Sailing News & Views
Sail America Selects “Discover Sailing” as National Prospect Program, enhances offerings
Subsequent to the recent merger of Sail America with the NMMA’s National Sailing Industry Association into one unified organization, one of the major national marketing programs has been strengthened, revitalizing and given an exciting new look.
After detailed analysis, the Sail America marketing committee chose to retain the NSIA’s original “Discover Sailing” slogan to represent the newly combined Sail America national prospect program. A new logo (above) has been designed and will be used in all future branding efforts.
“After thorough review, the marketing committee felt the Discover Sailing concept simply better reflected the goals of our prospect program,” said Karen Kelly, Sail America executive director.
Sail America’s previous prospect program, GO SAILING, will no longer be in use. However, the best elements of both efforts will be incorporated into the new Discover Sailing program, along with a few upgrades.
The newly packaged Discover Sailing program will be executed at boat shows in Toronto, St. Petersburg, Miami, San Diego and Baltimore.
In addition to hosting free rides for prospects at these boat shows, an #800 phone number will also be advertised in all marketing collateral to reinforce the consumer marketing effort, along with a strong and enhanced website presence. The rides programs will incorporate small and large sailboats as well as more introduction to the lifestyle through rides onboard.
Outside of the boat shows, the Discover Sailing program will also incorporate one nationally advertised annual weekend focus for sailing lessons throughout the country, supported by co-op advertising dollars. In addition, several hundred dealers have committed to serving as year ‘round resources to interested customers who want to participate in free introductory rides. The total Discover Sailing program is estimated to introduce over 11,000 new prospects to sailing.
“Already, we’re recognizing the sheer strength and power of our combined Sail America and NMMA forces working together with one vision and one voice,” said Kelly. “The new Discover Sailing program now offers so many outstanding components and should prove to be a very viable stimulus for future sales.” For more information about Discover Sailing, phone 978-263-3730.
Chicago NOOD Sets Records
A record turnout and varied weather conditions made for an exciting National Offshore One Design (NOOD) series in Chicago. A NOOD record-breaking fleet of 282 boats and more than 2,000 sailors competed in two dozen classes June 16-18 on Lake Michigan. The NOOD regattas are organized by Sailing World Magazine of Newport, Rhode Island. The 2000 series includes nine events in East Coast, West Coast, Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico waters.
The Sailing World Chicago NOOD was presented by Mount Gay Rum and hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club. Support sponsors who joined the NOOD in Chicago included: Boatscape.com, Hall Spars, Hall Rigging, High Sierra Sport Company, Lewmar, North Sails, Quokka Sports, Samuel Adams and Sunsail.
Pico Production
Brought to U.S.
Vanguard Sailboats Inc., British manufacturer of popular Laser and Sunfish sailboats, has begun production of Picos in the United States. The Pico’s hulls are being manufactured by Hardigg Industries, a leading U.S. rotomolding manufacturer. Hardigg is based in South Deerfield, MA.
The Pico had been made in the United Kingdom before striking a deal with Hardigg. The 11-foot, 6-inch boat is described as a hybrid that features high-performance sailboat design in a durable rotomolded thermo-plastic hull for recreational sailing. The Pico has a beam of 4 feet, 8 inches and weighs 135 pounds. The 64-foot mainsail is slightly larger than the Laser Radial’s sail. The cockpit can hold three people.
The announcement comes in the wake of the 1999 North American Sailing Industry Study that reported significant growth in the popularity of sailing in the U.S., including small sailboats. U.S. production of sailboats under 11 feet rose 62 percent in 1999, while production of sailboats under 20 feet was up 18 percent. The study predicted that sailboat production in the U.S. would rise 34 percent this year.
For information on the Pico, contact Andy Sauer at 203-469-6900, ext. 127, or e-mail andy@mascola.com.
PlayStation Gets
New Meteorologist
Skipper Steve Fossett announced that legendary weather router Bob Rice has been named chief meteorologist for PlayStation. Rice began working with onboard navigator Stan Honey on PlayStation record attempts beginning with the New York to United Kingdom TransAtlantic run in July.
Rice has a long list of achievements, including 17 around-the-world record attempts, three of which set records: American Promise (1985/6), Enza (1994), Sport Elec (1997). Rice was also meteorologist for the last two winning America’s Cups with Team New Zealand. He is president of Bob Rice Weather Consulting Inc., based in Wolfeboro, NH.
Boater Survey Results Favor BIYC
Last month all boaters who dock at the Barkers Island Marina were sent a Barkers Island Interest Survey along with their marina statement and newsletter. The survey was prepared by two 1998 Duluth/Superior members of the Club: J. Laundergan, owner of J-Fore (D dock) and John Bower, owner of Indigo (E dock).
The survey was sent to determine if there is any boater interest in having and active Barkers Island Yacht Club in 2000. [The BIYC was inactive last year.]
There were 38 surveys returned—12 boaters said NO and 26 said YES! The ratio was over 2 to 2 in favor of the BIYC so we plan to re-establish the club.
Reaching a point about midway in the boating season with only two months left before boaters start thinking about winter storage, BIYC proposed three events for the remainder of the season. The are: two races “round the buoys” in the Bay and one Raft Up and Potluck inside the Superior entrance.
For more information about Barkers Island Yacht Club, please contact J. Laundergan at 218-722-7660 or jlaunder@d.umd.edu. Your comments and ideas are welcome!
AT&T Tall Ships Chicago Drops Anchor Labor Day Weekend 2000
Five Days of Family Fun
and Entertainment
This Labor Day weekend, Navy Pier, Chicago’s most popular year-round tourist and entertainment attraction, will host AT&T Tall Ships® Chicago, presented by AT&T Wireless Services. Expected to draw more than 700,000 visitors to the Pier and downtown Chicago, the five day festival will celebrate the city’s rich maritime heritage with tall ships from the United States, Canada and the British Virgin Islands and also will feature a variety of family entertainment throughout the Pier. This is the second major tall ships festival for the city of Chicago. The first, held in 1998, drew a record crowd exceeding 550,000 visitors and was the largest event at Navy Pier since its re-opening in 1995.
Participating tall ships include:
Windy, the Pier’s 150-foot long resident tall ship, completed in 1996.
The Niña, built in 1989 by the Spanish government. A 72' three-masted caravel based in the British Virgin Islands.
S.T.V. Fair Jeanne, based in Kingston, Ontario, has logged more than 150,000 nautical miles since her maiden voyage.
Highlander, a 103' schooner based in Nova Scotia, used for sail training and a marine career awareness vessel.
H.M.S. Tecumseth, a replica of the original British vessel built in the 1800’s.
Picton Castle, a 180' three-masted barque, dedicated to sailing around the world, built in 1928.
True North, based in Toronto, a 115' topsail schooner.
For more information on this and other events at Navy Pier, call: 312-595-5032 / 595-5031 or see their website: www.navypier.com.
Laser Great Lakes
Championship
Chicago Yacht Club
Belmont Harbor
Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2000
chicagoyachtclub.com
Please join Chicago’s Vanguard 15 Fleet #15 and Midwest Laser District Fleet #20 for a weekend of great racing and super parties. This weekend often offers some of the best racing conditions of the year. Parties will be held jointly ashore. Housing is available on a first-come basis.
See the website listed above for rules, directions and registration information.
Rolex Induction Ceremony for the America’s Cup
Hall of Fame
September 17, 2000
The eighth annual Rolex Induction Ceremony for the America’s Cup Hall of Fame will be held on Sunday, September 17 at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, R.I. The three legendary America’s Cup sportsmen to be inducted are: New Zealander Tom Schnackenberg and Americans Edward du Moulin (Whitley Hills, NY) and Edwin D. Morgan (Sands Point, NY). For more information on this event, contact the Herreshoff Marine Museum at 401-253-5001.
“NOTHIN’S FINER”
Than to be in Carolina!
MC Scow Regatta
Lake Norman, NC
October 21 - 26, 2000
Fleet #50, Lake Norman Yacht Club invites you to enjoy Southern hospitality and the opportunity to participate in the Fall and Winter SE regatta season.
Located just north of Charlotte, North Carolina, Lake Norman offers the best in inland sailing. Camping on the grounds is available with showers. Race and registration information will be available on the MC Scow web page: www.MCscow.org or contact Ken Dols: ScowDoc@aol.com.
40th International
Boat Show
Genoa, Italy
From Chicago, Oct. 13-22, 2000
The Italian American Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at the 40th International Boat Show in Genoa, Italy. The Trade Mission leaves Chicago on October 13, and is scheduled to visit Genoa, Venice, Lago di Garda, Verona, Milan and Lake Como.
This world-class event covers all activities related to pleasure craft and navigation. The exhibition is held at two spectacular marinas, devoted respectively to sail and power boats.
Space is still available for this tour, developed in co-operation with Friends of the Marine Community. For information, call Leonora or Cornelia at 312-553-9137.
Schooner Days
Milwaukee, WI
September 9-10, 2000
The Rotary Club of Milwaukee will be sponsoring Schooner Days, a Tall Ships event at the Milwaukee Municipal Pier. It features the Denis Sullivan, a 137' three-masted replica of a traditional Great Lakes schooner. It operates as a floating, traveling classroom as well as a goodwill ambassador for the State of Wisconsin.
Three other tall ships will be on display for this event: True North, Windy, and Niña.
For more information visit The Wisconsin Lake Schooner Association at www.wisschooner.org or call 414-276-7700.
The Dahl Cup Is Unveiled for
Most Improved Disabled Sailor
CHICAGO -- The late Gerry Dahl, a physically handicapped sailor who taught sailing and won sailing competitions, has been memorialized by the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation (JGASF) with an achievement award named after him. JGASF, chief sponsor of a Chicago-area program that teaches physically disabled people how to sail, unveiled the Dahl Cup during the Independence Cup championships for disabled sailors in August. The Dahl Cup will be presented annually to "most improved sailor" in the Custom Sail
Program, which is operated by the Chicago Park District.
Dahl was a contractor and gardener before diabetes forced the amputation of both of his feet. He enrolled in the JGASF program in 1992, where learned to sail and became the program's first handicapped instructor a year later. He also became an avid competitor and went on to win the national disabled sailing championship, the Independence Cup, in 1998 and 1999 with his sailing partner, John Kostanecki. Dahl died in January of complications related to diabetes. He was 52 when he died.
Peter Goldman, president of the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, described Dahl as a "very energetic and enthusiastic" sailor. "Gerry started out with no sailing experience at all and became an instructor and a great competitor," Goldman said. "He put a lot of his time and effort into the program because he thought a lot of it. He got many other people involved our program."
The Dahl Cup will be awarded at the end of each sailing season to the most improved sailor in the Custom Sailing Program. The first award is expected to be made in September.
The Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation was established in 1990 to raise funds in support of a program providing both classroom and on-the-water sailing instruction for 1,000 physically handicapped people each year. The foundation's efforts have provided the sailing program with a fleet of sailboats that includes six Freedom 20s and three Sonars. The JGASF has hosted the Independence Cup since 1993.
The foundation was named in memory of Judd Goldman, a well-known sailor who became a distinguished racer in spite of his disability.