Sailing Program Update from the Sailing Director
Important Dates:
Beginning Learn To Sail - Every Saturday January 8 to the end of April
Green Fleet, Beginning Opti Racing - Every Saturday January 8 to the end of April
Red, White, & Blue Advanced Opti Racing - Every Saturday January 8 to the end of April
Laser's - Every Saturday January 8 to the end of April
PHOTOS!
Ahoy Beginning Sailors, Green Fleet, Red, White, and Blue Sailors, and Lasers
As most, all of you know the winter sailing season is ending. The regular season ends the last week in April, but I usually try to extend the season for those interested for the month of May. If you all decide, you would like to continue sailing for another month, please RSVP to let me know. The cost for the additional month is $100 plus a boat usage fee (for the racers) of an additional $25. Although there are five weeks in the month of May, we will be practicing for four out of the five with the last practice being the 3rd Annual Parent & Kids Funday. All sailors get together on sailboats and parents join on powerboats, heading out to the Dinner Key sandbar where we will spend the morning sailing, sunbathing, and just kicking back and enjoying the fabulous South Florida sun. We encourage the parents to jump on board with kids on one of our club boats to see how you would do in their racing/sailing world.
After spending the morning and early afternoon out having fun, it is back to CGSC to clean up the equipment and to get ready for the 3rd Annual Parent vs. Kids volleyball game. This is usually a big hit as I always try to mix things up a bit to kind of even the odds. In years past the winner of the volleyball game is tasked with putting on a "talent show", to date the parents have always been the victors but with all the growth spurts I've seen over the past year I wouldn't be surprised to see the parents actually putting on the evening’s performance. Once the volleyball game is finished, it is time to eat. Last year we had generous amounts of pizza, but I will take any suggestions you may have for the evening’s meal, and let us not forget ice cream for dessert. After dinner, it is time to hit showers to get ready for the much-anticipated talent show I mentioned. Some of the "acts" last year included a guitar solo, singing, comedy, and a karate demonstration. They were all great and we drew quite the crowd before it was all over.
After the talent show, it is movie time. Last year, because of inclement weather, we showed the movies in the big room upstairs, but weather permitting we might show the movie on a sail on the club's yardarm out on the lawn, popcorn included!
Finally, after a long day it will be time to lay those sleepy heads down for some much-needed rest. Depending once again on the weather, our resting place will be outside either on the lawn or upstairs in the big room. Either way, you will need to have a sleeping bag, possibly a tent, air mattress and your favorite teddy bear or wooby to cuddle throughout the night. Come morning we usually do juice and cereal, and plenty of coffee for the chaperones. Then the day is yours.
I mentioned that would only be practicing 4 out of the five weeks, and that's due to CGSC's Annual Rendezvous which is scheduled for the 14th thru the 16 of May. This is an annual club event that takes place down at Elliot Key where members and guests sail their vessels south about twenty miles and spends the weekend having fun. This year’s theme is "Gilligan's Island,” so if any of you would like to join us in your own sailboat or powerboat, you are more than welcome to "come on down".
Some of the activities planned are:
* Scavenger hunts for the kids
* Blind man Kayak races for both adults and kids
* Costume contest
* Shipwrecked arts projects
In addition, plenty of food and drink for all. The cost for adults is $25 before May 10th and $28 after that. Kids age 7-12 are half price, and kids under age 6 are free!
Remember if you are interested in sailing for the month of May, let me know quickly so I can arrange and plan to get items in order.
That is all for now.
Nick Mansbach, Sailing Director
Coconut Grove Sailing Club
2990 South Bay Shore Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
305-444-4571 Ext. 11
Fax: 305.444.8959
Email: sailingdirector@cgsc.org