March 2004 Tell Tale
Volume 58, Number 1 March 2004
2004 Midwinter Meeting
The format of the Midwinter meeting was changed this year. An agenda for the Open Forum was utilized to promote and guide discussion. Items discussed on the MCSA List were used as a starting point and additional items were added as the Forum was started. The main issues were those involving possible By-Law Amendments in the area of the nomination and election of Members of the Executive Board.
At the Annual Meeting Hiram and Kenyon were dropped from Membership for failure to participate. Illinois Wesleyan University and Kenyon were readmitted as an Associate Members. Michigan Tech was admitted to Associate Membership. St. Thomas University was advanced to Regular Membership.
The Election of Officers was held and the following were elected: Commodore: Alex Symes, Race Chairman, Brad Koinis, Publicity Secretary, Danielle Lindeman, Special Interests Representative, Dave Elwood, Equipment Information Coordinator, Ward Detwiler, and Graduate Treasurer, George Griswold. None of the candidates for Vice Commodore were present and thus the Executive Board will appoint an individual to that position.
At the end of the Meeting the ceremonial Commodore's Plaque was passed from outgoing Commodore Tom Martin to the new Commodore Alex Symes.
The Annual Meeting was followed by a racing rules session given by Scot Diamond.
In the afternoon the Scheduling Meeting was held, followed by a Rig Tuning and Game-planning Clinic with Tom Kent of North sails. Simultaneously with the Scheduling meeting sessions were held on Fundraising and How to Run an Effective Practice by Chuck Nevel and Ross Adams
The evening banquet featured Tim Kent who described his singlehanded around the world race. The MCSA perpetual trophies were presented and the 2004 All District Sailors sponsored by were presented.
Meet the New M.C.S.A. Executive Board
Commodore: Alex Symes – University of Minnesota
Some of you may not recognize me. I was away in Spain during the fall semester but I have returned to lead this district for the coming year. For those of you I have not yet met, I am a senior at the University of Minnesota graduating this December. I grew up on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, sailing small scows but last year I bought a V 15 and moved to Annapolis to teach at Severn Sailing Association, where I am returning this summer.
I was the Commodore of my team for a year and a half, and I know that being a student, a sailor and a team administrator is a complex task. We all face challenges that other sports teams never face due to having to run them ourselves. If you are having a problem with administration, there is a good chance other schools have faced the same problem in the past. Email me, or the list and ask for help. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel on team management.
One problem that faces all schools big and small, is acquiring funding. The season for I fundraising is now, before the MCSA spring circuit begins. If you are short on ideas, again, email me or the list or even search for "fundraising" on the Internet. I would like to see the overall sailing skills of the MCSA improve over the next year. There are two ways your team can be pro-active in this goal. First, Get a coach. This does not mean you need an Olympic coach. You need someone to run practice and to have a pair of eyes outside of your boat. This will allow you to focus on your sailing and not worry so much about the new kid who does not know how to sail. The second thing your team can do is get out of district. Sailing against better sailors will make you a better sailor. Do not be scared of loosing out east, each time you go you will pick up skills and you will improve.
I hope to make this an amazing year for the MCSA. If you are having problems with your team, email me up. There is a chance that I can help.
I will leave you all with a team management haiku:
Tips from commodore
Fundraise while you have time now
Email me for help
Race Chairman: Brad Koinis – Ohio State University
Bradley Koinis, orphaned at birth and raised by a pack of roaming pirates in waters of the Caribbean, found his sea legs from an early age. Even with salt water running through his veins, this swabbie was ship-wrecked in land locked Columbus in the fall of 2001. Quickly floundering like a fish out of water support came in the way of the Ohio State Sailing team.
...Yeah, if only that were the way it happened; nothing like some angry pirates and about with scurvy to spice up your childhood. While never an orphan, nor an ocean going punk, I did grow up on the shores of Vermilion, Ohio. I started sailing in middle school, but only in my spare time. Upon arrival at OSU in the fall of 2001, I realized that half the team and recent alumni seemed to be from my hometown. Quickly taking over the social committee, I found myself Commodore in the middle of my freshman year. I held that position until this winter when I relinquished the dictatorship, err, position and took over the Team Captain role.
After a dozen major changes my degree will come from the Political Science department in spring of 2005. Until then, I plan on devoting my time, energy and efforts to improving the sailing throughout the district.
Since my first day of college sailing, I have tried to play an active part in then discussion and synthesis of ideas in order to promote growth for all teams in the district. As your Race Chairman, I will continue to work even harder. I know there are concerns about the new towing process and 2 week deadline and we will all be taking a good look at their efficiency and effectiveness. I am always open to feedback, new ideas and constructive criticism. I am looking forward to a smoother running system; increased participation; incredible sailing-it's going to be a great year!
Many have asked for more communication and inclusion from the Executive Board, and I will do everything within my ability to help keep everyone up to speed. If you ever have any questions feel free to call or email me and I will be more than willing to do what I can to help you. ...Aaarrrrrrr!
Fair winds,
Bradley Koinis
440.315.3725
Koinis.2@osu.edu
Publicity Secretary: Danielle Lindeman – St Thomas University
Hello fellow sailors, my name is Danielle Lindeman. I am currently a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas where I am studying math and fulfilling pre-med requirements. For those of you who don't know where the school is, we are located in a mound of snow in St. Paul, MN .In addition to sailing I am also a member of the diving team for UST where I compete in the one and three meter spring board events.
Once the ice has thawed, I enjoy sailing for UST and have been on the team for the past year. I first fell in love with sailing when I attended a camp in Hudson, WI which was ten minutes from my home town of Woodbury, MN. After spending one afternoon in a sunfish, I learned the boom can hurt you if you don't duck out of the way. It wasn't until college though that I first started sailing competitively.
In the coming year, I am excited to represent the MCSA as your Publicity Secretary. My main goal is to inform the public about the MCSA. I plan to accomplish this by networking through local area yacht clubs and using their newsletter as a resource to reach the public. Additionally, I would like to inform high school sailors or junior sailing members that there are colleges and universities with competitive sailing programs located close to home throughout the Midwest district.
Please feel free to contact me with any additional suggestions or ideas that you may have.
Danielle Lindeman
dmlindernan@stthomas.edu
Special Interests Representative: Dave Elwood – University of Michigan
It is my distinct pleasure to be serving the MCSA as the Special Interest representative over the next year. For those of you I have not had the pleasure to get to know over the past three years, I will give you a short summary of my sailing life (as if I have another life).
I started sailing when I was eight in a Biloxi trainer that my father built for me. For those of you not familiar with the fabulous Biloxi trainer in looks a lot like an Opti and comes equipped with a metal center board and rudder. I learned to sail in the protected waters of Copper Harbor, Michigan, a town that has the distinction of having the most Northern grocery store in the state.
When I first came to the University of Michigan I immediately became involved with the sailing team. Having no experience with completive racing I quickly worked to learn the intricacies of college sailing. I also became involved in the management of the team as a regatta coordinator for the Cary-Price Intersectional and the Big Ten Team Race. I became the team secretary in 2002 and have been serving in that capacity ever since.
As I look toward the next year I am excited to be serving the district as the Special Interests Representative. Through my position I hope to improve the district's women's teams and bring more teams into the team race discipline. I also look forward to improving the scheduling procedures of the district and to establish a formal district ranking policy.
Equipment Information Coordinator: Ward Detwiler – Northestern University
When Brian Sabina first asked me if I wanted to run for Equipment Chair. I wasn't quite sure of what the job entailed. However, after having it explained to me, I decided that this would be a position where I could really help out. Over the past two years. I have come to know and love this district, and I am very excited and honored to have the opportunity to help. We are hosting the Singlehanded North Americans in November at Minnesota, and I would really like to make this regatta something that all of the out of district teams will remember.
As a sophomore econ major at Northwestern, I have already had the opportunity to serve as Fundraising chair, and I am currently co-captain of the NU team. I have been sailing since I could float (which was early, I was a fat baby) and have been racing since was about seven. Aside from dinghy sailing, I race Lightnings in Michigan and have over 5,000 offshore racing miles. Having been on a number of competitive racing programs, I feel that I bring a great deal of experience to the MCSA Board.
Graduate Treasurer: George Griswold – Wooster '61
George Griswold was re-elected as Graduate Treasurer for a three year term. He will continue handle the Association's financial affairs. He will continue to serve on the ICSA Eligibility and Rules Committees. He was recently completed the requirements to be a US SAILING Senior Judge and will continue to help the
Association in that capacity. The Executive Board has been reappointed him as the Tell Tale Editor. His other interests continue to be his grandson who is now two and a half. He continues to build a G scale garden model railroad. Despite retirement as a community college Dean, he finds that there is plenty to keep him busy, it seems as if everybody has a project that needs doing.
Graduate Secretary: Paul Kobs - Minnesota '02
Another great season of collegiate sailing is before us and further efforts have been made to increase the amount of regattas held in the district. The upcoming ICSA, Vanguard Single-handed Championships will provide another opportunity for the Midwest to demonstrate our skills of hosting the highest level of sailing competition.
The Board has been working diligently over the past months revising the MCSA Policy Handbook to provide a simpler, clearer means of communication to the district in regards to MCSA Policy. This revised edition will be made available on the new and improved Website, so that the online version will be kept current and up to date with any policies that are modified, changed or added. The new Website will also allow many of the existing forms to be completed electronically, so teams won't have to rely on checking their mailboxes and coordinating mailings to meet deadline dates.
As always, please contact me if you have any suggestions, comments or constructive criticism that you would like the board to approach. Looking forward to another season.
Intersectional Regatta Coordinator: Peter Horsch – California '96
Pete continues to teach Mathematics and sail a V-15. He always encourages MCSA teams to travel to intersectionals to get experience at different venues and against different competition.
The Sugar Bowl Regatta
held at Tulane/SYC/UNO,
December 30-31,2003.
A total of 16 races were completed in 420s, 8 in each A & B divisions. The women's teams were started at the same time as the coed teams but were scored separately. Tuesday morning began with wind from the northeast around 15 knots, shifting to the north and dying to less than 5 knots by early afternoon. Wednesday morning saw wind from the northeast around 10 knots, dying to less than 5 knots by early afternoon.
Coed Fleet Results A B Total
1. UC Irvine 26 20 46
2. Dartmouth 19 31 50
3. Univ. of Minnesota 48 19 67
4. Univ. of Kansas 40 35 75
5. Univ. of Florida 51 30 81
6. Fordham 28 56 84
7. Texas A&M Galveston 37 56 93
8. Univ. of Wisconsin 59 41 97
9. Unlv. of S. Alabama 65 70 135
10. Auburn 77 79 156
A Division:
6. Univ. of Minnesota Ben Burgum '04 All,
Kelly Nichols '04 All
8. Univ. of Wisconsin Andy Muller '07 1-2,
Missy Bowry '06 3-8
B Division
1. Univ. of Minnesota Mark Dinsworth '03 All,
Andrea Porter '03 All
6. Univ. of Wisconsin Scott Eisenhardt '06 All,
Kelsey Cramer '07 1-4,
Jake Fishman '06 5-8
Women's Fleet Results: A B Total
1. Univ. of Wisconsin 11 14 25
2. Fordham 23 18 41
3. Michigan State Univ. 25 20 45
4. Texas A&M Galveston 22 28 50
A Division:
1. Univ. of Wisconsin Anne Porter '05 All, \
Kari Sachs '04 All
4. Michigan State Univ. Mary Vorel '05 All,
Meghan Walter '06 1-5,
Christina Weber (Wisconsin) '04 6-8
B Division:
1. Univ. of Wisconsin Elizabeth Prange '07 All,
Carlyn Soling '04 All
3. Michigan State Univ. Laura Schmidt '06 All,
Jamie Ziegler '04 All
Charleston Spring Women's
College of Charleston
02/14-15/04
Saturday: The day started in overcast skies with breeze N/NE at 5-8. Tide was flooding until 2 p.m. The breeze filled in at 8-12 from the North but was accompanied by rain. Lots of shifts were had on Gold Cup courses. Sunday: Similar conditions were had but the breeze was NE 10-15 with a few gusts up to 20. Part of the day was dry with showers for an hour or two in the middle of the day. 14 races were completed in A, but only 13 B before the breeze died.
A B TOT
1. Charleston 42 27 69
2. Georgetown 68 51 119
3. Stanford 61 83 144
4. Navy 90 59 149
5. Eckerd 81 89 170
6. St. Mary's 112 62 174
7. ODU 102 99 201
8. South Florida 82 121 203
9. UC/Berkeley 112 110 222
10. Boston University 101 123 224
11. Coast Guard 117 118 235
12. Maryland 102 140 242
13. Wisconsin 128 122 250
14. Miami/OH 168 162 330
A Division
13. Wisconsin 128 Anne Porter '05, Christine Niedziela '04
14. Miami/OH 168 Jocelyn Pollak '07, Anne Simiele '06
B Division
11. Wisconsin 122 Kelly Ferron '06, Tina Weber '04
14. Miami/OH 162 Sarah Paisley '04, Eryn Whistler '05 ,
Charleston Spring Intersectional
College of Charleston
02/21-22/04
Saturday: A great day of sailing was had on the Cooper River today with temps in the mid 60's and breeze W/NW 8-16. 18 teams sailed Gold Cups and 2 x Windward/Leeward in CofC's 420's. Eight A and B races were completed. One protest was filed resulting in a DSQ.
Sunday: Five races were completed today. Temps were a bit lower with the first race starting in a N/NE breeze at 5 and the final race in E/SE at 10-12. Courses were Gold Cup. No protests were filed.
A B TOT
1. Charleston 56 64 120
2. Georgetown 75 45 120
3. Dartmouth 60 78 138
4. Stanford 63 76 139
5. UC/lrvine 97 57 154
6. Coast Guard Academy 87 95 182
7. Brown 93 95 188
8. South Florida 83 105 188
9. Eckerd 89 100 189
10. St. Mary's College 117 120 237
11. Texas A&M Galveston 116 153 269
12. Old Dominion Univ. 145 128 273
13. Texas 163 148 311
14. Florida 184 141 325
15. Cornell 155 196 351
16. Christopher Newport 215 186 401
17. Ohio University 209 208 417
18. Notre Dame 215 222 437
A Division
16. Ohio University 209 Karl Felger '06
Ashley Moszkowicz '06 1-4,
Adam Wood '06 5-6
18. Notre Dame 215 Mike Stephens '04 Erin Elser '06
B Division
17. Ohio University 208 Mark Paisley '05 1-2,
Andy Mulford '06 3-4 /
Eric Milliman '06
18. Notre Dame 222 Katie Roney '04, Seth O'Donnell '04 5-6/
Andrew Lappin '04, Seth O.Donnell '04 9-10
Photos