You Gotta Regatta!

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