The old Fleet Log was a favorite with owners using the previous website. They enjoyed sharing and participating in the Sea Sprite community with information about themselves and their boat. The Log has languished these past few years, with only old information available, and without the capability to do updates or add new boats. The capability to write extensive histories using our “Histories” section rather than submitting thumbnail sketches in a “Fleet Log” never caught on.

So, after some software tweaking, the Fleet Log Is Back in its original format with a quick and easy way to generate an entry or to update an old entry. One simply copies the data form in the “Fleet Log” page listed on the top menu on the Home page of the website, pastes the form into an email, fills out the form, attaches a picture (if desired), and sends the email to our new Fleet Log coordinator Greg Raleigh. Greg then will insert the information into the Fleet Log. Greg sails SS23 #526 out of Grafton, Wisconsin, and has generously offered to administer the Fleet Log.

I know sea sprite sailors enjoyed the simplicity of the old Fleet Log, and the feeling of belonging to our community of sailors in the sharing of histories and stories. So here we go…share away!! I look forward to reading your stories.

 

 

The 2019 Sea Sprite Regatta was held Saturday, July 27, in Bristol Harbor at Bristol, RI. Blessed by perfect weather, blue skies, friendly sailing teams, the return of SS23 racing icon Herb Brown, superb course sets by the Bristol YC Race Committee, and Bristol YC for the post race gathering, it truly was “What a day”.

Jon Goff set the tone for the day sailing Grayling, a Herreshoff Sailing School SS23 he rented for the event. His crew was his 10 year-old son Liam and 9 year-old daughter Nora, both crewing for him for the first time!! They were in the mix from the start for both races. We also had 2 other SS23’s from the Herreshoff Marine Museum Sailing School manned by sailing school instructors. Their boats were not race-ready, but the instructors raced valiantly and had a ball.

As a matter of fact, everyone had a ball. The Bristol YC Race Committee enjoyed themselves, and ran a perfect Regatta for 9 boats. Joe Jablonowski was PRO and ably supported by Roger Carney with Bob Yaylian on mark boat.

Lou Marino on Hope lassoed Herb Brown to race with him. The imperturbable master calmly skippered Hope to two close second place finishes. The starts were close, and the crossings numerous. Lulabelle managed to win both races, eeking out a win in the second race by seconds, sneaking by Bob Catani in Bramisole and Lou and Herb in Hope on the very last leg back to the finish line.

And, of course, the post race party back at Bristol YC was filled with race discussions, questions about sail sets and tactics, along with food and drinks.

Many thanks to all who put on the show and to everyone who raced. What a day!!!!!!

Here are the final standings:

Boat                      skipper        first race           second race           total points          place

Lulabelle               Hall              1                         1                              2                            1

Hope                      Brown         2                         2                              4                            2

Bramisole             Catani          3                         3                              6                            3

Grayling                 Goff             4                          4                             8                            4

Vexatious               MacKeith    5                          6                             11                          5

New Hope              Messerli      7                          5                             12                          6

Destiny                    Picard         6                           7                             13                          7

Herreshoff One      Instructors 8                           8                             16                          8

Herreshoff Two      Instructors 9                            9                             18                          9

20 sailors along with crew, spouses, and children gathered Friday, April 12th, at the Herreshoff Marine Museum for our Annual Dinner And Meeting. It was a great evening.

Our dining venue was spectacular. The Herreshoff Museum sits on the Bristol Harbor waterfront. It is a collection of old boat manufacturing buildings that includes a large building housing about 25 to 30 sailing and power boats designed and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company from the 1860’s well into the 20th century

After strolling about in the Hall Of Boats, we assembled  in the America’s Cup Hall Of Fame room with displays of Cup history and 2 walls of photographs of America’s Cup sailors and owners who have had a big impact on the sport. With these (mostly) guys staring down from the walls, it was destined to be a great evening.

And the party began!

Leo’s Italian Restaurant in downtown Bristol catered a buffet style dinner…chicken piccata, grilled veggies, salad, eggplant parmesan, sausage and peppers, and 3 cheese pasta. It was absolutely scrumptious.

The conversations flowed. Al and Nita Voskian from Freeport, Maine, enjoyed the SSA dinner as well as time in Bristol. And Walter Hobb came over from Lincoln, RI, joining a large Bristol contingent.

 

Carter presented his annual  State Of The Organization  summary.

Here are the takeaways for 2018 and 2019:

Our statement of purpose guides our spending and planning:

“The Association shall promote interest and participation in the Sea Sprite class of sailing yachts. Activities shall include but are not limited to coordinating racing and cruising, social, cultural, and educational events.”

A subset/amplification of these goals includes promoting a sense of pride in ownership, a sense of family among owners, a commitment to maintaining our aging boats, and a vigorous racing group.

Here is how we worked to reach these goals in 2018 and what we plan for 2019:

The Organization  Remains strong. We had 74 paid memberships last year, up from 44, due to the free hat offer. We have a new Forum provider Tapatalk which gives us a capability to embed pictures in a posting directly from our computer with direct picture storage. No more third party hosting. Classifieds are very active. Visits to the website are leveling off at 41,000 a year.

The Budget   We have $4500 in the bank, down $200 from last year. We took in $1875 from membership dues, but spent close to $1300 on free hats and $300 to Herreshoff to maintain three SS23’s in their sailing school. Our goal is to cover 7 to 8 years of admin costs including website maintenance if we get to lean years with no dues. We have reached our goal.

2019 Plans   Dues continue at $25. No freebies. Admin hit of $600 for 3 year website costs next year. Donations continue to Herreshoff of $350 to maintain 3 SS23’s in their sailing school and free membership in the SSA and free entries in summer SS23 racing. Racing events will be the same as last year…SS2 Regatta late July and ‘Round The Hog in early September.

2018 Awards    Carter won the SS23 Regatta and ‘Round The Hog, each by a whisker. Bob Catani won the Wednesday evening race series, and was awarded the Nancy Belle trophy as the best SS23 racer on Narraganset Bay. The Browne Award for the racer exhibiting a high level of sportsmanship on the race course went to John Pagnoni sailing Belligerence. Lou Marino was awarded the Denise Award for outstanding contribution to the organization for his yearly ‘Round The Hog cookouts. He also contributed as liaison to the SS23 fleet for the Wednesday evening race series.

And that, folks, was it. What a night. Lots of fun, stories traded, friendships continued. The organization remains strong.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, EVERYONE!!!