Register Now and Save

Most of you should have already received a post card letting you know that registration for the 2010 season is open. If you have not already done so please register as soon as possible. There is a $25 discount per class for the instructional division for registrations completed before April 1st.

Improved Communication

Newsletter/Blog – Get Your GBSA.info Here!

The GBSA web site now has a News Blog where we will be posting information regarding the program as well as upcoming events. We will also send out any new posts via e-mail (such as this one). This will be a more frequent version of the GBSA Bowline Newsletters of the past. If you get the e-mail, you can click onto the GBSA site and read the complete posting. You can also visit the GBSA.info site, click on “News Dock” and then click on “GBSA Blog” to read all the posts.

There is also a feature for anyone to add their e-mail address to receive these notifications/newsletters if they would like. Prior to this the only way to be part of the e-mailing was to be registered with GBSA. We are offering this as a way for the casual observer to stay tuned. If you know of anyone who may be interested just tell them to go to the gbsa site and under “News Dock”, click on “News Blog”, and then enter their name and e-mail address.

Receive Messages via Text

GBSA now has the ability to send out messages to registered users via text, as well as e-mail. This feature will be geared toward last minute notifications such as class cancellations, or adjusted times. The length of the messages will be brief, but important in nature. To be able to receive these messages via text, log into your account and click on, “Edit Main Account”, from there check off that you would like to receive messages via text, and then choose your cell phone provider from the from down menu.

GBSA Discussion Board

For some time now there has been a discussion board on the GBSA site. However, we need participation!! Discussion boards offer a great way to exchange ideas, view points and even the occasional disagreement!. So if you would like to get involved and talk about any topics related to youth sailing on Narragansett Bay and beyond click on the “News Dock” tab, and then click “Message Board”.

If you Have an Announcement

If you have any information, or dates for upcoming events you would like to share with the GBSA community via the web site, please send it to cpearson@abcleads.com.

Upcoming Events

March 11 – GBSA Board Meeting
The next GBSA board meeting will be held on March 11th at 7;00 p.m. at the East Greenwich Yacht Club. All are welcomed to attend.

May 1st - EGYC May Breakfast
The May breakfast held every year at the East Greenwich Yacht Club is also a fund raiser for the GBSA program. We encourage all those connected with GBSA to come and enjoy a great breakfast to kick off the new boating season as well as helping to support GBSA.

June 5th - The GBSA Auction
As many of you know this is a bi-annual event that is the major fund raiser for the GBSA program. This years auction will be held on June 5th, and it is always a great social time to be had by all with lots of great items to bid on. Stay tuned, we will keep you posted on some of the great items you will be able to bid on!  If you would like to help out with the auction, have any items to donate, or know of any businesses that may have items that would be good candidates for the auction please send an e-mail to info@gbsa.info.

June 18th - Meet the Instructors Night
This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet the instructors for the 2010 season that will be working with your child during the summer. Their will be opening remarks from Joey Mello the Director of GBSA outlining the various programs and goals for each, introductions to the summer staff, and an opportunity to personally meet with the instructors who will be in charge of the program your child will be in.

June 21st – Start of 1st Session
This is the first day of the first session for the 2010 season. It is important to have your child present on time, have their required gear and be ready to hit the water!

Dear GBSA parent,

We are looking forward to another wonderful summer of sailing on Greenwich Bay.  We hope you were pleased with the changes that our Program Director Joey Mello made last year and continue sailing with us!

REGISTRATION: This year we have added a monetary incentive of $25 off the tuition per student per session for INSTRUCTIONAL STUDENTS who are registered and paid by April 1.  You may register on-line under the sign-upheading.  NEW STUDENTS MUST FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM. Returning students may register under your existing log-in account.

PAYMENT: We require payment by either check or credit card/ PayPal. If paying by check, please mail the check and invoice to the address below. In addition, BOTH the emergency and waiver forms must be on file before your child will be permitted to participate in class.

Our mailing address is:
East Greenwich Yacht Club, Attn: GBSA Registrar, P.O. Box 267, East Greenwich, RI 02818.

PAYMENT DEADLINE:  We expect payment no later than June 1, however, please note students will be placed in the class of their choice on a first come, first served basis. Once a class has been filled, we will add students to the waiting list and fill those spots as they become available. Your child is not confirmed as registered unless the tuition has been paid in full.

BOAT STORAGE: A fee of $65 is accessed for each boat, please fill this information on the registration and add to the tuition bill.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  Cancellations up to 3 weeks before the start of the program will be assessed a $30 administrative fee and the balance refunded.  Refunds will not be granted within 3 weeks of the starting date of the program.

SESSION DATES:

Session I:         Monday, June 21 through Friday, July 16
Session II:       Monday, July 19 through Friday, August 13
Junior race week:    Friday, August 13 through Sunday, August 15

PROGRAM TIMES:

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
9 am to 12 pm:                         Beginners, Opti Beginners and 420 Intermediates
12:30 pm to 4:30 pm    Opti Basic Racing (aka Opti Green), 420 Race Team and Laser Race Team
1 pm to 4 pm                            Sailing Adventures

MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (NO WEDNESDAYS)

9 am to 4 pm:         Opti Race Team

TUITION FEES:

Four week session:        $625 ($600 if payment is received by April 1)
Eight week session:        $1100 ($1050 if payment is received by April 1)
Nine week RACING DIVISION:        $1100 (no discount applicable)

Please note the following dates for our Greenwich Bay Sailing Association festivities:

Saturday, May 1                                          May Breakfast at EGYC,
Saturday, June 5                                         “Kids Should Be Sailing” Auction
Friday, June 18                                            Meet the GBSA program director & instructors
Friday, August 20                                        Awards night at EGYC

If you have any questions, please contact Maggie Elson, GBSA registrar via e mail at registrar@gbsa.info or at 401-484-7732

This year’s winner Matt Coughlin is pictured with his parents, Kevin and Beth (left), and CJ’s parents Carter and Lucy Buckley. Past winners are: Josh Blasbalg (2004), Tricia Sellon (2005), Paige McClatchy (2006), and Mia Cooper (2007), and Ryan Whelan (2008)

Note: Below are the results for the season. If you would like to add or correct something, please email greenwichbaysailingassociation@gmail.com, or add a comment here on the blog.

2009 GBSA AWARDS

C. J. Buckley Spirit of Sailing
Courageous Award
Matt Coughlin

Most Improved Beginner
Mike Walsh, Nick Hand, Andrew Willis, Ben Rosenberg, Sean Sceery, Tressa BT

Most Improved Sailing Adventures
Paige Mattos, Mary Larcom, Tristan Bella Balsamo

Most Improved Opti Beginners
Andre Bouisvert

Most Improved Opti Racer
Caroline Decessare

Most Improved 420 Racer
Mykahla Renyolds

Most Improved Laser Racer
Mia Cooper

On The Edge Award – Opti Green and 420 Intermdiates
Dan Medicci, Danielle Ellson

Best Crew Award 420 student
Oksana Goretoy

Most Improved Sailor Of The Year
Jake Ruhling, Connor D’Albora, Mia Cooper

Gordon Hagglund Award perpetual
Sportsman of The Year Racer
Marisa McCann

Sportsman of the Week
Ross Smith, Tyler Williams, Hadley Ruhling, Lexi Handy
Zach Bender, Mary August Olson, Julia Stevens, Chris Pearson

Instructor Award
Julia Stevens

Sailor of The Year Award perpetual
Norbert H Mongeon III

Coach of The Year Award
Danielle Fleet

Seamanship Award
Andrew Paliotta, DevinAlex Deneault, Chris Pearson, Will Porter, Ben Manning
2 Beginners, 2 Sailing Adventures, 1 Division I, 1 Division II

Swamp Rat Awards
Kyle Riggs, Kyle Williams, Callie Wehr, Mary Larcom, Alexis Jagmnis, Katie Macdonald, TaylorMcCann

Motor Mouth Award
Gabe Boisvert, Brendan Lada, Julia Stevens, Nick Handy, Emily Swanson, Brad Sunderland, Jamie Alstrom, Axel Olson, Daniel Porter, AJ, Dan Locke

Smile Award
Dan Medici, Mia Cooper, Hadley Ruhling, Katie Coughlin, Katie Langlais, Amelia Grumbach, Tom DeCesare

Know Knot Award
PeterBrouillard

Turtle Award
Peter Brouillard, Ben Manning, Sarah Pearson, Dan Locke, Thomas Decesare, Mitch Renyolds, Geoff Grumbach

Broken Boat
Mia Cooper

Maguire Awards
Ivan Goretaya

GBSA Racing Series Awards

Opti Race
1. Chris Shakespere
2. Hadley Mullins
3. Jake Ruhling

420
1. Erin Mullins/ Matt Coughlin
2. Michaela R/Oksana Goretaya
3. Lauren McCann/Lauren McClatchy

Lasers Radial
1. Nori Mongeon
2. Mia Cooper
3. Julia Stevens

Laser 4.7
1. Connor D’Albora
2. Talyor McCann
3. Brendan Lada

Opti Green
1. Kyle Riggs
2. Gabe Boisvert
3. Dan Medeci

Team Boss from Lake Beulah YC Wins the 2009 CJ Buckley Team Race for the Club 420 National Junior Team Race Championship.

For 2009, the Club 420 class designated the CJ Buckley Team Race as this year’s Club 420 National Junior Team Racing Championship. With 24 teams and 144 junior sailors from as far as Texas, the United States Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin, the CJ Buckley Team Race was the largest team race in the United States this year, and the second-largest team race event in the world! Regatta organizers delivered, completing 340 races over three days.

Congratulations to Team Boss, from Lake Beulah YC, Wisconsin, who won the event and are the 2009 Club 420 National Team Race Champions! Team members were Will Haeger, Ian Schappe, Chris Banholzer, Nick Clemence, George Kutschenreuter, and Ellie Banholzer.

The summer of 2009 certainly turned out to be a great one following a slow start. June and July were plagued by rain, thunderstorms and light winds, but it was worth the wait as August was awesome. Through all the rain and wind delays, each class managed to work hard and developed a great understanding. When they were able to get on the water, the GBSA sailors made the most of it.

The staff of Instructors and Coaches was incredible. As a team, they were the BEST group I have ever worked with! Our staff knew what to do and really helped to push our students to be the best. From well designed lesson plans, to new and creative drills, this group knew how to teach and did a great job of keeping it fun. More importantly, this crowd kept it safe. On the water, the sailors were surrounded by safety boats and the watchful eyes of their coaches.

Out on the bay, the GBSA Racing Teams were nothing short of impressive. The sailing teams went out on the NBYA circuit and quickly climbed to the front of the fleet. Whether it be in Optis, Lasers or 420s, the East Greenwich sailors set their mark as front runners. In the end, the NBYA Race week was the ultimate culmination of years of hard work and great coaching. We are all incredibly proud of our sailors and racers; they truly had an extraordinary year.

In my position as the director of this great program, I am very happy with how everything went. This year started with many questions about the new format and new classes but just one week in, it was obvious that the new design was a success. The addition of new classes, and adjusted schedule gave us the flexibility to put students in classes where they could fit in and thrive. It was a great deal of fun watching these classes out sailing and pick up this life long sport that we all love.

I can’t thank enough all the volunteers and members of the GBSA family who helped make this summer a great success. There are endless hours spent by parents, family and friends of this program who make what we have possible. For all of those who helped, no matter how big or small, thank you! I greatly appreciate all that you do.

I hope everyone had a great season, and I wish you the best on this school year and we look forward to seeing everyone back next summer.

Best,