Tag Archives: Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association

The Power of the Wind ? – – Life Changing !

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The firsts accompanying Leonard Flynn Elementary School kids to Clipper Cove paled by comparison to what we all considered a life-changing story. Credit TISC’s STEM-based experiential learning program – and our SSL team – for more than just smiles on that day.

Last Tuesday served up notable firsts on TISC’s docks. Our new Program Manager Laura DeFelice, shadowed our Program Coordinator Luxine Smith, witnessed and learned to teach her first class. The 26 4th and 5th grade students from Leonard Flynn Elementary reveled in their very first sailing experience. In many ways a day not unlike those experienced by the 5,526 SFUSD students, including three previous Leonard Flynn classes who have benefited from our Set Sail Learn program to date.

The April 17th conditions were ideal for a first-sail. The April morning sun shone through some light cloud cover and the warmth of the sun prevailed over the cool light morning wind. The students arrived as they often do, loud and full of excitement. Their energy is contagious.

The group met under our big top tent and divided into two groups: one that would begin their classroom lesson, The Power of the Wind, and another that would go sailing. Of course, everyone wanted to go sailing first. Or did they?

One student, 10-year-old Rosa, walked deliberately with her classmates and chaperones as they were guided to the docks. The girls and boys were so excited to get going, and TISC’s instructors kept a watchful eye until they were briefed, donned life jackets and allowed to board the boats. They stood at attention listening to each instructor’s direction before springing like horses out of the gates to get on the boats.

All but Rosa.

The first J/24 departed and then the second. While all the kids on boat 3 were ready to go, they had to wait while the chaperone and I comforted Rosa, whose eyes filled with tears but never spilled. Her hands shook and she breathed deeply as though preparing to take a deep dive into pool from which she was certain she’d never return. Her classmates pleaded with her to come aboard, and although she never demanded to leave, was never committed to going.

After a few moments of convincing, Rosa was encouraged to sit in the boat’s companionway halfway in the cockpit where she felt safe. The chaperone sat next to her and held her hand; as the boat finally left the dock Rosa uttered “I want to go back”. But it was too late! She was sailing.

I waited on the dock and prepared to scramble the safety boat, but Rosa stood fast and kept going.  Her sailing instructor, Bruce, shouted, “She’ll be OK in a few minutes. It’s always these ones who have the most fun.”

And he was right!

Before the boats could make one loop in Clipper Cove, Rosa was already at the helm. Bruce is an expert with kids and made sure he could instill the confidence Rosa needed to become strong and face her fear.

As she steered the boat downwind, it was apparent Bruce had done his job and Rosa had made a tremendous step forward. Her transformation was empowering for her classmates and everyone involved. 

Afterward, Rosa said, “Before I went sailing I felt nervous, scared and frightened. After sailing around the bay I felt happy, excited, and joyful.”

And check out the smiles from her classmates:

While this was certainly Rosa and her classmates’ first sail, it might also have been the first big step forward in learning to conquer fear.

Although they later enjoyed their Power of the Wind lesson in the classroom (who wouldn’t have fun building wind-powered land yachts), these kids will never forget the power they felt in that very light morning wind while sailing in the safety of Clipper Cove.

The Power of the Wind –  Life Changing ? – we think so!

Regards from On the Cove, Travis

 

In the Wake:

In case you missed our April newsletter, you can read about it here.

While the level of high school racing is a step above Set Sail Learn in terms of sailing abilities, these two activities share one thing in common – The life lessons, friendships and joy of sailing in the protected safety of Clipper Cove.  Below are a few photos from the 2018 Golden Bear regatta attended by 256 sailors and another 150+ parents, friends and coaches from 26 high schools.  What a scramble at the docks when 4 divisions switched teams in 64 boats !

Did I mention- THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS !

 

 

HS Sailing (and Chicken-in-Waffles) On Clipper Cove

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School’s back in session, and Envision Academy Sailing Team (E*A*S*T) is getting an early start on Fall practice. Clipper Cove hosted hundreds of High Schoolers, coaches and parents in 2016. Chicken-in-Waffles anyone (they’re really good).

2016-09-07-16-29-08After dealing with a nearly-deflated trailer tire last week (tenants – check those valve stems !), I connected with two E*A*S*T students  getting an early start on Fall practice.  Seeing them out tuning up with their TISC coach reminded me to highlight great progress for their team, as well as a ton of smiles from hundreds of High School skippers, crew and parents that utilized Clipper Cove this year.

img_1498High school sailboat racing offers opportunities to learn all kinds of life skills – teamwork, socialization, decision making, integrity, fairness, focus, communication, leadership and more – while developing good stewards of our Bay.  Because of the steady winds, protected waters, and public access to boats and docks, Clipper Cove offers an ideal location for high school kids to learn sailing then progress to serious racing.

Oakland’s Envision Academy has a tremendous track record for placing their seniors in college.  Two years ago TISC teamed up with OCSC to start the Envision Academy Sailing Team (E*A*S*T) to provide not only life skills, but also an extra boost that provides these young sailors with experience they can take with them to college – a big plus for making new friends and expanding their secondary school experience. And to provide these students with additional incentive as well as social connections to stay in school.

You may have seen posts from Spring practices earlier this year.  It was a windy afternoon and the team used the breeze to their advantage for practice in BUGS (remember when Team New Zealand raced BUGS on Clipper Cove). Mock racing and re-capping rounded out much of the day’s practice.img_1526-en

And took advantage of those winds to get in some capsize drills as well – capsizing under supervision then righting and recovering.img_1519

 

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Earlier this year the team competed in their first regatta, PCISA Norcal #2, and are getting even more psyched for the Fall 2016 season.  What great progress since E*A*S*T started sailing in 2014.

Over 120 high school students from 30 schools enjoyed sailing on the cove at this regatta. Thanks and a tip of the hat to Steve Harris for sharing his photos from the February 2016 Golden Bear Regatta at TISC. Much Appreciated.east-1st-regatta-nor-cal-2-crAll toll this year 59 Teams from 43 schools competed at TISC, resulting in well over 350 sailors competing on Clipper Cove, as many teams brought multiple crews. Including coaches, chaperones and volunteers, the Cove hosted well over 500 High School students and parents in 2016.
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The unique characteristics (steady wind, protected waters, minimum current and safe access) served up by Clipper Cove make it unique in all the bay, and actually in Northern California.  That’s why hundreds of youth, coaches and parents descend to the Cove for races sponsored by the Pacific Coast Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association (PCISA).

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High school sailing regattas use a format that maximizes participants and number of races.  TISC adds our own unique capabilities to these regattas – docks 5 minutes from the race course so teams can switch in/out quickly, and a venue where coaches and parents can view the races.  Faster turn-around close to the docks means more racing for the kids.

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And while it’s a “tight fit”, Clipper Cove delivers the space to just barely house a high school race course, as shown by a few photos from our 2015 High School Sailing on Clipper Cove blog (photos courtesy of Lyn Hines).IMG_6867 IMG_6461 IMG_6703 IMG_6383

To provide an adequate course for our normal rotation of 32 boats per fleet, the course need to be about 1/3 of a mile long, which is about the minimum viable first beat length for a fleet of 32 boats.  Even today, Clipper Cove is a VERY confined space already to run proper races like Pacific Coast high school regattas.

The starting line for High School races almost always ends up as far east and south as possible in order to have a square course with the weather mark in the NW corner of the cove.  There is a shoal that even FJs run aground on in that SE corner, so being down there is tide specific, although experienced race PROs such as those from San Francisco Yacht Club have often anchored just offshore of the building under the western section of the Bay Bridge.IMG_6729

According to Forrest Gay, Director of Sailing at The San Francisco Yacht Club, “For a viable high school race course, 2,000 feet is needed from top to bottom, plus an additional 400-500 feet above the weather mark.  This distance is not ideal, but provides a minimum workable space, and is what exists currently in Clipper Cove.”

“Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association could not survive without non-profit community sailing centers like Treasure Island Sailing Center. They provide the only low-cost public access for high school sailing available in many locations in California.  These organizations introduce thousands of people, children as well as high schoolers, to the joys of access to the water with safety and proper equipment use as a key ingredient of their programs.

PCISA has been holding regattas on Clipper Cove for 15 years.  These regattas enable 50-60 teams from 30-40 California schools to learn, compete, and develop their sailing skills as well as life skills. Clipper Cove is the ONLY venue in Northern California that provides safe protected waters, consistent winds, and key facilities including docks and staging areas adjacent to the sailing area. There really are no other options in the Bay Area.”

It was well past my dinner time when I left TI after changing tires, checking in with E*A*S*T team and catching a bit of the Cal Sailing practice.  Kinda hungry by then.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the new “Chicken in Waffles” food stand at the corner of California and Avenue of the Palms – just north of the traffic circle. This recent addition to TI serves up a tasty, unique and value-priced plate full of “hockey puck” sized waffles with grilled chicken tenders inside. Plus other items including ice cream of course !

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Chicken In Waffles Food Stand (Check back for photos of the new new lighted sign).

October Update – On a subsequent visit to TI I caught up with a few very happy customers.  And a brighter, sunny-day photo. img_7363-cr img_7359-cr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the Wake:

 

High School Sailing on Clipper Cove

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With 100 California High School Sailing teams no surprise 60 showed up at Clipper Cove for the February, 2015 PCISA Golden Bear Regatta.  600+ sailors, coaches, parents, chaperones and spectators participated over the course of the two-day, blue sky weekend.

Excuse me – last February? OK, Full disclosure: I plead “out of town without pictures” for that weekend.  Hence the big delay in writing this post.

IMG_8711Fall practice for the E*A*S*T Sailing Team started last week (April blog about E*A*S*T) and was a wake-up call to me to get on the favored tack and share the excitement of High School Sailing on Clipper Cove. We’ll check in with their team later this fall.

The real enablers for this blog were photos from Lyn Hines and Steve Harris, plus stories from Mike Segerblom. I now have pictures and can catch everyone up on the PCISA Golden Bear regatta.  Formerly The Cardinal Regatta, this event has been held at TISC since 2012.  Clipper Cove delivers a unique and perfect venue for High School Sailing with its combination of protected waters, minimal current, good winds and excellent viewing opportunities.

Early Saturday was calm on the water which provided time for preparation on the shore.2015-02-20 10.06.25 2015-02-20 10.12.38

Once the 60 teams from 50 schools arrived just about every square inch of space at TISC was filled with boats, sailors and parents. Landside and waterside were equally busy.2015-02-20 09.45.49 2015-02-20 10.03.15

IMG_64632015-02-21 11.02.52 IMG_6850Kudos to St. Francis Yacht Club for providing a staff of expert volunteers plus the safety boats needed to run Golden Bear.  They had their work cut out for them for sure.IMG_6729IMG_6583

IMG_6362The clockwork-like summer westerlies are “off duty” from November to February. They did show up (late) on Saturday, however Sunday the sailors found themselves racing “out” of the cove rather than “into” the cove – which made for great viewing and iconic photographing but challenging racing.  Thanks to the SFYC race committee, the teams raced until sunset.IMG_6703IMG_6461

IMG_6688Clipper Cove was jammed with HS sailors racing in two divisions each with two fleets. You can see the results of the two-day series here: http://pcisa.hssailing.org/schedule/2014-2015/schedule/pcisa-sIMG_6461IMG_6867IMG_6696IMG_6383

IMG_6461 IMG_6653The Treasure Island Sailing Center docks – minutes from the course- made for ideal launching and “shift changes” between the two divisions racing.IMG_6567IMG_6850IMG_6463

Clipper Cove’s long shoreline parallel to the course made for tremendous view platforms with opportunity for “Kodak Moments” taken in by hundreds of parents and spectators.2015-02-21 11.04.51-cr IMG_6404

IMG_6692Sailing is one of the few co-ed high school sports.  Great to see teamwork and communications skills developing in these young sailors.IMG_6433IMG_6380 IMG_6686

Mark roundings were hectic with frequent lead changes.IMG_6639

drone at windward markClipper Cove is unique not only in the sailing venue it provides but also in its iconic location.  From CC you can see the new Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco’s Skyline and the loading docks in Alameda.IMG_6425 IMG_6464 IMG_6496 2015-02-21 11.23.44-crIMG_6686

At the end of the day Clipper Cove was back to its picture-perfect self.drone over clipper cove-en

The importance of High School sailing goes way beyond the friends made, seamanship skills, and even life lessons such as goal setting, communications teamwork & leadership.  For many students their sailing experience equates to sharing and bonding opportunities during their freshmen years at college.  We know firsthand these opportunities are the difference between fitting in and surviving that first tough year vs not making it to the sophomore year.

Regards (Courtesy of Lyn Hines, Steve Harris and Mike Segerblom) from On the Cove,

Dave G

In the Wake:

Here are a few additional links related to this post.

Golden Bears – Smiling Volunteers

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on clipper cove FridayFriday was a blue sky day with warm breezes and sunny sparkles on Clipper Cove. Saturday, high school sailing teams competing in the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association Golden Bear Regatta hosted by Bay Area Youth Sailing filled the cove.

PCISA and BAYS like Clipper Cove because of its unique setting protected waters and predictable winds.  Treasure Island Sailing Center was a sponsor and pleased to co-host this year’s Golden Bear regatta sponsored by from Encinal, Richmond, San Francisco and St. Francis Yacht Clubs and the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation.

Below are a few pictures from the two-day event, courtesy of Kevin Berry.clipper cove plus kids and parentsrace prepcompetitors meeting

SFYC "Victory" on Clipper Cove parents viewThe volunteer smiles below are from a picture captured during my visit to TISC for last Thursday’s dock install (Trailer, Docks, Smiles – CRASH).smiles on the dock

Many visitors ask: “Why take the docks out, Clipper Cove is so well protected?”  The answer is simple: The summer winds come from the north and west; winter storms with their high winds occasionally sneak in from the south and east which wreak havoc with the docks and dingy ramp.  So, the docks are normally out during the winter, and BAYS depends on local volunteers to put them in the water for the weekend Golden Bears Regatta.

And while we’re on the topic of volunteers, we often stress being flexible and available.  Treasure Island sea gulls can be tenacious in their pursuit of food.  Saturday night they raided our garbage and generally made a mess of the spectator area.  Many thanks to the parents of Point Loma High School and Alameda High School for the clean up Sunday morning.

Regards from On the Cove, Dave G

In the Wake: Additional informaton about Golden Bear Regatta is here:  List of Registrants from PCISA,   Results from San Francisco Yacht Club.

Trailer, Docks and Richmond SMILES – then crash !

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Blue sky and diamond sparkles highlighted Clipper Cove as I drove over the Bay Bridge to TISC Thursday morning.  What a great day for the Richmond Parks and Recreation sail plus dock installation for the BAYS Golden Bear Regatta.

Early start with a 7:30 appointment in Alameda to pick up a donated Moore 24 trailer.  Stay tuned for the international background behind this gracious donation in a later blog. Ditto for the excellent dock work supplied by volunteers from Encinal, Richmond, San Francisco and St. Francis Yacht Clubs and Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation.

Philip and Ivan, two of our TISC  instructors, treated ten kids + two advisers from Richmond Parks and Recreation to a breezy sail on the bay.  They were all smiles when their J/24’s returned to the docks around 1pm:

Richmond Sail at TISC-1 Richmond Sail at TISC-2

Answers to my question “What was your favorite part of the day?” included “I sailed the boat”, “being on the water”, and “what makes the sky blue? ( elementary students often answer a question with a question, you know)”.  All answers delivered with big smiles and inquisitive minds.

Side Bar: Thursday was quite windy; the kids had an exciting ride.  A few upset stomachs enused.  After the sail, however, they were ALL SMILES, and everyone wanted to come back for another sail at Treasure Island Sailing Center.  Troopers every one !

About  “The Crash”.

If you look closely at this group shot taken before the sail at 10:50am, you will see two cranes removing portions of the under-works used to assemble the eastern section of the new Bay Bridge.

Before the Crash

In this picture of their return to the docks just after 1pm, notice the large pile of broken steel and the broken crane on the construction barge:

Titanic Moment

Here is another picture I shot seconds after hearing the rumbling and crashing from tons of steel dropping on the barge below at 12:07 pm.  You can see the yellow lifting frame used to lower the sections as it it dropped to the barge on top of the under-works, taking the remaining crane down with it:last section dropping

 

Regards from (not your normal day) On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake: As I finish this blog, 250 kids from 50 schools in 35 towns are finishing up the first day of the BAYS Golden Bears Regatta on Clipper Cove.  Stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes look at Thursday’s preparation for this PCISA event.