By Gayle Finster and Debbie Adams

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.

Well I have experienced my first man overboard drill. Of course it was during a race – my first time at the helm to boot! We were sailing a club pursuit race which is lots of fun. Instead of everyone starting together, we finish together. We have a staggarded start based on our PHRF rating and whoever crosses the finish line first wins. Being in a J/22, we started near the back of the fleet with the J/80’s and J105’s behind us. My husband thought this was the perfect time for me to take the helm for the first time. We didn’t have a third crew member so it was just the two of us. And of course we were going to fly the chute. I was driving and David was going to do everything else – trim the main, trim the jib, handle foredeck, fly the chute and call tactics. All of which he did very well, except the foredeck part.

We had a great start. My only job was to focus on the telltales and keep it in the groove. We were making good time. Our top J/22 sailors missed their time hack and started a minute in front of us. Not to worry, we caught them! Our boat loves light air and we were very fast. Our competitors were quite irritated at our boat speed as we passed them approaching the mark. I gave them room on the inside as we rounded. David went forward to put up the pole. We were going to go slow and be very conservative. We hit a wave and I was still turning around the mark. I hear kerplunk and then see David’s fingers grasping the teak toerail and hanging on with all his finger strength. I drug him for about a minute before turning up into the wind. He kept trying to get himself back in the boat and it was obvious he need some help. I had bought a rope ladder for just this sort of occasion. I attached it to the stern cleat and thought how smart I was to bring this great device. Wrong. It was not usable. It slips under the stern making it impossible to get your center of gravity in the right place. David had me use the winch. He made a bolin loop and stood in it while I inched him up until he could get in. OK, so much for being ahead. I’m thinking the race is over and we’re going to daysail back to the club. Wrong again. David pops up and starts to put the chute up again. We’re racing, let’s go! We get the chute up and start flying. I start to overheat so David takes over the helm while flying the chute and has me towling off with lake water. We picked up some strong puffs and made good time. I got back on the helm and we ended up coming in fourth place. Not bad for a newbie helmsman and an unplanned MOB drill. The conditions were perfect for me to do my first MOB activity. The jib was down, the chute was not up yet and the winds were light. Perfect training conditions. I’m sure the future holds some less favorable conditions but at least I have the confidence I can get him back in the boat. It was great fun. Let’s do it again!

Well, I survived my first regatta in our new J/22. And what a first time out it was! With only 2 hours total sailing time in our boat, and fresh off completely replacing and/or moving all deck hardware, we did OK. Our goal was to not come in last and we didn’t. We had two boat behind us.

The J/22 Midwinters had a fantastic turnout. There were over 40 boats with approximately 18 women and 122 men. I was the deer in headlights for sure. All three days it was really blowing and the chop was a jaw buster. I felt at home since I just left Dressage (English riding). I just imagined myself sitting on a straight-shouldered Thoroughbred trying to canter through a set of Colorado moguls. It was no Quarter Horse lope that’s for sure! Yeehaw.

My position was jib trimmer and I was definitely not fast enough for this crowd. I’m still having to think about clockwise; it doesn’t come naturally yet. In 18-20 there ain’t no time to be thinking. My wise husband on the helm was very patient and steered as best he could to my slow trimming. He also wisely chose a course that required as few tacks as possible. We did a lot of ducking and taking the knocks because he knew the alternative was even slower. I’m determined to get better and improve my technique.

Our jib sheets were not flowing very well on the tacks and were causing lots of additional friction so we decided to get some new sheets at West Marine the first night. We went from too slow to wheee. The new sheets were wild and I was convinced they were possesed with a mind of their own. It was blowing about 18 and on the first tack I very purposefully unwound the sheet and moved quickly to sheet in the new side and get up on the high side. The next thing I new the lazy sheet had perfectly rewrapped itself with a double wrap around the wench and I swear it would have cleated itself if I hadn’t intervened. That was it. I decided my skill level was not sufficient for the wind, waves and new unruly lines so I notified the skipper of my concerns. Debbie, our foredeck crew graciously stepped in to take over the middle. I stayed between Debbie and David and they did a great job of navigating the course. It only made me more determined to learn this position so I can do it better.

I came home with over 30 bruises and by the third day I was just trying to get to the highside anyway I could. My muscles were spent. It has taken me a full three weeks to recover. I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It’s a condition you have for the rest of your life. With good care and maintaining a good attitude you can manage it and still have fun. It’s been a long haul back to functional health over the last five years. It’s a miracle I’m even doing this at all! I never could have imagined I could do something this physical again.  Five years ago I was riding in the electric carts at Home Depot and Wal-Mart. But I have made great progress and I’m ready to go at it again. The Texas circuit races are only two days long and there will be half the number of boats. Piece of cake after Midwinters!

I can’t thank my husband enough for being so patient with my beginner status and supporting me in learning how to sail. It’s so much fun to be outside and on the water with him enjoying something we both love together. And I’m extremely grateful for Debbie Adams and her wonderful patience and encouragement. She has been my mentor and teacher and a great crew member. And the DCYC sailors are the best. Thanks guys and lets go do it again!

As of yesterday we are the proud owners of a boat slip for our J/22. It’s a great location and we’re very happy that the pieces are falling into place. All that’s left to get her in the water is a good used hydrohoist.

The boat works continue. David did a great job repairing the seahood. We start installing deck hardware this weekend. Everyone at the club will be racing in the first frostbite race but we have lots of work to do to get ready for the Midwinters which is just 6 weeks away at Rush Creek Yacht Club. I’m exercising and trying to get into better condition. I’m determined to not be a weak link on our team. Racing is so much fun because the preparation and anticipation are exciting in and of itself. I’m trying to set realistic expectations since we are so new to the boat, I’m so new to sailing and we will be sailing with the best in the country. If we come in somewhere near the lower middle of the fleet I will be very happy. David is very realistic as well and is a very patient man. He’s been very good to me as a green crew member. He’s got lots of knowledge and if I listen and not get my panties in a wad, we do OK. Tell me that’s not hard girls! We’re having fun; hope you are also in your sailing adventures.

We all need dreams in our life; good ones that keep us motivated. My dream is to participate as crew in the next Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship. It will be held in Houston again in 2009. Some of you may recognize my website header photo. It’s from the last event in November of ‘07 as is the photo above. Seeing so many women sailors was so inspiring for me. The whole time I was there I was telling myself I’ve got to do this! Most of the girls were very young but there was a sprinkling of sages in the group. It is possible and I’m on mission to make my dream come true. I’ll tell you about our adventure in Houston in another post. We purchased our J/22 right after the event. It was an exciting weekend to say the least. Anyway, I hope you have a dream. If you’ve always wanted to learn to sail, go do it! If you’ve always wanted to take the helm, get the training or get with someone who can help you get there. I’m finding the sailing world is very willing to share their knowledge and time with those that are truly interested. There’s room in the sport for you. Come join us!