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-John Elam

Northwest Clinic

Last weekend we sent 10 members of our team up to Sail Sand

point in Seattle for the annual Northwest clinic. Both days were beautiful and about 60 and sunny.

On Saturday the whole group separated between novice and advanced. Our whole team went to the novice group. We did chalk talks then had the chance to get out on the water. In the morning, before the wind died, the people who went out did tacking drills and follow the leader. The wind died around 11, so we reviewed rigging a boat. The wind fortunately picked up again in the afternoon, so we got to go out again from around 2-5. We practiced starts and did practice races and did many drills (One time we had to do 7 tacks on the upwind leg and 7 jibes on the downwind leg). Then we combined with the advanced group and did a triangle race with them.

On Sunday we started at 9 again. We did more chalk talks and then got out to sail. We practiced lots of roll tacks, which was really helpful to all of us. Unfortunately the wind died around 11 again, so everyone went to a nearby field and played frisbee/soccer. It was great to be out in the sun! We then had another chalk talk, then went out on the water again and practiced more races. We headed in around 3 and did a debrief then headed home.

-Ellen Ytterberg '12

Jeff Mixdorf Regatta

We just got back from a fun weekend up in Bellingham for the Jeff Mixdorf Regatta, despite a noticeable lack of wind for sailing. Jeff Mixdorf is an interesting regatta because everyone sails in Alphas, which are a Western Washington designed and produced double handed boat resembling an FJ. Pretty slow, but otherwise a good time. The team consisted of John Elam, Mike Knape, David Eva, Laura Yonamine, Pieter Verhaar , and newcomers Kyle Kubler and Daniel Guilak. We drove up Friday night and had a great time hanging out with our wonderful hosts, Ashley and Jaime.

Wind on Saturday was just as forecasted, ranging from light to nonexistent. A-fleet left the dock after a healthy wind delay at around 11 and was able to get off one race. It was pretty much a drifter but helped give Kyle and Daniel some much needed sailing experience. A second race was started but canceled before anyone reached the windward mark. On the upside, the lack of sailing allowed the Northwest Conference to have their Winter meeting during the day Saturday. Good news here, as Puget Sound was voted in as Full Members (we had been provisional) and our own John Elam was unanimously elected as Vice-President of the Conference for next year. Definitely a big step for Puget Sound Sailing. After the meeting ended around 5, we went out to eat as a team at On Rice, a delicious Thai restaurant. A fun social gathering followed.

Sunday started off just right when we awoke to our lovely host cooking us pancakes. After eating our fill, we made it down to WWU's beautiful Lakewood facility just in time to be greeted by another glassy day. B-Fleet skippers Pieter and David were able to complete one race and start a second before canceling for the day at 1. Pieter skippered for his first time and did great despite a slight rudder malfunction around the leeward mark. David more than held his own and was in second when the second race was called. We ended the day by thanking our gracious hosts and heading out to stop at Boomers' for the second time in two days. Boomers' $3 burgers were a personal highlight of the weekend for sure.

This coming weekend features the Northwest Leadership clinic, which we hope to send some underclassmen to. After that it's the Northwest sailing clinic at UW and then hopefully Team Racing at Orcas Island, which is still up in the air. Fun start to the spring season either way.

-Mike Knape '12