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[By Michael Campbell via www.campbellsailing.com]

In what seems like yet another major oversight by the ISAF Council, the two keelboat classes: the Olympic Star and the Women’s Match Race formats were both dropped from the next Games in 2016 in Rio. This happens to some class or another every time there is a vote for classes at the Olympics. The Star was dropped before the 2000 Games in Sydney before being reinstated. The Soling Match Race event was dropped for the 2004 Games. The Tornado Multihull was dropped for this upcoming Olympics in London and Weymouth. And now the Olympic Keelboat both Men’s and Women’s have been conspicuously omitted from the 2016 program in Rio. It’s a major disappointment for a lot of sailors both on and off of the Olympic circuit. Unlike Women’s Match Racing the Star has had a venerable run in Olympic competition having first been introduced in the 1932 Olympics. Yes, you read correctly, 80 years of Olympic history, finished. 2011 is almost ironically a big year for the Star class as it celebrates its 100th year of history at the Centennial Regatta in Larchmont, NY this September.

Without a doubt, Star sailing is what inspired me to pursue my Olympic ambitions first in the Laser and now in the premier one design keelboat in the world. San Diego Yacht Club’s hosting of the 1994 Star Worlds opened this 10-year-old’s eyes along with hundreds of other junior sailors showing us what world class international sailing was all about. We pushed trailers around the boat park and helped tie boats up to slips while we marveled at the many languages and experiences bellowing from these giants (quite literally in some cases) of the sport. These guys were my heroes in the midst of the America’s Cup also going on at SDYC at the time. Today as I walk the docks of these foreign ports and mingle with the elite sailors of Olympic as well as professional sailing it is never lost on me that there are young eyes observing our every move, following our results, and practicing their skills long after we have left town with hopes that they may one day be able to compete with us and at our level. Perhaps the greatest asset that the Star class brought to the table for this Olympic selection was the caliber of the talent and its strong connection to fleets around the world. Each top sailor involved at the Olympic level has a strong connection with his home fleet in some way or another. That trickle down in the form of inspiration and exposure to sailors both young and old across the globe is not to be diminished as a major factor for the health of our sport.

While I understand the desire for ISAF to pursue the faster, more accessible, and media friendly classes for the Olympics, I cannot agree with their casting aside of the single most recognizable representation of our sport to sailors and non-sailors alike: the keelboat. I felt much the same way about the multihull and the decision to remove that sector of the sport from the docket in 2012. ISAF is missing a grand opportunity to showcase a very important part of our game by not presenting the multihull when the Olympics come to London and Weymouth. The difference in my mind is while multihulls are one sector of the sport, while keelboats are the mainstream. Dinghy sailing is a precursor for sailors all over the world who will eventually pursue their passion in some form of keelboat sailing. Without a doubt the omission of the keelboats for both men and women will likewise omit some of the gravitas involved with Olympic competition in the future. Regardless of Olympic status the Star will continue to attract some of the best sailors in the world simply because of the support of its fleets and its history, but it will likely lose some of the elite competition driven by the additional weight of Olympic dreams. Beyond that the class will remain as the single greatest example of any Olympic class in history for its evolution and adaptation to maintain Olympic status. Other classes on the chopping block should observe how the Star has preserved both its fantastic culture of racing at the Local, Regional, and International level, while also continuing as an Olympic Class. Other Olympic classes can boast one or the other, but not often both. The developmental nature of the class rules and the progressive and intuitive nature of its membership are quite simply unparalleled. What better year to be involved with the Olympic Star than 2011? This story will undoubtedly develop over the next few weeks as we head to Weymouth to start our Olympic Trials next month.

Stay tuned at www.campbellsailing.com

SDYC competitors have participated in Certified Clean Regattas around the globe.  Now SDYC joins in with our first Registered Clean Regatta, the Etchells Worlds June 6-11.   The Club and Regatta Chair, Chuck Driscoll, are counting on all SDYC members to make the pledge:

We pledge our commitment to clean waters and shores by participating in Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas program. We vow to fulfill, and encourage others to fulfill, the goals and requirements of Clean Regattas as set forth by Sailors for the Sea, and to work to protect and restore our waters for the use and enjoyment
of current and future generations.

Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers the boating community to protect oceans and local waters. Clean Regattas certification provides independent, third-party verification that a yacht club, sailing program, or regatta is environmentally responsible, and is doing its utmost to protect the waters upon which people sail. This program is an effort by Sailors for the Sea, in conjunction with committed participants, to reduce our impact on our oceans and local waters.

Please visit the Sailors for the sea web site, www.sailorsforthesea.org, and view their video and support materials.

The Etchells Worlds regatta is registered at the Bronze Level which includes these commitments:

• Clean Regatta Liaison, Mark Reynolds, will communicate with Sailors for the Sea, and present the program at the skipper’s meeting.
• Trash Free Regatta – Keep your shores and waters clear of debris. Overboard discharge of trash and littering at shore facilities (e.g., rigging tape, cigarette butts, beer cans) is prohibited.
• Recycling – Encourage recycling from boats and shore facilities.
• Relying upon re-usable bow numbers.
• Eliminating the use of plastic straws and disposable bottles throughout the entire regatta.
• Using biodegradable products, such as cups, coffee cups, household towels, toilet tissues and garbage bags.
• Providing journalists with electronic press kits to reduce paper usage.
• Green Team of SDYC volunteers to work on shore and sea cleanup, oversee recycling operations and communicate the goals and agenda of the program throughout the event.
• Non-Toxic Cleaning Products – Include a list of “green” cleaning products in skipper’s packet.
• No Discharge – DO NOT allow discharge of untreated sewage or blackwater in harbor areas or no-discharge zones (NDZs).
• Oil Spill Prevention – Motorized vessels shall carry and use at least one bilge sponge and one fueling spill pad.

More Information on the Clean Regattas Program

More information on Green Cleaning Materials (Non-Toxic Cleaning Products)

Lynlee Slayter

Dennis Conner and crew scored a hat trick triple victory in the 64th Newport to Ensenada race this year on his Farr 60 “Stars & Stripes”.  The boat was First Monohull to Finish, First in the Maxi Class and First in the Entire Fleet of boats on corrected handicap time. DC and crew won the most prestigious prize of the race, President of USA Trophy, along with several others.  Conner had been first to finish three times previously but had never won overall at the same time.

There were a handful of bigger monohulls with faster ratings than Stars and Stripes, which rated minus-63 seconds per mile.

Conner said, ‘S and S is not quite as fast in the prevailing conditions as the bigger boats. After the start the boats sorted out as you might expect based on the ratings. [Lorenzo Berho's Kernan 70] Peligroso and [Bob Lane's Andrews 63] Medicine Man were about six miles ahead at the Coronado Islands.

‘Stars & Stripes was the first boat to jibe to port and got a nice header going to the LNG Plant at the entrance to [Todos Santos] bay. This enabled her to catch up with the boats ahead. At this point there was 18 miles to go. It took 10 hours to finish, so you can see it was stop and go. The guys on S and S did a great job beating the faster boats to the finish and were very excited about being first to finish, first in class and first overall.’

Light breeze was the only limiting factor to this year’s Kite Racing exhibition at the 2011 Miami OCR. With a great turnout of Kite Racers and Support crew the weekend was organized to be a great success and promote Kite Racing to the Sailing World, and the Olympic Committee. Unfortunately due to the lack of wind over 7 knots we were unable to complete any races on Saturday and Sunday. On the otherhand, many Kite Racers were able to display the pure awesomeness of this new sport by showing the sailing world that we can still sail in very light wind. Overall it was a great weekend and a good display to the sailing world what kite racing is all about. With more events taking place like the OCR, Kite Racing will continue its growth and integration into Olympic Sailing. Thank you SDYC for all the support and consideration. I look forward to promoting SDYC at all events I compete in.

Cheers,

Bryan Lake

Thank you so much for making it possible for my crew Cutter O’Connell and I to make the adventure of C420 Midwinter Regatta. It was an incredible experience and I look forward to going for many years to come. Over all I really enjoyed the venue, there was excellent breeze the majority of the regatta and  outstanding race committee. It was a privilege to be able to go to this event, and my trip would not have been possible if it had not been for the aid of the Competition Fund.

The first day of the regatta was light and variable, perfect for a Southern Californian sailor! We ended the day with a  1st, 13th, 2nd, and a 5th. This was a perfect place to start the regatta off, sitting in 3rd place! I have found that if you set yourself in a good position in the beginning, it is way easier to stay in your position once you are there, then to have to fight back after a rough day.

The next day begun light, but then shifted more right and began to blow a consistant 12-14 knts. We were excited that the wind picked up because it would be fun to get Cutter out on the wire, and that is exactly what we did! It was a very fun day, and we scored a 14th, 4th, 7th, 8th, and a 3rd. It was not exactly the day that was going to put us in the leader position, but at least we were still in a solid position.

The last day was a solid 18-20kts, out of the south. The first race we did not get off of the line as well, and fought back throughout the long race and ended up with a 4th. That was really key for us to get that top 5, so we could ensure a top spot, since before that day, our worst scores were a 13 and a 14. The next two races were tough and windy, and we got a 21st, and a 17th. Although it was not exactly the most ideal way to end a regatta, we were still really happy to finish in 5th place!

The C420 Midwinter Regatta was a great opportunity for Cutter and I, and it would not have been an option without the SDYC Competition Fund. Thank you so much for aiding me in the pursuit of my many sailing endeavors. I look forward to representing our club all over the world in the near future.

Sincerely, Will La Dow

Thank you for assisting my crew, Cutter O’Connel, and I get to the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta. It was a great experience, and I look forward to attending this following year. Without the aid of the Competition Fund, my trip would not have been possible, and I would have missed out on an amazing experience.

In the days leading up to the regatta I was unsure of what the outcome would be, and was not sure I was whole heartedly into the big trip across the country. As I finally got onto the plane, I realized how lucky I was to be given this opportunity, and that it was my duty to put all of my efforts into it; to just go for it. From that moment on in the trip my whole mindset transfered and I was ready to give my all to this huge event.

The first day of racing was very windy, not to mention freezing, averaging at about 22 knots, and to make it more challenging, jet lag was getting the best of us. Nevertheless, we gritted our teeth and kept going, posting a 10, 19, 3 for the day. The first two races were very disappointing, but all in all it was not a bad way to start the regatta, and we sat in 15th place.

The second day was a little warmer, and the wind was more steady, averaging at about 12 knots. This was exactly what we had been hoping for! Now all we had to do was do our part, and take advantage of the excellent conditions. That’s exactly what we did! That day we received a 3, 2, 1, and winning the day! That was a great thing for our confidence, and  with this we jumped up to 2nd place! Now the pressure was on, and we had to bring our A game tomorrow.

The third day was going to be great! We were completely ready and when the time came to begin the first race, our jitters mellowed out, leaving us primed. We began the race, and hit a couple correct shifts, positioning us in first place! Then as we began to extend and flood with excitement, the race committee raised the abandonment flag. We were livid! Then to add to all of the frustration, the race committee had used a black flag at the start, meaning that if you were over the line after one minute in the start sequence, it would result in an automatic disqualification. We sailed behind the boat end of the starting line to check if we were black flagged, sure enough, and to our dismay we were, thus disqualified from the next race. For the rest of the day, they only got one race off, meaning that our score for the day was a black flag, 53 points. Although a very large set back, we were still ready for the day to come, and even though we were in 8th place, the points were very close.

The last day of the event was very light and incredibly fluky. We only got one race off and received a 12, we were not happy, but we at least got a respectable score. When we got in we looked at the results and we got 4th place overall! We were incredibly happy and shocked at the same time. Apparently, the people that were ahead of us in the event, had worse scores, so we in fact moved up places! We were ecstatic! So happy to have made the long trip cross country to receive such a respectable result.

This regatta has taught me so much about racing in big events. The necessary mindset, and way to approach the races. All in all the Orange Bowl was a fantastic event, and I was so lucky that this trip was made possible with the help of the SDYC Competition Fund. Thank you for making my sailing possible.

www.campbellsailing.com
2010 has been a strong year for my campaign and me personally. After finishing 11th at the Worlds in Rio in a chartered boat and then chartering a different boat in Nassau at the Western Hemispheres (also 11th) and then using a third boat in Europe where we were able to finish 4th at Lake Garda, 2nd at the European Championships, and 10th at Sail for Gold, I have finally been able to secure my own equipment to move forward. The new P-Star USA-8423 out of the Michigan-based North American Sailing Center came off the production line in August. Together with masts and sails this has put a major dent in this year’s funding, but the training schedule has not stopped and included a week in each November, December as well as the first week in this upcoming January to lead into Rolex Miami OCR in late January. I have continued to sail with John Taylor’s Melges 32 team aboard Ninkasi racing in five events including the M32 World Championships in September in San Francisco. Beyond that I had a great time at the E-Scow Nationals in Little Egg Harbor NJ this past summer, and started racing with the Farr40 Nightshift in a couple regattas this fall in Annapolis. Jacqueline and I were married in October making for a great year indeed.

Sponsors
In terms of sailing I’ve been lucky to be able to keep the Star sailing and the Olympic Campaign a priority this year. Without a doubt it is an expensive proposition and without the outstanding support of my sponsors and donors, it simply wouldn’t happen. Sperry Top-Sider has been a great asset and I am looking forward to continued interaction with their brand through their website and in other ways. Kaenon Polarized has been my longest running relationship in sailing sponsorship. Harken had been significantly involved with my Laser sailing, but with the limit on equipment in that class I cannot say enough of their help getting my new PStar rigged and ready to go for this upcoming season of Star sailing. Also New England Ropes came through as a great partner helping rig the new boat. Also I would be remiss if I did not mention the support from the US Sailing Team Alphagraphics. From coaching to shipping, the support from the team staff and the USOC there is little chance I could continue my Olympic dream without them. Finally, the San Diego Yacht Club has always stood behind my sailing and I have always tried to represent its membership as well as possible. With both an understanding the strong Star sailing tradition at SDYC and the fact that we currently have two club members in the top 7 in the world in the class as well as strong performances coming from our 470 sailors and juniors, our club is at the very pinnacle when it comes to fostering elite talent in the sport of sailing.

2011 and the Olympic Trials
Looking forward, I will be seeking improvement on what is already my best ISAF ranking year of my sailing career. I’m currently 7th in the World Rankings. I will likely be making a change in crew this January in hopes of finding the right combination to make a strong push through the Olympic Trials. The upcoming year will be a challenge demanding a heavy training schedule as well as a lot of travel just to qualify to be a part of the Olympic Trials. The top six American teams will be selected to participate in the Olympic Trials from four events: Miami OCR in January, Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma Spain in early April, Hyeres SOF in France in late April, and if necessary Holland Regatta in Medemblik in May. After those selection events the top six will race in the Olympic Trials based on the best regatta positions at Sail for Gold held in England in May and the ISAF World Championships held in Perth, Australia in December. By then we will know which team will carry on for the final 8 months leading into the Olympic Games in Weymouth in August 2012. The reality is that we are on the brink of the Olympic Trials in a format that no American sailors have seen before. There will be plenty of consternation and commentary about it, but the reality is what it is. Last year I was the top US boat at both the World Championships and Sail for Gold, so I know that we have as good a chance as any to win in this format. That said, the expenses of traveling through this year to meet such a schedule will be a heavy burden for my campaign and will demand a fundraising effort to stay afloat and be successful. The race committees will be foreign and the outside influences will be undeniable, and yet the system remains faithful to the age-old concept of providing an Olympic-Games-like atmosphere. I look forward to that, otherwise I wouldn’t continue to pursue it!

I will be updating from the CampbellSailing.com platform more often starting with the upcoming training camp in Miami as we start down another path the Olympic Games. Thanks for being involved. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

San Diego Yacht Club was honored on December 8th by the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC) for its many programs supporting the area’s military personnel. 

Commodore Bill Campbell accepted the SDMAC ‘s prestigious “Achievement Award” for the Club’s “…outstanding support to San Diego’s active duty military members and their families.”

In addition to an etched glass trophy, the Commodore was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the SDMAC and a citation from Congressman Darrell Issa recognizing SDYC for its “Commitment, Dedication and Professionalism.”

Specifically mentioned as cornerstones of the Club’s support were Operation: Holiday Helping Hand, our Military Appreciation nights, the Sailfest Regatta, and the Patriots’ Day regatta. 

Speaking before a standing room only audience of more than 500 senior military officers, local industry executives and other government officials, Commodore Campbell expressed the Club’s appreciation for the award, thanked the military in the room for their service and the industry members present for their support of the nation’s military forces.  He said the Club is honored to be able to make our programs available for military personnel and is proud to be associated with San Diego’s military population.

SDMAC’s certificate of appreciation said in part “The San Diego Yacht Club’s unselfish dedication to producing, supporting, and financing events such as these are truly reflective of an organization that has gone ‘above and beyond’ in providing extraordinary contributions to San Diego’s military community.”

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Mayor Jerry Sanders and a surprise visit from California’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also received an award for his “Operation Welcome Home” program.  All expressed their appreciation to the military and the SDMAC for the support it provides service members.   The Governor expressed his sincere appreciation to the military and said he is convinced that the reason America is the most powerful nation in the world is due to their service.  He promised to continue his support even after leaving office on January 3rd.  He departed the breakfast meeting by calling out his signature “I’ll be back.”

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (December 8, 2010) – With the record books shortly to close for 2010, US SAILING is celebrating the year in review with the release of its shortlist of nominees for the 2010 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards.  A nod to some of the top performances in the sport of sailing in the United States, those making the 2010 shortlist represent the diversity of the sport, from match racers and speed record breakers to one-design champions and Olympic hopefuls. 

For highlights from the year’s racing results for each nominee, please visit the award site.

A number of SDYC based High Sschool sailors raced in the 2010 ISSA Singlehanded Chamionships (Cressey trophy) over the weekend of October 30/31. The sailors raced in two divisions and were:
 
Nevin Snow, Cathederal Catholic, Laser Full Rig
Olin Paine, Pt. Loma HS, Laser Full Rig
 
Matt Morris, Pt. Loma HS, Laser Radial
Patrick Snow Cathedral Catholic, Laser Radial
 
Notably, Nevin won the Full Rig division and Matt finished 5th in Radial division.