Housekeeping!

Trials
Optimist Trials will be held in the Club on Thursday 9 April through Sunday 12th April – (4 day event). We had 15 Juniors and 12 Seniors qualify at the end of last year to compete in this year’s Trials.  A number of our senior sailors have moved on to other boats and we wish them all continued success.  The ISA Youth Nationals (420’s, Toppers, Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial) are also taking place so all resources will be stretched across 5 fleets/3 race areas.  If you are available to assist on any day and haven’t already volunteered/got a duty! please contact me asap.  Thanking you all in advance for your continued support. http://isayouthnationals2015.com/

Measurement at Trials
A number of parents have queried the statement regarding “sail measurement” at Trials.  If you buy a new sail for Trials (or indeed use an existing sail) it must be measured.  You must hold a Sail Certificate for the sail AND if new numbers are added these must also be measured and certified.  If you turn up at Trials with a sail which is not measured IODAI have advised there will be a fine of €100 to a local cancer charity.  A list of IODAI Measurers is available here.  Please ensure you give yourself and the Measurer plenty of time to get this measurement completed.  While your sail may only take c. 30 mins/1 hour remember that the Measurer may have another 15 or so to do!!! That is a lot of hours!.  If you are a first time Trialist – please ensure you read all the IODAI documentation/NOR in relation to what is required to compete – your boat’s logbook, sail cert etc.

Invitation to compete at Trials
As IODAI are no longer using the Sailracer system there are no formal invitations issuing for Trials.  You know if you qualified! – Top 40 Juniors and Top 40 Seniors last year (after taking out the compulsory retirements due to age).  The Entry System is now LIVE and you can enter here.  Closing date is 31st March, 2015 – entry fee is €100 per sailor.  Your 2015 IODAI Membership must first be paid to enter for Trials.

Coaching – Trials
Rob Foster has circulated an email regarding the last two blocks of Trials Coaching.  Following discussion at the Coaching Forum last September given Thomas Chaix is unavailable (coaching the ISA Optimist Squad) – Diego Blatt is returning for the St Patrick’s Weekend Clinic with John Durcan and Magda Resano is coaching the team the following weekend 21/22nd March.  Diego will also return for TEAM RCYC Trials Coaching with Thomas Chaix and John Durcan (for first time Trials parents – Diego was the Head Coach of our Trials Coaching Programme in 2013/2014 and Magda in 2012/2013).  Please ensure you read and return the survey circulated asap – thank you.

Bronze /Non Trials
Jason Burns has circulated a survey monkey for Bronze Coaching and received an amazing response. Great to see so many young sailors looking forward to getting back on the water in March!.  The wonderful week in Baltimore must have had a very positive impact.  Sailors confirmed and schedule/timings have issued.

Coaching for Copper Sailors will be arranged in due course – please keep an eye on the emails circulated.  Updates also provided on the RCYC Optimist Fleet Facebook Page.

Lost and Found
The box of “lost and found” items in the Dinghy Centre has reduced in size but we would ask if you are missing any items please check over the next week or so as unclaimed items will be sold at our annual “Buy and Sell” in May.

There was a child’s IODAI hoodie left behind at the “kick off” party in Baltimore – if you are missing one can you let me know so we can reunite it with it’s owner.