Opti Sailor Jamie Lynch wrote the following update on week 3 of the TRYC Spring Series

The third Sunday of the 2018 Spring Series brought all sailors on Toms River beautiful weather and finally, a spring feeling. The temperature was a warm 60-65 degrees with sun and barely a cloud in the sky, putting everyone in a good mood. A calm morning on the river gave way by race time to a steady breeze from the east that built throughout the day to 7-12 knots. For the nine sailors in the Optimist fleet who raced on a modified triangle course, consistency was the theme for the day. Griffin Lapham, getting a final warm up before heading to Team Trials this week in Florida, converted repeated great starts and fast sailing into six bullets and first places in both the Red and Overall Opti fleets. Robby Fontana was not far behind, finishing with five second places and a third, placing him first in Opti Blue and second overall. Harrison Hubbard's five third place finishes gave him third place overall. Elizabeth Actau also came in first place for the Opti White fleet. The five sailors in the Laser fleet completed six races as well, starting with a modified triangle before switching to a double windward-leeward to lengthen the course. Michael Pinto led the fleet, followed by Lauren Ehnot and Quinn Collins to complete the top three places. Thank you to PRO Max Achtau, Race Committee Members Alex Rogachenko and Everett Botwinick, Scorekeeper/Registration Manager Cindy Botwinick, and the parents who helped out on land and on the water. And a special thank you to the Toms River Yacht Club for hosting the Series at their club.

Opti Results

Laser Results

The 2018 TRYC Spring Series continued with a lot fewer sailors but no less fun!  The race committee consisted of Max Achtau, his daughter (Elizabeth), and Alex Rogachenko who intended to send off six races.  Due to growing winds, though, the race committee called the day after the third race. It was a 40 degree day and the wind was blowing 25-35 knots making for a lot of hard work.  Boats were being pushed to their limits.  For example, Ryan Enot's vang cleat ripped right out of his mast! A total of five boats ended up going out, four of whom ended up with similar points. The youngest sailor-my nine year old brother Cole Martin- started the first race which was good enough to win him 1st place in white fleet. Ben DeFonzo ended up winning the day with six points,  just overcoming Teddy Martin, Ryan Enot, and Everett Botwinick who all tied for second place with eight points. Teddy Martin was able to pull off the second place having a score of a 4,3,1 - a tie-breaker decided by the last first place of the day. Right behind him was Ryan Enot with the same score of a 1,4,3. Finally Everett Botwinick had a score of a 2,2,4, without a first place giving him fourth place. A big thank you to race committee for being out in such harsh conditions and getting the races off.  I would also like to thank the parents for being out there to help keep us safe and Toms River Yacht Club for welcoming the opti fleet and for generously providing us with somewhere to warm up.

A few tips that help on days of heavy wind sailing is being mentally and physically prepared in addition to making sure your boat is in top condition and equipped and rigged properly.  The sail ties, vang, and sprit should be very tight unless you are light and need to crack the sprit to depower. Also, if it is really windy you can pull your centerboard up 5-6 inches, and it will make your boat easier to hike. It is also important to have the proper gear to sail in the weather that you are dealing with so you can stay warm and avoid injury. A dry suit and a warm under layer are beneficial in this type of cold, windy weather. It is also helpful to get the Atlas lobster gloves that are waterproof and warm. When you are sailing in heavy wind, it is important to be physically prepared. You should be circuit training, running, and on the hiking bench as often as possible when off the water.  Finally, it is really important that you are mentally prepared and have a positive mindset. I know because I have experienced this myself when I was younger.  I can remember looking at the water and the enormous white caps and telling my dad that I didn't want to go out. However, if you turn those nerves into excitement and energy you'll get out on the water and you wont think about the waves or the amount of wind, you just do it.  Then, there is no better feeling than when you are coming in after a wild day of sailing in high winds and low temperatures and knowing you conquered it.

Opti Results

Sailor Spotlight:  Alex Rogachenko

Alex Rogachenko is a 32 year old member at Toms River Yacht Club.  His ubiquitous presence during the TRYC Spring and Fall series is noted and appreciated by all parents and sailors alike.  Quite frankly, Alex makes the series run.  He'll gather marks, keep time on the RC boat, inform sailors of the impending Skippers' Meeting and Awards, and walk through the boat park to make sure sailors are rigged and ready.  Alex has a positive attitude in everything he does, and his passion and energy are contagious.  Alex loves the sport of sailing, and he will do whatever he can to make sure that everyone else gets the same enjoyment from sailing as he does.

Name:  Alex Rogachenko
Age:  32
School Attended:  Mitchell College
Yacht Club:  Toms River Yacht Club

1) Alex, you are omnipresent at Toms River Yacht Club, always helping to run events.  We see you every year at the Spring and Fall series lending a hand.  What makes you want to give back to the sport of sailing and help as much as you do?  I give back to the sport of sailing because I developed a love for sailing growing up.  I want the younger sailors to also develop a love for sailing.   If I have a positive attitude about sailing, so will they.  I also want them to have the same opportunities I had when I was learning how to be a better sailor.  When you’re on the water life just makes sense.  You feel free.
 
2) Building on that, you also travel down to Miami in the winter to help at the Orange Bowl.  What do you do at the Orange Bowl every year to help with that regatta?  I help to launch and retrieve the Optis at Coral Reef Yacht Club.  I make sure the dollies are organized.  This is so the sailors can find them easier when they come in.  I also bring a positive attitude every day.  I make sure that the sailors have a safe and fun experience.  If they have fun, they may want to do Orange Bowl again. 
 
3) Your brother Kyle is one of the best sailors on Barnegat Bay.  What kind of boats does he sail and what do you think makes him a great sailor?  My brother has an E Scow and a Waszp.  Working hard and training makes him a good sailor.  Honing his skills by looking for the puffs and shifts helps make him a great sailor.  Also knowing how to read those shifts helped him become a good sailor.  He also fine-tuned his skills by competing against sailors from around the country and the world.  Observing other good sailors and their tactics helped him become a great sailor.
 
4) You've traveled a lot as a result of sailing.  What has been your favorite venue and why?  Lake Garda in Italy was my favorite venue.  I enjoyed watching my brother compete against sailors from other counties.  It was our first international regatta.  It was also my first trip to Italy.  It was the first time I saw a few hundred boats at one regatta. The first day, they had all the boats on one starting line.  Then they split up the fleet for the rest of the regatta.
 
5) Tell me about your other jobs that you do?  Where do you work and what do you get to do at those jobs?  I work for Morgan Engineering and the Lakewood Blue Claws.   At Morgan, I scan and index old files.   If we need to do an updated survey, we have a record of previous work done.  I also copy, seal, and package the surveys and other documents for the mail.  At the Blue Claws I work at concessions.  By having a positive attitude when I take the customers order, I ensure that they have a pleasant experience at the ballpark.  I also restock the products.

What a great first day of the TRYC Spring Series!  29 Optis and 6 Lasers braved the chillier temperatures to sail 6 races in a puffy/shifty Northerly breeze.

8th Grader Everett Botwinick wrote up the daily report below:

At the first installment of the Toms River Spring Series 2018, the sailors came back together after a winter of overseas and warm weather sailing to compete in a spectacular series of races. The race committee, composed of Clay Johnson, Declan Botwinick, Alex Rogachenko, and Max Achtau, rattled off six races at a blisteringly fast pace, which was a challenge in the 7-12 knot breeze. Lots of fun was had on the frigid water, and the incessant oscillations kept every sailor on his or her toes in their quest for the win. The coaches emphasized proper sail rigging on land and on the water and tactics when approaching the finish line; more specifically, not sailing parallel to the finish, as it can result in losing boats. Topping off the Laser Radial fleet were Lauren Ehnot in third place, David Manley in second, and Michael Pinto in the pole position. The top three finishers in the Optimist White Fleet were Drew DeFonzo, Cole Martin, and Christopher Small winning white. For the Blue Fleet, Teddy McKenzie, James Kopack, and Ian Lent emerged victorious. Finally, for the Red Fleet, Gabby Fontana, Everett Botwinick, and Ryan Ehnot rounded out the top three. Ryan clearly controlled the fleet for the day, as he had three bullets under his belt when the racing concluded. A special thank you to all the parents that assisted in getting all the sailors out for their first week back. And of course, this would never happen without the Toms River Yacht Club, which always provides a warm and welcoming home for Barnegat Bay sailors.

RESULTS

Opti Results

Laser Results

Sailor Spotlight:  Ben DeFonzo

Ben DeFonzo is a 14 year old Opti sailor from Pennsylvania who finds himself sailing on Barnegat Bay most weekends during the school year and every day during the summer.  What I love about Ben is that - despite being 14 - he has already sailed the boat for 6 years.  Ben started sailing young, but he loved it so much that he just wanted to be on the water with his friends.  He credits sailing in the off-season and chasing around the older kids as one reason for his success today, but the reality is this kid works so hard and spends as much time as possible in his boat.  More importantly, Ben comes from one of the nicest families in the sailing community, and it's impressive to see that friendly mentality both on and off the water.  Ben, and his younger twin siblings, are going to be sailors you will see at the top of the results sheet for many years!

Name:  Ben DeFonzo
Age:  14
School: Peirce Middle School, West Chester, PA
Yacht Club:  Toms River Yacht Club & Surf City Yacht Club
 
 
1) Ben, you've been sailing Optis on Barnegat Bay for many years now.  Tell me about your progression from Green Fleeter to where you are today.  What are some things you did to help get you where you are today?  I started sailing at Toms River Yacht Club 6 years ago when I was 8.  I sailed in the Opti C - Green Fleet my first year.  That year my group sailed in the Down Bay Interclub and some of the local regattas.  Immediately, I discovered my love for being on the water and racing.  The next year I moved right up to the race team at TRYC.  All of the members of the race team were at least two years older than I was but they really took me under their wing and taught me a lot.  Sailing on the race team with the older kids to chase, many of whom I’m still good friends with, definitely pushed me and improved my boat handling skills.  Another big step that allowed me to advance my skills was my participation in the Colie Sails Spring and Fall Series at a very young age.  The series was just starting back then and I remember at age 8 often being the youngest sailor and always finishing at the back of the fleet but at the same time building tons of confidence on the water.  I think that sailing with the older, more experienced kids and watching them really helped me build my skills.  Of course, coaching is hugely important and the summer instruction I’ve received from coaches like Amy Hawkins at TRYC, Clari Piran at SCYC and many others really allowed me to progress to where I am now.  For the last two years I’ve been sailing with Team LBI and there is no room for mistakes when sailing with that group!  
 
2) You've just returned from Holland for the Magic Marine Easter Regatta.  It's a huge accomplishment to represent your country at an international event like this.  Tell me about the regatta and how you did. The Magic Marine Easter Regatta was an entirely new challenge for me and a different level of competition than the normal USODA regattas I’m used to attending.  I went into this regatta with expectations of heavy wind based on what I had heard about sailing in the Netherlands.  I was looking forward to some heavy breeze like we typically get in NJ, but, unfortunately, the wind dropped off the second day and we almost lost a day of racing due to lack of wind.  The light conditions made racing a bit more challenging but the U.S. had a very good team and still performed well.  There were 15 of us from all over the United States -  Cape Cod to St. Petersburg to San Francisco and in between.  On the 4th day we split into Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets.  All of Team USA qualified for the Gold or Silver fleets.  I was fortunate to qualify for the Gold Fleet and ended up 57th out of just under 300 boats from around the world.  Our coaches, Eric Bardes and Sarah Newberry, were awesome to work with, and at the end of the regatta they told us we were one of the top performing U.S. teams that has sailed this regatta!
 
3) What is the appeal of going on international trips?  What are some of the cool perks to representing your country?  It was pretty amazing when we got there and started seeing teams from so many different countries showing up.  There were teams from 16 different countries.  Some of the larger teams were from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Belgium, Norway and Germany.  We met kids from all over, and everyone was so friendly.  We all made some lifelong friends there that we will see at different sailing events in the future.   We had some time as a team to see some of the Netherlands too which was cool.  One night we went on a canal tour in the town of Leiden, and we got to do some exploring in Amsterdam too.  Lake Braassemermeer, where we sailed, was a great venue and it was a great opportunity to learn more from being in a place with different wind shifts and tides.  Above all, the appeal is to sail for Team USA and represent the United States!
 
4) Last summer you came out a couple times to try out the Waszp.  What did you think of the boat?  Was it easy to get up and foil?  The Waszp has been one of my favorite boats to sail.  I was psyched when Molly and Carl Horrocks asked me to go out with them.  Once you got up foiling it felt amazing, but it was NOT easy to do.  It took me a while to get up on the foils and really get going but if you have the right wind you can really fly.  It takes some time to figure out the balance and technique needed to get up on foils but once you do it feels great. I spent most of the day trying to balance the boat or in the water trying to flip it back over but I’d jump at the chance to sail one again.
 
5) In the Opti class, it seems like getting off the starting line is really important.  Give me three of your best starting tips that apply to all different boats.  One thing I like to do 5 minutes before the start is go above the line and look for the puffs and the next breeze that is coming down the course. This helps me determine where I want to start and where I want to go after the start. Second, you need to be very aggressive. If you are not aggressive you will never be able to find a spot in the first row or even be able to hold your spot on the line. Third is to get good acceleration off the line. You need to have good speed off the line so that you can hold your lane after the start.

Sailor Spotlight:  Bub and Emma Kovacs

If you don't know who Bub and Emma Kovacs are, you should.  These two people have donated more hours, helped to run more regattas, and have done so much to support sailing in our area.  Ever sail a regatta at Brant Beach YC before?  There's a good chance that Emma helped you with registration and then rode her bike down to the main club house to serve you breakfast.  Bub, meanwhile, was likely riding through the boat park with his megaphone making announcements to sailors and getting everything ready for the day.  As Executive Directors of the Opti Class for many years, the Kovacs were instrumental in helping to revive the USODA and restore it to arguably the most successfully run one-design class in the country.  Now, Bub is the Vice-President of the Club 420 class.  The Kovacs love the sport and will do anything to give back and promote sailing.  Barnegat Bay is lucky to have such supportive and passionate sailors involved in our sport.

1) Bub and Emma, you guys are incredibly involved with running regattas at Brant Beach Yacht Club.  What makes Brant Beach one of the best regatta hosts not only in our area but also the country?  What regattas are on the calendar for this year?  Location, location, location. Brant Beach is blessed with seven blocks of bay-front property including three blocks of sand beaches for easy launch and recovery. We have had events with 300 boats. The race course is less than a half-mile from the club with little interference from boat traffic and the summer thermal creates great racing. The on-the-water and off-the-water teams are seasoned and used to hosting two or three major events each year. This year we will be doing the Club 420 Nationals early in July and the Laser Master’s Nationals in August.  Additionally, we'll be hosting a Junior Olympic festival, our Annual Opti Regatta, and an LBI Interclub.

2) Brant Beach is in the process of building a new sailing facility.  Can you give us some details on the project and a timeline?  How will this help the club?  After Sandy, the Club engaged in a series of listening sessions and a strategic planning process. After the repairs and replacement of docks, coach/committee boats and the club houses, a decision was made to advance a new Sailing Center to increase our hosting capabilities as well as be a center for our instructional programs. Essentially the project will double the size of the existing building, add a snack bar, locker rooms, a multipurpose room and rooms for juries and registration. We’ll have improved space for our Club management team, marine mechanic and maintenance staff. We have gone through an exhaustive review by Long Beach Township, DEP and the Army Corps. We now have permits, construction documents and have almost completed our fundraising efforts. We anticipate a construction starting right after Labor Day. We believe this project will improve services to members as well as our regatta guest.
 
3) A lot of sailors know you guys as being the Executive Directors of the USODA before Genoa Fedeszyn.  There is no doubt that you left the Opti class in a position as one of the best run One Design classes in the country.  What was that experience like?  What are some improvements to the USODA that happened under your watch?  We were glad to help the USODA transition to a 21^st century One Design class. We were at the cutting edge of setting up one of the first management systems that integrated membership, event registration and financial management, and we ensured quick payments to hosts while building the financial reserves of the class. During this time we helped with a redesign of Optinews and launching social media elements. The difficulty for all youth class is with turnover of sailors and board members and the need to do a bit of hand-holding with sailors and parents as they transition from local to national competition. We’ve tried to continue to give back to youth sailing by either being the Chairpersons of events, Race Management, and Bub continues to serve as Vice President of the Club 420 Class.

4) Most people don't know this, but your son Kyle Kovacs was a ROCK STAR sailor growing up.  Now he's becoming a real life doctor which means he has less time for sailing.  Give us a quick summary of Kyle's experiences and how it was being a parent through these experiences.  We give back to sailing because it was a central part of our family life for 15 years. Practice were every weekend all year around with Erik Johnson and Terry Kempton using ice flows as marks. Kyle started sailing Optis at Brant Beach and then joined the Toms River team who. at the time, included so many future National Champions and Collegiate Sailors. Kyle was a member of the Opti National team and later campaigned both Lasers and C420’s. In the year he won the US Sailing Double-handed Championship (Bemis) with Eric Reitinger, he was also the national Radial Grand Prix champ. He went on to win the US Sailing Single-handed Championship (Smythe) and later was a two time All-American and Captain of the Harvard Sailing Team. He’s married to Abigail Coplin who was a Yale All American and both a National and World sailing champion. Kyle is in the Bahamas right now for a month doing Retinal Surgery at an eye clinic. Its been difficult to find time to get on the water, but we hope gets out on a legendary Bahamian Sloop!

5) For the last couple of summers, the Brant Beach Sailing Foundation has maintained Raven, one of the famous Barnegat Bay A Cats.  Tell me about that project and what is going on with the boat.  We’ve always loved the A-Cats. They are a great boat to orient people to sailing, enjoy a leisurely sunset sail and of course for racing. The Raven project is being accomplished through a collaboration between the New Jersey Maritime Museum and the Brant Beach Sailing Foundation. John Coyle and Jim Vogel, who manage Ghost, have been instrumental in providing the groundwork for both the Raven and Ghost. We’ve been able to use Raven for the Wounded Veterans and Callahan Regatta at Bay Head YC. We’ve raced her Downbays and a few of the BBYRA events. We’ve also used Raven as a platform for at risk children and families. As important, we are helping to preserve an important part of Maritime history under the guidance of Tom Beaton and Paul Smith. We are now taking on the restoration of a Duck Boat in collaboration with the Hudson River Community Sailing Program.

Sailor Spotlight:  Zach Higham

Zach Higham is a 16 year sailor from Pine Beach, NJ.  Zach is a perfect example of someone we want sailing on the bay; he grew up sailing Optis at Pine Beach Yacht Club (the same club where his mom grew up), he loves sailing in high school and recruiting new teammates, he just bought an M-Scow to race in our BBYRA summer series, and he coaches the next group of sailors at the Island Heights YC.  When most 16 year olds get their Learner's Permit, they want to spend the day driving a car.  Not Zach.  He couldn't wait to get home and tune up his M-Scow.  Zach's love of the sport is exactly what makes him a life-time sailor.

Name:  Zach Higham
Age:  16
School: Toms River HS South
Yacht Club:  Pine Beach


1) Zach, give me a brief synopsis of your sailing career so far.  Where did you go to junior sailing program?  What boats have you sailed?  I started junior sailing program at age 5 at the Pine Beach Yacht Club.  When I began racing Opti more competitively I joined the Toms River Yacht Club Opti racing team and CERT.  This helped me advance my racing knowledge and tactics tremendously.  I had a pretty good Opti career placing 3rd overall in NJ Opti States in the Silver Division and winning the BBYRA Midget Championship. At the Mid-Atlantic Midget Finals I placed 2nd.  My High School Sailing career started in the fall of 2015 at Toms River HS South. Sailing in high school is a lot of fun and I enjoy competing with other local high school teams.  This past summer I began instructing at the Island Heights Yacht Club.  Some of my fellow instructors were sailing M Scows, and I started crewing.  At the end of the summer, on my 16th birthday, I bought my first M-Scow.  One month later I placed 3rd in the Eastern Championship. Sailing has become a very important part of my life, and I don’t know what I would do without it.
 
2) What is sailing at Pine Beach Yacht Club like?  You are one of the better sailors to come out of that club in a while, and I know your family is involved at the club.  Tell me about the culture and what makes Pine Beach YC so great. The Pine Beach Yacht Club is a wonderful club which has given me so many wonderful experiences.  My mom grew up sailing and later instructed at PBYC so it's been a part of our family.  The club has evolved in many ways, and I have witnessed many of the changes.  My father has been on the Executive board in many positions from the Treasurer to the Commodore during the 100th Anniversary, and he now serves as the Past Commodore.  Over the summer, I am continuously around the yacht club participating in many of these historic events.  Most summer mornings, I head down to the yacht club to hop on my whaler for my commute to work. Friday nights, I join in on a casual, yet competitive, Sunfish series.  On Sundays my family gets together, and we all sail on my dad’s Capri 25 in the PHRF series. Pine Beach Yacht Club is great because of its amazing environment where the members get involved and are invested in the junior sailors.  I have gained knowledge and experience through either sailing with them or just having a casual conversation at one of the social events.  Pine Beach is a family club where all the members know your name.  I am very proud to be part of such an amazing yacht club and cannot wait to hopefully bring home another Bay Flag as well as see the development of the future junior sailors.
 
3) You are one of the top sailors on the Toms River South sailing team (Go Indians!).  What's your high school sailing experience been like?  Pretend I'm an incoming freshman considering joining the South sailing team.  Give me your pitch!  I have been sailing in high school since my freshman year and have recently been named one of the two captains of our team at Toms River High School South. The transition in my freshman year from sailing a single handed boat like the Opti to a larger double handed boat like the 420 was a little difficult.  I started as a crew which was something I was not used to, but I am thankful to have such great coaches who helped me with the transition.  Towards the end of the fall of freshman year I began spending some time in the back of the boat.  Ever since joining the team back in the fall of 2015 we have qualified for our Silver Fleet Championship every season as well as one trip to the Gold Fleet Championship. I hope that in these coming years as a captain and our A fleet skipper I can help lead the team to another trip to the Gold Fleet Championship. Overall high school sailing has been extremely rewarding for me. I have met new friends from my school as well as others, and I have grown so much as a sailor because of this choice. I recently recruited two new freshman to join our team for this spring season, and so far they both really enjoy sailing. Sailing is unlike many other sports because it is a lifelong sport. At the end of the day high school sailing is very rewarding, and if you have the chance you should give it a try even if you know nothing about sailing.

4) This weekend was the first HS sailing regatta of the season, the Icebreaker Regatta at TRYC.  You sailed really well in very challenging conditions.  What was your strategy and how did you approach the regatta?  Going into the Icebreaker Regatta this past weekend my main focus was to get back to the basics of the fast-paced high school sailing races. With 15 boats on a large line and heavy wind, I focused on getting clean starts each race and keeping my boat as flat as possible. I also focused on sailing my own race the whole day and paying attention to my own boat instead of the other teams. On my very first race this spring season I put everything I have learned so far in high school racing together and was able to win the race. As the day continued the wind was building and the conditions worsened. Managing conditions with heavy wind and waves is difficult especially when sailing with a crew, but I am very proud of how well my crew, Paige Zelenak, and I worked together.  Paige helped me tremendously throughout the regatta.  As co captains we have realized the importance of teamwork.  I look forward to future regattas such as the Spring Fleet Championship, SUNY Maritime Invitational, and the NJ State Championship as well as the conditions that they bring.
 
5) Recently you bought an M Scow to sail on Barnegat Bay.  M Scows are very cool boats with a strong presence on the bay.  What made you decide to buy a boat like that and how do you like it so far?  Over this past summer, I was introduced to the M-Scow while crewing with a coworker at the Lavalette Sunday Series.  After crewing on multiple M-Scows I just knew that this was the boat for me. The overall shape and feel of the boat intrigued me. So my dad and I began to look around for my own boat. After talking to many sailors in the M-Scow community and meeting new people through the Lavalette Sunday Series I found out that Tom Welsch was interested in selling one of his three boats. One night after a long day of coaching at Duck Boat Worlds, my Dad and I met Mr. Welsch to look at the boat. The boat was in wonderful racing condition-- white with two sleek blue stripes down each side and the name Jammin’ on the stern. That night I bought my first M scow.  The next morning was my 16th birthday, and I went for my drivers permit.  After that, I spent the rest of the day sailing my M-Scow. I didn't even want to go drive in a car; all I wanted to do was sail my M-Scow.  Late in the summer I entered two weeks of BBYRA racing and then the M-Scow Eastern Championship in September. I had a great time racing that day and ended up finishing 3rd in the Eastern Championship. The M-Scow is a great double-handed racing boat on the Barnegat Bay which I truly love. I can’t wait to compete in my M-Scow next summer and for many years to come.

Sailor Spotlight:  Pilar Cundey

Sailor Spotlight:  Brooke Schmelz

Sailor Spotlight:  Michael Pinto

Sailor Spotlight:  Sarah Burn

5) What are your sailing plans for the next few months?  I know i420 Worlds are in Newport, RI, this year.  How will you gear up for those? 

Sailor Spotlight:  Jeff Bonanni

Jeff Bonanni is one of the best sailors on Barnegat Bay.  Jeff followed up a successful Opti career by winning a Laser Radial National Championship and 3 (count them, THREE) Laser Radial North American Championships!  He attended Boston College where he was an All-American skipper and A-division sailor for the Eagles.  In his post-college sailing career, Jeff has become one of the best E-Scow sailors in the US.  Lately, Jeff has been coaching a group of Club 420 sailors in the spring and fall, in addition to the Rumson-Fair Haven HS sailing team.  Jeff is known for his attention to detail and preparation before events, which he is trying to pass down to the next generation of BBYRA sailors.

Name: Jeff Bonanni

Age: 34

School attended: Boston College

Yacht Clubs: Toms River Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club

1) Jeff, you grew up as part of the 90s Opti group that put Toms River on the map.  Tell me how junior sailing was in the late 90s and how it compares to what you see today. 

The 90s was definitely the transitional period from the yacht club run programs to the regional teams that you see today.  With that came better coaching and the quality of the fleet as a whole rising. On the world stage, U.S. Opti sailors are performing a little better at the top end, but it's the middle of the U.S. fleet that is much more competitive today. For example, I think there are probably 25-35 sailors at a large national event that can win a race, which had not been the case until recently. 

At Toms River in the 90s, we were lucky to have a group of parents and a yacht club who were very supportive. Our two primary fall/spring coaches, Erik Johnson and Terry Kempton, were also parents, which is unthinkable today. Ultimately the success of the Toms River program was due to the fact that it was a no egos environment; we shared information, trained hard and competed to win. 

2) Lately you've been coaching club 420s in the spring and fall.  What are some things that our junior 420 sailors do well and what do they need to continue working on? 

The top 420 teams in the area all have crews who happen to be very good skippers, which results in better decision making and better boatspeed.  When the crew is in tune to how the boat feels, they can make a small adjustment in weight or jibsheet without the skipper having to call for it.

We're continuing to work on the technical aspects of the sport, the biggest of which is classifying the conditions on the water, such as wind harshness and wave height, and translating that to how we tune the boat. The Club 420 has many more variables than the Laser or Opti, so even if the wind might be 12 knots in a westerly and 12 knots in a seabreeze, the rig tune could be completely different.

The other is improving physical fitness, particularly strength-endurance.  The mainsheet and jibsheet loads on a Club 420 are very high, so being able to quickly and effectively trim the sails is incredibly important. For the skipper in big breeze, the mainsheet should never stop moving. If you want to climb up the standings quickly, improving physical fitness will get you there.

 

3) This weekend is the Club 420 Midwinters in Jensen Beach, FL.  You're traveling down to coach four top boats from the Barnegat Bay area.  As a coach, what do you do to prepare your sailors and what should your sailors do before a big regatta? 

First and foremost, I like to work with each team before the event to review strengths and weaknesses and set realistic goals. I view every regatta as a learning experience until we hit a peak event (for Opti sailors this would be Team Trials, for C420 and Laser sailors this would be North Americans). For the sailors, they should make sure their equipment is 100% race ready and feel relaxed knowing that all the hard work and training will serve them well.  Regatta performance is just an expression of the skills honed in practice.

4) You are one of the most cerebral, meticulous sailors out there.  There's no doubt that you put a lot of time into preparing your boat, tuning, and making sure everything works well.  Tell me about those characteristics and why you think they are so important. 

5) You are one of the best E-Scow sailors in the country, and you had arguably the most dominating performance at an E-Scow Nationals ever at Little Egg Harbor YC in 2015.  [Jeff had a 1-1-1-1-2-5].  What do you attribute this win to? 

Sailor Spotlight:  Teddy Martin

Teddy Martin is an impressive 13 year old!  Teddy is a rockstar around Lake Hopatcong; he moves boats around the yacht club with his tractor, is a coveted crew on E-Scows, and is one of their top junior sailors.  But over the past year Teddy has upped his game by traveling down to the shore to compete against better kids.  He has also travelled nationally attending any regatta his parents will take him to.  This summer he's even going to try his hand at steering an E-Scow in between Opti events!  Keep a look out for this up-and-coming sailor!

Name: Teddy Martin
Age: 13
Yacht Club: Lake Hopatcong & Surf City Yacht Club (Summer Opti Team)
Grade in school:  7th grade at Tewksbury Middle School

5. I have to ask.  At the E-Scow Easterns two years ago at Lake Hopatcong YC, you were the little kid that was driving a John Deere trailer moving everyone's boats to the hoist.  At first people were reluctant to let an 11 year old back their boat down the hill and to the hoist, but after you did it a couple times you really surprised and impressed a lot of people by weaving in and out and driving the tractor like a pro.  How did you learn to drive a tractor like that?!  I grew up on our family's farm, and I've been driving the farm equipment since I could reach the controls. When the yacht club needed a machine to move the trailers my dad offered my John Deere tractor but only under the condition that I would drive it. I was excited, I knew it wouldn't be a problem since I've worked with equipment my whole life.

Sailor Spotlight:  Brendan Hogan

Name: Brendan Hogan
Age: 29
Yacht Club: Shore Acres YC (is the place to be!)
Schools attended: Donovan Catholic, Ocean County College, Kean University

1) Brendan, give me a quick summary of your sailing background.  Where did you grow up sailing?  Did you sail in high school?  College?  etc.
I began sailing at the age of 7 in the Shore Acres Yacht Club Jr Sailing Program. At that age, I was not fond of sailing program by any means. In fact, I am pretty sure I had a belly ache that entire summer. However, my parents were persistent, and I continued in the program. By age 10 I was racing Optis, before advancing to Lasers. At age 15 I began sailing for a travel team - TS4LS - and this is where my passion really grew. I sailed for Monsignor Donovan in High School, and while there I was able to practice with some of the best sailors in the country. During my college career I attended many different universities; however I spent most of my time sailing for OCC and Kean. The OCC program was my primary enabler to continue the sport. Because of my time there I was exposed to A-Cats, Ensigns, and the venerable E-Scow, which I still race today.
 
 
2) You are the Commodore of the Shore Acres YC - pretty young compared to most Commodores.  For those who don't know, Shore Acres YC was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Sandy and is still rebuilding.  Can you tell me how the club is coming along?
Shore Acres was completely decimated by Super-Storm Sandy. I will never forget the day the water receded. I walked down to the club, and the only part that looked salvageable was the roof. That day led to 5 years of conducting club events from under a canvas tent. Today, thankfully, we are making great progress towards rebuilding the club. We currently have all of our siding, windows, and rough mechanicals in place. If everything goes according to plan we will be re-opening this May. This has been an incredibly difficult process that has been helped along by a great many people, and I hope they will all join me at the club when we are finished.
 
3) This winter has been very cold so far which has provided some great opportunities to ice-boat.  Have you been?  What's it been like?
This winter has been BRUTAL. One of the coldest I can remember (Especially when you are trying to build a new clubhouse!). The flip side of that coin, however is that we have been able to do a ton of ice-boating! I firmly believe that the most fun you can have during the winter is on an ice boat. I have owned a DN ice-boat for a couple of years, and this was the first opportunity I have had to use it. To be completely honest, the experience is surreal- gliding along the bay at 30+ knots with hardly a sound to be heard. It is one of the most fantastic out of body experiences one can have. This year we were blessed, in a sense, because Kettle Creek (by SAYC) froze solid for a good 1 month period. I believe out of that we were able to do 2 weekends of ice-boating. Ice-boating will certainly test your patience, but the reward far outweighs any of that- I can’t wait to get back on the ice again!
 
4) In the summer you sail with Kyle Rogachenko on his E-Scow, "Honk."  What is that like and can you tell me about the dynamics on that boat?
Sailing with Kyle is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I have known Kyle since we were both racing Optis and Lasers; sailing has a way of providing enduring friendships. The crew is primarily made up of Kyle, AJ Bailey and myself. Sailing with Kyle and AJ has definitely elevated my own game. On paper, most people would think it is crazy to throw 3 lifetime skippers into one boat, especially two engineers and someone who may not be known for attention to detail [Editor's note:  Brendan is talking about himself]. The reality is that we all complement each other very well. Trust me when I say that is a full time job to keep two engineers from getting in their own head during a postponement.  Most importantly, this has also been the most fun I have had sailing since I was probably 15. We do not get down on each other; we only serve to pump each other up. This kind of positive environment has an impact on the race course, but it has an even greater impact once on shore. While we always want to win the race, we recognize that there are greater things in life than the race course- such as winning the party at Inlands. HONK!
 
5) You are one of the most approachable, inclusive, and easy-going guys I know, you've stepped up and helped out at Shore Acres Yacht Club, and you are always available to help promote sailing on Barnegat Bay.  What is it about sailing and Barnegat Bay that keeps you so involved?  What do you love most about our area?
I bleed Barnegat Bay. I have sailed on the Great Lakes, the Inland Lakes, the Finger Lakes, as well as up and down both coasts, and I can comfortably say that Barnegat Bay is simply the best. We have one of the most predictable and satisfying sailing breezes with our summer thermal. This creates some big waves to go along with the big breeze, which can be a lot of fun too. In the Spring and Fall we often benefit from strong west winds from weather fronts moving across the country, and you haven’t lived until you’ve sailed in a Jersey Nor’Easter. It’s very rare we lose a day of racing to no wind at all. Most important, to me, however, are the people. We would not have such a robust and well renowned sailing venue if it were not for the people who support the sport. This includes all the members of the area clubs, the BBYRA, and the Jr Sailing committees. I could probably give you a list of 1,000 people who have helped me out along the way, and I would still be forgetting someone- and that is what makes the difference.

Sailor Spotlight:  Leo Boucher

Above left:  Leo Sailing at the Lauderdale OCR.

Above right:  Leo and Laser Gold Medalist, Tom Burton.

Sailor Spotlight:  James Kopack

James Kopack is a 6th grade student at the St. Joseph's school in Toms River, NJ.  James has sailed Optimists for a few years now, and he is most known for his dedication and love of the sport.  It is not uncommon to see James practicing by himself after school or working on his Optimist.  James' positive attitude and desire to do ANYTHING that is sailing related are tell-tale signs that he is going to have a fantastic sailing career!

Last weekend, James sailed in the Optimist Team Racing Midwinters in Hilton Head, South Carolina.  We checked in with James to hear how the regatta went.

Name:  James Kopack
Age:  11
Year In School:  6th Grade
Yacht Club:  Mantoloking YC and Toms River YC

1) James, you just got back from the Team Racing Midwinters.  Tell me about the regatta and how you guys did.
The TR Midwinters was unlike any regatta I have ever done before; it was a whole different concept.  First of all, we all had our different teams.  I was on CERT Red.  The first day we got on the water and go the hang of things having not sailed for a while this winter, but we fought hard.  Sadly, we missed Gold fleet in a three-way tie!  We would have made it into Gold fleet but we (along with the other team Lakewood YC) all went to the wrong mark in one race and were penalized 24 points per sailor! 
Day 2 we were placed in Silver fleet and didn't do as well as we wanted, placing 7/11 in Silver.
Day 3 we went out confidently on the water to see who would get the 7th and 8th place spots in a knock-out round (best of 3).  We went up against Lauderdale 2.  My team and I fought hard and beat them 1-2-3 two times.  This time we won!  Even though we did not get into Gold, my team and I did an amazing job for our first time together.  All in all, it was a great experience!

2) What do you like about team racing and what do you like about fleet racing?
Team racing and fleet racing are both some of my favorite things to do, but I have to say I do like team racing a little bit better.  In team racing, you have a team to talk to and somewhat rely on if you're in a bad spot.  I also enjoy setting mark traps and helping my team fight for the winning combination.
On the other hand, in fleet racing you don't have to worry about messing up your team.  You don't have to worry about setting mark traps - all you have to do is sail your own race.
I like both team racing and fleet racing a lot, but I think I like team racing better!

3) POP QUIZ:  Opti Team Racing is 4 vs 4.  Your team is in a 1-2-7-8.  Are you winning or losing?
You're losing!  If you're in a tie, the team with the first place spot is losing.  Any combination with the 7-8 is losing.  The 1-2-7-8 is very easy to get out of though.  Just ask a teammate to set a mark trap and your team is winning!  [Editor's note:  James is 100% correct]

4) James, I have witnessed firsthand how hard you work in the off-season.  You started sailing after school by yourself, then with a friend, then with more friends.  Tell me why you do that and describe how it's turned into a popular activity.
First of all, I do this because I love sailing.  I would go sailing right now, but unfortunately the river is frozen!  Second, I do this because the best kids down south in Florida go out every day after school.  They basically can sail non-stop, and the only way we're going to catch them is by spending time on the water.  You might not know it, but every time you go sailing you get a little bit better.  Even if you just go out and do a dozen tacks and gybes, you will get  a little bit better.  I think this activity became popular because kids who live on the Toms River saw me sailing and wanted to go out too.  Then, my friends told their friends and it became sort of a trend!

5) What are your goals for 2018?
I have many goals for 2018.  My main goal is to qualify for Team Trials at the upcoming Valentine's Day Regatta.   My second goal, even though this isn't results driven, is to mast my tacks.  In the summer of 2017 I got SO much better at my tacks.  Now that my tacks are somewhat decent, I need to MASTER them.  My third goal is to work on my starts.  As some of you may know, I tend to be really good at getting Black Flagged!  This year I need to perfect my starts!

Sailor Spotlight:  Bella Grey

Bella Grey

Bella is an 11 year old 6th grader who sails for CERT and LEHYC.  She is part of the up-and-coming contingent of young Little Egg sailors who have really upped their games lately.  She and her LBI teammates have started practicing hard in the off-season, they're traveling to as many regattas as possible, and they are loving the sport.  Their time on the water is starting to pay dividends too as their results improve every time they sail.  LEHYC is going to have a power-house junior sailing program for many years to come!

Name:  Bella Grey
Age:  11 years old
Grade in School:  Sixth grade
Yacht Club:  Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club

Bella, you have travelled to a lot of regattas lately and have really made an effort to improve your sailing skills. Which regatta was your favorite and why?
I have two favorites. My first would probably be Nationals. It was my first big regatta since Orange Bowl 2016, and I had recovered from a concussion two weeks before. I also qualified for Team Trials, so I was super excited at the end. Also, I enjoyed spending time with my teammates and feel like we got to know each other better. ACCs was also great. The activities after sailing were awesome, and the zip-line was definitely the highlight of the regatta. The heavier wind on the second day was also enjoyable.

Tell me about your concussion last year and what you did while you were recovering.
Last year I got a concussion by falling on my head doing a back-bend. Honestly, it was awful. I also got whiplash from doing flips at a trampoline park, which added to my head pain. While I was recovering, all I did was sleep and eat for the first week. After I got a little better, I learned how to bake. So many batches of brownies and cookies were made (and eaten) during my recovery.

What’s something you do really well in the boat?
Something I do well in the boat is sailing downwind. I plan ahead and know if I should jibe or keep going at the weather mark.  I am also good at mark roundings, and I pass boats while rounding marks.

What’s a short term goal or something you want to improve on?
One thing I want to improve on is starts. I am usually on the favored side and have a good hole, then I lose it at 20 seconds. My goal is to get consistent front row starts and not lose my hole.

What’s your favorite drill on the water?
My favorite drill is probably rabbit starts. Strangely enough, I used to despise them. I finally got good at rolling my boat to get speed off my rounding. It's fun to see if I can pass the boat that rounded before me and to try my best not to get passed.

Sailor Spotlight

Sarah Moeder

The Toms River Yacht Club Fall Series came to an anti-climactic end Sunday, as rain and big breeze kept the sailors on shore.  Despite marginal conditions early on, the forecast was for increasing wind and rain as the day went on; it was a safe call to end the series.

Congratulations to our winners in both the Laser Radial and Opti fleets!  Consistency over the course of a four week period is needed to come out on top, and both Teddy Martin (Optis) and Tyler Mowry (Laser Radials) did just that!

Thank you so much to our helpers.  Cindy Botwinick and Amy DeFronzo graciously did the scoring and registration.  Mike Dowd, Brian Hull, and a collection of other parents donated their time to run the racing.  None of this could be possible without Alex Rogachenko who keeps things moving smoothly and happening on schedule.  There are many others who have contributed in some way, and this truly is a team effort.  THANK YOU!

We are indebted to Toms River Yacht Club for their continued support of Junior Sailing and the use of their facilities.  TRYC generously welcomes us each fall and spring, and we are so lucky to sail there.  A quick note from your sailor thanking the yacht club with an annecdote about your experience or what you learned this fall would go a long way to showing our appreciation!

See you in the Spring!

Final Opti Results

Final Laser Results