March

Ah yes, Etchell-ers,

The days are getting longer, the last days of skiing are on the horizon, and the first fleet races are almost upon us. So check your lines, alert your team, make sure you're current with your dues ($25 additional after March 15th), and get ready for some racing!

In this newsletter:

* San Diego News for next weekend
* Etchells Fleet runs the 1st day of the Big Daddy Regatta
* Clinics: March 19th Dave Perry Seminar and others
* First Fleet Regatta - April 3rd
* New owners in the fleet
* A funny

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Fleet 12 Sailors sailing in the San Diego Mid-Winters:

If you're SD this weekend, you're invited to the below fleet meeting. One of the agenda items is information about the tow. If you'd like information about the tow in advance, send me a note this week and I will send it over to you. You will very likely find it quite helpful.

From Mike Held:

Fleet 13:

On Friday, March 5th there will be Fleet Meeting at SDYC Trophy Room 6:30 pm.

On March 6th and 7th, Fleet 13 and the San Diego Yacht Club will host:
The Camet Sportsgear Midwinters West/Pacific Coast Championships

Please visit the Fleet 13 Website for Registration information, T Shirt, Sweatshirt and Polo Shirt Order Forms.
http://www.sdyc.org/etchells/>http://www.sdyc.org/etchells/

Event coordinator,
Mike Held
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On the Fleet Schedule Horizon:

March 13 and 14: The Big Daddy Regatta. If you aren't sailing in the regatta, come out and help the Etchells fleet put on the races on Saturday. Jim Gregory's invited anyone who's helped with the race committee on Saturday to sail with him on his Schumacher 50, Morpheus, in the pursuit race on Sunday. For more details, contact Kers Clausen at kcyc@aol.com or Jim Gregory at jim@jdgregory.com.

Saturday April 3rd: Fleet race #1. Welcome back to the SF fleet 12. There look to be several new boats out on the line, and the fleet should be building over the course of the year. Please review the NORs prior to the race for changes to the starting sequence and the protest procedure.

A note on Membership dues:
We've had some trouble in the past collecting dues on time for the active boats in the fleet. If you have your dues in before March 15th, you'll avoid the late fee ($25) and you'll be on the Etchells newsletter mailing list (the one that comes in the mail). Your Dues include all fleet run events, scoring in all Fleet Championship results, and registration with the national and international class. It's not easy for the new newsletter writer to be the tough guy but our bylaws say: "Non-Fleet 12 skippers will be deleted from Fleet Championship results." Al Silva will be collecting dues for the fleet and will contact you prior to the first race if the we've not received your registration. You can find the registration form here - just go to this link right this very second: http://www.sfetchells.org/fleet/membership.cfm

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Clinics

From Jeff Thorpe at Quantum Sails: Dave Perry will be giving a rules talk at the Richmond Yacht Club on March 19th at 8pm. For those of you who've not heard him talk before, it's worth the trip. In the past he's done a great job of combining tactics and strategy with the racing rules of sailing. Entry is $10 - proceeds will go to the RYC Junior Fund.

From Mike LaPort: Other clinics to check out: http://www.southbeach yc.org/racing/index.htm notes looks good. I got this from a Melges 24 friend. Encourage any Etchells attendees to poach any quality people from other fleets as potential owners or to be added to our crew list.

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The Fleet, it is a changin'

As I'm sure you've heard the fleet is rapidly building here in SF. There are 22 Etchells in Brickyard at last count, quite a few in SFYC, and a number of Etchells scattered 'round the bay. More are coming and many folks who we didn't see last year are back in action as we ramp up for the sailing season and prepare for hosting the 2004 North Americans. Just this past week, 3 Etchells changed hands:

From Bill Barton on selling Mr Natural, 666: I am going to keep partial interest in the boat with Ben Wells and a nice
fellow from Colorado ... Terry Britton (Terry's brother, Tim, used to sail in our fleet) .
But we aren't losing Bill! He's going to be sailing with his East Coast friend, Peter Duncan, for most of the season on the boat that's currently shrink wrapped at Brickyard.

From Mike LaPort, who recently purchased the coveted 966 from Greg Fretz.
Here is the new owner of US529, It sold today. Roberto will be a great addition to the fleet, please add him to the mailing list and "Meet the Fleet" list. Roberto Giramonti runs Giramonti Yachts. Greg Fretz will continue to be a part of the fleet as crew and helping out with the races.

And from yours truly: I've bought out the partnership of 667 from Dan and Danielle this week and will start skippering this year. Dan and Danielle will continue to be active in the fleet, but will be away for many of the regattas in part because of preparations for their wedding in September. Congratulations you two! I am also considering options for another partner. If you might be interested, send me a note.

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A funny

From Kers Clausen:

The following is from the Scuttlebutt newsletter and the North U. program - thought you all may get a good laugh.

Having Trouble Building a Winning Program?
Here are some team building techniques we've observed.
1 - When it is time to put the jib up prior to the start on a blustery day, sail a close reach to maximize spray across the foredeck. By soaking the crew prior to the start they won't be so reluctant to get wet during the race. Do not reach off in an effort to keep the foredeck dry.
2 - If things are going slowly during a late spinnaker hook up, shout instruction from the helm. While it may be difficult to hear details, a simple yell of "Hurry
up" provides lots of inspiration. Since the crew are generally taking their time, waiting for inspiration, the "Hurry" hail is a big help.
3 - When you are steering upwind, pinch up above close hauled until the foredeck crew hail back, "Stop Pinching." It's the only way you know their head is in the game.
4 - Wait until the last possible moment to make your mark rounding call. Jibe set? Float Drop? Don't tell anyone until the last second. The crew loves a
challenge. If you tell them too early, the challenge is gone. (Truth is, the crew generally has it figured out long before you do, so your late announcement
won't matter much...)
5 - Sail with old sails. That way, if (when) you lose, you'll have a handy excuse, so the crew won't have to take the heat. Likewise, use faulty or broken
equipment, and don't upgrade.
6 - Don't practice. How many times do I have to tell you, this is a leisure activity, not a sport? And
who's got time for practice anyway - there's hardly enough time to make the races, much less get out for extra sailing time. Besides, people learn best under pressure.
7 - Separate yourself from the crew. For example, buy yourself imported beer, but treat your crew to domestic swill. This will firm up the bond among the team members while reinforcing a critical hierarchy.
8 - Keep your starting plan a secret. Or better still, don't make a plan. Your ability to ad-lib will show your crew that you are a "flexible thinker," without rigid preconceptions.
9 - Claim accomplishments for yourself, and blame your crew for any failings. For example, use the "I" word when talking about victory, and the "they" word when describing mistakes. Remember, there is no "We" in victory, and no "I" in screw up.
10 - Arrive late. Set a dock time well before the race to make sure the crew is all there when you arrive. You shouldn't have to wait around for them.

(If you believed any of the above, please attend the Dave Perry Seminar!)

Have a great week!
Paige

Paige Brooks
epbrooks@yahoo.com