Road to Rolex @ DCYC
By Gayle Finster
On October 31 – November 2 the first Road to Rolex clinic was conducted at Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club (DCYC). Clinic participants consisted of 41 women representing six US states and Canada and Mexico. We had 10 teams sailing in J/22s generously loaned by club members and local Southwest Circuit racers. This clinic was an experiment of sorts as there had never been a Road to Rolex clinic in which individuals could sign up with borrowed boats provided. Most clinics are conducted with complete four-person teams and participants bring their own boat. It turned out to be a successful endeavor and many more women were able to participate and network with other women interested in forming teams. More planning was involved in matching up team members and rounding up boats, but everyone agreed it was worth the effort.
First of all, a huge thank you goes to Rolex for sponsoring the Road to Rolex clinics and providing grants to bring in such talented coaches. We couldn’t have put on the size and quality of clinic that we did without their support. Also, we appreciate US Sailing for providing great support and guidance as we planned and organized the clinic. Liz Walker and Taran Teague did a great job answering questions, giving suggestions and support. Thank you US Sailing for supporting our women sailors in the southwest. We would also like to thank Karen Smith, our Area F Coordinator for encouraging us to pursue this endeavor.
And Elizabeth Kratzig, our coach, wow! Her professional coaching and thoughtful teaching style was greatly appreciated by all participants. She handily adapted to the varying levels of skill and the variety of teams that were new to sailing with each other. Her assistant coach Bryan Calk provided detailed J/22 knowledge and excellent individual coaching in the classroom and on the water. Both coaches received unanimous thumbs up from the sailors.
The support of the many DCYC volunteers to hold this clinic was incredible. Members prepared meals, set up and launched boats, and opened their homes for the ladies to stay. Gayle Finster and Debbie Adams, both participants in the clinic, coordinated this team effort.
Friday evening the clinic began with a tuning session on the docks. With no wind that evening, Elizabeth and Bryan hoisted the sails and gave a great demonstration on sail controls and the effects of each adjustment on the shape and performance of the jib and main. They also discussed various upper and lower shroud tensions for varying wind conditions. Everyone adjourned to the clubhouse to enjoy some appetizers and meet their teammates.
Saturday we started with chalk talk in the clubhouse and then hit the water for some light air sailing. We did some very short windward leeward legs practicing roll tacking and teamwork. Elizabeth hopped from boat to boat providing individual team coaching. Before the winds died for the day, we did some tacking-on-the-whistle drills. After the morning sail, we spent the rest of the day in the clubhouse discussing tactics, starting strategies and interpretation of the new rules for 2009. We were hopeful for better winds on Sunday.
Sunday was a great day of sailing and racing. We wasted no time on shore and hit the water around 8:30 and didn’t come in until 3:30. It was non stop learning and drills. At midday the wind started to ease up, so after the calm Saturday, the Race Committee decided to hold the mini regatta early at 1:00. The winner was Lynette Edenfield of Fort Worth Boat Club. She plans to attend the 2009 RIWKC and will put to good use her $200.00 entry fee discount. Lynette is a seasoned Rolex competitor, so be looking for her to do well in Rochester.
After the mini regatta, the wind picked up again and it was more races to hone our skills. But the best was yet to come. Elizabeth had us do 10+ rolling starts. The average age of our participants was 45 and everyone hung in there and gave 150%. The many starts allowed us to experiment with different types of start strategies in a group of 10 boats. Tired yes! But everyone gained new experience. Next we did some downwind starts leading to big pile ups at the leeward mark. This drill tested our mark rounding skills in a crowd and we all took away some good lessons.
Lastly, she had us do another windward leg and finish and then directed us to fly our chutes back to the harbor. One skeptical husband on one of the chase boats was heard saying they’ll never do it. To his amazement we flew our chutes and worked all the way back to the harbor.
Though there was a sigh of disappointment when participants learned the event will not be in Houston in 2009 due to damage from hurricane Ike, we know the event will be exceptional at the Rochester Yacht Club in New York and we’re hopeful there will be a good showing of these fine women that sailed this past weekend.
