Portsmouth, RI (April 1, 2015) – Due to the long term decline in sailing as a sport in the United States, US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing, has announced cost cutting measures to remain solvent with its current membership size.
No longer will the organization support youth sailing events, recognizing that the current youth sailing model is not growing the sport. “The pussification of our culture has made it easy on kids, so we felt it was time for US Sailing to stop contributing to this issue,” explained Jack Gierhart, Executive Director of US Sailing.
The organization has also revised its outlook on education. “While we have derived significant income for …
FBYC Juniors kicked off their season with the Spring Race Teams’ first practice on Sunday, March 29th. The day brought a balmy high of 45 degrees, water temperature of 43 degrees, and wind gusts into the teens! We had 6 Optis and 2 Lasers sailing, but many more sailors had to drop out because their drysuits were not rated for the conditions. Even the coaches, Cori Radtke and Bobby Lippincott, wore drysuits! For safety reasons we used two coach boats and kept everyone inside Fishing Bay. The sailors practiced mark rounding, starting, acceleration off the line, and boat speed. Aside from a few numb fingers and red noses, it was a great day and everyone had a wonderful …
32 participants started Crew Training last night with sessions led by George Burke, Jerry Latell and Bob Fleck covering the parts of a boat, what makes a boat go and safety. Class continues next Tuesday with the hands on demonstrations.
OPTI KIDS AND JUNIOR WEEK ARE FULL AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
But there are many exciting FBYC programs that will keep your junior on the water and sailing all season, no matter their experience:
Private Lessons: Available all summer by appointment. We will design a curriculum to fit your sailor, from beginner to advanced, on Optis, Lasers or 420s. Private Lessons are a great follow-up to Opti Kids and Junior Week; and are a great option for kids who missed these programs.
August OptiWeek: August 10th-13th. Open to beginners and taught by our coaching staff.
Fun Sail: July 11th. The name says it all! Join us for a day of playing on the water and pizza by the pool. The …
Saturday, March 28 6:30pm Home of Paul and Julie Ann Wash 4106 Park Avenue Richmond, Va 23221
$15 members, $20 non-members
Time to don your Bermuda shorts, blaxers,knee socks and sundresses and come party! Bring your socks for the traditional sock burning! (please try to find a cotton pair. Last year we couldn't get ANY to catch fire!)
We are going to shake off those winter blues and warm up for the impending spring! Enjoy some of our favorite Carribean cocktails, and Latin and Carribean food that will be enough to make you Samba, Salsa - and whatever they do in Bermuda!
Back by popular demand are
handmade tortillas hot off the griddle all night …
Rob Overton, chair of US Sailing Rules Committee, will give a presentation on how to improve your racing tactics by improving your knowledge of the rules. Register.
We will start the 2015 cruising season with wine, beer, and heavy hors d’oeuvres hosted in Richmond by George and Lyons Burke at their home, 22 Maxwell Road, from 7 to 10 pm, on Friday, April 10. All beverages and food will be provided. We will have the opportunity to renew our friendships, share past sailing stories, and talk about the upcoming cruising schedule. Sign up at the website or phone George and Lyons directly. For further details contact George Burke at gwburke3@gmail.com or call 804 359-1187.
I noticed this Saturday morning that the sign-up list for Rob Overton's Winter Program on Rules (Wed. eve, March 25) is woefully lacking in participation. This post is to encourage everyone who has yet to sign-up to do so.
Anyone who thinks they have complete command of the rules is simply wrong. I've been a student of the rules for 35 years and I find myself continually amazed at what I don't know. A seminar, such as what is planned for Wednesday from one of our sport's leading experts, is a wonderful opportunity to increase your knowledge of this perplexing subject. I hope to see everyone there.
HOW COULD WE SAY NO TO A BEGINNING SAILOR? Both classes of Opti Kids and all three classes of Beginner Opti during Junior Week are at full capacity and closed to additional registration; but we couldn’t bring ourselves to just say NO and disappoint all those kids we've had to turn away! FBYC has opened an additional Beginner Opti session to be held August 10th through 13th, and will be called August OptiWeek.
Space is limited.
Visit our website for all the details and to register: https://www.fbyc.net/Juniors/AugustOptiWeek
Note: Other Junior Week classes remain open at this time, but are expected to reach capacity shortly. Only Beginner Opti will be offered during August OptiWeek.
Saturday, March 28 6:30pm Home of Paul and Julie Ann Wash 4106 Park Avenue Richmond, Va 23221
$15 members, $20 non-members
Time to don your Bermuda shorts, blaxers, knee socks and sundresses and come party! Bring your socks for the traditional sock burning! (please try to find a cotton pair. Last year we couldn't get ANY to catch fire!)
We are going to shake off those winter blues and warm up for the impending spring! Enjoy some of our favorite Island cocktails, and since one can't live on fish and chips alone, Latin and Carribean food!
Back by popular demand are
handmade tortillas hot off the griddle all night, filled with
The Grounds Committee is looking for a few volunteers to form an ad hoc committee to evaluate and improve the beauty of our campus.
This committee will identify old flower bed locations, identify new locations, provide recommendations for new shrubbery, provide design recommendations for various unimproved spaces, etc.
We have a modest budget to work with and willing hands to acquire, move and plant products.
If you’re interested and can provide time and expertise, let’s meet at noon on saturday, march 28th at the main clubhouse to walk and inspect our campus, develop plans and set this effort in motion.
After what has seemed like an endless summer - it's hard to believe the sailing season is starting to creep up on us. And with the start of the season - what better time for the Crew Training Program. Whether you've got a friend who is looking to get into the sport, or if you are looking for a refresher on your race knowledge or just want to learn more skills to apply to your own sailing - check out the Crew Training Program.
The class is 3 evenings in Richmond with various FBYC expert member instructors covering topics including
Every year in early March we produce a Yearbook and a Sailing Events Book. This year, based on the thought that many people refer to the online event pages when they come to events, the information in the two has been combined into a 2015 Yearbook. It contains the Yacht Register, the Membership Roster and all the information needed about our sailing events. The combined book features a new cover design, with drone photos of the main clubhouse during a Laser Regatta and a nice overhead shot of the Jackson Creek docks.
The hard work to produce the book requires the sailing division commanders to drafting of the event notices, which has now been done, and that information is already …
Come out and enjoy the balmy weather! On March 29th, the FBYC Junior Spring Opti and Laser Race Teams will begin their season. We have two highly experienced professional coaches who will take our kids to the next level, Bob Lippincott and Cori Radtke! The teams will practice and attend regattas through the end of May. Come and join the fun-Spring is here!
Bob Lippincott-Spring Opti Race Team
Bob began his coaching career at FBYC! He first coached as a CIT for Beginners during Junior Week in 2007.
He began sailing as a child on a Penguin at Tred Avon Yacht Club; and sailed on Tred Avon’s Opti Race Team. He was …
Our own Nathan Smith has WON the 2015 Curacao Youth Championship! The regatta was held in Willemstad, Curacao, in the Caribbean Dutch Antilles, from February 15th through the 22nd. The victory qualifies Nathan to represent the Dutch Antilles in the 2015 Opti World Championships in Dziwnow, Poland, on the Baltic Sea!
Nathan grew up and began sailing on the Island of St. Maarten, which is part of the Dutch Antilles. He has competed at the Curacao Youth Championships since the age of 7. Nathan is now 13. The regatta is the qualifier to represent the Dutch Antilles in IODA international regattas. He was 3rd in 2013 and 2nd in 2014, before winning the Curacao Youth Championships this year …
The J/70 Fleet is having a happy hour at The Tobacco Company on Friday starting at 5:30 and is inviting skippers, crew, fellow members and anyone else interested talking sailing over cocktails & reduced price appetizers.
This May FBYC will be hosting the 2015 Laser Atlantic Coast Championship! The Notice of Race is now available and Registration is now open! Please invite your Laser sailing friends from around the mid-atlantic area - we're looking forward to hosting strong fleets of Lasers and Radials on May 16-17.
Seahorse International Sailing Magazine is honoring FBYC Junior Sailor Gannon Troutman by nominating him as their Sailor of the Month! Gannon was nominated because of his outstanding performance at Key West Race Week in the J70 Class.
The J/70 Fleet is having a happy hour at 
This May FBYC will be hosting the 
