T-Minus 20 days to Short-Handed Offshore Test Event
by Oakcliff Sailing 25 Apr 2019 16:42 BST
14-15 May 2019
T-Minus 20 days to Short-Handed Offshore Test Event © Oakcliff Sailing
Last weekend we hosted our first regatta of the season, the David Storrs Memorial Qualifier for the US Match Racing Championship. This weekend, we will compete in the AYC Spring Series with two of our Farr 40s.
In three short weeks, May 14-15 we will run the Melges 24 Double-Handed Distance Race to test the concept of the new mixed-gender, short-handed offshore event that will debut in the 2024 Olympics.
Quantum Sails has added their support to our High Performance Acorn camp, which is a part of US Sailing's Olympic Development Program. Dawn will be speaking at Fawcett's in Annapolis tomorrow night. Coincidentally, Oakcliff's recently retired Race Program Director Bill Simon will also be speaking in Annapolis for a rules seminar at J World.
Short-Handed Test Event almost here
The Oakcliff team has been hard at work getting our fleet of six Melges 24s offshore-ready and creating ways for you at home to watch all of the action through live streaming during our short handed test event next month.
We are also doubling down on the training aspect of this event. Through a partnership with North Sails we have expanded the operations of our internal sail loft and are actually building our own sails! North is providing the coaching for Oakcliff Saplings which will in turn create a larger pool of qualified American sailmakers. The first major project of this partnership is building new mainsails for the Melges event.
Pictured above, Winter Sapling Cullen Zelenka works with Dawn on one of the mainsails which will have reef points and a reduced roach. This, among other modifications, will make the boat a safe and viable platform for a double-handed crew.
The team has also constructed stern towers to mount the VHF antenna, a camera, and an infrared light for nighttime recording. Read more about the event.
All of the spots are full but you can contact Training Program Director Ethan Johnson to apply for the wait list.