The 2010 Sailing Program is now accepting on- line registrations. Please go to http://www.hyc.cc/registration-info/ for all instructions and info.

At the end of last season, the Board of Directors decided to expand the role for the Youth Sailing Program Director. I am grateful to the Board and especially a dedicated group of members (read below) whose diligence in seeking a new Director will assure the continued success of the Program.
Due to their efforts, I am very excited to announce the appointment of Frank Pizzo as our new Youth Sailing Program Director for 2010. Frank is currently the Head Coach for the Bowdoin College Sailing Team.  His previous collegiate coaching experiences include serving at the assistant coach at Bowdoin in the spring of 2008 and as the head coach at Columbia University in the fall of 2007.  A graduate of Bowdoin in 2006, Frank earned four varsity letters and captained the team in both his junior and senior campaigns. He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Skipper on three occasions between 2004 and 2006, helping propel the team to new heights in both fleet and team racing.

More to the point though, Frank brings extensive background in running Junior Sailing Programs most recently at Larchmont Yacht Club and Pequot Yacht Club on Long Island Sound as well as Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, RI.  Still an active racer, Frank has completed in two Newport-to-Bermuda Offshore Races but mostly enjoys racing dinghies.  He crews on Lightnings and frostbites in Inter Clubs.  Additionally, he is an active racer in the Vanguard 15 class.
My thanks to Rob Taisey, Cindy Drake, Tom Schwarm, John Karp and Louisa Price for all their help.
Presently, Frank and I are filling out the team of Instructors. We’ll need volunteers for many tasks to be done in preparation for this season, so don’t wait to be called- get involved NOW!
Thanks,
Henry Bliss

2009 State of Maine 420 Championships

2009 Opti- Championship Fleet Results

2009 Opti- Green Fleet Results

2009 Laser Results

Our 5 Annual HYC Youth Regatta was a huge success not for just the beautiful weather but the tremendous help and volunteer spirit that drives this event.

This year we hosted over 90 boats and somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 sailors along with coaches and parents, for two days of racing which included the State of Maine 420 Championships. Sailors competed from the following Yacht Clubs: Agamenticus, Boothbay Harbor, Bucks Harbor, Camden, Castine, HYC, Kollegewidgwok, Peaks Island, Portland, Southport and Sunapee (NH).

We’ve uploaded photos for the first Session, Big Boat Day 1 and from Sunapee YC’s Rig it Up Regatta that HYC Racers competed in last week.

Click on the “Photos” button at the top of this page. Then click on “Photosets”. We’ll be adding more as they come in.

July 15th 2009

Hello-

Here are some updates for each class-

Recruits
The recruits are making up for lost time. They are catching onto upwind sailing
quickly. On Tuesday they were introduced to a race course, which they got used
to sailing around. They are getting more familiar with optis and more
comfortable with the water and general boat handling.

Mates
Last Friday, the Mates (along with the Skippers) had a great time sailing on big
boats during Big Boat Day. We haven’t had this event in a couple years, and it
was good to get it back in the schedule. Thank you for all of those who
volunteered to take kids out! The Mates have also done very well with
spinnakers and getting comfortable with racing. We have two sailing optis in the
Lake Sunapee Regatta this week. All the mates are getting along really well and
having a lot of fun.

Skippers
This group continues to be eager to learn and catching onto concepts quickly.
The entire class is in five boats and one opti sailing in the Lake Sunapee Regatta.
One boat will be heading off to the Northeast Junior Olympics in Northeast
Harbor next week.

420
The 420 got back from the Hingham Regatta last week, and is off on Lake
Sunapee this week. They have been falling back into racing well, and posting
some promising results. They are off to Northeast Harbor next week for the
Northeast Junior Olympics.

-Amy

Big Boat Day for Session One was a huge success! Every Kid came off the boats with a smile. Big Boat day gives the kids a chance to see sailing as a lifelong activity and sailing beyond dinghys. Thank you to everyone who made first session’s Big Boat Day possible: Morris Hancock, Steve Morrow, David Kent, Peter Rice, Peter Quesada, and Ed Brainard.
-Amy

On behalf of all the Sailors and Instructors, many thanks to each of you for providing your vessels last Friday for a fun afternoon sail. We really appreciate your contribution to the Sailing Program.

If you’re so inclined to do it again, we’ll do it on Friday afternoon August 7th – the Club will be busy as it will be the second day of the HYC Youth Regatta/ State of Maine 420 Championships. I’m sure all the Recruits and Mates would love to be out on the Bay and catch some of the action. Spread the word and thanks again!

-Henry

We have compiled a handbook of sketches and notes regarding some of the vital information covered in the Recruits and Mates classes during the Youth Sailing Program.  Included are pages about basic sailing knowledge, information specific to HYC’s boats and daily activities, safety on the water, and racing.  Pages are handed out to sailors in class for use in lessons and to take home to keep as a resource.  So that sailors can access them in case they are lost or damaged between the club and home we have posted the handbook below.

HYC Sailing Program Teaching Points

We hope they are helpful, and encourage you to look at them at home with your sailor.

Our kick-off picnic for the Youth Sailing Program is this Friday evening starting at 6:00 pm at the Club. The Instructors have everything ready to go for Session One, Monday morning and they’re excited to greet new and returning sailors.

In case you haven’t visited the Program’s web pages, please introduce yourselves to our team of Instructors when you’re down on the waterfront.

Get involved as well! We have a full schedule for the Program this summer and plenty of opportunities to be a part of it. We’ll be updating the calendar so stay tuned…..here’s a sampling

• Contact Mary Martin to participate in the Volunteer Parent Program
• Big Boat Days: July 10th and August 7th
• Thursday Night Races
• Sonars! We’d love to get Skippers and Mates out for a sail on these
• 5th Annual HYC Youth Regatta & 420 State of Maine Championships- August 6 & 7

This Program is made possible by an amazing group of volunteers….

Denley Poor & Matt Reynolds
Louisa Price
Tom Schwarm
Cindy & Spencer Drake
Anne & Rob Fuehrer
Mary Martin

….and of course, your support.    Thank you all!

May 25th Update!

Both Recruits and Mates classes for Session 1, which kicks off June 22nd, are one or two openings away from being filled. We still have room in Session 2 for both these Classes, which starts July 20th. We still have room in the Skippers Class and 420 Team for both Sessions.

As I mentioned at the Opening Party, the HYC Youth Sailing Program Staff, with an eye to safety, would like to have a volunteer Parent or Member on the waterfront during the Recruits and Mates classes each day during both sessions.
This “Volunteer Parent/ Member Program” is an opportunity for Members to contribute to our Program, meet new people and get volunteer credit time.

Primarily, it will provide valuable assistance to the Instructors and Coaches. If a medical and/ or other concern arises ( perhaps when a Participant needs to return to shore), the Parent/ Member on duty can appropriately assist the Participant(s) and Instructor(s). There may be additional responsibilities on a day-to-day basis at the discretion of the Instructors and Coaches.

We encourage all Members to participate; Parents of the Participants are being asked to participate as well. Pair up with another parent or member!

Please contact Mary Martin via email at marymartin@suscom-maine.net or give her a call at (207) 865-0689 and she can tell you what is required and what dates & times are available. Please check the HYC website calendar for the dates of each Session. We really appreciate Mary’s help on this!

Thank you.

Henry Bliss
HYC Youth Sailing Program Coordinator.

 Maine’s sailing regatta season will get off to an early start on Saturday, June 6, when sailboats will race on courses outside Portland Harbor to raise funds for SailMaine, a local community sailing program. The Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association is teaming up with SailMaine to host the event, which will provide a wide range of benefits for SailMaine, its students, and the skippers and crews of the racing boats that participate.

Plan to join the club on Saturday May 16th for the Opening Party!  Everyone is encouraged to bring an appetizer to share and invite friends of HYC who are one the waiting list…especially if you are their sponsor.  We’ll see everyone there!

Hugh Freund, an HYC Sailing Program alumni and instructor has been named to the 2009 US Paralympic Sailing Team for 3 person class sailing Sonars.  The sailors will be working toward the 2012 Olympics.  For more information on the 2009 teams visit the US Sailing Website.  Congratulations Hugh!

We’re very excited for this year’s Sailing Program. We have a great team of Instructors joining us- most of whom are returning. I am very grateful to a dedicated team of Volunteers, the Membership and our Board of Directors who all make this Program possible. We’ll have more information in the coming weeks so please check back.

Thank you!

Henry Bliss.