April 2019

Praise whatever deity you wish or simply physics; but, spring is finally here! And with it comes some serious planning. I just spent the morning with my wife, mapping out our summer schedule. Unfortunately, we don’t have big events like Marion Bermuda or Block Island Race Week on the list. But it is packed all the same. We are looking at the minutiae of the regattas in Newport balanced against the local cruising we want to do…

Editor’s note: Whitney Connor Peterson’s excellent article in our January/February issue (“Offering Options: There’s More to Junior Sailing than Optis and a Race to the Top”) continues to generate replies from around the sailing world. The letters below were posted to “Feedback” at windcheckmagazine.com. This is the norm that hurts the sport. I am a hardcore pre-1989 racer, and starting with racing hurts. I have run multiple programs, and focus on Fun second, only limited by Safety….

New York Yacht Club American Magic, a U.S. Challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, has named Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, as a Sailing Community Partner. Joint events, programs and projects to boost sailing in Rhode Island and New England will continue through the Newport-based team’s participation in the America’s Cup competition in Auckland, New Zealand in 2021. “Sail Newport’s mission is to foster the sport of sailing and we are thrilled to be able…

Bristol Marine, which operates four full-service yacht yards in three states, has promoted Patrick McLoughlin to Vice President of Operations. McLoughlin’s primary responsibilities will include oversight of all business operations at Bristol Marine’s locations in Bristol and Newport, RI, Somerset, MA and Boothbay Harbor, ME. He will also continue to implement Bristol Marine’s many education and training initiatives, and will develop innovative ways to deepen the relationship with the company’s customers. Prior to joining Bristol Marine, McLoughlin…

The non-profit Salty Dawg™ Sailing Association (SDSA) has opened registration for its Spring Rally from the Virgin Islands to the U.S. as well as three additional Salty Dawg rallies scheduled for 2019. The Spring Rally departs May 4 from Crown Bay Marina in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI, heading to Blue Water Yachting Center in Hampton, VA (or other ports on the U.S. East Coast) or Bermuda. Pre-departure activities begin on May 1. “The Spring Rally is…

Sponsored by the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation and hosted by the Manhattan Yacht Club, the Lady Liberty Regatta will be held June 8 & 9 in New York Harbor. The purpose of the event is to support and promote amateur women’s sailing in the United States by bringing top women sailors together. The Lady Liberty Regatta will be sailed in identical J/24s provided by Manhattan Yacht Club, and each race in the 6-race series will start…

Want to learn the basics of powerboating or brush up on your boat handling skills? The non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has teamed up with In-Command Seamanship Training in Wickford, RI to offer a choice of three fun and affordable on-water boat training courses taught aboard single-engine powerboats: Intro to Boating, Precision Docking & Boat Handling, and Open Water Boat Handling on April 6, 7, 27, 28, and May 11, 12, 18, 19, with additional dates to be added…

The Connecticut Spring Boat Show will be held Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 at Essex Island Marina, a Safe Harbor Marina, located at 11 Ferry Street in Essex, CT. This in-water “boutique” show is a production of WindCheck Magazine and is sponsored by Essex Island Marina, Essex Boat Works, Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, the Yacht Brokers Association of America, and YachtWorld. As in previous years, 100% of attendee gate proceeds will go to Sails…

By Heather Hild Atwater Editor’s note: Flotilla cruising is an excellent way to enjoy an unforgettable charter vacation, particularly if your sailing experience is limited. And you won’t find nicer or more capable flotilla leaders than Heather & Nate Atwater, who lead Offshore Sailing School’s Colgate Sailing Adventures® Flotilla Cruises to exotic destinations around the world. In this article, Heather recounts a recent trip from St. Lucia to Grenada. Day One: Friday, February 1, 2019 Most of…

With a goal of making it easier for college graduates and students to stay involved in the sport of sailing, the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation has launched a Young Adult Program to provide free sailing opportunities to sailors ages 18 to 25 in New York Harbor. “Each year, many college graduates and students come to the New York region for jobs,” observed Michael Fortenbaugh, Executive Director of the Foundation. “While getting their careers started, young adults often…