2012 High School Champions Jack Griffin and Luke Marino

Luke Marino and Jack Griffin slipped past last year’s champs to grab this year’s High School Sailing Championship, held at Tempe Town Lake Saturday, April 21.

After three light-air races in the morning, last year’s winning team of Alexia Lorch and Scott Soethe were just two points behind Luke and Jack. After a lunch break, the wind picked up and everyone headed out for one more deciding race. Luke and Jack won, sealing the championship.

Luke is a Washington High School student in Arizona’s Glendale district. And Jack is a student at Ward Traditional Academy in Tempe. They were awarded a perpetual trophy that they can display at their schools and were given individual trophies to keep.

The high school championship is run by the Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF) and was organized by George Tingom. The Principal Race Officer was Arizona State University student Gerald Byrnes.

While the championship isn’t limited to students who participate in ASF’s Tuesday after-school sailing class, both Luke and Jack are in the program. Three years ago, Jack also won the most improved junior sailor award as part of the ASF Opti Program.

Information on the ASF high school class is available here.

George is already planning the next championship and says that unless a special Tempe event forces a date change, the event will happen Saturday, April 15, 2013.

Want to know how to roll-tack a Laser? Tony Eanes did. And when Anna Tunnacliffe visited the ASF high school program, Tony asked her to show the students how to do it.

In light air, Anna went through the steps below while the students watched and Mike Ferring snapped a sequence of pictures. Just do it this way!

To see a roll tack in video, try this. Anna’s roll tacks are faster and more powerful, but the mechanics are the same.

Step one: heel the boat to windward (All photos: Mike Ferring)

Step two: WAY to windward.

Step three: tack

Step four: when the boat is about to capsize, time to bring it back up

Step five: Plant it!

Step six: using all your strength and weight

Step seven: trim in sail and sail on (faster than when you entered the turn)

The Fourth Annual Arizona High School Sailing Championship is scheduled to be held on 21 April 2012 at Tempe Town Lake.

Last year Alexia Lorch won and her crew was Scott Soethe.  She is was junior at Xavier College Preparatory and Scott was a student at Brophy College Preparatory.  A perpetual trophy to display at the school of the skipper for half the time until next years race (the other half of the time to be displayed at the school of the crew) was presented after the races.  Individual trophies were presented for the winners to keep.

This year’s competition promises to be great.  For more information and to get your race documents visit this link: http://arizonayachtclub.org/arizona-high-school-sailing-championship/

The third double handed (two person) sailing championship was held in the east basin of Tempe Town Lake on Saturday April 16^th 2011.  Parents and friends cheered on their favorite sailors from the blue shade umbrellas on the north shore (just below the east basin condo development).

Alexia Lorch won with crew Scott Soethe.  Alexia is a junior at Xavier College Preparatory and Scott attends Brophy College Preparatory.  A perpetual trophy to display at the school of the skipper for half the time until next years race (the other half of the time to be displayed at the school of the crew) was presented after the races.  Individual trophies were presented for the winners to keep.

Four boats sailed with eight students on board.  The last two years had six boats racing in the championship.  We hope to have more than six in 2012.  Two races were held in the morning with very light wind.  A one hour lunch break was taken before three twice around races in freshening afternoon breeze (6-8 MPH).  Three different boats scored first place finishes.  There was a chance for a lead change in the last race, but Alexia and Scott managed to hold off the competition in variable strength wind that was changing direction frequently. 

FYI for next year….the race is NOT LIMITED TO ASF HS SAILING CLASS STUDENTS, however we’re pleased to note that this year’s winner was a student in 2010.

Information about High School Sailing Classes is available at http://www.arizonayachtclub.org/Education/hsclass.shtml

There are decorative blue shade umbrellas on the north shore (just below the east basin condo development) where many parents and siblings cheered.

As of now, unless some special Tempe event forces a date change, the 2012 championship will be held on Saturday April 22nd 2012.

AFTER THE RACING…..it was time to PIG OUT!   The Arizona Sailing Foundation and Arizona Yacht Club joined together for a very nice Spring Picnic.  High School Sailing Championship participants, Start Sailing Right spring class students and a menagerie of AYC members, families and friends enjoyed an afternoon of sun and sailing on the “Grassy Knoll”. 

Many thanks to ASF Board President John Mayall and his picnic team: Rick Lake, “Pig Master”, Dave Christensen, “Grill Master”, and Lisa Lake, Wendy Larsen and a host of other helping hands!  Congratulations to ASF for ending the spring season in excellent fashion!

Don’t miss it!  A full day of sailing activities at Tempe Town Lake!!

The day begins with AZ High School Sailing Championships from 10am-4pm.  Click on the RACING PAGE for NOR, SI and Sign up forms.

The final ON THE WATER session of Spring ASF Start Sailing Right runs from 1pm to 4pm.

And then ASF hosts a Spring Sailing Picnic on the “grassy knoll” from 4pm-7pm.

Bring your lawn chairs! Bring your boat! Or launch one of the AYC Sunfish or Lasers.

To RSVP and for more information contact John Mayall (480 290 8510) or Emory Heisler (602 679 0462).

This year’s High School Sailing Championship will be held 16 April 2011 at Tempe Town Lake.  Click on the RACING PAGE for NOR, SI and Sign up forms.

We have eight students, but with ten 14.2’s and two 420’s we could have 24 students! We meet every Tuesday 2 ½ hours 4:00 – 6:30 PM.

Training to sail and race is taught by US Sailing certified instructors.  There is a safety boat on the water at all times.  Beginning students usually sail with an instructor on board the first few times.  The objective of the class is to have fun on the water.  More details on the AYC education page web site.

Once a year there is an Arizona High School double handed championship.  A perpetual trophy is to be displayed at the winner’s school until the next year.  Individual trophies are given to the skipper and crew.  Skippers must be 9-12 grade level; crew can be from Jr. High School.  This year the race will be in the east basin of Tempe Town Lake on Saturday April 16^th.  And the boats will again be Capri 14.2’s.

The race NOI and SI will be available in Mar-11.  Pictures from last year below.

Submitted by Pat Blumm

Many Arizona Sailors know my daughter Maggie Blumm. She has been sailing our desert waters for nearly 15 years and is a product of the AYC Juniors and ASF programs, as well as having raced locally in both Buccs and her 420. Recently she was accepted to ASU’s Barrett, the Honors College.

She wanted to participate in ASU’s Sailing Team, but her schedule is very demanding. And when the Team hopped in cars to attend their first regatta of this season, Maggie’s college classes took precedence. She called home and asked if she could drive herself to Mission Bay to ‘try out’ for the team. I said let me drive you; so Friday night we departed on a beautiful full-moon drive to San Diego.

Saturday morning we showed up at the Mission Bay YC docks. Coach Philip Freeman assigned Mags to crew on one of the four FJ’s charted by ASU. Mags walked up to her assigned boat, grabbed the tiller and her crew member then shoved off into a moderate breeze.

Maggie’s starts were a bit anemic, but good golly she was passing one boat after another. Six boats passed one race, eight another; and these were all short w/l races! At a late afternoon shore break, I congratulated Mags on her passing skills, but reminded her it would be a whole lot easier if she better timed front row starts. I even threw in a minor incentive.

Next thing you know she wins the following two starts. Her dad’s wallet is a bit lighter and she is smiling – big time!!

Sunday morning Coach Freeman moved Maggie to ASU’s A-Team. To make a memorable adventure concise, Mags captured one third place amongst 13 teams, which included well funded PacTen teams. All in all, ASU scored a very impressive 4th in the San Diego State sponsored regatta.

The ASU Sailing Team is gelling, building sailing skills and confidence. Their next inter-collegiate regatta is this month in Santa Barbara. Go Sun Devils!

Maggie would not be where she is at without the support, skills and attitude she learned sailing with AYC and ASF. A special thanks to all AYC and ASF sailors who have assisted Maggie in fulfilling her dream of becoming the best sailor she can be.