March 2005 Tell Tale
Volume 59, Number 1 March 2005
2005 Midwinter Session
The Midwinter Session was hosted by Northwestern at the Chicago Marriott Courtyard on February 5, 2005.
Scheduling
The schedule of events was modified to take advantage of the recent changes involved in the scheduling process and Nominating process for Officers. Last year the Annual Meeting was moved from the evening to the afternoon. This change was felt to be a positive change, so this year the Scheduling Meeting was moved to the first item on the agenda, ahead of the Open Forum. The afternoon time slot for the Annual Meeting was retained, with the Awards Banquet retained in its traditional slot in the evening.
Open Forum
Another change was to have the Open Forum through the lunch period. This gave teams a chance to talk together and hear from and raise questions with the Executive Board about matters which they felt were important. Several items were noted:
George Griswold called attention to the new Procedural Rules for 2005-2008 and noted the need to read ISAF Regulation 22 relative to Amateur Status. A number of points were made concerning ideas about fund raising. A discussion of the results of the booth at Strictly Sail indicated enthusiasm for the effort. Karl Felger proposed a recommendation for a new course to be used for the MCSA Singlehanded Championships. During this period a number of candidates circulated nominating petitions for MCSA Offices for which they were interested. Under the new By-Laws Change Nominating Petitions need to be submitted by the end of the Open Forum to be valid.
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting saw the following schools dropped from membership because of failure to meet their financial obligations to the Association: Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Kalamazoo College, Kenyon College.
The following individuals were elected: Commodore: Cate Muller; Vice Commodore, Jane Ventresca; Race Chairman, Mary Weaver; Publicity Secretary, Meredith Cochran; Special Interests Representative, Aaron Mann; Equipment Information Coordinator, Carlos Abisambra; Intersectional Regatta Coordinator, Peter Horsch.* Peter announced that he would be resigning as soon as a qualified replacement could be found.
The following appointments were confirmed by the Membership: Webmaster, Mike Schmid, Tell Tale Editor, George Griswold.
ICSA Committees:
All American Selection, George Griswold; Appeals, Alex Symes; Communication, Paul Kobs; Eligibility, George Griswold; Hall of Fame, Gail Turluck; Intersectional, Tom McGrath; Membership and Development; Paul Kobs; National Championship, Paul Kobs; Rules, George Griswold; Afterguard, Gail Turluck.
The Membership adopted a 4 leg windward-leeward course with a start-finish line to leeward of the leeward mark as the preferred course for the MCSA Men's and Women's Singlehanded Championships.
Executive Board Transition
The Annual Meeting finished by 4 p.m. and the new Commodore was installed. She promptly convened an Executive Board Meeting to take care of the transition matters between the old and new Executive Boards and to make plans for the coming year. This meeting lasted about an hour so that everyone had plenty of time to prepare for the Awards Banquet that evening.
Awards Banquet
At the Awards Banquet all of the trophies for the various championships were prevented to the teams that had won them. In addition the Student Leadership award was given to Jen Gaker of Indiana University. The Sportsmanship Award was presented to Matt Vanderpool of the University of Michigan. The Woodward Award for the year's best regatta was presented to Indiana University for the 2004 Hoosier Daddy Regatta. The Harken All-District Team was also presented.
Sugar Bowl
Tulane, UNO, Southern Yacht Club
December 30-31, 2004
Thursday was sunny and warm with wind 6-12 knots. 6 races in each Division were completed. Courses were Windward-leewards once and twice around. On Sunday, winds were 5-15 knots and 4 races in each Division were sailed. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather and New Year's in New Orleans. 1 protest was filed. Thanks to the Race Committee Peter Hopkins and the whole Sugar Bowl Committee for a well- run regatta and SYC for the use of their 420s and the lunches.
1. Dartmouth 57 20 77 10. Michigan State 111 85 196
2. Stanford 41 36 77 11. Kansas 98 113 211
3. U S Alabama 61 40 101 12. U New Orleans 69 145 214
4. Navy 79 49 128 13. TAMUG 100 122 222
5. Wisconsin Women 88 69 157 14. North Carolina 123 107 230
6. Florida 56 103 159 15. Minnesota 78 157 235
7. Maryland 82 84 166 16. Miami/OH 138 131 269
8. Tulane 91 76 167 17. Florida Women 129 147 276
9. Wisconsin 130 47 177
A Division TOT
6. Minnesota 78 Mark Dunsworth '06 / Sarah Morang '05
9. Wisconsin Women 88 Anne Porter '05 / Brianne Zechlinski '08
13. Michigan State 111 Rob Linden '06 / Meghan Walter '06
16. Wisconsin 130 Scott Eisenhardt '07 1-4,7-10; Aaron Mann
'07 56 Leslie Kopatz '08 1-4,7-10;Mike
Stephensen '08
17. Miami/OH 138 Jocelyn Pollak '07 / Anne Simiele '06
B Division TOT
4. Wisconsin 47 Matt Schmidt '07 / Michelle Lorenz '08
6. Wisconsin Women 69 Liz Prange '07 / Amy Schultz '05
9. Michigan State 85 Mary Vorel '05 / Steve Griffith '08
14. Miami/OH 131 Eryn Whistler '06 Chris Mack '08 1-4,
7-10; Doug Baker '08 5-6
17. Minnesota 157 Sarah Gross '06 / Patrick Phillips '06
Commodore – Cate Muller
I’m a junior at Marquette University with a Public Relations major and I hope to eventually do PR for America’s Cup teams. I am currently a race coach at Chicago Yacht Club as well as a private laser coach. I am also doing a great deal of laser radial sailing outside of the college circuit, as well as calling tactics on a 40.7 in Chicago. If you can’t tell by now, sailing is my life, it is my passion, and I’m excited to bring the enthusiasm I have for our sport to the MCSA.
When it comes down to it, the MCSA is an amazing district with a great amount of talent and potential. One of my goals it so help raise the level of competition within our district, while never losing the atmosphere that the MCSA prides it’s self on. This is a big challenge, but something I am really excited about. How wonderful could it be if instead of seeing some of the best teams in the MCSA go out east, we could see top schools come to us? This may seem like a far-fetched idea, but in actuality, schools such as Hobart really enjoy coming to our District and being a part of our environment. With a little work, we can see them and many other schools at our regattas, instead of just on those long crazy road trips east (not that the trips aren’t fabulous as because they are).
Finally, I want to stress a point that I know has been stressed before, and that is planning. Now is the time, when we are all sitting on our snow covers campuses, to be thinking about sailing. Now is when teams need to start fundraising if they haven’t. Our first regatta is not far off and it is important that teams be able to take to the water with the confidence of knowing they have planned well. This planning of course includes fundraising, it also includes team building, regatta planning, and many other logistical details. If you don’t know where to start, PLEASE, just ask me, this is what I’m here for!
I want to say thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be your Commodore. I hope everyone’s classes are going well and that you are all making it through the cold. If you need anything, feel free to shoot me a line. I leave you with a final thought from your previous Commodore;
- Tips from commodore
- Fundraise while you have time now
- E-mail me for help
I look forward to seeing everyone this spring!
Rose Bowl Regatta
USC - ABYC - USSC
January 8-9, 2005
USC was the host of the largest combined collegiate and high school regatta in the country. The US Sailing Center and nearby Alamitos Bay Yacht Club organized the event, with the latter serving as host facility.
The teams, each consisting of four or more sailors, sailing Club/Collegiate Flying Juniors (CFJs) in 12 rounds of racing, rotating boats off the beach next to ABYC and the US Sailing Center on the protected bay adjacent to the Long Beach Marina.
On Saturday, like the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day, the event caught a window in the series of rainstorms that have drenched California since Christmas. The 300-plus sailors enjoyed relatively dry, if overcast, sailing in 8-10 knots of breeze.
Sunday was a tighter window, preceded by a heavy downpour that abated before launch time. It was chased by a consistent southerly breeze of 16-20 knots that later brought more rain for the last four rounds.
1. U. of So. California 44 41 85 13. U. of Washington 123 155 278 2. UC Irvine 45 75 120 14. Maryland 155 158 313 3. Stanford University 71 63 134 15. Columbia 162 189 351 4. Boston College 90 63 153 16. UC Berkeley 214 139 353 5. Georgetown University 49 104 153 17. University of Oregon174 221 395 6. St. Mary's College 85 77 162 18. Portland State 213 187 400 7. U.S. Naval Academy 84 93 177 19. Cal Maritime Academy212 243 455 8. College of Charleston114 89 203 20. Texas A & M 214 242 456 9. UC San Diego 117 107 224 21. UC Santa Cruz 209 259 468 10. Brown University 149 106 255 22. UCLA 253 227 480 11. UC Santa Barbara 155 104 259 23. Purdue University 235 264 499 12. University of Hawaii 138 122 260 24. San Jose State 276 274 550 A Division TOT 22. Purdue University 235 Matthew Conrad '07 / Adam Naramore '06 B Division TOT 23. Purdue University 264 Charles Rush '06 /Jessica Torres '07
Jane Ventresca – Vice Commodore
When your newlywed parents name their first boat, “The Boat of Us” (a 1970-something Lightning) it is inevitable that sailing will find a place in your life, and Sailing Magazine will find a permanent place in your bathroom. For me I think I found that place when I became a college sailor three years ago. For those of you not at Midwinters I am Jane Ventresca the new Vice Commodore. If my name looks familiar then you may have received a nagging e-mail (or two) from me last fall when I served as Publicity Secretary on the board. The good news from all of that hassle is that we had a very successful booth at Strictly Sail. As I take on the role of Vice Commodore I couldn’t be happier then to know that the future of the MCSA is in the hands of the interested and inquiring high school sailors I talked to at the show. I was also able to meet current college sailing enthusiast looking to start programs at their own schools, as well as current college clubs looking to join the MCSA and become true teams.
As Vice Commodore my job is to work with “The membership” which means I would like each and everyone of you to feel comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns you have with the district or even within your specific team and I will do my best to help. I hope as a District we can put in a more serious effort to keep our contact information up to date- it really makes everyone’s job easier. As I mentioned at Midwinters I hope to add new teams to the district this year. At this point DePaul, Southern Illinois, Bowling Green and Wittenberg have all expressed interest in joining the MCSA. If you know any sailors that attend these schools please let them know, or even have them contact Cate or myself so that we can help these teams develop. And with the possibility of two new Ohio teams joining the district I would like to look into the development of an All Ohio regatta by next year.
See the MCSA Website version of the Tell Tale for the names and pictures of the Harken All District Team at 
www.mcsasail.org
Charleston Spring Women's
College of Charleston
February 12-13, 2005
Saturday: 6 races sailed in A and B in a dying/ puffy/ shifty northwest breeze at 0-10 knots. Racing was postponed till 2:30 after race 4A. Three protests where filled against race 4A. The race was resailed followed by races 5 and 6 A, in the same northwest breeze. The last B set of the day was sailed in a more stable southwest breeze. Gold cup courses were sailed.
Sunday: Racing was postponed till 12:30 when a light 3-5 knot Southerly filled. Three races were completed in each division for a total of nine races. Windward-leewards were sailed. Racing ended at 3:00.
A B TOT A B TOT
1. Charleston 30 22 52 7. Old Dominion 75 50 125
2. Stanford 46 30 76 8. Columbia 51 75 126
3. Georgetown 46 31 77 9. South Florida 60 69 129
4. Eckerd 40 58 98 10. Coast Guard 83 75 158
5. Navy 44 65 109 11. Wisconsin 68 91 159
6. St. Mary's 62 49 111 12. Texas A&M Galveston97 87 184
A Division TOT
9. Wisconsin 68 Liz Prange 07 / Kelsey Cramer 07
B Division TOT
12. Wisconsin 91 Kelly Ferron 05 / Michele Lorenz 08
Race Chair: Mary Weaver – Northwestern University
A mere three years ago I was one of the oblivious outsiders who saw the Midwest as “fly-over country.” I was born in a small town called Camp Hill in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. Since making the 1000 mile trek westward to Chicago, I have fallen in love with the Midwest, due in no small part to the MCSA.
Unlike many of you “old salts” my adventures in sailing began a short three years ago. Upon arriving at Northwestern, I decided to “get wet” with the sailing team, and the rest, as they say, is history. I threw my heart and soul into the sport, sacrificing my weekends (and many a Tuesday night) in order to learn everything that I could. Since then, I have had the opportunity to race in regattas across the country and of course right here in the Midwest. This past summer I joined the crew of the J-105 Intangible, sailing out of Chicago Yacht Club, and completed my first Chicago Mackinac (despite uncooperative wind conditions). On my own team I have served as recruitment chair, secretary, treasurer, and (as of a few days ago) commodore.
I think the MCSA is really special. I love sailing alongside all of you and value the friendships I’ve made both on and off the water. I feel honored to have been elected to this position and am very excited about working with the new board to improve our district. I look forward not only to serving all of you as the best race chair I can be, but also to working towards the MCSA’s long-term goals. In this spirit, I encourage all of you not just to turn in your NORs on time, but also to approach me with your questions and suggestions. Good luck in the upcoming season. I’ll see you on the water!
Charleston Spring Intersectional
College of Charleston
February 19-20, 2005
Saturday: Race 1A was sailed in a light northwesterly at 3-5 knots. We postponed till 1:30 when the sea breeze filled. We completed 6 races in each division, which included gold cups and triangle windward races.
Sunday: No wind
A B TOT A B TOT
1. UC/ Irvine 15 26 41 10. Eckerd 43 57 100
2. Charleston 30 27 57 11. Florida 66 47 113
3. Yale 43 29 72 12. CGA 50 68 118
4. Dartmouth 42 34 76 13. URI 59 69 128
5. Georgetown 38 45 83 14. ODU 73 80 153
6. Brown 55 30 85 15. CNU 95 83 178
7. South Florida 42 43 85 16. UC/Santa Barbara 91 87 178
8. South Alabama 35 52 87 17. Miami/OH 89 102 191
9. St. Mary's 52 40 92 18. UMBC 108 107 215
A Division TOT
15. Miami/ OH 89 Jocelyn Pollak, 07/ Anne Simiele, 06
B Division TOT
17. Miami/ OH 102 Nicole Finefrock, 05 / Brian Streng, 07
Publicity Secretary
Hello MCSA! My name is Meredith Cochran and I have just taken over as Publicity Secretary for the upcoming season. I am a junior at the University of Michigan, where I am working on a BA in Environmental Studies. I am originally from the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan (that’s right, I’m a Yooper!), and I grew up sailing in an Ensign Class fleet with my parents and two sisters. My first experience with dinghy sailing was here at U of M last year as a sophomore, and after many bruises I have finally learned the art of the roll tack…
I’m excited about my new leadership role within the MCSA, and as a former Communication Studies major I feel I have a good foundation on which to base the duties of Publicity Secretary. In the three weeks since Midwinters I have spent some quality alone time with the massive binder which I inherited, and am falling into step with the responsibilities of this position. In the upcoming year I am looking forward to continuing to promote the MCSA to the public. Some of the goals I have in mind include gaining recognition and support from local yachting associations, increasing our correspondence with high school sailing programs, and promoting our intersectionals, like Timme’s, to out of district teams.
Please let me know if you have any networking connections which you think might help us in promoting the MCSA to sailing magazines, potential sponsors, donators, future coaches or any other contacts you think are worthwhile. I’m interested in any ideas, big or small, from anyone out there who has something to say, so please don’t hesitate to contact me! Cheers,
Meredith Cochran
merec@umich.edu
989.330.3588
Aaron Mann – Special Interests Representative
Back on the MCSA board after a year as Vice-Commodore, I am excited to be your Special Interests Representative this year. For those of you who don’t know me or are new to the MCSA, I am a sophomore at Wisconsin. Originally from Milwaukee, I grew up sailing scows here in the Midwest.
This new board gives me a lot of reason to get excited about the MCSA in the next year. I feel as though we are lucky to have so many enthusiastic board members. This upcoming Spring should be awesome. We have some exciting events on our schedule including Team Race Quals in Northwestern’s new fleet of 420s and two new regattas including Wisconsin’s three-division regatta (an MCSA first) and Purdue’s spring event.
More to business, as Special Interests Rep. I have some specific ideas for what could help our district. Returning from Midwinters it was encouraging to see that every team is eager to improve in some way. We all have our goals, on and off the water, for our teams in the next year. Also, it was clear from the open forum this year that we can learn from each other. However, not every lesson a team learns can be applied to every other team. With that in mind, keep your ears open for a new way to communicate within the district where similar sized teams can share ideas on any subject from on the water practices, fundraising, recruitment, and social events.
I see our collective knowledge as a huge, yet untapped resource, in our district. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions your team may have for this developing idea. See you all on the water this Spring!
Carlos Abisambra - Equipment Information Coordinator
After being pushed to the water as a child I never thought I would enjoy this sport as much as I do today. My Dad taught me all the basics of sailing on a Laser. After a few months of his struggling to get me in the water, he decided to surprise me with a two year old Optimist. With the class growing in Colombia and the thrill of having my own boat I learned to like the shifty winds and the adrenaline of competition. In no time I was nominated to represent Colombia (because of my dual citizenship) in some Opti international competitions and as I grew heavier a few Sunfish ones too. All of this without forgetting the boat that got me started, after all “you can’t beat a Laser”. Today, after ten years of being around sailboats, I have come to realize that sailing has not only taught me about friendship, triumphs, defeats and competition but it has also taught me about life as I try to catch the fair winds that guide me through it.
Carlos A. Abisambra
Industrial Engineering Purdue University ‘06”
Student Leadership Award
Jennifer Gaker
Indiana University
MCSA Webmaster
Mike Schmid
Indiana University
Harken All-District Co-Ed Skipper
Falcone, Christina
University of Michigan 2007
Felger, Karl
Ohio University 2006
Granger, Christopher
University of Michigan 2007
Porter, Anne
University of Wisconsin 2005
Schmidt, Matthew
University of Wisconsin 2007
Symes, Alex
University of Minnesota 2004
Vanderpool, Matt
University of Michigan 2006
Vorel, Mary
Michigan State University 2005
MCSA Sportsmanship Award
Matt Vanderpool
University of Michigan 2005
Harken All-District Crew
Bargren, Anna
University of Wisconsin 2007
Cochran, Meredith
University of Michigan 2006
Cramer, Kelsey
University of Wisconsin 2007
Martin, Thomas
University of Michigan 2005
Rice, Anna
Ohio University 2005
Wilson, Jennifer
University of Minnesota 2006