TISC 2023 Opening Day Draws Bay Area Children, Youth and Families to Clipper Cove

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Treasure Island Sailing Center drew hundreds of children, youth and families to enjoy sailing and kayaking on the protected waters of Clipper Cove on Saturday, April 15th. Land-based activities included food, games, face painting and more. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary passed out life jackets courtesy of DBW. All  this made possible by the many volunteers from our V15 Fleet, the Cal Berkeley Sailing Team, and a host of TISC supporters and staff.

Just a few of the 330+ attendees are represented in this photo collage courtesy of Luxine Smith, our Business-Manager-turned-event-planner for Opening Day.

TISC Opening Day has been the “Spring Opener” for San Francisco Bay for over 15 years. Near-perfect weather brought over 330 attendees from all parts of the Bay Area (including San Jose & south, plus Sacramento and even LA) to enjoy a family friendly day on our protected waters of Clipper Cove, situated safely between Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island  (read about Clipper Cove).

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE LOCATIONS OF SATURDAY’S OPENING DAY VISITORS TO TISC.

Thousands of visitors have joined us over the years, so no surprise there’s a bit of a line in the morning to register.  And waiting for sailboat rides.  Of course a nice painted face makes the lines disappear!

Water activities included sailing on our fleet of J24 keelboats and RS Venture sport boats, and paddling around the cove on kayaks.

Kayaking on Clipper Cove enables visitors of all skills to get on the water in a protected venue that feels “far, far away from the city”.

 

Land-based activities during opening day provide a range of activities for all.  While face painting is a favorite, just “hanging out” is not a bad way to spend a “day on the bay”.  Of course food is always a favorite past time.

Ines Huret from Cal Sailing added lots of color to Opening Day.

Our sponsor and partner booths are another draw for TISC opening day. Recology shared their vision to develop and discover sustainable resource recovery practices that can be implemented globally.

Recology Zero Waste Program exhibitor Maria Trefen recruits future “recyclists” during their visit to TISC Opening Day.

Opening day is a great lead-in to National Safe Boating Week starting May 20-26. A big shout out of thanks to the CA Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) for once again providing free life jackets on Saturday, and a grant to support our staff as they welcomed hundreds from around the Bay Area. Thanks also to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for helping us give the lifejackets away while educating everyone on how to wear them correctly.

United States Coast Guard Auxiliarists, left to right: Nancy Marion, Marisa Hoke, Robin Stewart, Bart Rugo, Louis Sarto. Not pictured, Desmond A.J. Thorsson, Nick Moore, Gerald Norton and Derek Lam (retired).

Life jackets are the most important safety factor for all water sports. But not the only one.  Safety on the docks and around boats requires constant attention.  On the water vigilance is also important, and you can see TISC safety boats in many of the photos taken during Opening Day.

Thank you Michael and Cal Sailing for your support of opening day (and reminding all of the importance of life jackets)l

TISC is fortunate to be located on Clipper Cove, arguably one of the best venues on the planet for all we do. It is protected on three sides from the waves of San Francisco Bay.  The wind is reliable at all times, with the winter being the most likely time for light airs and spring-summer-fall being “just the best”. And the current that rips past the cove has very little impact on activity inside the cove.

This photo shows the calm water of Clipper Cove just inside the “tide line” at the mouth, where significant currents can run north or south depending on the time of day. With Oakland to the East.

The causeway from Yerba Buena Island to TI forms a natural barrier to the waves and currents in San Francisco Bay. With San Francisco to the West. And the TISC docks just minutes away from Clipper Cove.

Our annual Opening Day events take months of planning (suggestions from this year to help make best year are welcome -please send along) culminating with pages and pages of checklists for all facets of the day.   On “The Day” it is the volunteers (28 this year !) who make it happen for our hundreds of visitors. Signage, tables, registration, food prep, dock safety, sailboat and safety boat drivers, clean up crew – this list goes on and on.

So thank you Luxine Smith and thanks again to everyone on our staff, the Cal Berkeley Sailing Team (special tip-of-the-hat to Jessica Stewart for these great photos) and our V15 sailors who are always on the leading edge of our volunteer fleet.

Regards from On the Cove,

Dave G.

In the wake:

In case you missed what the SF Chronicle had to say about opening day, you can read it here:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/treasure-island-sailing-club-lets-kids-enjoy-san-17898461.php

 

 

 

TISC Set Sail Learn STEM Program Tops 12,000 SFUSD Fourth Graders

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After a fantastic outing sailing on Clipper Cove with an enthusiastic group of 4th graders from Lakeshore Elementary, TISC celebrates passing the 12,000 smiles mark for our Set Sail Learn program! Students from across San Francisco have experienced sailing on San Francisco Bay and connected their on the water adventure to a unique and engaging STEM-based lesson in our learning center. 

Clipper Cove and Bay Bridge frame Lakeshore Alternative Elementary School 4th Graders Celebrating 12,131 SSL Students since 2013.

Since Set Sail Learn’s inception in 2013, the program has served students from 70 schools encompassing every SFUSD district. Teachers select from three distinct curriculums emphasizing either the power of the wind, maritime history, or ecology of the bay. Every curriculum promotes inquiry based learning where students design, build, predict, test, and iterate as a team. The topics covered are rooted in STEM and vary from California’s unique geography to buoyancy and probability.

SSL is an immersive program provided at no charge to SFUSD schools, Each class is provided transportation to and from TISC, sailing on Clipper Cove and instructor-lead curriculum designed to meet 4th grade California core standards.  Upon arrival the class is split with one half sailing and the other half in our classroom. After lunch they split.

Classes are led by by our trained instructors, and include guided discussions, team activities and hands-on project time. Below are a few photos taken from typical classes starting with experiments to determine buoyancy.

Two fourth grade students see the splash and watch the bubbles, confirming this object is definitely not buoyant.

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SFUSD student confirming that heavier-than-water objects are NOT buoyant.

Nothing like a real-time floating experiment to see that ships DO float. How much “cargo” will this ship be able to bring to market without sinking ?

Designing, building and racing land yachts are one of the favorite hands-on activities.

Two SFUSD fourth graders work on the design of a “land yacht” during a Set Sail Learn day at Treasure Island Sailing Center on Clipper Cove. Notice the “Oh Crab” worksheet in the background used during Ecology of the Bay classes to develop math and plotting skills.

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SFUSD Students setting up the “land yacht” they built during a Set Sail Learn lesson at Treasure Island Sailing Center.

And they are OFF ! SFUSD 4th grade students used life savers, tape, glue and paper to build this land yacht. Will these kids be building boats, cars or airplanes using carbon fiber technologies and beyond inspired by this Set Sail Learn class at Treasure Island Sailing Center?.

The classroom portion includes both team based projects and guided discussion where students get a chance to lead the class and pose questions to the group..

While half the students are learning, problem solving, running experiments and team building, the other half are on Clipper Cove learning about the wind, watching it make the boats move, and connecting with Mother Nature around and under them.

And while TISC instructors use best efforts to make time in our learning center fun, sailing on Clipper Cove is hard to beat. A majority of SSL students have never been on the water, some are nervous, very few have ever sailed and ALL return to the dock with huge smiles on their faces.

Nature is all around TISC SSL students while sailing on Clipper Cove.

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Touching the water and learning about Ecology of San Francisco Bay. Spring Set Sail Learn 4th grade students on Clipper Cove aboard an RS Venture framed by the Bay Bridge

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Diamonds on Clipper Cove frame SFUSD fourth grade students watching the wind and (of course) putting their hands in the water.

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Look closely and you will see smiling eyes above the masks of these Spring 2022 SSL students. Covid stretched and stressed our team to the limits, however they adapted and kept SSL going. Not all 2020 students were able to sail on Clipper Cove, however even those who attended SSL virtually came away with a positive feeling about Mother Nature and a better understanding about the Ecology of the Bay.

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A favorite place to hang out on Clipper Cove is at the bow of a J24 sailboat.

Another favorite of SFUSD 4th graders when sailing on Clipper Cove is driving an RS Venture sailboat – which is right up there with  touching the water and discovering seaweed.

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Doesn’t take much imagination to see the magic effect the waters of Clipper Cove have on 4th grade elementary students..It would be nearly impossible to tell the difference from “I touched the water” photos of

 

 

Click the photo to see pictures of smiles and hands in the water from the St. Francis Sailing Foundation grant announcement of support for SSL

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“I touched the water”.

Like all students, hands in water is just the best, with extra credit for wet sleeves.

 

Such a simple yet high impact statement from a San Francisco 4th grader. “I touched the water”.

How fortunate we are to have been able to touch 12,131 SFUSD fourth graders since 2013.  We look forward to welcoming our Spring 2023 4th grade students.

Regards from On the Cove, and best wishes for the Holidays, Dave G

In the Wake:

Testimonials for TISC’s SSL program from teachers have been glowing:

“My students reflected how they felt more connected to their science learning. Also, they loved first experiencing sailing and understanding better the strength of wind power.”  

Reactions from fourth graders have been off-the-chart positive, with one single, simple act resonating with all.  Jayden said it best:

“It was amazing. It was the best field trip because I got to put my hand in the water and my sleeve got wet.”

CLICK  JADEN’S  THANK  YOU  TO  SEE  A  LIST  OF  TEACHER  TESTIMONIALS  AND  STUDENT  QUOTES.

His feelings carried through many of the thank you cards we received.

 

 

TISC V15 Fleet to Clipper Cove: “We’re Outta Here!”

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V15 West Coast Fleet 53, chartered in April ’98 with 8 boats sailing on “The Alameda”, now sports an active fleet of 30 boats racing April through September. Their Clipper Cove venue can’t be beat, featuring consistent wind, flat water, and current-free courses minutes from the Treasure Island Sailing Center docks.

Except when they head out from Clipper Cove for their annual “Round-the-Island” race each year. On Saturday, June 21 they left the Cove for a clockwise circumnavigation of Yerba Buena and Treasure Island. TWENTY boats on the line, one of the larger events other than National Championships in the last decade. Results (congrats to top five Dan/Claire, Ty/Tiffany, Lindsey/Elena, Cole /Yuri and Sam/Kristin) are HERE. Special call-out to Matt Bernard who singlehanded Jeff Knowles’ old boat, the Jack-A-Roe.
How come a trumpet on the perpetual winner’s trophy ?

According to fleet captain Sam Wheeler, this annual race is sailed in honor of Jeff Knowles, master sailor, adventurer, and consummate V15 racer. He held the speed record for a modified V15 – think mast replaced by huge kite.

Jeff died in a kite-boarding accident in 2018, and is greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was a trumpet player who occasionally busked on street corners. At least once he played a 3-minute start sequence on his trumpet for a dinghy regatta. Hence the trumpet, purchased and donated by a friend who didn’t know Jeff, however was inspired by his story.

So even though the fleet was “outta here” for an afternoon, they still call Clipper Cove home and have been active supporters and volunteers on the cove and at TISC for two decades.
No sailing event, on land or water, can happen without support, and for the “Around-the-Island” race thanks to Ian McClelland for running the race, and to the Rivlins for providing Panthera as the committee/chase boat.

Regards, from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

They’re Back On Clipper Cove !!

Over the weekend of August 27/28 V15 Fleet 53 hosted the 2022 V15 National Championships on Clipper Cove. Shout out to Steve Kleha and Claire Pratt for their back-back win, the first-ever in the 29 year history of the event. More good news – Steve, along with Nick Adamson, welcomed our juniors, helped to set up 3 boats, and coached them throughout the weekend. TISC fielded 5 youth race team members sailing in the fleet and now the kids are really psyched to sail Thursday nights next season.

So a big tip-of-the-cap to the TISC V15 fleet and their sponsor West Coast Sailing.

More photos and results from the Nationals will be posted here: https://www.facebook.com/SFV15

Siebel Sailor Launch Event

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Check out the latest VIDEO out capturing the event!

Sunday, October 20th, 2019

The Siebel Sailor Program Launch Event was held at TISC on a beautiful sunny Fall day,  the second to last day of our Sunday Junior Sailing Program.

Chris Childers, Siebel Program Director said it best, “It was like almost any other day of coaching youth sailing… until it wasn’t… “  Click HERE to read his article, “Observations from the Siebel Sailors Program – San Francisco By Coach Chris Childers, Siebel Sailors Coach”.

We are looking forward to 2020 and what US Sailings’ newest program has in store for us. The team is currently in program development and planning stages. Stay tuned!

Scroll down to see photos from the day

Flying Cat Highlights TISC Opening Day 2019

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What a day! What a day! What a beautiful day on the Bay!

Each year the Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC) holds an event called Opening Day to celebrate the commencement of its season while supporting National Safe Boating week. With support from the California Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), we invite the general public for free educational rides in our sailboats and the opportunity to paddle on kayaks or stand-up paddle boards in Clipper Cove. Add raffle prizes and food then watch hundreds of smiles coming off the water.

This year TISC served over 250 people, supported by 40 gracious, talented and much-appreciated (did I mention psyched up and enthusiastic) volunteers and staff. 

DBW donated 100 lifejackets and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary sends a group each year to hand them all out, while educating the public on boating safety.

Always a festive environment, this year’s event with music playing, photo booths, face painting and food was no different; a perfect day for boating on Clipper Cove. Opening Day marks the beginning of our sailing season here at TISC, and like past years was followed by Opening Day on the Bay.

The morning was calm to set up all the equipment and boats, and by the 11 o’clock opening the wind was up to 10-12 and filled in to 12-15 by day’s end. Not a cloud in the sky. I enjoyed MC’ing the event and chose loud 70’s music playing on the PA.

A steady stream of people, registered and guided by our many volunteers, made for efficient boarding and departing of our J/24 fleet.  Our volunteers and power boats provided safe access to everyone who wanted to paddle on the Cove.

The Sail GP regatta was planned for City Front the following weekend.  The teams and its organizers were making their way around the Bay visiting yacht clubs and sailing centers to promote this unique regatta.

One of their RIB’s pulled up to our dock around noon.  They provided 100 “goodie bags” plus free event tickets.  More fun raffle prizes to pass out.

What happened next was amazing.  I turned down the music and asked everyone to look under the Bay Bridge. While barely visible one moment, the towering wing sail of the USA Sail GP 50 shot into view as they screamed under bridge. As they crossed the head of Clipper Cove the boat popped up onto its foils and “flew” out of sight to the north.

What a sight to behold for all who witnessed the 100-foot wing on a 50-foot catamaran racing by at nearly 50 mph.

The day continued under perfect conditions. Smiles, family fun, sailing and more paddling in the safe, protected waters of Cove repeated over and over.

I mentioned weather, Clipper Cove, music, paddling, sailing and SMILES.  Can’t forget the FOOD !.  We had the best food in all of San Francisco thanks to  BEYOND THE BORDER.  Check out their menu or feed your next event.

The day ended as smoothly as it began. Everyone who sailed for the first time was thrilled and vowed to be back.

Thanks again to our volunteers and staff for giving their time and talents to make this day possible for so many Bay Area youth, adults and families! And a special a tip-of-the-hat to Brian Hill for once again providing the excellent photos of our April 27th event.  You can enjoy more of his  opening day photos.

What a day! What a day!

Regards from On the Cove, Travis

In the wake:

In case you missed  the Foiling 50’s at SailGP May 4-5,  you can watch 4 minutes of “extreme footage” selected from the best of the best moments from the San Francisco event.  To see more or watch future events check out the SailGP home page.

TISC Set Sail Learn Milestone – 6,767 Fourth-graders Since 2013

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6,767 SFUSD 4th Graders have sailed, learned and grown through the  Treasure Island Sailing Center Set Sail Learn STEM program since 2013.

This month we thank our sponsors & partners, launch our Annual Appeal, and reflect on the 2,200+ kids smiles that shined from Clipper Cove in 2018. Many which came from SFUSD fourth-graders attending our Set Sail Learn STEM program.

And what’s not to smile about! The Fall weather was fantastic for learning STEM on Clipper Cove.

With light winds the students from Longfellow Elementary School focused on observing wildlife in the Cove and even had the opportunity to try their hands at paddling! To help promote our STEM programs in his local community, San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safai from District 11 dropped in see TISC and SSL in action! Students sailed on Clipper Cove creating smiles and experimented in our activity center satisfying their curiosity about physics.

The Longfellow Elementary students looked into “how boats float” and put their creativity on the line when they designed their own vessel and then tested it to see if it floated and could hold  “passengers”. All part of the TISC “Introduction to Maritime History”. Success  – it FLOATS!

While buoyancy keeps us afloat, it is the wind that powers our boats. And that’s just what the experiments run by students from Argonne Elementary demonstrated!

Putting their new-found knowledge to work, they then sailed in our J-24 fleet on Clipper Cove.  More smiles! True “hands on” learning.

The Argonne kids wrapped up our Fall season, which brought the total number of SSL students to whopping 6,767 San Francisco Unified School District 4th graders served since 2013..

“Our day at TISC gave my students an opportunity to explore something they have never done before, and to work on skills outside the classroom. Many of my students had never been out on the water and were scared to go on the boats.   When I asked the kids how they felt about their experience after their sail, the responses were overwhelmingly positive.  They all want to do it again!” – W. Nadel, Argonne Elementary School

Many of these fourth graders would never have touched the waters of Clipper Cove, sailed a boat, learned about STEM first hand, or become excited supporters of our environment without the continued support of the St. Francis Sailing Foundation.

Spring 2019 will bring us even more smiling faces as we are expanding our reach to serve SFUSD 5th graders during our new program Sailing to Save the Seas. This expansion of our experiential STEM learning is made possible by NOAA’s Be Wet grant. Students will learn about their local watershed, marine debris, and research solutions to problems facing our Oceans today.

Thanks to YOUR support, TISC delivered over 24,000 hours of instruction.  Please consider matching or exceeding your 2017 donation during this year’s Annual Appeal.  Please DONATE TODAY.

Regards, from On the Cove, Dave G.

In the wake:

V15 Nationals-Good Times on Clipper Cove

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Clipper Cove and the Treasure Island Sailing Center served up a grand August 25-26 weekend of racing for 50+ Vanguard-15 sailors. Fourteen races – thanks to our experienced PRO – in near-perfect westerly breezes just minutes from shore. Major Good Times.

Twenty-six V15 teams from around the country traveled to Treasure Island from Tennessee, Texas, and Southern California to compete with local sailors from the Bay Area. For the event, the class National Championship, all enjoyed a solid weekend of racing thanks in large part to TISC and PRO Ian McClelland, as well as a host of Vanguard 15 Fleet 53 volunteers.

The racers made good use of the entire cove, from the mouth up to the north west end.


While Saturday’s light morning breeze triggered a short postponement, 6 races were completed in excellent conditions. On Sunday, the breeze started strong and built throughout the day, allowing the race committee to serve up 8 more races.

Up and down the fleet, the racing was close and competitive and the score lines reflect this. By the end of the weekend, however, it was clear one team in particular maintained an unmatched level of consistency. Matthew Sessions and Avery Whitmarsh (1629 in the photo below) from San Francisco Yacht Club won the 2018 Vanguard 15 National Championship.

Complete results are HERE.

 

 

Of course no V15 regatta would be complete without an active social schedule.The Saturday dinner was held downtown at the Bay View Boat Club.    Following the award ceremony Sunday afternoon the sailors gathered at the Woods Island Club adjacent to TISC on Treasure Island.

A special “thanks and a tip of the hat” to Vinay Vijayakumar for the excellent Saturday photos. You can see more of his work HERE.

And a shout-out to Mike Deady for writing and Sam Wheeler for editing this blog.

Regards from On the Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

Clipper Cove continues to provide public access to San Francisco Bay for kids, youth and adults.  Sailing, kayaking paddle boarding; recreational sailing, lessons and racing. The Cove’s rich history – read more HERE – continues to grow as public use expands in this unique Bay Area Gem.

 

You Gotta Regatta!

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The 2018 season has been spectacular here at TISC! Our sailors have been progressing through the summer with the help of their wonderful coaches. The pinnacle of youth sailing is sending those ready to their first regatta and hope that a new chapter in their sailing begins. This Summer TISC participated in the BAYS Summer Series Regattas, traveling to Encinal Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, and hosting the last of the series here at TISC. For a majority of our sailors this was their first experience racing outside of Clipper Cove and representing the home team this past weekend.

It all started in June with BAYS #2 Summer Splash at Encinal Yacht Club. The morning before the race we scrambled to get boats ready for the tow to EYC. We made it with plenty of time to rig, register, eat, and launch!  We had one Opti Green sailor and three FJ’s competing. Our motto was to have fun and sail your best!

Isaac Hoffman- Opti Green Fleet Sailor: “No More Quitting”

After a tough start and a capsize, Isaac was ready to throw in the towel. Coach Cazzie offered a little encouragement, helped bail the water out of the boat, and Isaac promised he would go for just one more race. Isaac surprised himself with a solid race and sailed back to Coach Cazzie yelling across the water, “No More Quitting!”

Isaac shared his experience with us; “This summer, at the end of two really fun weeks at TISC sailing camp, the TISC instructors asked me if I wanted to participate in my first regatta. I didn’t even really know what a regatta was, but I was so excited about sailing, I said sure. Then the morning of the regatta came and I was very, very nervous. Just before I left TISC to tow the boats to Encinal with the coaches and other sailors, my mom asked me what was the worst case scenario? Without hesitation, I answered: “Capsizing.” I had capsized lots of times during camp, and the whole way over to Encinal, I was dreading it happening again.”

“Of course, in my first race that’s just what happened. And then, because I had to fix my boat and bail it out, I missed the start of the second race. In tears, I sailed over to the coach’s boat and told my coach, Cazzie, that I was done and wanted to go in. “Ok,” said Cazzie, “but how about you give it one more try.” I said I would, and in that next race I had a pretty decent finish – 15 out of 22! I also felt like I sailed pretty well, and suddenly I was motivated to not just finish that day, but the whole second day as well. At the end, I felt exhausted but so happy! And now I can’t wait to do another regatta with TISC. “ – Isaac Hoffman

Next up was BAYS #3 at San Francisco Yacht Club

The TISC Team raced in their first ever regatta! From Left to Right; Torin Arleo, Nyanza Ngongoseke, Sonia Jekle, Sati Sowa, Brooke Hiller, and Mila Kane.

Youth regattas are not only fun to race in, but you make new friends too!

We had four total Optis in the green fleet this time and they sailed really well and helped each other out the whole way.

Sati and Sonia showed up in style to their first Regatta and it was nothing but smiles from these two.

Coach Cazzie had his work cut out for him easing their nerves as they reviewed the Sailing Instructions.

Torin took home 2nd place for the Green Fleet and is looking forward to the Labor Day Regatta at TISC.

The team was back this past Labor Day as TISC hosted BAYS Summer Series #4. We added a couple of new friends to the team for this one! Over 100 youth participated for the final regatta of the BAYS Summer Series and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect here in the Bay. It was warm and windy.

From left to right: Torin, Declan, Rowan, Lyuba, Ian, Nyanza, Ava, and Coach Nick. Thanks to the Adamson family for helping to coach our sailors. It was great to expand the team for our home regatta.

Skipper Declan Donnovan and Crew Rowan Clinch did very well competing in the FJ class, lots of great competition out there.

Mila was very focused this weekend and placed extremely well, we are hoping she sticks with it!

This is what a first place finishers sailing instructions look like! Nice work Torin, it might be time to move up to Champ Fleet 🙂

Ava (above) and Lyuba (below) were all concentration out there.

After seeing his big brother Nyanza race at SFYC, Lyuba quickly moved up from Beginner to Intermediate Opti class so he could compete in his first regatta. Lyuba held his spot on the roster this weekend not dropping in position. Another first regatta success story!

We are very proud of all our sailors who raced and challenged themselves this year. Kudos to Coach Cazzie and the entire TISC Team for leading the way and providing them with the support they needed.

Thanks to all our great volunteers this past weekend, it sure does take a village! We look forward to the start of our Fall Junior Program starting September 9th and Winter Regatta Season.

That’s a wrap! You can see from Laura’s face (photo above,far right) that it was indeed an exciting weekend. Stay tuned! You Gotta Regatta!

Best Regards- Laura DeFelice, TISC Program Manager

STEM Sailing & 4th Graders – Transformational and Transcontinental

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Experiential sail-based STEM programs launched by the Treasure Island Sailing Center in 2013 and Sail Newport in 2017 are transforming the learning experience, respect for mother nature and the lives of 4th graders in California and Rhode Island.

The TISC Set Sail Learn (SSL) STEM program has now passed the 6K “smiles” milestone.  Since the inception of the program in the Fall of 2013, 6,172 students from 46 schools representing all 11 San Francisco Unified School Districts have attended 240 classes on Clipper Cove. At Sail Newport’s new Marine Education and Recreation Center, 178 students from Pell Elementary School’s eight 4th grade classes have a few more weeks of “class” before their summer break. Each week, in September & October then again in May & June, Monday through Thursday, two of the eight 4th grade classes spends an hour on J/22 sailboats on Brenton Cove and an hour in the Marine Education and Recreation Center.

As we were launching Skipper’s Gift at Sail Newport, the first wave of Pell students was returning to the docks aboard J/22’s, the captain’s choice in Newport Harbor. How can you not get psyched about sailing on Brenton Cove!

LOOK CAREFULLY -those two cranes in the background were dismantling the super-successful One Ocean Exploration Zone during the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover. One of the exhibits included the US Sailing Reach Initiative (more below).

While different in scope and approach, both programs create smiles, environmental ambassadors and kids in tune with the sciences via hand’s ON (the tiller) and hands IN (the water) programs tied directly to their respective accredited classroom studies.  These are not field trips; they are legit school days aboard classrooms that tack and gybe!

The last day of Spring ’18  SSL classes on Clipper Cove was May 21st, Ms. Roach’s McKinely Elementary class studied Ecology of the Bay.  Many topics were covered (experienced !) as shown in the photos below!

“Ms Pilar” leads the class in a game of “Ecology – air, food and housing” before delivering a chalk talk and gets into explaining the use of histograms.  Did someone mention data creation, sampling and analysis?

Identifying male/female crabs is part of the day’s study.

Workbooks, along with lesson plans to go with them, are provided by TISC in advance of SSL classes and are kept by the kids for post-trip follow-up.

Observations often require watching closely.

Set sail learn classes are taught in two groups.  One in the learning center and one on Clipper Cove.  The kids switch after lunch.

Safety first on the water begins with lifejackets.

Clipper Cove is bounded on three sides by land and protected from the strong San Francisco Bay wind and waves by a causeway that connects Treasure Island to Yerba Buena Island. A perfect environment (the only one like it in all of San Francisco Bay) for learning about ecology, wind power and marine history.

Kids smiles on the water don’t need much explanation. On Clipper Cove students sail either J/24’s on windy days or RS Ventures on gentler days.

6,172 SSL students have attended SSL classes at TISC since its inception in the Fall of 2013.  Kudos to St. Francis Sailing Foundation for their on-going support beginning in October, 2015 ( read more about their grant HERE).

During this most recent Spring 2018 session, 646 children from 17 schools attended 28 classes, mixing time in our learning center with on-the-water sailing.

Transcontinental STEM – for sure, with programs from east coast to west coast and thanks to US Sailing a couple dozen in between.

Transformational – yes again. Here’s one recent story about conquering fears: “The Power of the Wind ? – – – Life Changing“.

And many more from kids themselves “I am crabby, day had to end”, “Best field trip ever”, “On a scale from 1-10 – 1,000,000”.  And from teachers on both coasts who have seen kids living so close to the water in Newport and San Francisco, but were never able to touch the water, feel the wind on their face, and certainly not had the chance to sail – until their experience at Sail Newport or TISC.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G.

In the wake:

You can read about REACH – a USSAILING STEM-based program no underway at dozens of sailing centers across the US to inspire sailing programs and schools to utilize sailing as a teaching platform.

And In case you missed the TISC June newsletter, you can read about it here.

 

TISC Opens 2018 Fun Season with 432 Smiles

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Mix 51 loyal volunteers with 258 excited visitors.  Add J/24’s, kayaks and SUPs.  Say “Coast Guard, DBW, Life Jacket, Ready About, Hard-alee.”   Blow gently, add brilliant glitter and Adam’s Grub Truck. The result: smiling faces shining over Clipper Cove.

So many highlights, where to start? -Actually, that’s easy. Again this year many thanks to Brian Hill for the great photos and helpful “play by play”.

So, on to the 432 smiles (270 from J/24 sailors, 108 from kayakers and 54 from the stand-up paddle boarders).

Enthusiastic Volunteers and Staff Creates Opening Day 2018:

Setup at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Tent:

Luxine Smith, Program Coordinator, briefs skippers:

Josh readies a chase boat:

Travis Lund, announces from the PA system:

Skippers discussing procedures:

Boat handler and skipper at the ready:

Charlotte at the TISC table studying the course offerings – – –

– – – and ready to discuss TISC with visitors:

Adam’s Grub Truck is ready for hungry people:

Jamie is ready with oars and life jackets:

People arriving and getting briefed on National Safe Boating Week:

A hypothermia demonstration from the Coast Guard Auxiliary:

Heading down to the docks:

Setting up on kayaks and paddle boards:

Heading out in a two-seater kayak:

Kayaker and paddle-boarder rendezvous on the water:

Gabe and Sam have a chase boat rendezvous in front of the Bay Bridge:

Gabe and Alana, piloting one of the chase boats:

Meanwhile back on land, Glitter in the City gives people fabulous freckles:

Two face-painting prospects exam design ideas:

A patient boy gets to see the finished result:

Cal Sailing team members operate their wind indicator (a bubble machine!):

A Giants fan and her Harley-loving daschund get ready to go out:

And her grand-daughter pauses to show off her glitter:

The two of them occupy the pulpit on a J-24:

Three more J-24s await cast-off:

Boarding the boats with careful direction from the boat handlers:

Another cast-off:
And another:

Boat handler gives the special all-clear sign:

Bon voyage!

TISC-1 against the new Bay Bridge:

TISC-1 and TISC-2 heading out:

TISC-2 with Bob Flores at the helm:

TISC-2 again!

TISC-5 on a fly-by:

TISC-1 at the head of Clipper Cove:

TISC-3 coming home:

Travis hands out some nice schwag from Oracle and the America’s Cup:

And a gift of wine-tasting for eight from one of our sponsors:

As the afternoon continues, people are still enjoying the varied fun:

Relocating a National Safe Boating Week Sign from the clubhouse to the docks:

Event photographer Brian Hill hands his camera over for a selfie:

One last panorama shot of the facility and the volunteers (scroll across to see it all!):
Our enablers, those great teams who make eventsl like this possible – the 51 volunteers from the Cal Sailing Team,  V15 racers, SFSU, our tenants, program partners and an SSL teacher. Generous donors including Winemaker Studios here on TI, East Bay Costco and Aracely Cafe at 401 13th in San Francisco, California Division of Boating and Waterways. Informative exhibitors including the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Re-cology Golden Gate and the SF Environmental Department. And what about those glittering faces thanks to Glitter in the City and lunch with Adam’s Grub Truck !

Regards from The Cove, Dave G

In the Wake:

Events like this don’t just happen – they are planned in advance, volunteers are recruited, details are checked and re-checked and then the (fun) job starts on “Game Day”.  While our entire staff was on hand for opening day, Luxine Smith was ultimately responsible for the myrad details, volunteers, contributors and more to deliver such a positive event ( water side summary: 270 J/24 boat rides, 108 kayakers and 54 SUP riders) here On Clipper Cove. THANK YOU LUXINE!