REGATTAS THIS SEASON

Parents thinking of attending regattas this season need to do three things before the event:

1) Ask your sailor's coach if he or she is ready to race. If so, which division (i.e. Green, Red, White, Blue).

2) Register for the event under the regatta's website (listed below). You will need to know your sailor's sail number. [sailors must sign up with USODA ($25 fee) for all USODA events first].

3) Let LYC know once you're registered by filling in the regatta spreadsheet on the Regatta & Clinics page of the blog.


Upcoming Events
October 11-14      USODA West Coast Championships    usoda.org
October 19-20      Fort Myers River Romp         riverromp.org
October 26-27      Halloween Howler                 cgsc.org/halloween-howler  GREEN FLEET ONLY
October 26-27      LYC Team Race Regatta        lyc.org
                               *coaches will make team rosters by October 1, please indicate interest*
November 9-10    Naples Cup Regatta            ncsc.naples.blogspot.com
December 7-8       Junior Olympics at US Sailing Center Martin County usscmc.org
December 27-30   Orange Bowl Regatta   coralreefyachtclub.org

Important facts 
*Late fees are applied to each regatta, so sign up early to save a few bucks
*Most regatta hosts set up lower prices with coordinating hotels and resorts, check the NOR (Notice of Race)
*Team LYC often sets up an LYC block of rooms at participating hotels
*There is no practice at LYC during supported regatta dates
*LYC will trailer your sailor's boat free (reserve through sailing office- priority give to green fleet and coach boat towers)
*LYC needs volunteers to tow coach boats to every regatta

USODA SOUTH EAST CHAMPS REVIEW

Check out the USODA.org website to see how TEAM LYC did this past weekend at the USODA South East Champs hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club. 

A tough weekend for some. The drizzling rain and breezy conditions were challenging many in our young group. Despite the rain, Saturday served up ideal sailing conditions, with a steady 12 knots gusting to 14. Sunday backed off a bit with an oscillating 8-12 knots. The Gulf's flat water and strong current were important to consider when it came to race strategy. However, the oscillating breeze was the most significant factor on the water. The key strategy: Stay in phase. If the wind is left, sail to the left and wait for the righty to take back to the middle.
 
An outstanding regatta for many TEAM LYC members, Connor Murphy taking 6th and Garrett Dixon placing 8th!  Kudos to youngsters Bella Casaretto (16th) and Jonathan Siegel (38th in his first RWB regatta)who were able to put a consistent regatta together and Eddie Holden, Denver Rozzo, and Christian Wagerson just behind them. For many the challenge is to finally put an entire race series together. It feels good to break into the top 15, top 20, or top 30 a few times, now you need to work on making those finishes more consistent.

In total, we saw some big improvements from our young group. I hope each of you has a list of things you need to work on for the next event. I want to encourage all sailors to start taking more responsibility in their regatta. Not just with decisions on the race course and starting line, but also in preparation. What does that mean? It means, sailors should be independently rigging, tuning, and prepping their boats in the morning to be ready for the entire day of racing. So don't forget your lunch box! Parents you'll be happy to start relaxing more in the mornings while your kids are rigging with their team and talking with the coach. All and all a great start to the season! 

More info coming about the next regatta on our calendar!

BOTTOM POLISH TUTORIAL

Time to wax and polish your boat!

Here are some polish/wet sanding steps we recommend. This will take about a half an hour of work but it's really the right way to go to get your hull smooth and return it to "gelcoat white. What you need to understand is that this process is basically abrasive and what you're doing is lightly sanding the yellowed layer off and polishing it to protect your hull. The more faded or "oxidized" your hull is the more you need to compound/polish in order to get back to the original hull color.

What you need: Rags or buffer, StarBright Marine Polish, Wet Sand paper (the bigger the number the softer the grit- go for something 800 or higher), water hose.

Step 1 Wet Sanding
If your topsides are really faded, you should go with the 800 to 1200 grit. Flip your boat on it's dolly and make sure the boat won't rock when you sand it. Turn the water hose on and soak the hull. Keep the hose on a light drizzle and pour on spot you're working on. [REMEMBER YOU AREN'T RESHAPING YOUR HULL SO GO EASY. You can do irreparable damage if you over sand.] With your wet sand paper, sand in the direction of bow to stern. Hint: sand anywhere the water touches.

Step 2 Drying
Once finished wetsanding, dry the hull with a rag and let sit in the sun for a 10 minutes.

Step 3 Polishing
Once the hull is dry, squirt the StarBright Marine Polish across the hull evenly. Use your rag in a circular motion to cover the hull with the Polish, you should have circular residue of polish. Wait about 10 minutes for the Polish to crust and flake. One the polish becomes powdery wipe the hull clean with a dry rag.

Step 4 Care
Take care of your hull and always store with your bottom cover on. Be mindful of the bouncing and scratching from regular dolly use. The more careless you are with the hull the more it will need to be polished!

FALL REGATTA SIGN UPS AVAILABLE

The google spreadsheets for all the LYC supported Fall Sailing Season regattas are posted under the Regattas & Clinics > Upcoming Events page. We ask each participating sailor sign up on our LYC list. We need to count heads to make coaching and travel arrangements for each regatta. Thanks for your help!

Supported Regattas:

September 21-21  USODA South East Championships    usoda.org
October 11-14      USODA West Coast Championships    usoda.org
October 19-20      Fort Myers River Romp         riverromp.org
October 26-27      LYC Team Race Regatta        lyc.org
                               *coaches will make team rosters by Sept 25, please indicate interest*
November 9-10    Naples Cup Regatta            ncsc.naples.blogspot.com
December 7-8       Junior Olympics at US Sailing Center Martin County usscmc.org
December 27-30   Orange Bowl Regatta   coralreefyachtclub.org

Reminder -- Payments Due

LYC requires completion of paperwork and payment of Fall Sailing Program fees prior to the start of the season on Saturday.  ALL PARTICIPANTS must submit their completed registration forms before beginning practice on Saturday.  For LYC members this will authorize LYC to charge your account for payment.  Youth Sailing Guests must have paid by check before practice Saturday morning.

As it already has been with the Laser and High School fleets, this will be strictly enforced this year, so please make sure everything is complete.  Please understand, any sailor who has not completed the necessary paperwork and paid as described above will not be allowed to practice until it is complete.  Thank you.

CHAMP FLEET REFLECTION

LYC Optimist Fall Season Sailor Reflection Worksheet

Name:

Age:

Date of Birth:

Radial or Crosscut Sail:

Section 1:  Past Results

***Make sure to specify which fleet you completed in***

2012Orange Bowl:

2013Valentine’s Day:

2013 USODA Fleet Race Midwinters:

2013 USODA International Regatta:

2013 USODA Team Trials:

Please list any additional result goals if you did not compete in all of the above regattas:

1.

2.

3.

Section 2:  Upcoming Result Goals:

2013  SECs:

2013 WCCs:

2013 Orange Bowl:

2014 USODA Team Race Midwinter:

2014 USODA Team Trials:

Section 3:  Future Sailing Goals/ambitions

1.

2. 

Section 4:  Training Description:

Please describe in detail a typical training week.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

Section 5:  Physiological Attributes

Height:

Weight:

3 Mile Run Time:

Plank Time:

Wall-sit Time: 

Number of pushups unbroken:

Number of situps unbroken:

Hiking bench time:

INT GOLD

LYC Optimist Fall Season Sailor Reflection Worksheet

Intermediate Gold Fleet

Name:

Age:

Date of Birth:

Radial or Crosscut Sail:

Section 1:  Past Results

***Make sure to specify which fleet you completed in***

2012 River Romp Regatta:

2012 Naples Cup:

2012 Junior Olympics:

2013 Spring/Summer Regattas:

Please list any additional result goals:

1.

2.

3.

Section 2:  Upcoming Result Goals:

2013  River Romp Regatta:

2013 Naples Cup:

2013 Junior Olympics:

Section 3:  Future Sailing Goals/ambitions

1.

2. 

Section 4:  Current Training Description:

Please describe in detail a typical training week.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

Section 5:  Physiological Attributes

Height:

Weight:

3 Mile Run Time:

Plank Time:

Wall-sit Time: 

Number of pushups unbroken:

Number of sit-ups unbroken:

Hiking bench time: