Competition was notably fierce in the 21-boat Optimist Green Fleet where only one point separated the first three finishers.  One of St. Croix Yacht Club’s youngest sailors, Lake Sanford, age 8, tied for second place, trailing Caroline Teare of the St. Thomas Yacht Club by only one point.  Ryan McCann also represented the SCYC in the Green Fleet.  Sam Watterson and Mack Bryan rounded out the SCYC sailors and competed in the laser fleets.

The Advanced Optimist fleet, largest in the regatta with 31 boats, completed 12 races over the course of the 3 days. Each race included 5 legs and took about an hour to complete. The name of the game was “Hardwork, Good Starts, and Consistency” says SCYC coach Caitlyn Connolly, and Ryan Hunter was the definition of all three.  Finishing fourth overall and taking home a second place trophy in Red Fleet, Ryan Hunter was the boat to watch from the USVI.

In the Club 420, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Nikki Barnes from St. Thomas and Agustina Barbuto from St. John won with nine out of 10 first place finishes to take home the first place trophy.

Many thanks to our friends at Club Nautico for putting on a great event!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHTnx2-LGpI

SCYC's Ryan Hunter putting distance on the Opti fleet

SCYC High School Sailor Sam Watterson glances momentarily at the trailing competition on an upwind leg.

 More Photos Are On The Way…check back soon!!

A fleet or 10 sailing vessels from throughout St. Croix enjoyed two days of racing in the Around St. Croix Race, January 28 & 29 2012. The sailors saw East/Northeast winds ranging anywhere from 12 to 22 knots as they circled the Islandduring this popular event. Additionally, the racers this year saw swells upwards of 8 feet that made the downwind leg to Frederiksted a fun surfing experience, and the upwind leg to Pull Point a bumpy ride for all. Prior to the start on Saturday morning, racers were each assigned a “rating” that determined what time they would start the race and what  “handicap” they would be assigned.  These adjustments allow for boats of various sizes, in this case measuring anywhere from 27 to 68.5 feet, to race against one another fairly.   In the end Hotel California II skippered by Steve Schmidt took home the first place trophy, followed up by a three way tie for second!

In this year’s Around St.Croix Race we saw 4 vessels heavy with junior crew from throughout the Island. Hotel California, Serenity, Annick II, and Windflower sailed with a total of 14 of Junior Sailors between them. Judging by the results, it would seem that these youth added speed to which ever vessel they crewed on.

Following racing on Saturday, Coconuts welcomed the racers with live music and light hors d’ouvres before many turned in for an overnight stay on their anchored vessels near the Frederiksted Pier.  A special treat was snacking on the wahoo caught by Warren Mosler’s committee / safety boat, Knot my Problem, while trolling along the south shore. 

The 2012 SCYC Around St.Croix Race was a great success.  A big thank you to all the volunteers who allowed for such a wonderful event.

Overall Scores

"Barbaric Yawp" looking postcard perfect on the first leg.

Morgan Dale's Melges 24, "Boogaloo" getting some kite flying practice as they approach the starting area.

The "Cheeky Monkey" crew won the party at Coconuts.

The logistics team pauses for a photo opp.

Taylor Babb enjoys an apres race seaside embibement while the sun sets on Day 1.

The "Windflower" crew has it all under control at the start of Day2.

DJ Lorschbaugh helms "Annick II" leaving Fredericksted.

Steve Schmidt's Santa Cruz 70, "Hotel California" makes good use of her waterline to claim top honors at the finish.

One of the unpublished benefits of handing out the awards.

Team "Hotel California" gathers for a photo to accept Overall Honors

Ten SCYC sailors take advantage of local Sunfish Champion, Peter Stanton's expertise at the Sunfish Clinic held at SCYC on Sunday 2/5/12. Another clinic will be held again on Saturday 2/11/12.

After a meeting Thursday evening to discuss & review logistics, the Team Flea Market volunteers spent several hours at the Club on Saturday morning, sorting through and pricing the various & sundry items that were donated to SCYC.  Also on hand to assist with logistics leading up to the big day were Chris & Debbie Schreiber and Bruce Milliken.  These efforts made for a stress free set-up on Sunday morning.  As anticipated, shoppers arrived early, and thanks to a dedicated team, the register started ringing a full 45 minutes prior to the published opening time.  Volunteers who had not met prior to the Flea Market made new friends while raising funds to benefit the many sailing, boating and social programs offered by the Yacht Club.

Team Flea Market:

Linda Ribble                        Judy Hirsch-Keith             Vicki Bandola

Judy VanSteenberg        Sarah & G.B. Bucknell          Andrew Rowley

Claire Church                     Sara McCambridge          Lance Greenhaw

Dillon Ridgely                     Jim Kloss                          Walter & Lydia Tomyn

John Turbyfill                    Jennifer Planeta-Hunter

As the Flea Market was being set up Sunday morning, High School sailor Sam Watterson arrived early and began to setup the car wash fundraiser for the Junior Sailors.  Cars began rolling through the wash assembly at 10:00am.  Waterfront Coordinator Caitlyn Connolly, Val Watterson, Cheryl Nelthropp & Kim Sanford corralled the fleet of Junior Sailor volunteers into an organized team of soakers & scrubbers that included:

Sam Watterson                                             Mack Bryan

Dylan Marohn                                              Kent Buska

Ryan Hunter                                                 David Kleeger

Robert Hunter                                              Challis Diaz

Lake Sanford                                                Morgan Moschallski

Eric Perez                                                      Harry Hoffman

Thorn Nelthropp (even with a broken wrist and cast!)

And while this was going on, new members were being inducted into the SCYC family as Membership Sunday was underway in the clubhouse.  Vicki Bandola and Sarah Bucknell ran the Ship’s Store during Membership Sunday and sold over a thousand dollars’ worth of merchandise!

Of course, none of these activities could be possible without members like you, who furnished donations, brought your cars down to get washed, and who recruited and sponsored new SCYC members at Membership Sunday.  Thanks to your efforts, “A high tide truly does raise all boats!”

High School sailor Sam Watterson inspecting for quality control of suds application at the SCYC Car Wash (Jan 2012)

Good clean fun (and profit!)

Volunteers assisting patrons at the SCYC Flea Market

Youth sailors stop by to supervise Flea Market volunteers Judy Hirsch, Jennifer Planeta-Hunter, and Sara McCambridge.

Rear Commodore Bruce Milliken with some new SCYC inductees.

Hank Settles and Al Lang are all smiles during Membership Sunday

All photos courtesy of Caitlyn Connolly

–Matt

SANTA ARRIVES AT THE YACHT CLUB

Over the years, Santa’s arrival at the St. Croix Yacht club has been through different modes of transportation.  We have seen Santa land on Teague Bay in a Seaplane, have watched him come motoring into our club on a Big Motorcycle and have witnessed Santa being dropped on our front lawn by a Helicopter.  Santa is a jolly old soul and one year, Santa arrived a bit merrier than most.  I guess he was into the Christmas Spirits early that day.  BUT, the most memorable Arrival of Santa was our water skiing Santa. That nimble Santa managed to make a perfect landing on the beach from his water skis.  No matter how Santa arrives at the St. Croix Yacht Club, he is welcomed by the young and old.

This year’s arrival was a Traditional one – by Boat.  With horns blaring, Santa arrived without a hitch and delivered the presents to all the good girls and boys.

Prior to Santa’s arrival, the kids were busy playing on the beach or working on their Glitter Art in the Workshop.  Maureen Sallach and Annie Barry volunteered to help the kids with their Glitter creations.  Debby Babb read Christmas stories and sang Jingle Bells and other holiday songs by the Christmas tree.

Posh Catering provided Fruit Punch, Cookies and Fruit for snacks.

To SANTA and SANTA’S Boat Crew – Great Job!

Big Thanks to the parents that brought those Delicious Christmas Cookies – EVERY cookie got eaten.

Till next year…..  And we can all start wondering, How will Santa Arrive next year???????????????