The Pacific Coast District entered five teams in the 2000 Mallory regatta for the national fleet championship and, sailing in Pacific waters at the US SAILING Center in Long Beach, the five schools took the top five places in the 20 school fleet. It was by far the most impressive, decisive performance by a single district since the expansion of ISSA nationwide and representation by teams from all the districts.

At the top was the perennially strong Newport Harbor HS. The NHHS team earned low point honors in both A and B Divisions, its B Division crew of Tyler Haskell/ Paige Thompson/Ryan Marshall winning overall low point with seven first places in the 16 race series. NHHS A Division crew was Scott Hogan/Meredith Potter/Gary Grimes who were a model of consistency with but one first place but only one finish - in the last race when the issue was long since resolved - below seventh.

Runner-up was the Coronado HS team that managed to stay close to NHHS for the first ten races or so, but could not match the winner's consistency thereafter. In third was the University of San Diego HS, hurt by two disqualifications the first day that trumped an excellent performance by its A Division crew.

Conditions for the regatta were nearly ideal with winds both days from offshore building to 16-18 by afternoon. The event was sailed in new Vanguard Collegiate CFJs and spectating was superb from the end of the Belmont Pier overlooking the race course. Organization under Sailing Center Director Mike Segerblom and wind conditions were so exceptional that the competitors managed to complete 32 races, a record for the two-day Mallory regatta.

2000 MALLORY CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

NEWPORT HARBOR HS WINS THIRD BAKER IN A ROW [back to index]

The indomitable Newport Harbor HS competed its sweep of the Spring ISSA national championships by winning the Baker Trophy for team racing May 19-21 at Old Dominion University in Virginia. NHHS was the defending Baker champion, having won in 1998 and 1999 and is the first school to win both the Mallory and the Baker outright in the same year. In fact, in the last eight years NHHS has won five national championships and been runner-up twice. It will likely be a long time before another school even matches the record of the young sailors from California, especially since the record may continue since five of the top eight members of the team have not graduated although those going on to college include its top skippers Tyler Haskell and Scott Hogan.

A single round robin of 66 races determined which four schools would sail the double round robin championship bracket. The remaining eight teams were divided into two single round robin consolation series.

Newport Harbor HS with a record of 11-0, Coronado HS with 10-1, Jesuit HS and Tabor Academy, each with 8-3, went into the championship series the second day. By the end of racing NHHS with 15 wins and two losses was first, Coronado HS at 13-4 was second, Jesuit HS was third with 12-5, and Tabor with 8-9 was fourth as the scores of the first and second days were combined. Wind for the finals was lighter and more shifty than the first day.

Skippering for NHHS were Tyler Haskell, Scott Hogan, and Gary Grimes with crews Paige Thompson, Meredith Potter, Amy Halvorsen, and Kelsey Cochran. Running the regatta was the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association, part of the Mid-Atlantic SSA, with Randy Stokes as Regatta Chairman, Mitch Brindley of ODU as PRO, and Don Becker as Chief Judge.

On the dock at the US SAILING Center, site of the Mallory Regatta

2000 BAKER CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE [back to index]

MDear Sailors and Friends,

Coming to the end of school year 2000, we can enjoy memories of another fine year for high school sailors and their teams, and for those who make it happen. We can also look forward to continuing development of the concepts and processes that make school sailing work.

If the Nationals are any measure, this was a year of quality - improved spirit, better competition, a growing sense of community. Regattas were flawlessly run by people obviously committed to providing the best experience possible for our young sailors. Coaching is improving, and the desire to improve is there. We will meet that expectation.

There are more young people than ever involved in school sailing, many in organized teams which have joined their districts and ISSA, many as yet still in a developmental stage in local leagues and organized general high school programs. Fifty-five new and revived teams checked in, and in five districts there has been significant growth. With the Cressy scheduled in Northwest this fall, we anticipate increased interest, just as we expect Great Oaks to spur development on the Gulf Coast.

Participation continues to be our primary goal, bringing the sport of sailing to as many young people as possible at the lowest possible cost to them. As a life-teacher, sailing is pre-eminent.

While we continue to move cautiously in the area of commercial support, we have found our partnership with Vanguard Sailboats to be a continuing success and our new partner, West Marine, is proving to be a valuable asset to our new and existing teams. We have been approached by other concerns wanting to align themselves with us, and we will examine each opportunity carefully. Our basic premises remain to avoid overt commercialism and especially not to exploit our sailors in any way. We are also examining the possibility of corporate memberships, as yet undefined.

Financially we continue to tread a fine line, and the long-overdue increase in school dues will be most helpful. Remaining all-volunteer with paid help only for skill-specific tasks keeps our operations inexpensive since we have no staff to pay. Our income is a mix of dues from schools and individuals, donations from supporters, grants from various sources for specific projects. Our reserve funds remain invested and have not been tapped, ready should we need them. Our long-standing support from the National Sailing Industry Association (NSIA), which quietly helped us publish our Directory and increase our newsletter distribution, has vanished with its merger with SailAmerica, now the dominant sailing industry group. We have been advised that support will be forthcoming, but that bird is not yet in hand.

Our status as a non-profit IRS 501(c)3 corporation has been most valuable, though we have not used that to its full potential. We are looking further at that option. For example, several of our ventures would benefit from endowments. We will continue not accepting property, due to the difficulties associated with its care and disposal.

The notion of school sailing as a sport is clearly a popular one with young people and those who mentor and support them. The great challenge in making this possible remains earning the recognition by school systems and administrators that sailing is beneficial, affordable and an equal opportunity for their students, male and female, worthwhile program. Of the many things on our plate, this is perhaps the most perplexing and ultimately the most rewarding.

There are a number of other projects underway which I will address in a separate memo. I would like to complete most, if not all, over the summer so we can start the new year with a clean slate.

Respectively submitted,

Larry White, President

NEW FALL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIPS AMONG TOPICS AT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTE MEETING [back to index]

At the Executive Committee meeting of ISSA June 15 a number of items of importance were on the agenda. The Committee adopted a scale of corporate memberships, developing a program adopted at the annual meeting of ISSA members last March. The terms for each category are still to be determined but at the top are memberships with annual dues of at least $2500, in the middle are those with a minimum of $1500, and at the bottom are dues of $500. For contributions considerably in excess of $2500 ISSA already has partnerships. At present Vanguard Sailboats and West Marine are partners.

The Committee announced the site of the 2001 general meeting of ISSA members as September 30 at the Chicago YC-Monroe Station. At the annual meeting in March the membership voted to move the annual meeting from the spring to the fall to make it more in keeping with the school year. It also decided to move the site of the meeting out of the northeast where it has traditionally been held. The Committee discussed at length the potential for donations to ISSA including a possible annual fund or capital campaign. No action was taken, but the ISSA Advisory Council is undertaking an investigation of long-range development and fund raising.

Reflecting the burgeoning growth of ISSA, the Executive Committee has recommended that the offices of Secretary and Treasurer be merged with one person serving as both. Roger Rawlings has assumed the responsibilities of the Treasurer as well as his elected post as Secretary. Moreover, he will be offering some relief to President White in day-to-day operations of ISSA. One of his roles will be to oversee much of the fulfillment of requests for ISSA merchandise, publications, etc. For this purpose a new mailing address for order processing has been established at PO Box 1701, Lakeville, CT 06039-1701. Eventually this will become the address for all ISSA correspondence.

The full minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting are available upon request.

NOTICE OF RACE FOR THE
GREAT OAKS INVITATIONAL REGATTA [back to index]

1. RULES
The regatta will be governed by the revised 1997-2000 racing Rules of sailing, the prescriptions of US SAILING, the ISSA Procedural Rules, this Notice of race, and the sailing Instructions. The regatta is classified as a Category A event.

2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1 A school that has been a continuous member of ISSA for three years or less or one that joins this year for the first time is eligible to enter the selection process in their district. Selection for competing in the Great oaks Regatta is by district initiative, with a sailing elimination preferred.

2.2 A team is comprised of no less that two nor more than four sailors who are full-time students in the school they represent. Each team will sail one 420. Competing schools must be current members of ISSA. NO STUDENT BELOW THE 8TH GRADE SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE. Sailors must be accompanied by a designated adult chaperone, who may be an advisor, coach or parent and be recognized by the school.

2.3 The regatta has 28 berths, which will be allocated based on the following quotas: New England-3, Southeast-8, Northwest-2, Mid-Atlantic-3, Mid-West-4, So. Atlantic-4, Pacific Coast-4.

Entries should be returned to Mark LeBlanc, Regatta Chairman, 6146 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124 HOME: 504-482-8887; OFFICE 504-283-4050; E-MAIL m.leblanc@trinityyachts.com.

3. ENTRY AND COMMUNICATIONS
3.1 Eligible schools and sailors must enter by filing an official entry form with the Regatta Chairperson prior to October 28,2000. Entry fee must be included with the entry form. Liability and medical release forms will be required at the time of registration at SYC.

3.2 ISSA membership will be verified at the time of final registration at the regatta site.

3.3 Invited teams that are unable to compete must notify Mark LeBlanc at the host venue as well as the ISSA as soon as possible. ISSA will reallocate vacant district quotas.

4. ENTRY FEE
There will be an entry fee of $100 per team.

5. BOATS
Club 420s without trapeze or spinnaker gear will be provided for all competitors by SYC, Tulane, and The University of New Orleans

6. BOAT DAMAGE DEPOSIT
The MANDATORY boat damage deposit of $100 and must be accompanied with the entry form.

7. SCHEDULE
Friday, November 10, 2000
1400-1700 Registration at Southern Yacht Club. Competitors must have a completed registration to get a boat for practice.
1400-1700 Boats available for practice Free evening, dinner at club optional

Saturday, November 11, 2000
Continental breakfast at SYC
0830-0900 Last minute registration. Fleet rigging
0900 Sailors Meeting - MANDATORY
1030 First warning. Racing will continue throughout the day.
Lunch and break
Free evening, dinner at club optional

Sunday, November 12, 2000
0830-0900 Continental breakfast at SYC
0830-0900 Rigging
1030 First warning. Racing to continue throughout the day
Lunch and break
1600 FIRM DEADLINE after which no race will be started
1700 After-race snack and Trophy Presentation

8. RACING AREA
Racing will be on Lake Pontchartrain, Northeast of the SYC clubhouse.

9. COURSES
Based on conditions, the Race Committee will determine the courses. Short college style course are expected to be used.

10. SCORING
The regatta will be scored using ISSA Procedural Rules. A "fast track" preliminary protest hearing will be used. Details will be outlined in the Sailing Instructions.

11. HOUSING
Housing will be provided. A block of rooms has been reserved at the La Quinta Inn, Crowder Blvd., New Orleans East. Mention "Confirmation #71645141." Rate - $65.00/night. 800-531-5900. Block will expire at midnight 10/26/00.

12. FOOD/BEVERAGE
A food package will be available to sailors and to accompanying chaperones at $15 each. The package will consist of 2 continental breakfasts, 2 boxed lunches, and a snack after the day's last race. On-the-water beverages will be furnished as part of the package as well. Four packages are included in the entry fee.

13. TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION
New Orleans International Airport is by far the most convenient airport. Each team is responsible for their own transportation.

14. COACHING
No coach or parent boats will be allowed. Spectator boats will be provided. The penalty for failing to comply with this requirement may be disqualification of any team associated with the infringing support personnel.

15. PRIZES
Prizes will be awarded to teams placing 1st through 3rd.

16. OFFICIAL NOTICE FOR ALL GREAT OAKS PARTICIPANTS
No contestant shall use, either on or off the water, alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and distilled spirits), or use any controlled substance (marijuana, cocaine, etc.), the possession of which is unlawful. Infringements of this regulation and/or other discipline expectation occurring during November 10,11, or 12, 2000 may be the basis for disciplinary action. Discipline problems and this regulation's enforcement will be handled promptly by an adult Discipline Hearing Board which will consist of three adult members; the Regatta Chairperson, a member of the ISSA Board of Directors, and the Chief Judge. Said Board shall, at a time and method selected by them, meet to hear said problem and their decision to impose scoring penalties, or other sanctions they alone deem appropriate, including summary removal from the entire regatta, shall be final without appeal permitted.

MAJOR FALL REGATTAS [back to index]
2001 CRESSY
The 2001 Cressy, ISSA Singlehanded Championships in Lasers and Laser Radials will be in Seattle, WA either October 28-29 or November 11-12. The NOR and dates will be announced as soon as available to District Directors for further dissemination.

2000 GREAT OAKS INVITATIONAL
The 2000 annual ISSA Great Oaks Invitational Regatta will be at Southern YC November 11-12. Districts select entries from among new member schools to fill assigned allocations.

ISSA OPEN
The ISSA Connecticut Open Regatta is at the US Coast Guard Academy October 14-15, 2000. Registrations may be after August 31 with Nancy Healy at 860-739-4011. Teams can enter any or all divisions. No fees. No lunches.

VANGUARD, WEST MARINE CONTINUE SUPPORT [back to index]
ISSA sailors continue to receive outstanding support from our two partners Vanguard sailboats and West Marine.

VANGUARD SAILBOATS
Vanguard supplies Lasers to the Cressy regatta, 32 in all, Radial and full-rig, and up to 12 Collegiate CFJs or 420s to either the Mallory or the Baker as needed. This is at no cost to the sailors or ISSA. When ISSA does not need these boats, Vanguard makes a cash donation to ISSA. This school year that gift was $3000. The partnership is specified in a multi-year contract

WEST MARINE
The "new schools" program with West Marine resulted in 55 schools receiving grants in the form of store credit vouchers for a total support from West marine to date of $22,825. The program is due to continue for another year. Please address letters of thanks with team pictures and news items to:

Susan Altmann
Manager of Donations & Sponsorship
West Marine
500 Westridge Drive

Watsonville, CA 95076-2700 Also in this program are Port Supply discount purchase cards for existing teams. Applications were mailed to all of last year's teams except the new ones. To date 36 teams have applied. These cards allow teams to purchase equipment from the West Marine system at discount. Applications are mailed out by ISSA; do not apply directly to West Marine. A new mailing will be made in September.

Please support our friends who support us. - LAW

COACHES SEMINARS: THEY MAY BE JUST THE ANSWER [back to index]
Perhaps the most beneficial program ISSA undertakes for young sailors is the coaching seminars it presents. Experienced coaches such as Pat Healy, Roy Williams, and Roger Rawlings conduct the seminars which are provided at no cost to those willing to host them. Participation includes qualification for the high school module of the Level 3 US SAILING coaching certification.

The typical seminar outlines the structure of school sailing, the form of the ISSA procedural rules, and the levels of interscholastic competition. It goes on to look closely at the role of the team coach: the ethics of coaching, coaching rules and protests, and running practices with drills, as well as race management.

Districts, leagues, or even just groups of schools can host a coaching seminar. The host arranges the venue, promotes the seminar, and may, if the seminar presenter has to travel a distance, be asked to provide overnight accommodations. ISSA provides the leader of the seminar at no cost to the host and requires the hosts make attending the seminar free of charge to coaches.

To get more details or arrange for a ISSA coaching seminar, contact ISSA - Roger Rawlings, rawling@snet.net.

TEAM RACING BOOK AVAILABLE [back to index]
ISSA has purchased at discount a quantity of the new (1999) team racing book produced in the UK under the aegis of the Eric Twiname Trust. This is the book you want if you are going to team race. In fact, every member of your school team should have a copy. The new book is called "Team Racing for Sailboats" by Steve Tylecote and is published by Fernhurst Books, a respected name in sailing books for many years.

To order send $16 (checks made out to ISSA) for each copy to ISSA, Box 397, Niantic, CT 06357-0397.

FINAL ALLOCATIONS SET FOR
2001 CRESSY CHAMPIONSHIPS [back to index]
Based on dues received as of the end of the school year 1999-2000, the final allocations for the 2001 singlehanded championship regatta for the Cressy Trophy have been fixed. The 2001 Cressy is at Seattle WA. Cressy entrants elect which rig, Laser Radial or full rig, they will use through district eliminations and the Cressy regatta.

Preliminary allocations for the 2001 Mallory fleet racing championship and Baker team racing championship have also been established. The final allocations will be based on dues received for 2000-2001 by the due date of January 1, 2001. Thus districts can increase their allocation by increasing their membership to reflect a higher proportion of the total nationwide membership. The 2001 Mallory regatta is at Charleston, SC May 12-13, 2001 and the Baker is at Tabor Academy, Marion, MA, May 26-27, 2001.

REPORTS FROM THE DISTRICTS [back to index]
PCISA
District Director Tim Hogan reports that next year all PCISA correspondence will be by e-mail.

Newport Harbor HS won the PCC championship with the final championship regatta sailed at the US SAILING Center April 29-30. Coronado HS was second, The Bishop's School third, University of San Diego HS fourth, and Woodrow Wilson HS fifth (nipping Santa Barbara HS with a tie-breaker), rounding out the PCISA allocation to the Mallory regatta where the five qualifiers took the five top places.

At the PCC regatta PCISA participants had a meeting in which a number of items were discussed, notably moving the annual Anteater regatta next year to San Diego and dividing the fleet, holding the 2001 district championship in northern California, and adding another qualifying regatta for the championship.

The tentative dates for the 2001 Cressy eliminations will be September 30-October 1. The Fall PCISA meeting will be Sunday, September 17 at 9:00 am at Newport Beach.

NESSA
The following is the May report of NESSA President Roger Rawlings and coach of the Hotchkiss School sailing team to the New England membership, reprinted here because it might be of interest elsewhere:

"We had our end-of-year team dinner last night and I am feeling nostalgic, relieved, and sad. My team this year was more fun than I can remember. This team reminded me of why I love sailing and why coaching is something that I hope to do for a very long time. This team laughed a lot. Despite some disappointments in our finishes, they had the ability to bounce back, to relax, and to realize that they are on the water because they enjoy it - not simply to win.

"While this team is young - we only graduate four - it is mature. Mature in their attitudes, their professionalism in practice, in winning , and in defeat. This team has reminded me to respect high school-aged men and women. This reminder could not have come at a better time.

" This year in NESSA we had accusers trying to lay blame on our sailors. We had accusers stating that we need more rules. We had accusers demanding that we umpire our races. We had adults looking to the sailors to follow rules that perhaps we as adults have forgotten to teach. We had accusers attempting to re-write the Racing Rules of Sailing to 'better fit high school sailing.' We had accusers screaming 'fix it!'

"It ain't broke.

"At the New England Team Race Championship we gave the regatta back to the sailors. We allowed them the play under the Racing Rules of Sailing. The adults didn't follow them around demanding circles. We counted on the maturity of the sailors. It worked.

"We demanded integrity from the coaches. We demanded that each coach police his own team and no one else's. We expected discipline. We gave the expectation early and were firm. Something every parent understands but at times forgets. We placed the responsibility for coaching back on the coaches' lap. It worked.

"I was angry after the New England Fleet Race Championship weekend. Angry at my sailors' performance surely, but mostly angry at the reputation that all NESSA sailors acquired through the actions of a limited few. Peer pressure will work. Pressure from fellow coaches will make all coaches better. Pressure from fellow sailors will make all sailors better. Following the fleets around with flags and bullhorns will only erode to finger pointing and blame. This is not how adults like to play the game, so why are we suggesting that high school players be treated any differently? What our players need is guidance and knowledge, not accusations and disgust.

"It is the accusers and the adults of this sport who need to step back and watch as a Freshman learns the rules from a Senior. The lesson is easy and quick, especially if the Senior has had the guidance of a mature adult. Let the cycle evolve; it has worked for years and will continue to work if we don't try to change it.

"Good luck this summer. Thank you to everyone in NESSA who spends countless hours coaching, driving, teaching, and organizing. And a special thanks to Jim Terkelsen and Rob Hurd for their dedication to high school sailing."

- Roger Rawlings, President

NESSA has announced its all-New England Sailing Team: Mike Buckley, '00, Tabor; Jamie Farrell, '00, Greenwich HS; J M Modisette, '01, George Stevens; Kate Nuttings, '00, Tabor; David Siegal, '02, Tabor; A, Sloan Devlin, '02, Williams School; Melina Marks, '02, George Stevens; Stuart McNay, '00, Roxbury Latin; Patrick Rynne, '00, St. Sebastian's; and Marisol Trowbridge, '01, George Stevens.

Some fall dates to keep in mind: Sunday, September 24 - The 2000 NESSA Singlehanded Championship (Healy Trophy) and qualifier for the 2001 Cressy regatta at Wadawanuck YC (Stonington, CT); Sunday, October 1 - The NESSA Funfest (Gleekman Trophy) at Boston Community Boating.

Check out the new NESSA website: www.highschoolsailing-ne.org/nessa.

SAISA
The first ISSA member for 2000-2001 has come in for SAISA - Pineview School - and more development is expected. Jim Miller is proposing a coaching/sailing clinic in Charleston for either the upcoming Christmas or spring break. This clinic would be open to SAISA member schools as well as by invitation to other East Coast schools. SAISA is already working on preparations for the 2001 Mallory regatta to be sailed May 12-13 at Charleston.

SEISA
Steve Gay reports that the Texas Sailing Association held its first doublehanded event, the Road Runner Regatta, in March and it was a "great success." According to Steve the TSA is ready to pick up school members from Ft. Worth, Austin, and Corpus Christi as immediate growth in Texas seems assured.

MWISA
News from the district seems all positive. This includes a 25% increase in member schools with Ohio as yet untapped. A generous donation enabled MWISA to purchase perpetual trophies for the district fleet and team racing championships and funds are being solicited for prizes for the two divisions in the singlehanded championship. A number of schools have used the West Marine vouchers with tremendous appreciation as they have helped several wavering schools get started.

MWISA has conducted a successful series of team racing clinics hosted by the Chicago YC in cooperation with the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation. There were over 50 participants. In the Midwest team racing has lagged behind other areas of the country and the clinics are an effort to get caught up. Orono HS (MN) and Grosse Pointe South HS won the two MWISA berths for the Mallory regatta at the Midwest qualifying championship sailed April 29-30 at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Fifteen schools took part in the regatta in mostly light winds on Lake Mendota.

Orono's A Division crew of Eric Oppen/Lindsay Ahrens won their first two races on their way to overall low point honors, edging the B Division low point crew of HJ Richardson/Matt Vanderpole and Bridget Nutter from Grosse Pointe South. Sailing B Division for Orono was Cory Smith/Sydne Wyer, who were runners-up for division low point. Loyola HS was third.

On the Saturday evening during the championship coaches met to discuss the progress of school sailing in the district. They heard that there has been considerable success opening the sport to high school sailors in many Midwest areas, with lots of growth expected in Milwaukee, western Michigan, and Toledo.

MWISA entered a bid to host the 2001 annual meeting of ISSA members and by vote of the ISSA Board of Directors the bid was accepted. This is the first time the meeting will be held in the Fall and the first time it will be held outside of New England.

AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF ISSA MEMBER GROWTH [ back to index]
A comparison of the number of school memberships in the 10 years between 1988-1989 and 1998-1999 dramatically illustrates the increase in school sailing. Check the numbers:

ISSA DISTRICTS BY STATE

CLASSIFIED ADS [back to index]
Readers of the ISSA Newsletter are invited to send us ads for our Classified Section. They must be of interest to school sailors, coaches, advisors, etc., and be subject to editing. Classifieds can be used to find or sell boats, give learning opportunities for school sailors, and offer sailing instructor employment. There is no cost to ISSA members for one-time publication of classified ads. All others: $25.00 pre-paid per issue.

INSTRUCTORS: Sailing/water skiing at top Maine children's camps offering Sunfish and master crafts. Contact Geoffrey Newman, 2914 Medinah St., Weston, FL 33332

RACING COACHES/INSTRUCTORS WANTED: YMCA Camp Letts on Chesapeake Bay is looking for enthusiastic sailors to team youth 8-16 in Lasers, Bytes, Optimists, Flying Scots, windsurfers, and 25-ft. sloops. Offering room/board, competitive salaries, and pre- and post-season employment opportunities. Contact Ian Fallon, PO Box 208, Edgewater, MD 21037. Tel. 410-798-0440 or e-mail irfallon@annapolis.net

ABOUT THE ISSA NEWSLETTER … [back to index]

ISSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS [back to index]

THESE CAN HELP… [back to index]
ISSA offers plenty of material to help organize a sailing team, drum up support, improve competitiveness and run a regatta.