Season Openers!

I'd like to encourage everyone to get their Interclubs to SSA this week for the start of the frostbite season on Sunday, November 23rd! Late fall sailing can really be superb, so don't miss out on the fun. Plan to get the boat out from under the deck, backyard, or garage this week and dust it off. See my checklist!!

The Pre-Season Party at my house was great! Lots of new faces, which is exactly what we need. Let' all welcome the new sailors on the race course and help them get up to speed quickly.

If you like warm feet, you might want to check out APS. They have a sale going on 3mm neoprene dry socks. http://www.apsltd.com/Depts/dept2258.asp

Also, check out the EZ hand warmers! These are reusable hand warmers that really work great. Just boil 'em for a few minutes to re-charge. Really cool stuff! http://www.apsltd.com/depts/dept2487.asp

Farewell and Hello

As you probably know by now Carl and Sara DeMatteo have departed for colder climes in the North East, Carl having taken a new job on Cape Cod. Hopefully, the Scituate fleet will keep them and their IC from being too lonely. As a result, I have once again taken the reigns to keep things flowing as the season approaches. I would really like the group to think about who will take over next year. It is really important to keep the fleet captain turning over for several reasons: it keeps the group from getting complacent, gets fresh ideas and perspectives in the fleet management, and prevents the management history from being lost if the key players are few and eventually can't continue.

2003-2004 Schedule

We have finalized the schedule for this season. It looks very similar to those of past years, no real surprises. I have also indicated which days we do RC.

Month  Day  RC
---------------------------------------------
Nov     16   I   Opening Day - Informal Racing
        23   I   Day 1
        30   L   Day 2 (Sunday after Thanksgiving)
Dec     7    I   Day 3
        14   L   Day 4
        21   I   Day 5
        28   L   Lasers only
Jan     4    I   Day 6
        11   L   Day 7
        18   I   Day 8
        25   L   Day 9
Feb     1    I   Day 10
        7-8  L   IC Midwinters
        15   I   Day 11
        22   L   Day 12
        29   I   Day 13
Mar     7    L   Day 14
        14   I   Day 15
        21   L   Day 16
        28   I   Day 17
Apr     4    L   Day 18 - Closing Day

IC Nationals, Hyannis MA, April 17-18 or 24-25.

RC Duty

I need a volunteer to coordinate the IC RC/SB sign up this year. Please let me know who will do it. Also please look at the schedule and sign up for your RC/SB soon. I don't want to have to draw straws (or send people home) because we don't have any coverage. Remember we need a SB operator EVERY weekend as well as RC every other weekend. Keep in mind if you have RC experience, we would appreciate your signing up for RC rather than SB. This will help keep the quality of the racing high.

Fleet Promotion / La Cosa Nostra

Keeping this 'thing of ours' going requires constant vigilance, especially when 15% of our members depart each year. I've been speaking with several prospects over the summer and fall, but have yet to seal the deal with any of them. Hopefully the next month will be more fruitful.

Navy head coach Gavin O'Hare has assured me that the midshipmen will get out regularly on their three ICs this winter. Well, I've heard this one before from many different coaches over the past 10 years, but Gavin seems to have a bit more conviction on the issue.

We still have not sold a single boat yet, and this is a bad thing for recruiting. I'll be recruiting hard over the next month, but I need more prospects. Please send me the names of people that might be interested, and I'll contact them with my usual sales pitch.

Looking for a Crew?

"Jesse - My daughter, SARA, is 14, 130 lbs, races with me on the Thistle and went through the skipper SSA junior sailing program this summer. She would like to find a permanent spot on an IC for Frostbite Sunday racing this winter. She would be available almost all the weekends except about three, when she will have a swim meet. If you know of anyone who is looking for crew that would be a good fit could you let me know. Thanks, Stan

If you are interested, e-mail Stan: hikedout at comcast.net

On the UP Side

Gunnar and Jenn Gode moved here from Hyannis last year with his J22 and IC. He plans to sail in the frostbite this season. Dan Rabin purchased Hal's boat. Haven't heard from him, but maybe we'll see him sailing in Annapolis. Ryan Walsh moved here last year from Rochester, and will sail his IC in the frostbite this year. Ken Peregoy lives on the Easter Shore and has owned a strange bathtub like boat for 30 years or so. He just figured out it was an IC and is doing a restoration. Perhaps we'll see him this season.