Spring Sailing - Pre-season Meeting

Sailors and Parents,

It's time to get out sailing again!  After working with the school district, we have a plan for starting up practices the week of March 22nd along with other spring sports.  At this point there are still some unknowns regarding regattas, but we will take what we can get so we can get out on the water.

On Monday, March 8th, we will have our High School Sailing Pre-Season meeting, 6pm via Zoom.  

Zoom Pre-Season Meeting Link:
https://zoom.us/j/94641057845?pwd=ZTZnaWRIK2ljR2JQazVScTcwbXo4Zz09
Meeting ID: 946 4105 7845
Passcode: 852147

This meeting is for both parents and students who plan to be on the team or are interested in learning more about it.  The team is open to all high schoolers in Whatcom County.  The team will not be open to 8th graders this season.  We have many important topics to cover at the meeting including practice and regatta schedules and expectations. It will also be a good meeting to attend for new sailors interested in joining the team, so encourage anyone who might be interested to attend.  

Practice and Regatta schedule for the season are posted on the website: http://www.whatcomsailing.com/schedule.html

First practice will start Tuesday March 23rd @ 3:45 at Zuanich. 

REGISTRATION & TEAM FEES

Team fees are $200 for the spring season. As always, we don't want these fees to stop anyone from participating so please let me know if you need financial assistance.

Registration is now online.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please register soon.  Given the unique circumstances with COVID, the practice format will depend on how many kids we have on the team this spring, so please register soon so I can get an idea of numbers and work out the practice schedule. 

ALSO, all high schoolers must do the required sports clearance with your school.  This is an online process now at your schools website.  Here are links to each schools athletic registration process:

SEHOME: http://sehome.bellinghamschools.org/athletics/

BELLINGHAM: http://bellingham.bellinghamschools.org/athletics/

SQUALICUM: http://squalicum.bellinghamschools.org/activities/

A sports physical is also required, so get that scheduled ASAP.  

Registration and school clearance is required before you can practice. For a list of everything that is required see the Join Page of our website.  Attached is the sailor packet with more information.

Of course, masks will be required at all times.  We will go over all this in more detail at the meeting, but feel free to contact me if you have questions!

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com

Fall High School Sailing Update

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the last few days before school starts up again.  I wanted to give everyone a quick update on where we stand regarding fall sailing.  Unfortunately I don't have much to report other than it is still a possibility that we could have some practices and local regattas in late September and October.  There will not be district regattas or national events

. 

At this point nothing is for sure, but watch for updates closely because if we get the go ahead we will move quickly to start up the team.

Until then, do what you can to get out on the water and keep in shape.  

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com

Nevin Snow - Zoom Call Wed @ 8:00pm

Team,

Tomorrow evening is our Zoom call with Nevin Snow.  Below are details for joining the meeting.

Topic: Whatcom Sailing - Nevin Snow
Time: Apr 29, 2020 08:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98767480117?pwd=RmFwZm11MUxOQmdJR1MyMTFrd3BjZz09

Meeting ID: 987 6748 0117
Password: 333835

About Nevin Snow - Nevin is one of the most successful youth sailors in the past 10 years.  While in high school his team won nationals and he won A fleet.  In college he sailed for Georgetown and won Sailor of the Year twice, was an All American every year, and won Nationals 3 times!  There aren't many better than he is in an FJ or Laser. He is now working on a 49er Olympic campaign.  He will be representing the USA in the next Olympics. Read more here: https://www.ussailing.org/athletes/nevin-snow/

Here's some of the sailing events he has won:

• 2x College Sailor of the Year (2015, 2016)
• 4x College All-American (2013-2016)
• 3x College National Champion (2x Match Racing, 1x Fleet Racing)
• ISSA Singlehanded Champion (2010, 2011)
• ISSA Fleet Race Champion (2010)
• 2017 49er North American Champion
• 2019 49er National Champion
• 2019 49er Worlds, 13th
• 2020 49er Olympic Trials, 1st
• 2014 World University Games, Gold (Match Racing)
• 2009 Laser Radial U17 Worlds, 3rd
• Governor's Cup Match Race Champion (2011, 2016)

Come ready with questions!  Parents are welcome to listen in, but please give the kids first opportunity to ask questions.

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com

Robyn Lesh - Zoom Call Tonight @ 6:00pm

Team,

Tonight is our Zoom call with Robyn Lesh. Here are call in details:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99449797428?pwd=SFlvY2FkYkh1ekhWRmgvRzNCMUdOUT09

Meeting ID: 994 4979 7428
Password: 088119

Robyn Lesh - Robyn sailed on the Sehome team back in high school. Her senior year she won A fleet at Districts with Elsa.  She graduated in 2012 and then went to MIT where she sailed as well.  Her senior year she led her MIT team to an 8th place finish at nationals.  She is now working for the New York Yacht Club American Magic America's Cup team as one of the boat designers. She is very nice, very smart, and a very good sailor. Here's a video of her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKyc2QIBB08 

Come with questions!

 

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com

Sailing Team - Zoom Call - Special Guests

Team, 

Over the next few weeks we will have some special guests to join us on our Zoom calls and talk to us about sailing.  Our first three guests are Robyn Lesh, Nevin Snow, and Steve Hunt.  First up will be Robyn tomorrow (April 22) at 6:00pm.  Below is a quick bio on each of the guests.  Your homework: Send me questions you would like to ask each of them.

Robyn Lesh - Robyn sailed on the Sehome team back in high school. Her senior year she won A fleet at Districts with Elsa.  She graduated in 2012 and then went to MIT where she sailed as well.  Her senior year she led her MIT team to an 8th place finish at nationals.  She is now working for the New York Yacht Club American Magic America's Cup team as one of the boat designers. She is very nice, very smart, and a very good sailor. Here's a video of her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKyc2QIBB08

Nevin Snow - Nevin is one of the most successful youth sailors in the past 10 years.  His team high school team won high school nationals and he won A fleet.  In college he sailed for Georgetown and won Sailor of the Year twice, was an All American every year, and won Nationals at least a couple times (I didn't look it up).  Either way, there aren't many better than he is in an FJ. He is now our countries best 49er sailor and will be in the next Olympics whenever that is.  He also crushes it in a Laser too. Read more here: https://snowagnese2020.com/about/

Steve Hunt - Steve coaches the Point Loma team, which if you don't know, has won probably 75% of the last 20 high school national championships.  I just made that number up, but I am guessing I am pretty close.  He is a professional sailor.  People hire him constantly to race with them and win.  Which he does, a lot.  He has won many national and world championships in Melges, Etchells, and J70s.   He also was an All American in college and won A fleet his senior year at both high school and college sailing nationals,

I will send Zoom call details tomorrow for Wednesdays call.

 

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com

Sailing Team Update - COVID 19

ISSA has officially cancelled all high school sailing through May 1st, as well as District and National Championship regattas for the entire season.  This means that all regattas on our schedule are officially cancelled.  There is still a slim chance that things will settle down and local in-district regattas and practices may happen in May.

I know this is a lame way for the year to end, especially for the seniors who have been on the team for many years.  But there is one regatta that will never be cancelled, The Golden Bailer Trophy!  We will have this race.  It may not be until August, but it will happen eventually.  We will also have an end of year party, eventually.  Maybe we can convince Morgan to give another speech!

As soon as things settle down and it is safe to get back on the water in any capacity I will let you know.  

Until then, stay healthy, and watch some fun videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk99LkioFvM  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbuoQHUc-Jk 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TENnO7KgKrU (The girl in the video is Robyn!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9JcDjQ-SNU  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLobesQDSAU  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ-nBDcMlWs  

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com

Sailing Practice Cancelled Until April 24th

Matching up with school closures, sailing practice is cancelled starting immediately until at least April 24th.  

I am going to try to set up online chalk talks and rules talks.  I know, I know, you can't imagine a more exciting thing to do.  But let's do it anyway.  Stay tuned.

Scott Wilson

Director - Whatcom Sailing

360.303.1759 c

www.whatcomsailing.com