X-Inland at Clear Lake

Our X-Fleet travelled to Clear Lake for the X-Inland regatta July 27-30.  Armed with a boatload of knowledge about sailing rules, our 3 X-boats braved the Junior and Senior fleets totaling nearly 100 boats.
Kyle Burglund and her crew Harry Wittenburg sailed in the Junior fleet while Alex Haggart with crews Anna/Maria and Megan Johnson with Emma Myhre sailed in the Senior Fleet.  All the participants had a great time at Inland and learned a lot about sailing in a large fleet.  50 boats on a starting line looks and feels a little different than our weekend club racing :-)
Congrats to all the sailors, we are proud of you all.

Busy Week at Sailing School

Wednesday July 20th, Kelli Farrar visited the the Sailing School to 'school' the X-boat fleet on sailing rules prior to traveling to X-Inland.  The wind didn't cooperate so the class took to the grass with buoys and a tape measure.  Thank you so much Kelli for taking the time to work with our class, we learned a lot and now know just how loud to yell "PROTEST"!!!!!!!

The laser class had a perfect day and a full class.  All the participants did a great job keeping upright and most of the kids stayed for the afternoon BIC class - now that's a full day!

Patrick Wilkening will forever be referred to as the Recycle King.  Patrick is volunteering at the OYC and Kirsty keeps giving him the nasty job of cleaning out the recycle bins ..... it really is a grimy job and he does it with a smile.  THANKS PATRICK.

Helen Alexander brought Chinese food for EVERYONE to celebrate William's birthday.  What a great treat for all, we loved the party.  Thank you so much Helen, David, John and William !!!
And Happy Birthday to Andrew Wilkening on Friday July 22nd.

July 15, 2011

On Wednesday July 13th, Barry Sackett lead the X-Boat racing class on a journey around West Lake Okoboji in his Yingling.  They sailed to the North End and all the way south to Arnold's Park where they ate lunch and eventually returned to the OYC.  Barry took all the X-Boat skippers and crews out on the Yingling for a spin.  It was a great opportunity for the sailors to experience a keel boat.
Many thanks to Barry for taking time to help out with the X program, he did a great job but he escaped on his yingling before we could get a group photo. Bummer!

X-Boat Racing Camp

Last Wednesday, July 6th, C-Boat skipper Lance Avery graciously volunteered to spend a day working with our X-Boaters.  Lance and Anders worked with the class on roll-tacks and tactics to improve their racing skills.  Many thanks to Lance for taking time out of his Okoboji vacation to help improve our program.

Pre-Pram Class

Friday July 8th we hosted a Pre-Pram party for the youngest future sailors in the Yacht Club. Children under the age of 5 and their parents were invited to the OYC grounds to get acquainted with prams, mainsheets and sails.  Lance and Ann Avery brought their C-boat and took several children out at a time.  Everyone had a great experience.  Congrats to all the little sailors!

More great X-fleet instruction.

Many thanks to Jane Hopkins Gould for taking 2 days to work with the X fleet this week.  Jane drilled starts and docking maneuvers along with a list of basics for our fleet.  Thursday included a nutty bar stop and there was plenty of wind for teaching.  We want to welcome Will DeReburtis to our class and hopefully the weekend X fleet.
Jane, you rock!!!

Wishing the weather would cooperate !!!!!

It is either feast or famine when it comes to sailing school this year.  We experienced too much wind and not enough wind last week.  The Friday races were cancelled due to no wind and the beginners classes remained on shore due to too much wind.  The X-boaters had team sculling races in optis and had a blast. The team of Grant and Winnie took home the 1994 X-inland t-shirts as prizes. 

Gordy Bowers teaches X-Boaters

This past Saturday and Sunday our X-boaters were treated to a clinic with Gordy Bowers.  The 2 day clinic didn't provide much wind but the sailors and crew learned a great deal about body position in their sailboats, proper sail trim, starting strategies and Gordy tuned each X-boat the same as the Inland Champion's boat.  Thanks Gordy and all our x boaters for participating in the clinic.

Friday Races.

Today we had 4 X boats for the Friday race.  It was nice to have Kyle Berglund with her crew Harry Wittenburg  and Grant Robinson with his crew Winne Hunter at sailing school.  The Haggarts just arrived from California with a new set of sails.  Welcome back everyone.  Megan Johnson and Emma Myhre sailed their second set of  Friday races today and, unfortunately, Liam was sick today otherwise we would have had 5 X boats racing.

We are looking forward to the Gordy clinic Saturday and Sunday.

THE O'pen BICS LAUNCH !!!!!

This week all of the parts for the O'pen BIC fleet arrived.  The hulls and sails arrived last week but the rudders and centerboards were shipped separately.  Today was the first day that the instructors we able to take the new boats out for a spin.  Andrew Wilkening and Anders Berglund were the lucky skippers today.  They could have used a little more wind but said the boats are excellent and we will be working the BICs in to the sailing school program.  This fleet is a great addition to the OYC.

Sailing School - Week 1

 Alden Taylor - Opti Racing

 Audrey Farrar - Little Puffs

 Callie Taylor - Little Puffs

 John Alexander - Opti Racing

David - Opti racing

This week at Sailing School allowed all of us to experience every weather condition.  We worked around thunderstorms, west winds up to 25mph, pouring rain and zero wind on Thursday.  Everyone had a great time, the kids learned about knots and wind direction.  The instructors did a great job.

Friday June, 10th
Today was the first Friday Race for the X boats.  Liam Stockdale and Megan Johnson participated in racing today.  In the first race, instructors Chris Moen and Anders Berglund crewed for the X skippers. Looked like all were having fun.  Emma crewed for Megan in the second race.
Next week - Gordy Bowers !!!!!

SAILING SCHOOL BEGINS

JUNE 8, 2011
Today was the first day of X-boat racing camp.  Our guest instructor was C skipper, STEVE AVERY- yeah !!!!.
He did a great job teaching our instructors, X skippers and crew about nutrition, tacking, jibing and the importance of body placement in small sailboats.  Steve spends many hours training in his Laser on Big Spirit Lake, his favorite training is in the Big winds.  He will be traveling to San Francisco in early July for more training in Lasers.  In early August, Steve will be competing in Laser Worlds.
We all want to thank Steve for his help today.  Everyone learned something new.

May 31, 2011
The sailing season has begun !!!  Tune up races were held over the Memorial Day weekend with C and MC participation.  It was a little chilly but great to be out on the lake and sailing.
Sailing School registrations are pouring in.  We are expecting a summer of full classes and lots of fun.  Get your sign ups in now.

Getting ready for Summer 2011

The ice is out on West Lake but there might be a little ice remaining in Millers Bay.
This is a great time of year, everything is turning a littler greener each day and you can look out on the lake and the water shows you what direction the wind is blowing - that might be my favorite part of spring.
The turkeys are parading on Dixon's Beach and the Osprey have returned to the Nature Center.
Sailing School is next, I can't wait.