[AIS] LSYA

[Dan McNamara (home)]

Fellow AIS sailors,

 

For any of you going up to the LSYA meeting this weekend I wanted you to convey my thanks for sponsoring the team that I was a part of that represented WYC and LSYA at the Richardson Cup.  Below is a message I sent to the Match racing group.  It will give you an idea of what happened and what can be done to make it even better.  The summary is match racing was a great thing, more participation would make it better.

 

I would like to attend the AIS meeting to discuss Sail Fest and getting boats fully crewed for our entire AIS season.

 

Sail Fest was the second most fun I had on the water this year.  I was the guest instructor on an Islander 30 for a husband, wife and a dog.  The same folks I helped out two years ago when the had a 24 foot boat.  This year was their second race ever.  Over 30 boats ventured out in the light air for a drifter around basswood.  Half the boats finished the other were assigned places.  Everyone had a great time, especially me.  We lead the fleet for 7/8 of the race and finished second overlapped with the 3rd place boat (a J-105 named Miss J).  It was exciting!  

 

My point is  Ernie Brodie and Tom Burns put together a great event at the end of Race Week with minimal involvement from our fleet.  Supporting Sail Fest is the easiest way to grow our crew and maybe add some boats to our fleet.  We should at least show up and guest instruct.

 

 Another way to get more crew is better communication.  Have one point person who all the boat owners or crew boss's contact if they need crew for the weekend.  Have that person be the contact on the WYC and AIS website for people looking for a ride.  Have a place in Bayfield crew looking for a ride can show up and get on a boat or ride with Corry, like the picnic table in front of the Marina.  I realize that first timers are going to be rail meet but it is better then being light and you could find a good fit.  I would be willing to be that point person.

 

I hope my email gets you thinking.  Below is the Match Racing Email.

 

Thank you,

 

Dan McNamara

 

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Hay gang,

Sean Hendrickson and Scott Spaeth are going up to the Lake Superior Yachting
Association to thank them for their support of match racing and try to
improve it.

I would like to thank Sean Hendrickson for putting together the match racing
program at WYC this year.  Match racing has been the most fun I have had
this entire season, this includes Race Week, the offshore triangle, Capri
Nationals and the Geneva Great Race.  Monday nights between 6 and 12 of us
would show up.  We would split off into teams and get between 3 and 8 races
in before the sun went down or the wind shut off.  Then we would go over to
Chez Foley Restaurant for a debrief over free appetizers(dinner) and
discounted drinks (for Wayzata).  I learned more about boat handling,
starting, tactics...every thing you need to race fast, from match racing
then 6 years of racing every chance I got, and there is so much more to
learn.  Having the honor of being part of the team that represented WYC and
LSYA for the Richardson Cup topped off a great summer.  The only way my
match racing experience could have been better is if we would have brought
home the cup.  If we would have raced that Sunday I know we would have.

Driving back to Minnesota after the Richardson Cup, Sean, Scott and I were
brainstorming on how to make next year better.  Here is what we thought we
needed:
1.  Get more sailors involved.  Get more WYC members and other clubs from
the area. The more people we get out the more fun we will have.  The more
fun it is, the more competition we will draw.  The better the competition
the better the team we send to the Richardson Cup.
2.  Have the Qualifier in June.  Longer days, less conflicting events makes
it easier to draw sailors and support staff.  It will give us all summer to
drill the winning team and make them better.
3.  Open the qualifier up to non-LSYA member clubs and allow multiple teams
from each club.  Match racing is expensive to put on.  Having more
participation gives it a chance of breaking even.  It will also increase the
level of competition.  If a non-LSYA club wins they would have to become
members if they wished to represent LSYA at the Richardson Cup (I would for
sure buy the ticket if I knew it was the winner).  If not the honor would
pass to the highest placing member team.  If we have too much interest then
limit participation.
4.  Try to get sponsorship to pay for 4 sets of sails.  It is the easiest
way to get boats to perform more closely.  Boat owners are more likely to
lend their boats for the event if they do not have to lend their sails.
5.  Get some local sailors interested in becoming a judge or umpire.  This
will help reduce the cost of the regatta and allow us to have other match
racing events.
6.  Get people out to spectator.  Match racing is more fun and easier to
watch then fleet racing.  It is a good way to generate interest.

Well if you have anything to add send it to Sean.  Once again thank you,



 

Dan McNamara 
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