Community Sailing of Colorado

Live race updates this weekend on Twitter

Rachel Daugherty — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:47:33 +0000

Dying to know how the races are going this weekend? Can’t wait to find out who will win the SAIL Junior Tour?

DSA Junior Regatta August 28th

Rachel Daugherty — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:10:51 +0000

The DSA Junior Regatta coming up August 28th, and you won’t want to miss it. This is a great opportunity for your sailor to get back out on the water! A race clinic will be included for beginner racers, making this an awesome opportunity for new racers. Even if you don’t want to race, come out, hop on the spectator boat, and enjoy the excitement of the day!

If you’re interested, please:

Online registration is closed, but you may still register Saturday morning at the lake.
If you don’t have a boat to use, call CSC (303.757.7718) to reserve a boat.
Reserve a spot on the spectator boat if desired by calling CSC.
Complete the liability waiver (it’s the last page of the NOR)
Contact DSA if you’re interested in volunteering for this great event.

As always, please feel free to call with any questions or concerns. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on the water! We’re hoping to make the last stop of the SAIL Junior Circuit the best yet!

The Denver Sailing Association is working hard to make this a great regatta. Please contact Commodore Mike Danneker if you’re interested in volunteering with this year’s event. Special thanks to Mike, DSA, Cherry Creek Marina, and SAIL for making this such a special event for our juniors!

Synchronized Capsizing

KendallMallon — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:17:11 +0000

It was a typical Friday out on Cherry Creek Reservoir, absolutely no wind and extremely hot. Little to no clouds in the sky to dissipate the heat. As most veterans of the program know we, the instructors, take the students across the lake and land on the beach for lunch. Before allowing the students to beach their sailing vessels we had and adventure around the lake. Due to the lack of wind we did not venture very too far and soon become tired of paddling and rocking the boats forward. Since it was the last day of the week I allowed the students to capsize their boats for fun. Some students enjoy capsizing their boats more than they do actually sailing it. The capsizing drill allowed the kids to cool off in the water. some of the advanced students decided to practice “dry capsizing” also known as “a dry walk”. which is where instead of hoping into the water when the boat is capsized, they climb over the top avoiding the swim around the boat. This is a good technique to learn for racing, as it is faster than hoping into the water and swimming around the boat to right it. Our group of three Lasers decided it would be fun to do synchronized dry capsizes. It was quite a spectacle.

Sailors:

Cameron, Kate and Luka, Mai

Week 6 starts with a HOT bang!

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:29:47 +0000

By Amy Zsohar, Administrative Assistant

Our 6th week of sailing started yesterday with 30 junior sailors and upper 90s temperatures. After making sure everyone was sunscreened and watered, we were off! Rachel, Ryan and Kendall started the day with some get to know you activities and the fundamentals. After some fundamental sailing and capsizing drills, the games were on!

The beginning and advanced sailors joined forces to form the Rebellious Rainbow-Eating Pandas of Doom for Sailing Quidditch while the intermediate sailors formed the Rainbow of Muse. After some intense sailing, some much needed cooling off from splash wars, the quidditch match was won when Bryce Hardin (age 13) and Jeff Milbrath (age 13) caught the elusive snitch. As members of the Rebellious Rainbow-Eating Pandas of Doom, the winners were the beginner and advanced sailors. Audrey Urbanowicz (age 9), Nina Urbanowicz (age and Isabelle Aboaf (age 11) all tell me that Sailing Quidditch is the “greatest sailing game known to man!” Aubrey, Nina, and Isabelle were hoping to play Quidditch again today and enjoyed meeting new people. They are all really nice, except during quidditch when the competition was ON!

In my talks with the junior sailors, it was great to see so many smiles. Justin Fink (age 10) and Nick Alexander (age 10) said that Monday was really fun, especially the gusts of wind. Justin is getting his first taste of sailing while Nick has sailed in California. They both had a lot of fun on the Prams and can’t wait for more sailing games.

The energy and enthusiasm were palbable watching the boats being rigged for the second day. The junior sailors have already started forming alliances and friendships that lead to some great teamwork. Many of the juniors did not come dressed for the 60 degree morning. The chill in the air led a slow morning of rigging and instruction. The juniors were anxious to get out on the water.

“Do we have to learn? We just wanna sail.” -Max Ollig (age 13)

Figure 8 drills are scheduled today. Kendall, Ryan and Rachel taught the fundamentals of the figure eight drill and tacking. While some of the juniors look less than interested in the chalk talk, they will have a blast once they get to apply the knowledge.

If you ever get the chance, come watch these amazing young people. Through a series of questions, they displayed their knowledge and made the chalk talk about the figure 8 drills into an interactive lesson. As I was leaving the lake to come to the office, the juniors were setting sail to go forth and apply the lessons they had just learned.

CSC Race Team Rocks the Chatfield Junior Open!

Rachel Daugherty — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:29:21 +0000

Team CSC shows off their trophies at the Chatfield Open: Cameron Holland, Austin Williams, Max Williams, and Rajeev Vishwamitra

What an awesome Saturday at the Chatfield Junior Open! Thanks to Colorado Sail and Yacht Club for putting on a great event! This event was the second in the four regatta SAIL junior regatta series. Cameron Holland and Austin Williams took first in the Portsmith Fleet sailing a Pico, Max Williams was fourth in the Laser Fleet sailing his 4.7 rig, and Rajeev Vishwamitra came in second in the Laser Fleet sailing full rig. CSC sailors also won some sweet prizes from regatta sponsors Sail Colorado and West Marine.

Stay tuned for Rajeev’s article on the weekend!

Waterworld kicks off!

Rachel Daugherty — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:44:07 +0000

Buzz Oertel gets some sailing tips from Race Team sailor Max Williams. Thanks to Buzz's dad Chris for the photo!

Waterworld has kicked off to a great start! This is our newest course and is designed to introduce 5-7 year olds to boats, the water, and the ecosystem we sail in. Activities include swimming, boating, fishing, and related arts and crafts. It’s not a formal sailing class, but rather designed build comfort around the boats and water. The focus is FUN! Tuesday we discussed water safety and went for a tow in the prams to get acclimated to the tiller. Today advanced sailors Max Williams, Austin Williams, Hans Schulze and Gabe Schulze acted as assistant coaches guiding the new sailors around the water. Thanks for all the great help. What a fun day!!!

Have a 5-7 year old who loves the water? It’s not too late to jump in on Waterworld next week!

Sailing Quidditch: The tournament is ON!!!

Rachel Daugherty — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:29:03 +0000

Harry Potter has nothing on the Marshmellows and Decepticon Lobsters!

The sailing quidditch tournament is on in full force. Quidditch is the favored sport of characters in the Harry Potter books. We’ve adapted a sailing version and are competing in the first EVER quidditch tournament on Cherry Creek Reservoir. I would venture to say this may even be the first ever sailing quidditch tournament in Colorado! We have quaffles, bludgers, muggles, even a snitch. Most importantly we have our boats and the wind.

This week’s sailors have been divided into two teams:

The Decepticon Lobsters

and…

The Marshmellows

The Lobsters were leading our first game until the Marshmellows got the snitch (worth 150 points) to pull into the lead 260-50. Stay tuned – we’ll be playing all week!!!

Water Bottles

Rachel Daugherty — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:25:24 +0000

I’m feeling a little green today. Nope, I’m not talking about seasickness – I’m talking conservation! Please make sure your sailor brings a water bottle to camp. That way they take water with them on their boat (very important as the temperatures continue to rise). A big bottle like the one pictured to the left is great because you can fill it up halfway and freeze it, then fill the rest with water in the morning. This way you get chilled water all day.

I’m also a big fan of the Nalgene type bottles that are shatterproof and you can clip in to your boat or lifejacket, but your sailor has to be responsible about refilling it more often.

Please make sure you’re sending your child with a water bottle so we can make sure they’re staying hydrated on the water.

Drop-In Program July 5th-9th, July 12th-16th

Rachel Daugherty — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:20:33 +0000

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about our Drop-In program this summer. It’s the best deal of the season. Here’s how it works:

With a $50 pass and instructor approval (to ensure appropriate skill level) you may drop in as many days as you like during our drop-in period, for up to a half-day at a time (so you can’t drop in for a full day, sorry!). If you take full advantage of the program as it’s scheduled now, that breaks down to about $5/day for sailing! We may add more dates here for August, so keep watching our website.

Please note that even with the drop-in pass, we ask that you make reservations on desired drop-in days so that we can make sure enough equipment and coaches will be available. Spots will be offered on a first come, first served basis. If you think you may want to drop in a certain day, please make a reservation with the office.

Wednesdays are Family Night with Cherry Creek Marina!

Rachel Daugherty — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:48:34 +0000

Can't beat the view from the balcony!

Come on out and join us at Cherry Creek Marina’s Grill Night on Wednesday evenings. Each week they offer up a new great menu. No reservations necessary – just drop in anytime 5pm-11pm (but if you let us know you’re coming we’ll save you a spot at the CSC table). This is a super opportunity to meet other sailors in the area, learn more about our program, watch your kids strut their stuff on the water (Rachel will be available with a coach boat to supervise before sunset), or even challenge them to a mini race. Hang around and watch the Denver Sailing Association races from the balcony. Hope you’ll join us!

Grill Night Menu for July 28th:

Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos, Mango Salsa, Avocado Creme Fraiche and Black Beans and Rice.

For more details, see the Cherry Creek Marina site.