2011 Season Event Recap
29 October - Halloween Road Rally
Neither rain nor hail nor sleet nor snow could stop 56 ghosts and goblins from
attending SSYC's Halloween Road Rally! Credit them all for braving the elements
while finding the mysterious "Mr. D" headstone in a local cementary, wearing
their costumes in Shop Rite as they continued their scavenger hunt, meeting a
mystery man at Dunkin Donuts (thanks Gary), and then finally making it to Mc
Loones only to find that the monster mash party was not to be found there.
After completing these and other dastardly deeds, everyone finally made it safely, without too many ghostly incidents, to the Silverball Museum in Asbury Park, where the fun continued on. The first place team arriving in 61 minutes was Team #6 consisting of Howard & Diane Welch, along with Robert and Donna Welch. Congratulations to the Grape Juice Team!
Running in second place, less than a minute behind were Sue and Peter Ricker,
Peter's brother Cubby & his wife Leigh, Kelly & Eugene Zweig and Rosie
& Bruce Lane.
Thanks again to all those brave souls who braved the
weather to make SSYC's Halloween Road Rally a huge success!
Batman and
Robin would like to put a scrap book together. They are looking for road
rally pictures from each team, along with a short paragraph about the most
memorable and/or fun part of the evening.
Please send your pics and
stories to Batman or Robin.
20-22 October - US Sailing 2011 Champion of Champions
Lee and Talbott Ingram are competing in the US Sailing 2011 Champion
of Champions at the Corinthian Sailing Club in Dallas. Competition starts on
Thursday, Oct 20 and continues through Saturday, Oct 22. There are 20
competitors and everyone will be sailing Flying Scots. Lee and Talbott represent
the Comet Class Champions.
The US Sailing website http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/CofC.htm provides information and up-to-date daily results. Good luck Lee and Talbott!
9 October - Frostbite Laser Series - Frostbite ... Really?
Last week was a successful start to the Laser Frostbite Series,
although the only chance of frostbite was if you put your hand in your cooler
and kept it there waiting for the wind to pick-up. To say it was a light wind
day would be awfully generous! Nonetheless, the Lasers got in 5 races and the
racers had a great day! Thanks to Gary Depice for putting this together and a
huge shout-out to Paul Clauss for his expert assistance.
2 October - Fall Series Concludes
The Fall Series wrapped up on October 2nd. Wind conditions
over the series ranged from light and variable to blustery to downright too much
to race safely! Nevertheless race committee volunteers forged ahead dauntlessly
and intrepid racers hung in there for the season.
Highlights of the series include Talbott and Lee Ingram trouncing the Flying Scot Fleet in a borrowed boat (way to go!) in preparation for the US Sailing Champion of Champions event to be held in White Rock Lake at the Corinthian Sailing Club in Texas on October 20 -22. GO GET ‘EM TEAM INGRAM! Had Team Clauss been on the water more, the outcome might have been different. Gordon Milnes proved once again how good a sailor he is by placing in the Laser Fleet. Gordon has placed in three fleets this year, which if not a Club record, has to be close to one! John Gearon wrapped up a season of steady improvement by scoring three bullets in the final weekend of the Fall Series. Way to go John! We had more Sanderlings racing in the Fall Series than the Championship Series. It certainly is great seeing those Sanderlings heeled over in a nice breeze . . . from a distance! We had one set of twins and one set of triplets race in the Opti Divisions -- the Quinn Family took a lot bullets this series! I’d have to say that may be a Club first as well! Special thanks to ALL the folks who supported our junior sailors this fall! On a sad note, Ole Pederson’s Woodpussy gave out on the stern hoist bracket as he attempted to hoist his boat off the trailer. Thankfully, it was not far in the air when it happened which helped to minimize the damage. Ole & Soren now have a winter project they weren’t expecting. Check out the final results here.
For those who still want to be on the water but don’t want to race, be on the lookout for an email blast from Gary Depice who is looking for Race Committee volunteers for the Laser Frostbite Series.
25 September, 2011 - Dinner on Deck #6
What a finish to this season's Dinners on Deck. Seventy-nine adults
(WOW!) and thirteen children attended the event (with some of the children
taking an impromptu dip in the river).
Saving the best for last, host JoAnn and Commodore Steve Lapp served an unbelievably delicious meal, catered by Creative Catering of Oceanport, consisting of stuffed pork tenderloin, lemon rosemary chicken, potatoes au gratin and a fall vegetable medley.
The evening would not have been possible, but for the invaluable assistance of helpers: Diane Welch, Ainsley Van Winkle Hilfiker, Beverly Van Winkle, Carrie Van Winkle White, Michael Meehan, Jeff Jacobi and Jane Burrrell.
Thanks to all who helped and all who attended. What a wonderful evening we had to wrap-up this season's Dinners on Deck!
24 September, 2011 - Hood Trophy -Tufts University
It felt a lot like Old Home Week this past Saturday at Tufts
University, when several SSYC Sailors met up to compete for the Professor
Steadman Hood Trophy. Light winds resulted in only four races per division, with
Harvard taking top honors, followed by Tufts and Yale. SSYC's sailors included
(left to right) Andrew Tamblyn (Roger Williams University), Alix Zweig
(Providence College) and Dan Ricker (Washington College).
18 September, 2011 - Dinner on Deck #5
A rousing "Gracias!" to Gail and Stuart Van Winkle for hosting Dinner
on Deck #5. Fifty-eight people came out and enjoyed beef tacos and chicken
fajitas. Despite the early winds, the weather turned out fine and a wonderful
Dinner on Deck was enjoyed by all who attended. A special thanks to Cathy and
Mike O'Brien, Beverly Van Winkle, Ainsley Van Winkle Hilfiker, Liz Gearon, Ellen
Meehan and JoAnn Lapp who worked in the kitchen and helped to make the event a
huge success!
17 September, 2011 - Comet Drew Bowl, Territory III, and NJYRA Championship Regatta
SSYC hosted the 2011 Drew Bowl on Sept. 17th in
conjunction with the Comet Territory III and NJYRA Championship regatta. We were
pleased to have 14 boats participate including 6 boats from the local SSYC
fleet. This event also drew competitors from Green Pond YC, Susquehanna YC (PA),
and as far as Corsica River YC, which is located on the eastern shore of
Maryland. We were also happy to have some SSYC alumni sailors return “home” for
this event including: James Britton, Theo Ingram, and Steve Widdis. Both Theo
and James competed in borrowed boats that were made available by the Comet Class
Yacht Racing Association.
The air on the day was out of the east at 15-18 mph steady, which made for exciting sailing conditions. This easterly breeze coupled with the orientation of the Shrewsbury River also made for some moderate swells with white caps. The competition between the Ingram boats was fierce with Theo and crew Max Neubelt taking finishes of 2-3-2 and Talbott and Lee Ingram posted finishes of 1-1-1. With three “bullets”, Talbott and Lee retain the Drew Bowl and Territory III for another year. Competition for places 3, 4, 5, and 6 was also tight with only one point separating each place, with third place going to the Mike and Cathy O’Brien, fourth to Bob Slook and Dominique Neubelt, fifth to Wick Dudley and Gabby Neubelt, and sixth to Jim and Kristen Brinkman. See complete regatta results here.
The Comet class would like to Thank Jeff Jacobi, our PRO, for the fine courses set for this three-race regatta; and would also like to acknowledge rescue boat work provided by the Wood Pussy fleet. With wind velocities in the mid-teens, the stage was set for potential rescue support. The Comet fleet did not disappoint with four capsizes and some muddy sails. Photo courtesy of www.cometclass.com.
September, 2011 - Annual Meeting - Congratulations Commodore Lapp!
On Friday night, 9 September, the SSYC Annual Meeting was held. The
ballots were opened, the votes counted and by unanimous vote, the proposed slate
was elected. That the proposed slate ran uncontested probably had a factor in
the election results. Congratulations and best wishes to the new Commodore,
Steve Lapp and fair winds and following seas to the outgoing Commodore Bernie
Kosinski. Past Commodore (PC) Kosinski successfully led the club through its
75th anniversary year and those events were summarized at this year’s
Annual Meeting. While PC Kosinski remains on the Board, several members have
completed their tenure on the Board and are passing responsibilities to new
members. This includes PC Paul Clauss, Liz Gearon, the Treasurer for the past
two years and Joe Koerwer, the SSYC Secretary for the past six years.
John Quinn becomes the newest Flag Officer, being replaced by Joe Richter as Fleet Captain. Bill Carlin is the new Treasurer and Phil Arnheiter returns to the Board as a member at large. The entire 2011-12 Board follows:
Commodore – Steve Lapp
Vice Commodore –
Kelly Zweig
Rear Commodore – John Quinn
Fleet
Captain – Joe Richter
Race Chair – Gus
Fingado
Treasurer – Bill
Carlin
Secretary – Walter Burrell
Financial
Secretary – Maureen Kearney
BOG Class of 2012 – PC
Leighton Waters, Mike Meehan, George Morris, & Bob DeSantis
BOG
Class of 2013 – PC Mike Lyttle, Rosie Lane, Mike Eager & Bryan
Holsey
BOG Class of 2014 – PC Bernie Kosinski, Phil
Arnheiter & Peter Seligman
With minimal turnover of Board membership, there should be a consistency of direction for the next year.
11 September, 2011 - Dinner on Deck #4
Thanks to Sue and Doug Milnes (who jumped from PRO to D.O.D host) for
hosting Dinner on Deck #4. In commemeration of September 11th, the guests
enjoyed a traditional American meal of pulled pork and chicken, chicken tenders
(for the kids), potato salad, baked beans, baked macaroni and cheese, green
salad, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream sandwiches. What a wonderful
evening! Thanks also to Lynn Estrada and JoAnn & Commodore Steve Lapp, whose
assistanace made the evening as smooth as a gravy sandwich!
It was a pleasure to spend an evening on the deck, appreciating friends and family on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
11 September, 2011 - Fall Series Begins
The rains held off, but light winds ruled the day. Thankfully, a fair
number of sailors brought their boats back to the club (post-Irene) and
competition was lively among the participants. Thanks to PRO Doug Milnes for
running a no-muss, no-fuss course and all the assistants who worked the finish
boat and rescue boats. Thanks to the Mungers who ran the Opti course, dominated
on the day by the Quinn Brothers and Shannon Kearney! Be sure to join us at the
club next Sunday for the continuation of Fall Series. By the way, where were all
those Monmouth Boat Club sailors we were promised? Check out the results of
Races 1-3 here.
10 September, 2011 - Ladies Luncheon & Regatta
We had a great crowd of thirty-five women who came out for the Ladies
Luncheon, with twelve of them sailing in the Regatta. Thanks to Junior Commodore
Audrey Meehan, who rigged all of the boats with her Mom, Ellen.
A wonderful luncheon was enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks to Cathy Tamblyn, Susan Ricker, Rosie Lane, Liz Gearon, Dianne Welch, Lynn Estrada and Kelly Zweig, who donated the delicious food.
In the post-luncheon regatta, John Gearon served as PRO and Gus Fingado manned the rescue boat. Melissa Fingado was photographer for the day and her photo(s) will be posted soon.
It was a beautiful day to enjoy a fantastic lunch and competitive racing. See the final results here.
5 September, 2011 - Labor Day Regatta
Winds that eluded much of the racing during Championship Series
showed-up on Sunday. While cloud cover kept the sun away, the winds were ideal
for sailing and a great course was enjoyed by all of the sailors who celebrated
Labor Day on the water. Competition was intense, but as always at SSYC, fun and
sportsmanship ruled the day! To all who sailed and assisted: Well done!
Check-out the final results here.
4 September, 2011 - Trophy Dinner
What a wonderful night for the Trophy Dinner! Thanks to Maureen
Kearney who organized the event and all who assisted with set-up food service
and clean-up. Congratulations to all our award winners! To see the final results
and Special Award winners, check-out the complete list here.
4 September, 2011 - Past Commodores Feast & Frolic
Commodore Bernie Kosinski and his wife, Sue welcomed over 40 Past
Commodores, spouses and officers to the annual Past Commodore's brunch on the
deck. A lovely meal, spicy bloody's, great conversation and a few new faces made
for a lovely morning on the deck. The Past Commodore's meeting followed, ably
chaired by Skipper Bill Van Winkle PC '72, where the group's activities were
reviewed. The Past Commodore's Race followed in breezy conditions and PC Jim
Widdis was victorious, soundly thrashing his fellow PC's in a blur of Dacron and
seafoam. Check-out the complete results here.
A huge thanks from the PC's to Bernie and Sue for a wonderful year.
4 September, 2011 - Champion of Champions
The smart money was on Dave Whittle who already had a time around the
course as one of the Past Commodores. However to add an additional challenge,
the Race Committee did a change up and had the competitors go around the W-L
course twice. On the 2nd time around, a 90 degree CCW wind shift resulted in
Chris Prattand Dave having to tack to get to the windward mark, although prior
to the shift they were more or less on the starboard lay line. Brad Meade was
well behind but was on the other side of the course. The same wind shift helped
Brad as he was able to reach the mark directly by sailing a broad reach. This
put him in 1st place at the windward mark and neither Dave nor Chris was able to
catch him.
Dave, Chris and Brad are all excellent sailors and this was anyone’s race. The wind gods blew favorably on Brad, who took 1st, with Chris Pratt in 2nd and Dave Whittle in 3rd. Congratulations Champion of Champions, Brad Meade!
August, 2011 - REVISED Championship Series Results are Posted
The results have been RE-TABULATED and the REVISED RESULTS are now
posted in the On The Water tab and HERE. Congratulations to all who raced in the Championship
Series and "Thank You" to everyone who served on Race Committe, served as PRO's,
manned rescue boats and assisted over the course of the summer.
Check-out where you finished and come down to the club on Sunday, 4 September at 6:00pm for the Trophy Dinner.
24 August, 2011 - Winds Blow for First Annual SSYC Junior Regatta
Seventy-five sailors from sixteen different yacht clubs gathered on
Wednesday, 24 August to compete in the First Annual SSYC Junior Regatta. The
NJYRA had designated our regatta as the Class Championships for Opti Red, Blue
& White and for C420.
As PRO, John Garth set fun and challenging trapezoid courses. Even the Green Optis sailed a trapezoid, many for the first time. Winds started at about 8 knots, but ramped up to a steady 18-20 knots in the afternoon, with gusts over 25.
Many SSYC members assisted John and made the day a success. Jeff Jacobi was the regatta's Judge. On-the-water assistance included Kevin Kearney, Bob and Debbie Slook, Mike and Phil Eager, Ainsley Van Winkle Hilfiker, Phil Arnheiter, Bernie Kosinski, John Quinn, Kelly Zweig, Walter Burrell and Stuart Van Winkle.
Peter and Susan Ricker assisted, bringing Oceanport Patch reporter and photographer, Patricia Hart Zackma to cover the event. Check-out some great phots and read her article here.
On land, JoAnn Lapp, Paula and Audrey ("What can I do next?") Giblin, Beverly Van Winkle, Debbie Slook and Kelly Zweig helped to register the sailors and then moved on to help out on the race course or in the kitchen for the rest of the day.
It was a great day on and off the water. Many visiting sailors and parents enjoyed seeing SSYC, some of the parents having sailed here when they were younger.
Trophies went 5 deep in all classes except 4.7, which went 3 deep. Notbaly, SSYC's Michael Munger won 1st place in the Opti Red class and was, therefore, the NJYRA Class Champion. Congratulations, Michael! Check-out the results here.
Thank you to Maureen and Kevin Kearney for taking the lead in planning, scheduling and running this incredibly successful event! Nice job, Maureen & Kevin! Photo courtesy of Pat Zackman.
21 August, 2011 - Crab Catching Contest
Members of the club, young (and not as young) came out in the rain on
Sunday, 21 August for the annual Crab Catching Contest. After several
lightning-induced time-outs, the boys edged the girls 17-12. Thanks to Susan
& Peter Ricker, Stuart Van Winkle, Kelly & Eugene Zweig, Mike &
Ellen Meehan and JoAnn & Steve Lapp, who helped to make the evening fun for
everyone! Photo courtesy of
Pat Zackman.
19 August, 2011 - End of Year Junior Program BBQ
Friday, 19 August, 2011 marked the end of another
successful Junior Sailing Program at SSYC. Thanks to Mike Meehan (and Ellen) who
ran the program seamlessly. Thanks also to the instructors, who worked
tirelessly with our Juniors, from those who were just learning port from
starboard to those who sought to hone their racing tactics.
The Junior Program ended with a fantastic BBQ, which followed the annual home-made boat races. Congratulations to Matt Meyer, whose hand-crafted catamaran crossed the distance between the jetties at the fastest pace.
Thanks to everyone who helped set-up, cook and clean-up after the event. To all the Junior Program participants, have a great school year and we'll see you in June!
16 August, 2011 - Manasquan River Yacht Club Rookie Regatta
The Rookie Regatta was held on Tuesday, 16 August at the Manasquan
River Yacht Club. The rookies were able to fit in 5 races and most impressively,
these young boys and girls raced the first two in torrential downpours. It's a
credit to the kids and their coaches that they braved the elements with only one
racer in 32 dropping out of the event!
SSYC sent three sailors and showed off what they've learned from their instructors with Will Hilfiker taking First Place overall, David Burrell coming in 6th and Harris Hilfiker rounding out this trio of hockey-playing sailors in 19th. Congratulations, boys! Now that's what we call a Hat Trick!
15 August, 2011 - SSYC Wins Merrick Team Race!
SSYC dominated the 15th Annual Samuel Merrick Team Race at Bay Head
Yacht Club, taking First Place in the regatta held in honor of local Barnegat
sailing master Samuel Merrick, winning all races against all teams in the 420
Class, once the rain stopped and the wind arrived. Pictured, from left to right,
Carolyn Kearney and Tom Slook, Gabi Neubelt and Kendall Van Winkle, Audrey
Meehan and Max Neubelt. Our Opti Sailors: Brittney Slook, Robbie Gearon, Michael
Munger & Shannon Kearney placed 2nd and 4th on the day. Congratulations to
the SSYC Sailors and thanks to Bay Head Yacht Club and Metedeconk Yacht Club for
running the event!
14 August, 2011 - Who Doesn't Love Fried Chicken?
Want a tremendous turn-out for Dinner on Deck? Mix torrential rain
with fried chicken and you can expect to see 80+ SSYC members and guests dining
on deck. Festively set tables and plenty of fried chicken, biscuits, fresh corn,
cole slaw, salad and Catherine Eager's famous baked beans set the stage for a
wonderful evening.
Sunday night was just one more reason to love SSYC and the people who belong to it!
Thanks to Jane & Walter Burrell and Catherine & Michael Eager, who were assisted by their boys, Max, Harry and Morgan.
14 August, 2011 - Championship Series #7 - Rain, Rain, Go Away!
We knew it couldn't last forever. The great weather we enjoyed for the first 18 races of Championship Series failed to make an appearance on Sunday, causing Championship Series #7 to be cancelled and the Championship Series results to be based on the first six days of racing. Stay tuned for the final results, which are being tabulated by our fearless Race Chairman, Gus Fingado!
13 August, 2011 - Sanderling Fun Race
Fifty Sanderling Fleet members and friends participated in
and enjoyed a great day of sailing and partying, with 9 Sanderling boats sailing
in the afternoon race, which was won by Jim and Susan Widdis. Following the
racing, the participants enjoyed a barbeque catered by Piney's Pits Barbeque,
smoking and cooking everything on site. A DJ/"Caller" provided the
entertainment, instructing the revelers in Square and Line Dancing, to the
delight of all in attendance.
9-12 August, 2011 - 2011 Chubb U.S. Junior Championships
The 2011 Chubb U.S. Junior Championships were held over three days
between 9 September and 12 September, culminating with the awarding of the
Smythe Trophy (U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship [Laser]), the Bemis Trophy
(U.S. Doublehanded Championship [Club 420]) and the Sears Cup (U.S. Junior
Triplehanded Championship [Flying Scot]).
Congratulations to SSYC's own Jack Swikart, who finished second in the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship - Smythe Trophy and Kendall Van Winkle and Gabi Neubelt who competed in the U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship - Bemis Trophy.
10 August, 2011 - Adult Sailing BBQ
This year's Adult Sailling Program concluded with a BBQ on the deck
at SSYC on Wednesday, 10 August. It was a beautiful evening with 37 students,
instructors and their families enjoying the festivities. Special thanks go out
to Amy Milnes and Mike McNab for their invaluable assistance in helping to set
up for the party, Gordon Milnes for manning the grills and again to the Milnes
family, Mike McNab, Hillary Clauss, Emily Kosinski, the Fingados and Cathy
Tamblyn for their help cleaning up. Of course, a huge thank you to Teri McNab
for coordinating the program. Great job!
8-11 August, 2011 - SSYC Sailors Sweep Junior Sweepstakes ... Almost!
SSYC's Junior Sailors fared well in this year's Junior Sweepstakes,
held over four days, between the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers, with the first
two days at SSYC and the second two days at Monmouth Boat Club. Overall, SSYC
placed first in Lasers (Robert Gruskos), Opti Green Fleet (Harrison Quinn), Opti
Blue Fleet (Shannon Kearney), Opti White Fleet (Harry Ricker) and Opti Red Fleet
(Robert Gearon) and Second in 420s (Michael Munger & Brittney Slook). WOW!!!
Check out the results from the first two days at SSYC here, the results for Optis
at Monmoth Boat Club here, the results for Lasers at Monmouth Boat Club here and the final
results for Optis here and Lasers here.
6 August, 2011 - Neither Rain Nor Gloom of Night Nor Winds of Change
For those who braved the elements, a great night was enjoyed at the
'Round the Island Sail and post-sail party. The weather didn't stop some of our
mighty sailors from going out, albeit briefly!
Many thanks to Michael and Catherine Eager and their boys for great planning, decorations and set-up.
Thanks also to Susan and Peter Ricker, Rosie Lane, JoAnn and Steve Lapp, Heidi Eberhard and Kelly Zweig for helping out.
Also thanks to Robin and Phil Arnheiter for sharing their party expertise and leading the guests in some fun and hilarious games, including "Pass the Coconut" -- which is exactly what it sounds like!
5 August, 2011 - Ocean Gate Yacht Club Summer Sailing Classic
SSYC Junior Sailors traveled to OGYC for their annual Summer Sailing
Classic on Friday, 5 August, with Kendall Van Winkle & Gabbi Neubelt
capturing 1st Place in the 420 Fleet, Carolyn Kearney & Tom Slook coming in
2nd and Catherine Munger & Jesse Stevenson taking 24th Place. Robert
Gruskos, sailing his Laser Radial took 18th Place in his fleet.
What each of the Junior Sailing stories on this page demonstrates is that SSYC consistently teaches and nurtures exceptional Junior Sailing. Much of SSYC's success is attributable to the fact that the instructors actively race, encouraging the Junior Sailors to participate in a very busy and challenging competitive schedule. Congratulations to all the SSYC Sailors and Instructors. What a fantastic program!
4-5 August, 2011 - Brant Beach Yacht Club Annual Opti Regatta
Junior Program Opti Sailors from SSYC travelled to Brant
Beach, NJ to compete in the BBYC Annual Optimist Regatta. First Place in the
White Fleet was captured by SSYC's Molly Meehan, with Susan Munger taking 15th.
In the Blue Fleet, Shannon Kearney earned 14th Place, with Jonathan Biaggi right
behind her, in 15th Place and David Yaffe in 21st Place. In the Red Fleet,
Michael Munger took 3rd Place, with Robert Gearon in 6th and Brittney Slook in
9th Place. Congratulations, SSYC Opti Sailors. Well done!!
Photo courtesy of BBYC
July, 2011 - Former SSYC Junior Sailor Rises to the Challenge
SSYC Junior Sailor, Jenny Lane accepted an appointment to the US
Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT and just completed a week of sailing
aboard the US Coast Guard Barque Eagle. As one of 290 students in the class of
2015, Jenny is in the midst of "swab summer" -- the Coast Guard's version of
boot camp. While on the Eagle, Jenny and the boat's crew sailed from Boston, out
around Cape Cod and into New Bedford, where the next group of swabs took over.
Jenny told her parents that the most exciting part of her voyage was climbing
the rigging on the 140 foot center mast to set the sails. While at sea, Jenny
was amazed by the beauty of the open ocean. Thank you, Jenny for your service on
behalf of all of us, keeping our shores safe and secure!
31 July - Dinner On Deck #2 - Limbo Lower Now!
|
Following Championship Series #6, those who stuck around were treated
to an incredible Caribbean themed meal, catered by Kitchen Witch and hosted by
Roseann Sandor-Terry, assisted by Joel Terry and Linda Sandor. Roseann did a
wonderful job with the menu and created an authentic island atmosphere,
culminating with a limbo contest for the kids, which was won by Michaela
O'Brien. Honorable Mention to Harry Ricker, who proved lacrosse players limbo
lower!31 July - Championship Series #6 - Missed it by THAT Much!
Championship Series #6 was
held under clear blue skies and light winds by PRO John Garth, assisted by a
great Race Committee: Wolfgang Elsner and Rob Kline on Finish Boat, Kelly Zweig
and Walter Burrell on one Rescue Boat and Mike Lyttle and Gus (for a chunk of
the day) on the other. It was finally warm enough for Fred & Joe Beshore to
sail, ditto Mike & Cathy O'Brien, who each took three bullets in their
respective classes. Not to be outdone, Dan Ricker took 3 bullets in his 420
(beating the Zweigs, who missed first "by that much" in the second
race)! Emily Kosinski ruled the Radials and Dave Poyner led the pack of full rig
Lasers. Jeff Jacobi outshone the competition with his recently reinforced mast
and Gordon "Lightfoot" Milnes continued his light air streak, taking two bullets
in the Scot fleet.
On the Opti course, 13 boats competed. On the day, Susan Mungers queaked past Mitchell Quinn for first in the Bronze Fleet, while Robby Gearon just beat-out Shannon Kearney to capture first in the Gold Fleet. As always, the Rickers were on the spot for our Opti Racers, while Stuart Van Winkle and Georgi Munger ran Rescue Boat and encouraged the younger racers while giving them instruction on the course. Thanks to all the Opti volunteers, who add immeasurably to the progress of our Junior Sailors!
Check out the complete result here.
30 July - SSYC Dominates Braveheart Regatta
Congratulations to SSYC's Junior Sailors who dominated the Braveheart
Regatta, held at Rumson Yacht Club on Saturday, 30 August. The Red Fleet Winner
and Overall Braveheart Regatta Winner was Robby Gearon (pictured), who won all
three races. Congratulations, Robby and congratulations to all the SSYC Junior
Sailors who did so well on the day! Check back later this week for complete
regatta results!
25-26 July - SSYC Sailors Distinguish Themselves at Junior Olympics
The 2011 USA
Junior Olympics Mid-Atlantic Sailing Festival was held at Island Heights Yacht
Club and the SSYC Juniors were well represented. Congratulations to Michael
Munger, who won the Opti Gold Fleet, racing against 98 other sailors! Great job,
Michael!
In 420s, SSYC had 3 boats in the top ten: Max Nuebelt/Audrey Meehan 3rd, Kendall Van Winkle/Gabi Neubelt 4th, and Brian Duddy/Billy Dadanno 9th. In Laser Radials, Connor Swikart placed 8th, racing against 60 other sailors. You can see the complete resuls here. Congratulations to all the SSYC Junior Sailors who raced. Awesome job! Photo courtesy of IHYC website.
24 July - Championship Series #5
How hot was it this weekend? It
was so hot that lobsters boiled in the river and floated up to the docks to be
eaten! PRO For Life John Garth, assisted by Doris Meyer on the committee boat,
Kelly Zweig and John Horan on one rescue boat and Jim Nelson and Andrew on the
other rescue boat, along with the Shake-and-Bake Team of Walter Burrell and Mike
Eager on finish boat, worked hard to deliver a great course for Championship #5.
Highlights for the day included no one melting, Jeff Jacobi finishing all three
races in the Club Wood Pussy (and taking two bullets in the process!), John
Quinn staying out of the cellar in his refurbished Sanderling, Team Zweig
dominating the 420s and the Swikart family ruling the Lasers!
On the Opti course, there was fierce competition with 18 boats on the water. On the day, Mitchell Quinn was first in the Bronze Fleet, Matt Meyer first in the Silver Fleet and Michael Munger first in the Gold Fleet. Thanks, as always, to our Opti Race Committee, who run their own course, man their own rescue boats and make it possible for the Opti races to be such a success!
Check out the complete results here.
20 July - SSYC's Audrey Giblin wins USODA Girls Nationals
Congratulations to SSYC's
Audrey Giblin, who won the United States Optimist Dinghy Sailing Association
(USODA) Girls Nationals in Houston, Texas on 20 July! Audrey won the title in
the one-day event, facing fierce competition from 92 other sailors. The USODA
holds dozens of regattas across the country, culminating with the National
Championship Regatta, which drew 260 youth sailors, who traveled from over 15
states and 4 countries to compete in the weeklong event. You can see the results
of the Girls Nationals here. Way to go, Audrey!
17 July - SSYC 75th Anniversary Regatta
SSYC
held its 75th Anniversary Regatta on Sunday, 17 July. The North Jersey Yacht
Racing Association (NJYRA) sanctioned event was open to area clubs and used the
Portsmouth Yardstick handicapping system to score the event.
The weather conditions were perfect and Gus Fingado, Doug and Gordon Milnes, Commodore Bernie Kosinski and Steve Lapp set-up and ran an unforgettable Regatta. Over 50 boats took part, with an additional 22 Optis setting sail in their own race. What a day to be a member of SSYC!
Congratulations to Peter Schell and Ainsley Van Winkel-Hilfiker (pictured), who won the event, sailing a Comet, Kohutek and received a silver cup as a trophy, in addition to receiving the Portsmouth Award from the NJYRA. The Junior Program held a regatta for the Optimist Class. Winning the bronze category was Mitchell Quinn. The silver category winner was Billie Luckett and the gold category winner was Michael Munger.
Following the racing, the participants were treated to a barbecue on the deck. Thanks to Amy, Gordon and Doug Milnes, Kim & Paul Clauss, JoAnn & Steve Lapp and Commodore Bernie Kosinski who cooked, served and made the barbecue a wonderful event. Photo courtesy of Pat Zackman. Be sure to view all of Pat's SSYC pictures here. Check out more photos, below, courtesy of Amy Milnes and Pat Zackman.
16 July - NJYRA Area "C" Semifinals
Sailors came from near
and far for the Smythe, Bemis & Sears NJYRA Area “C” Semifinals, hosted by
SSYC on Saturday, July 16th. The day was beautiful, even though the
wind took it’s sweet time to fill in. Five races were eventually sailed and
SSYC’s Junior Sailors held their own on home waters.
Jack Swikart won the Smythe, Connor Swikart was 4th, Caroline Garth was 5th, Derek Arnheiter took 9th and Emily Kosinski was 10th. In the Bemis, Kendall Van Winkle and Gabi Neubelt won, followed by Carolyn Kearney and Tom Slook in 3rd, Max Neubelt with Audrey Meehan were 5th, Dan Ricker and Brogan Savage were 12th and Brian Duddy and Enzo Lucarelli were 15th. SSYC did not have any Sears skippers or crew, but first place went to J. Ortel and crew from AYC and second place went to M. Lucyk and crew from MBC.
The race committee and crash boat crew included Jeff Jacobi, Talbott and Lee Ingram, Steve Lapp, Bob Slook, Tyler Poyner along with Tom Sollis and Jim Walsh. Breakfast was beautifully organized by Susan Ricker and lunch by JoAnn Lapp with help from Maureen Kearney and Debbie Slook.
Photo, above: Bemis Sailors from L-R: Carolyn Kearney, Tom Slook, Kendall Van Winkle, Gabi Neubelt, Jack Swikart, Charlie Lomax & Evan Morgan from AYC, and Mike Schofield from SSA.
15 July - Junior Program Cocktail Party Fundraiser
The 2011 Junior Program
Cocktail Party Fundraiser was a tremendous success, surpassing all prior years'
fundraising efforts! A great turnout, fantastic auction items and exceptional
passed hors d'oeuvres made for a wonderful evening. Presided over by Commodore
Kosinski and Junior Commodores Audrey Meehan and Morgan Burrell (pictured), with
the auctioneering expertise of Past Commodore Paul Clauss, the evening was
enjoyed by members and guests alike.
The event was only possible due to the incredibly hard work of Kelly Zweig, who planned and coordinated the event with the assistance of the following Members: Susan & Peter Ricker, Ellen Meehan, Rosie Lane, Liz Gearon, Catherine Eager and Jane Burrell. Thank you to the following representatives of the Junior Program, who helped to set-up, serve food and clean-up: Brittney Slook, Tommy Slook, Catherine Munger, Audrey Meehan, Emily Kosinski, Caroline Garth, Max Eager and Morgan Burrell. Thank you, everyone, for a wonderful evening and for helping to keep SSYC Junior Sailing a strong and vibrant program.
10 July - Dinner on the Deck #1
Many, many thanks to Carmen
Phaneuf for organizing the first Dinner on the Deck for the 2011 season and also
for arranging for some of the nicest weather of the summer! Well over 50 members
and guests enjoyed amazing skirt steak with peppers, grilled chicken, warm (and
awesome) orzo salad, green salad, sliced French bread with thyme butter, cheese
cake with fresh blueberries and chocolate chip cookies.
Carmen was ably assisted by her husband, Mike Grant, Lynn Estrada, and Robin Arnheiter. Thank you to all for making this event a big success!
The next Dinner on the Deck is Sunday, July 31st and will be hosted by Roseann Sandor-Terry. Please, please RSVP for this event on time. If you can help, please contact Roseann or Maureen Kearney.
10 July - Championship Series #4 & Independence Day Regatta Update
The theme for the past
two weeks has been "light" and we're not talking about diet beverages! As you
will recall, the Independence Day Regatta had to be re-scheduled due to a storm
front. A lack of wind thereafter caused half of the club's fleets to race on
Monday, 4 July, with the other half of the club's fleets to sail it concurrently
with Championship Series Number Four, which was conducted in 5 knots or less
wind by PRO Mike Plosica, assisted by Kathryn Plosica and Susan Kline on the
Committee boat. Jim Nelson worked the Finish Boat and Scott and Lauren Landau
were on the Rescue Boat. Thanks to those who volunteered and be sure to check
out the results of Championship Series #4 here and the
final results of the Independence Day Regatta here.
The Optis had a tremendous turn-out with 11 boats competing in the Bronze Fleet, 1 in the Silver Fleet and 8 in the Gold Fleet. Congratulations to our winners on the day: Gold: Michael Munger; Silver: Molly Meehan; and Bronze: Paige Whittle. Special thanks to Steve Lapp who performed a safety check on each Opti, to ensure each sailor and boat had the necessary equipment, whistles, etc.
The Comet Fleet once again had a good showing, as did the 420 Fleet, which was dominated by Dan Ricker, who posted 3 bullets. Way to go Dan! There was also some fierce competition in the Wood Pussy Fleet, with five boats competing and John Quinn, Jeff Jacobi & Dave Usechak in a virtual dead heat. The Scots mixed it up pretty well, with Gordon Milnes taking three bullets. Nice job Gordo! But the Scots were under-represented with only five boats out on the water. Where were the other 20 Flying Scot owners? We'd love to see you out there! Photo courtesy of Pat Zackman. Be sure to view all of Pat's SSYC pictures here.
4 July - Independence Day Regatta
Independence Day Weekend proved to be
a challenge for sailors. The weather and wind conditions tested the patience of
sailor and Race Committee alike on Sunday with PRO Jeff Jacobi reluctantly
acquiesing to cancel the Regatta after a storm front took all of the wind in the
area away with it. It was decided to hold the Regatta on Monday and postpone the
Club Tub Regatta (new date to be announced). PRO Steve Lapp, assisted by Eric
Carlson with Phil Eager, Gus Fingado & Team Ricker manning rescue boats, got
all of the races off in light and shifty conditions. Thanks to all who
volunteered! Turn out was light with only four classes of boats participating:
Comets, Lasers, Sanderlings and Optis. The competition was spiritied
nonetheless! Three boats in the Comet Class were tied for second place at the
end of the second race! Peter & Michael Munger led the pack for the final
race, only to be overtaken by Jim Widdis & John Gearon on the last leg.
Great showing out there, Comet Class!
The Optis sailed on a shorter course within the main course and had a strong showing of 8 boats. Representing the Gold fleet, and listed in finishing order, were veterans Robby Gearon, Shannon Kearney, Elias Economou and Harry Ricker. The Bronze fleet also sailed exceptionally well with first-time racer Paige Whittle taking 1st place, followed by Mitchell Quinn, Susan Munger, and John Gearon (also racing for the first time). Congratulations to all the kids who continue to race with great skill and tremendous sportsmanship! Check out the full results here.
NOTICE TO: Flying Scot, 420 and Wood Pussy Sailors: Since there was not enough turnout to run races for these classes, the next Championship Series will also count as the Independence Day Regatta for your classes!
3 July - Independence Day BBQ
The weather provided some
challenges for this year's Independence Day BBQ, but it did little to dampen a
good time. Heavy rain, followed by an abandoned attempt to race, meant the
grills were smoking by 3:30.
Thank you to JoAnn Lapp, who hosted a feast that
lasted for several hours. Burgers, dogs, pasta salad, potato salad, a green
salad with blueberries, stawberries and walnuts, together with lemonade,
brownies and ice cream sandwiches were enjoyed by all the sailors and any lucky
member who happened to stop by.
Special thanks need to be extended to
Jerry Rosenthal, who grilled the burgers and dogs in the pouring rain and to
Cionna Buckley, whose able and indispensable assistance in the kitchen left her
equally drenched due to a sticky dish sprayer. Once again, Debbie Slook swept
into the kitchen at the exact moment additional help was needed. Thank you also
to Kevin Kearney and Robbie Gearon for finding the necessary ingredients and
providing icy cold lemonade for all. Photo courtesy of Pat
Zackman. Be sure to view all of Pat's SSYC pictures here.
1 July - Surf City Junior Commodore's Regatta
Four
SSYC Junior Sailors ventured down to Surf City on Friday, 1 July for the
34th Junior Commodore's Regatta. It was a beautiful day with steady
breezes from the west. SCYC regattas are well run and this one was no
exception.
Carolyn Kearney and Tom Slook finished in first place in the
C420, and in Opti Blue, Brittney Slook finished 8th and Shannon
Kearney finished 12th. Congratulations SSYC Junior Sailors. Great
job! Photo courtesy of Surf City Yacht Club Junior Commodore
Regatta on Facebook
26 June - Championship Series #3
Forecasts
for Championship Series #3 called for wind to be out of the west at 6-8 knots.
Actual conditions varied significantly, with winds over 12 knots at times and
zero at others. PRO John Garth had his hands full, with winds shifting
considerably and got more exercise than he bargained for, hoisting the
postponement and course change flag! John and the Race Committee worked
tirelessly to provide well-run races in very challenging conditions and came off
the water fairly well bushed as a result of their efforts. Thanks to all who
volunteered! Check out the results here! Photo courtesy of Pat Zackman. Be
sure to view all of Pat's SSYC pictures here.
23 June - CPR Training
SSYC hosted CPR training
in the clubhouse on Thursday evening, 23 June. Dr. Chip Wood and Mary Cotogno,
RNC instructed 25 SSYC Members in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the
proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Many thanks to Dr. Wood
and Nurse Cotogno. It's the sort of skill we should all have and hope never to
have to use.
19 June - Father's Day Brunch & Regatta
We had perfect weather for
Sunday's brunch! Light breezes, low humidity and sunshine made My Kitchen
Witch's unbelievable food taste all the better! There were over 90 dads and
family members in attendance. Eggs, awesome bacon, French Toast that keeps
everyone coming back year after year and breakfast "potatoes-with-a-kick" were
rounded out with strawberries, blueberries, croissants, bagels, donuts and
more.
Many, many thanks go out to Debbie Slook, Cheryl Gaudette, new members Hillary and Ryan Muldoon and prospective new members Edie and Scott Yaffee who helped set up, serve and clean-up. Many thanks, also, to Alan Schneider for keeping track of the RSVPs and checking in our guests.
The Muldoons must have had fun because they have volunteered to help with Saturday's 'Round the Island Sail. We could still use your help too. So come meet some great new members and lend a hand to another successful SSYC event.
Lastly, a special thank you to Maureen Kearney's daughter Shannon. As Maureen will tell you, if you can get her to brag for just a moment, event after event, Shannon is always incredibly helpful and a really good sport! No matter what the task, she's always there to help and that was particularly true on Sunday, when Maureen and the crew couldn't have done it without her!
Following the Brunch, the Father's Day Regatta was held, with a fair number of sailors participating. See the results here.
18 June - SSYC's Annual Laser Regatta
We had all
manner of weather and wind on Saturday, 18 June for SSYC's Annual Laser
Regatta! Lack of wind delayed the start, but as the sea breeze filled in at
11:15am, the day moved quickly from no wind to a good, steady
breeze.
Thirteen boats competed, including five radial rigs. Apart from the stellar performance of Eric Reitinger winning all five races in the full rig, the racing was close and variable throughout the day. Top three full rigs were Eric Reitinger (Brant Beach YC), Jack Swikart (SSYC) and Chris Williams (Brant Beach YC). Top three radials all hail from SSYC: Caroline Garth, Emily Kosinski and Robert Gruskos. Top Master Finishers: Ed Rowe (Portland, ME), Had Brick (Island Heights YC) and Larry Nociolo (MBC). Top Woman: Caroline Garth and Top Junior: Chris Pomerleau. View the complete listing of results here.
Special thanks to the Munger family for serving as PROs, to Brian Holsey for ably managing safety, mark placement and sailor hydration and to Anita Waters Sr. and Amy Milnes for managing breakfast, lunch and libations. A very nice day on the water. Photo courtesy of Pat Zackman. Be sure to view all of Pat's SSYC pictures here.
12 June - Championship Series #2
Championship Series Number Two was held on Sunday, 12 June. The
conditions were cloudy with shifty winds. PRO John Garth, ably assisted by Mac
& Ann Barnes on the committee boat, managed to get the course set right and
all races got off apace. The Comets were absent from the water (competing at the
Nationals) and John took the opportunity to give the Laser full rigs and Laser
Radials their own starts.The shifty conditions (with the usual pockets of holes
on the water) caused sailors usually at the head of the pack to be at the rear,
with more than one grumbling about having to use a drop! See the results here.
THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED ON RACE COMMITTEE!!
Photo courtesy of Pat Zackman. Be sure to view all of Pat's SSYC pictures here.
5 June - Championship Series #1
The Championship Series got off to a fine start under the able
leadership of PRO Kevin Kearney. John Quinn set the course marks perfectly and
the races started pretty darn near on time! The Finish Boat, manned by Susie
Milnes and Pam & Melissa Fingado tabulated results for the day. Joel manned
another rescue boat. The Opti course was fully staffed with Liz Gearon at the
finish line, the entire Ricker clan either manning boats or on the course and
Jeff Quinn, Phil Eager and Allie Zweig manning Opti rescue boats. Thanks to all
of the folks who served on the Race Committee!
The Wind Gods had fun on the Shrewsbury River with a lot of shifts, gusts and holes. Some boats managed to find every hole on the water -- FS 4479, for instance! The third race of the Flying Scot Fleet was completely turned upside down when the Leader of the Fleet interpreted the “OP” to mean “Olympic Paul” and decided to make a beeline for the Blue Moon. He crossed the finish line without completing the course and the majority of the Fleet did their best imitations of lemmings and followed him in! All boats, except one, realized the error and re-entered the race. FS 4479 was grateful for the "pity finish"! See Day One's results here.
4 June - New Member Regatta
It
was a perfect day to meet new friends, share a lunch and participate in some
friendly competition. On Saturday, 4 June, 2011, seven New Member or Prospective
New Member families got a good taste of what SSYC has to offer. It was a full
day of festivities that included a pre-race lunch, three hotly contested races
on the water, and then back to the clubhouse for more refreshments and awards.
The SSYC Sanderling Fleet graciously hosted the New Members on their sailboats
and provided some competition and excitement out on the water. The Regatta was
won by Jonathan and Martha Beer and family along with, and aboard the Sanderling
of, Dave and Cindy Gruskos.
Thank you to the Sanderling Fleet, PRO Paul
Clauss, Trophy Committee (Kim & Paul Clauss and Gus Fingado) and
Race/Regatta assistants Susan & Peter Ricker, John Gearon, Trude & Scott
Arnette, Jenny Lane, and JoAnn Lapp for all of your efforts!
30 May - Memorial Day Regatta
The Memorial Day Regatta was held Monday and was marked by beautiful
weather, fair winds and fierce competition. All classes were well represented
and our congratulations go out to the winners in each class. Thanks to Gus
Fingado and the Race Committee volunteers, without whom the day would not have
been the tremendous success it was!
28 May - SSYC's 75th Anniversary Gala
The
75th Anniversary Gala was held on Saturday 28 May and exceeded all expectations!
A HUGE thank you to the 75th Anniversary Gala Organizing Committee (Fred Beshore, Paul Clauss, Ainsley
Van Winkle-Hilfiker, Jeff Jacobi, JoAnn & Steve Lapp, Mike Lyttle, Amy
Milnes, Susan Ricker and Beverly & Bill Van Winkle) for making Saturday a
truly unforgetable experience.
We were thrilled to have Gary
Jobson at our 75th Celebration as our guest of honor. A special thank you to
Bill and Beverly Van Winkle whose personal friendship with Gary ensured his
appearance. Thanks also to all who bidded on the Santo Pezzutti prints of the
clubhouse with congratulations to the winners!
We were also fortunate to have Pat Zackman at the club to document the event on film. A number of Pat's photos from the event, of which this is one, are posted below. In addition, you can see and purchase Pat's photos, including 300+ shots from SSYC's Memorial Day Regatta at her website. I encourage everyone to view them as they are truly spectacular!
1-22 May - Spring Series
SSYC's sailors shook off the cold, brushed off the cobwebs and braved the early May weather to compete in the Spring Series. Anyone who's ever sailed at the New Jersey coast has to admit they're never quite sure what they're going to face when they get out on the water in the springtime and this year was no exception! A tip of the hat to all who participated, a hearty "hi-ho" to the Race Committe volunteers who made the series possible and congratulations to the class winners!
6-8 May - High School National Championship - Mallory Trophy Finals
Three SSYC sailors, Jack Swikart '11, Dan Ricker '11 and
Connor Swikart '14 led the Rumson-Fair Haven Sailing Team to a 16th place finish
in the Interscholastic Sailing Association High School National
Championship Mallory Trophy Finals, competing as one of the top 20 high
school sailing teams in the country.
30 Apr - Flying Scot Rigging
A baker's dozen of the Flying Scot Fleet shook off the cobwebs from the prior
night's Fleet get together where they hoisted a few adult beverages to rally
around their boats and hoist a few masts. Fleet Captain Doug Milnes again used
his impeccable organizational skills to rally the fleet, convince Amy and Gordon
to grab the coffee and donuts and assist a good number of his sailors to get
rigged and ready for an early season. Unfortunately he did forget to drag his
own boat along. Here we see Doug in the midst of rigging a Scot by "relocating"
members of the "winter crew" to "new quarters" behind the junior clubhouse.
Note, no "sailors" of any species were harmed during the rigging of these
vessels. See additional photos, below.'
16 Apr - Fireside Cocktails
SSYC's 75th Anniversary Season kicked-off Saturday evening, 16 April with Fireside
Cocktails. Monsoon-like rain and unseasonably cold weather couldn't dampen the
spirts of those in attendance. Thanks to Maureen Kearney and Michael Eager for
their work in coordinating and hosting the event. Thanks also to Jane and Walter
Burrell for assisting and to Alan Schneider for handling the RSVP's and running
the event check-in
9 Apr - Docks IN
Thanks to all who helped with Docks IN on Saturday, 9 April. And a special thank
you to Peter Coggins for lending out his Botswain chair and to Soren Pedersen
for volunteering to be hoisted to the top of the flagpole to fix the
halyard.
4-6 Mar - SSYC Annual Ski Trip
The annal Ski Trip was held at Windham Mountain, Windham, NY over
the weekend of 4-6 March. The turnout was excellent and the skiers, young and
not as young, enjoyed a wonderful time. Please take the time to read Carmen
Phaneuf's article,
detailing the weekend's activities. Special thanks go out to Lee and Talbott
Ingram, without whose assistance this weekend would not have been possible.
Additional photographs from the weekend can be found below and will be posted on
the Photo Page Link in the coming days.
12 Feb - SSYC Winter Gathering
The evening of Friday 12 February saw the SSYC faithful
descend upon the Monmouth Cultural Center for a Winter Gathering. What a
wonderful opportunity to get out during the middle of the winter with thoughts
of sailing in the air. Never one to miss an opportunity, Gus Fingado solicited
assistance on the Race Committee and the Social Committee worked the room
seeking Members to help host and work at the upcoming sailing season's social
events. Special thanks to Commodore Kosinski and the Social Committee for their
hard work in making the evening a tremendous success..