Easter Brunch. reserve for. Triple Lindy RORC Sydney-Hobart Update AN EXCLUSIVE WITH THE RNSYS MATCH RACING TEAM. Learn to sail in your own backyard

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1 LIFELINE ROYAL NOVA SCOTIA YACHT SQUADRON AN EXCLUSIVE WITH THE RNSYS Triple Lindy RORC Sydney-Hobart Update reserve for Easter Brunch Learn to sail in your own backyard MATCH RACING TEAM A candid interview with skipper, Peter Wickwire, and the platform he s built for young Squadron sailors. April Edition 2017 sailing programs for the young and young at heart

2 contents in this issue SKIPPER/CREW NIGHT Skipper/Crew Night with Guest Speakers 1 Commodore s Column 2 Privileged Crew Promotion! Season Begins May 1! 3 Reserve for our Easter Brunch 4 Want to Learn to Sail? Adult Sailing Programs Begin May 1 4 An Exclusive with The RNSYS Match Racing Team 5 Introduction to Running Races Coming to the RNSYS Rules of Racing from our Race Director 11 Register Today for the Grand-Daddy of Ocean Racing Program Guide for you, your family, and friends! Triple Lindy RORC Sydney-Hobart Update Get Involved with the Canadian Opti Championships! guest speakers Sean McDermott Rory MacDonald wednesday, april 19, 6pm upcoming sailing and racing season overview delicious buffet dinner $27 April Calendar of Events 16 reservations made through Marriann Creelman ext 102 functionmanager@rnsys.com 1

3 commodore greetings from Commodore David Stanfield April has arrived, but spring is yet to be seen. Your Club has a multitude of ways for you to enjoy your time spent indoors, starting with the excitement of Film Night! Your Member Services Committee has expanded upon the success of this social outing for members by pairing it with a creative component. Recently the Squadron showed the film Sully, a fact-based drama starring Tom Hanks as U.S. Airways Captain Chesley Sullenburger, Sully, the pilot of the 2009 miracle on the Hudson emergency water landing. Terrific movie and move by the Member Services Committee, led by VC Penny, to invite two members who are accomplished career professional pilots to speak before, during the intermission, and following the film. Les Savage and Bob Brown s contribution elevated the evening to one that participants are still talking about. That, and Liam s Squadron served popcorn! You won t want to miss the next film night, happening Friday, May 5th, 7pm, featuring The Way, with three fantastic guest speakers to share their experiences! Arrive early to be sure you get a seat! Speaking of getting a seat, two huge events coming up this summer you ll want to be front row for are the 2017 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race - the Granddaddy of Ocean Races, plus the 2017 Opti National Championships! 2017 Opti National Championships taking place in August is a fantastic event for our Club to host, and you ll want to be a part of it! To lend a hand, opticanadians2017@rnsys.com. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and do your part to show our international friends our reputation for hospitality is more than well deserved! Wanting to expand on your volunteer skill set? The RNSYS is offering a Race Management Course on April 28th. Register here for it! Learning to sail is not just for the kids, RNSYS Adult Learn to Sail program(s) are offered again this summer, check it out in our Program Guide! If you know someone who would enjoy the Club but is hesitant to join because they don t know how to sail.. what better way to launch 2

4 commodore them on a new exciting path of lifetime learning and personal growth. There is an added bonus, the program is taught in the Club s fleet of J22 s, which means upon completion of their program they can apply their new skills immediately on Wednesday Nights against accomplished J22 sailors Peter Greenwood, James Rafuse, Mary Lou Landry, and others. One could not be introduced into a better fleet. These sailors abilities are only surpassed by their reputation for each of approach, fun and spirited competition! Following this thread of high spirits, we are so pleased to share with you a campaign that RNSYS Members have initiated and are undertaking on far away shores, representing the Squadron - the RNSYS Match Racing Team! Led by accomplished sailor Peter Wickwire, with an exciting inspirational goal, the team s Spring, Summer, and Fall schedule involves qualifying and competing in regatta s leading up to their ultimate take on. Read more about it in a full interview with Peter and his team in this edition. There is something for everyone in this month s edition of our Lifeline Newsletter, and something for everyone happening at the Club, including our annual Easter Brunch and Kid s Easter Party to follow, along with Skipper/Crew Night, and other great events to kick-start our spring season! Before I sign off, a special thank you to a group of members who contributed financially to the purchase of a new Charbroiler Grill. We are all the beneficiaries of their generosity. See for yourself on Thursday Steak Night! David Stanfield Commodore privileged sailing programs crew Privileged Crew Membership season begins May 1, 2017 Privileges of membership includes: *Six months of Member Status *Personal Member Account *Use of two Outdoor Pools & Tennis Court *Waterfront Dining Services *Save on Entrance Fees when you progress *The luxury of sailing with Club members PLUS - Propose a never before PC member for the 2017 season and receive $200 off your seasonal marina!! Download a complete copy of our Membership Package 3

5 easter brunch Easter Brunch RNSYS annual Easter Brunch! Always a very popular event, we invite members and their guests to join us at the Saraguay House for panoramic views, a fantastic buffet brunch, and the celebration of Easter! adult sailing at the yacht squadron May through September Six lesson program Members and Non-Members Perfect for individuals, friends, or partners click here for details in our program guide Ready to register? We re happy to have you! adult learn to sail Sunday, April 16, 11am $ Reservations must be made through Function Manager Marriann Creelman ext 1 then 102 functionmanager@rnsys.com 4

6 match racing team Match Racing team A candid interview with skipper, Peter Wickwire, and the platform he s built for young Squadron sailors. Q: How many years have you been competitively racing at such a high level? the RNSYS I grew up racing dinghies in NS, and after a short hiatus focusing on other sports at university I spent almost all my free time racing One Design since finishing at Queen s in the mid 90s and moving to Toronto. I didn t own a boat early on in my keelboat days so much of my sailing was as a trimmer fleet racing. I really loved trimming and I think it helped me to be a better helmsman. 5

7 match racing team I didn t helm my first umpired ISAF graded match race event until 2008 and that really changed everything. Umpired match racing in boats sailed in rotation is a true meritocracy. It s binary win or lose. I got my first taste of match racing as Canada s Cup training crew at RCYC in the early 2000s but it was from the outside looking in. I d have to create my own opportunities to be relevant was pivotal in that regard. Q: Take us back to that first race, what was it and what can you share with readers about this experience? It was in Detroit in Ultimate 20s at Bayview Yacht Club. The event was the Spring Invitational qualifier for the Detroit Cup. At the time the D-Cup as it is known was one of only two Grade 2s in North America. The U20 is small very nimble sprite boat. We entered the starting box from the wrong side - no joke. But so did the other team! Thankfully there were offsetting penalties and we won that race. In Detroit you race right in front of the clubhouse on the Detroit River. It was pretty embarrassing but the spectators loved it. You can not make up a shakier start to a match racing career. That first event qualified me for the Grade 2 a few weeks later where we would race all the top ranked American teams and top teams from as far as Russia, Italy and New Zealand. It all happened so fast. The Kiwis won but you probably already guessed that correctly. Match Racing has been an amazing experience and I ve enjoyed a great run so far. The Canada s Cup win last year (starting helmsman/tactician), twice qualifying Canada and helming at ISAF Nations Cup, a Canadian Match Racing Championship, York Cup, Stolze Cup, even winning a race against 6-time World Champion, Ian Williams on the World Match Racing Tour. A true blind squirrel moment... But really fun nonetheless. 6

8 match racing team Q: Building off the time you put into the Canada s Cup win in 2016, what s the plan for 2017? We re trying to win the Seawanhaka Cup for RNSYS in mid September. To do so we are doing a Dave Perry Clinic next month at Oakcliff followed by a two day US Match Racing Championship Qualifier, then it s a Sally Barkow clinic at Oakcliff in May followed by a two day Grade 3 Invitational, then we have time off until the Oakcliff International Grade 2 over the Labour Day weekend (the best international competition we ll see), then Seawanhaka mid September and if we qualify for an invitation, the US Match Racing Championships at Oakcliff mid October. Q: The Seawanhaka Cup is one of the oldest yachting trophies still in active competition, and would come before the US Match Racing Championships. What does this three-day event mean to you, apart from being a stepping stone in the grand plan? Firstly, it is RNSYS invitation to compete in The Seawanhaka Cup and that has been the real impetus behind the entire planned effort for the season. We need to field a team entirely of RNSYS members as it is a club vs. club international invitational regatta. The club was very kind to approach me with their invitation. It is a great reason to build and train a young team of RNSYS members and to properly prepare across a series of events in SM40s in Long Island prior to Seawanhaka. We have the potential to be successful but it requires the understanding that clinics and practice with consistent crew in the SM40 is key to earning the experience required to be successful. 7

9 match racing team Q: How would you describe what qualifying, and ultimately competing in, the US Match Racing Championships this fall would mean to you? It would mean a lot but it s far from a sure thing as we d need to do very well right out of the box which is unrealistic but not impossible. I had earned an invitation to the US Championships in 2015 via another qualifier but my grandmother s 100th birthday was in direct conflict with the final set date for the US Championships so it was an easy decision to pass the invitation on to another team. If it happens for us this year it would be a great opportunity and we ll be well prepared. It would be our 5th event of 2017 in the SM40s and a nice bonus after the goal event of representing RNSYS at the Seawanhaka Cup in September. Q: You ve provided a platform for young sailors that other skippers perhaps wouldn t offer. Can you share what started this? When I first returned home to Halifax from Toronto it was out of necessity. I needed a crew that wasn t otherwise spoken for and where better to start than with strong young sailors who had more ability than perhaps even they realized or were given credit for at the time. Emily Merry, Hillary Grantmyre, Dan McMillan and Peter Soosalu have been incredibly successful since we all teamed up. They make the good results happen time and time again. Even better is how much fun it is to sail with them and how well the four of them get along with each other. We try to rotate positions many Wednesdays so there s some real empathy for teammate s positions. It has worked well. I try to pretend I can do bow and they consistently bail me out. Q: For many of our members and readers alike, this is the first they will hear of the RNSYS Match Racing Team and its push into the racing realm. As the skipper, what is your message? If there s one sport where Nova Scotians should shine internationally it is sailing and RNSYS should be the club to do it the first step is the hardest but this is the perfect opportunity so we re grabbing it and moving forward. We want to put in an effort to achieve a result of which the club and province can be proud. Most sailing is simply too expensive for most Nova Scotians to really be on the level equipment and travel wise with American and Ontario teams. We don t need to bring the best boat or best sails to match race. It s all provided and rotated so the sailors are what matters and that s a resource we do have. That s why match racing is the perfect fit. You don t lose to equipment spending but you can easily lose to a better more experienced team. We re going to put in the effort to be the experienced team without the logistics or expense of the other variables. It is the perfect motivation to create a team of younger Squadron members, learn a valuable skill and to aim for a great result. We have no interest to just show up and hope it goes well. There is little satisfaction in that and no realistic chance of success. 8

10 match racing sailing team Q: What is a great misconception regarding the sport of sailing, and how do you and your team plan to challenge it? That winning is somehow based on some natural innate ability. It s based on having great opportunities, making the most of them and perhaps most importantly having the headspace to learn and grow from all the mistakes you are 100% certain to make along the way. In that sense this RNSYS initiative was a no-brainer to me. There is zero downside. Coming off the Canada s Cup win last year I immediately wanted to do more but to get that skill set developing with a number of excellent sailors from our RNSYS membership - not going back to my regulars from RCYC or the U.S. That is far more interesting and appealing challenge to me and unquestionably worth the effort. Young sailors leaving the sport breaks my heart they are too young to possibly understand what they are walking away from. I truly feel like I m just learning how to race and how to properly approach events. In that respect sailing is a true a life long pursuit. Kids leaving the sport after youth sailing is unimaginable to me - there s so much to learn and the sport can give you and so many great people to meet, friendships to be made and the most amazing places to sail. Sailing has all of that but you need to make the effort and you need to stay engaged. In the end the worst we can do is elevate the skill, experience and knowledge of sailors in our membership. That is 100% in line with the primary Object of the club. Q: Being a skipper is a difficult task, how do you find it working with young Squadron sailors as opposed to your peers? They are amazing and to me it is a must do. More of us need to do a better job in this regard. If we lose sailors after junior sailing or when they leave dinghies shame on us. That said, more needs to be done on the value proposition at all yacht clubs and this effort of ours is hopefully a step in the right direction. 9

11 match sailing racing team Q: You and your team have a lot of work ahead of you. How can members of the club and community be supportive during this journey? We do and Commodore Stanfield has been amazing in this regard. If you would like to help support the team, please reach out to Commodore Stanfield who right from the beginning took the lead on this. race management introduction to running races We ll keep the membership informed of how it s going. From our first event April 19th-21st at Oakcliff onwards we will be sending updates to the club and will be providing event reports. Or come and ask one of us after Wednesday night racing and well be happy to tell you how it s going over a cold refreshment in the Ward Room. Q: Who will be your crew for the RNSYS Match Racing Team? I ve been fortunate to have done a number of events over the years in the The Swedish Match 40 at Oakcliff. The SM40 is raced with only 5 crew and is seriously short handed so excellent sailors who get along and can grow together as a team are the goal. Our crew so far is Dan MacMillan, Evan Petley-Jones, Chris Veinot and myself. We are currently finalizing our 5th based on weight (the team weighs in every event) and ability. Stay tuned Thank you to Peter Wickwire for participating in this exclusive interview on behalf of the RNSYS Match Racing Team. Coverage of the team will continue in Club communications over the next several months. Thank you to our readers for your support of our sailors, and your peers. Open to everyone, this course will provide you with a deeper understanding of the process of mark laying and running races. Ideal for volunteering for RNSYS regattas, the upcoming 2017 MHOR, 2017 Opti Championships, and the field of race management in general. click here for course offerings and registration! 10

12 rules of racing Rules of Racing Race Director Luke Porter Shares What s Changed in the Rule Book Every four years the rules that govern sailboat racing are revised and re-issued sees the latest set of rules come into effect, and while not everyone is as excited about them as I am as Race Director, I ve read the rule book cover to cover and am happy to share the more prominent changes with you. The essential rules conducting the interaction between boats saw no major changes, but the rules dealing with hoe races are run and the background mechanics did see some subtle and significant alterations The rule book is reorganized, flag cheat sheets moved from the inside cover to a card stock section about ¼ of the way in. The book is now divided into two sections; the core rules in the first ¼ and then all the appendix after. This reduces the scare factor of reading the material cover to cover. But, we strongly encourage you pick up a copy (available from all the usual outlets) to be certain you know the rules before heading out for our first Wednesday Night Race! The definitions at the beginning of the book, a section that has lots of vital explanations, now includes mention of a support person. This won t have much impact on keelboat racing but has enormous ramifications for dinghy regattas and those associated with them. 11

13 rules of racing A support person is anyone who supports a competitor, be it a coach, team mate, parent, manager, support boat driver, medic, etc. Basically all the people who are frequently involved with a regatta but who are not competitors. Further to this, in rule 3 (Acceptance of the Rules) it states that support personnel are bound by the rules and that competitors agree and also agree to ensure that the support personnel understand the rules. Thus a huge swath of people who were previously unrestricted by the rules are now bound by them and can be dealt with by a protest committee. This is a powerful tool that is bringing much joy to race organizers everywhere, and possibly some trepidation to parents and coaches. Last year the U flag (black flag lite) was introduced as an option during Wednesday night start sequences. The U flag is now part of the main rules (30.3) and so, while it won t be mentioned in the Sailing Instructions, it s still a possible part of the start sequence. Speaking of which, a flag can now be either an actual flag or something similar in appearance (25.3), such as a painted board. The ramifications of some rules and how they are applied are now obvious. Of minor note is the fact that, unless class rules state otherwise, lifelines will be taut (49.2). Also, it is a racing rule that trash is not to be deliberately thrown overboard (55). For events where it is applicable, generally for one design classes, a technical committee is defined (92) They have been given the power to protest a boat directly for infractions (60.4). This is a bit of a technicality but is likely to make enforcement of one design standards quicker and easier. Also in the protest section, procedures for dealing with support personnel are outlined (64.4). The person themselves can be disciplined within the rules including expulsion from the event, and the competitor they are supporting can be effected with scoring penalties. The infamous rule 69 has been tweaked, starting with a renaming of that section from Gross Misconduct to just Misconduct. As with other areas, much has been clarified as to who the rule applies to, what defines misconduct and the steps to deal with it. Competitors, boat owners and support persons are all bound by rule 69 and the definition of misconduct. The de-mystifying of the process and experience should go some way to lessening the stigma associated with a rule 69 hearing. They are still a serious issue but they are just the sailing way of controlling the lapses in judgement that inevitably occur in a sport. So run down to your local retailer and treat yourself to a copy of the new rule book. Read the first section and try to apply it to what you have experienced on the race course. Knowing the rules and knowing how they are applied to various situations are two different things. If you get stuck, ask a friendly local club judge to go over the problem. Feel free to tell other racers on the course what the appropriate rules are (everybody always does), the more people that know, the less issues arise. Luke Porter Race Director 12

14 ocean race programs This is your year to race the grand-daddy of ocean races! More than 56 vessels are registered for this year s Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, beginning on July 9th from the Boston Yacht Club. Add your name to the list of enthusiastic skippers and their crew who are competing in the 360 nautical mile, Grand-Daddy of ocean races. Register today! explore and share our guide 13

15 sailing previous Fastnet Race start As mentioned in the New Year s Lifeline, many of the Squadron s McMac J105 crew are part of a larger Swan 44 Mk II owned by Joe Mele and sailed out of New York City. Named Triple Lindy, she was sent to Sydney Australia for the Sydney-Hobart Race aboard a freighter. Sean McDermott (helm), Rory MacDonald (main/tactics), Rob Trainor (trim), Patrick LaRoche tactics), John MacKay (bow) and the rest of the 10-person crew sailed a less terrifying race than it can be, in terms of weather (just 6 wipe-outs) and finished 27th of 88 starters in the IRC class. Triple Lindy RORC Sydney - Hobart Update Winning our start nicely we lead our fleet out through Sydney Heads before turning south towards Tasmania and across the notorious Bass Strait. The winds never exceeded 35 knots, except in gusts, but were generally aft not the best for an upwind boat like Triple Lindy. A popular expression in the Sydney-Hobart is that to win the race you have to finish the race and safety is of paramount importance. There were several breakdowns among other boats but we held it together and turned the SE corner of Tasman Island past the Organ Pipes (pictured) and headed towards Hobart. 14

16 sailing opti champs Triple Lindy Triple Lindy rounding the Organ Pipes of Tasman Island 40nm to go to finish! The weather during these last 40nm was decidedly Novi-like with fog, mist, cool temps and puffy breeze to 30 knots. But the finish welcome was unprecedented for our crew with a standing ovation from both hundreds of fellow racers as well as thousands of folks sitting dockside enjoying the nearby Taste of Tasmania food and wine fair. An awesome welcome is how our crew described it! The boat is currently riding a freighter back to the Panama Canal and on to Cowes in the UK for this year s August start of the RORC Fastnet Race on August 6th. This notorious race allows just 340 entries and this year it was fully subscribed in 4 minutes and 24 seconds, a record. With other fleets like the Volvo round-the-world boats and other onedesign fleets, the total crowd will be over 400 yachts. The RNSYS McMac boys will be there to take on this next adventure. You can follow along this August at: Your Club is Hosting the 2017 Canadian Optimist Championships The 2017 Canadian Optimist Championship is a great opportunity for all levels of sailors, as well as for coaches and families, to enjoy a unique week of sailing while having fun together. The RNSYS has enthusiastic and experienced members who appreciate the value of hosting international events. It s location on the North West Arm provides outstanding ocean sailing conditions, topnotch club amenities and access to the historic city of Halifax. Sean McDermott Click here to Volunteer 15

17 APRIL CALENDAR Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Next month is our Mother s Day Brunch make your reservations today! Prime Rib 5pm Prime Rib 5pm Easter Brunch RSVP Kid s Easter Party 2pm Prime Rib 5pm Prime Rib 5pm RNSYS closed Steak Night 5pm RNSYS closed Steak Night 5pm RNSYS closed RNSYS closed Book Club10:30am taste of INDIA week Skipper/Crew Night - RSVP. 6pm Steak Night 5pm Good Friday Club Closed Trivia Night 7pm Hors D oeuvres Night 6pm Spring Dinghy Sailing 29 30