15 Jun Oakcliff throws down the gauntlet for next year as they win the Oakcliff Challenge
The Challenge culminated in a grade 5 match race in light winds. Coach Dave Perry worked with the teams on Friday on boat handling and boat speed. Saturday saw one of the first fleet race days in match 40s which were sailed under Appendix Q and umpired fleet racing. Dave not only umpired but he coached between races and videoed for a video debrief after racing.
“Learned a lot!! Very much enjoyed the social side also – Dave Perry was the icing on the cake” Said Jim Dyer from team Hudson River Sailing.
With many of the teams staying in the bunkhouse there was a strong camaraderie as they all learned and competed against each other. On the water it was all racing but back at shore it was all coaching and fun. Chrisy Smitheron from the Long Beach Yacht Club Women’s team said “Dave Perry was epic and the overall Oakcliff experience was super sweet. Thanks for a great 3 days of learning and sailing.”
The Oakcliff team won both the fleet racing day and went undefeated in the match racing as team captain Ladi Oguntoyinbo put together a super strong team. Chris Kennedy, Sapling graduate and three year employee drove the fleet race day. Colin Kennedy fresh off two weeks of match race Clinegattas and on his way to the Rose Cup, the Youth Match Race Championship, and third year Sapling drove the match races. Austin Colpaert, second year Sapling was the bowman extraordinaire. Then at the last minute Chris Poole the second ranked US Match Racer joined the team when his plans changed.
As a coaching and training center we had new people join PRO TJ Shea on the signal boat and Chief Umpire Bill Simon on the umpire team. Almost all of the sailors and race officials are shown in this picture with a big smile as the last day draws to a close with an awards ceremony.