.