SAILMagazine ORANGE Spring 2012, Issue II Vol. 1
#1
The team finishes first at West Point
NEW BOATS
Expanding the fleet, one by one
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SAIL ORANGE Spring 2012, Issue II Vol. 1 EDITOR + LAYOUT
Harmen Rockler PHOTOS and PHOTOILLUSTRATION
Harmen Rockler Nick Woviotis AJ Murphy
Contact/About:
SAIL Orange magazine is a semesterly magazine produced by the students of the Syracuse University Sailing Team. The SU Sailing team is a club sport of Syracuse University and competes in the MidAtlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association and practices at Willowbank Yacht Club in Cazenoiva, N.Y. If you have questions, email us at: syracuse.sailing@gmail.com Find us online at: @SUSailing on Twitter, SU Sailing on Facebook, and students.syr.edu/sailing
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in this issue 5
From the commodores
6 Regatta reports A look back at a few of the 5 regattas the Orange sailed in this spring. 14 GRADUATING Commodore Louise Browing reflects on her time at SU as commodore of the sailing team. 26 NEW BOATS How the team has added boats to its fleet and how it will continue to in the future.
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The team practices on Cazenovia Lake. This spring featured warmer than normal conditions and an un-frozen lake.
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a word from the commodores
If only every spring could be like this. We’ve enjoyed fantastic weather this spring in Syracuse. Last year, Cazenovia Lake was still frozen up until the last week in April. This year, the team made use of the lake which was free of ice in late March. The weather was mixed at regattas, though. From the cold and wet of Virginia for the Old Dominion Spring Open, to the sunny but shifty breeze on the Hudson River at West Point. The team captured its first win at a regatta since the 1990s, at least. The team also recieved a donated 420 from the family of Devin Chambers (‘15) and another boat with money from Syracuse University’s club sports. In total, the team now has a fleet of 4 working boats, with 6 to be working by the fall. We plan on expanding our fleet so that we can have larger practices and prepare less experienced sailors for regattas. This fall, we’re bringing more structure to our team. We’ll have more practices, more team training, and we’ll be racing in a regatta nearly every weekend. We can’t wait to get started.
Louise Browning, Sharon Burke, John Luposello, Harmen Rockler, and Margot Sirois
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SPRING 2012
REGATTAS
Highlights from a selection of the five regattas this spring
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the old dominion spring open On the first weekend in March, the team got a headstart on the spring season at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. The Orange placed eleventh of 18 teams, beating many well-established teams. Cold, rainy conditions made for an unpleasent weekend of sailing. This was the longest journey for the team so far - the team traveled the most out of any other team at the regatta.
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The Army Spring Open April 28-29
The Orange won their first regatta in at least 15 years at West Point at the Army Spring Open. The team raced in light, shifty winds - sometimes 180 degree shifts and downwind starts -, and strong current. The team had 5 first place finishes in A and B divisions.
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Drexel Spring Open May 5-6
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The last regatta of the season took the Orange to Philadelphia, Pa. Light winds on both days and a strong current created tricky conditions. While both A and B divisions had some successful races - both had first place finishes in a race - tight mark roundings with 6 to 7 boats rounding at once, along with patchy wind, meant a successful start and, to some degree, luck played a role.
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Co m m od or e
ou ise
re fle L c
in g
tio Br ow n n s
(‘1
2)
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What one Commodore lacks, the next excels in. It is a precarious balancing act that would seem almost comical to the outside world but feels like home to us.
W
earily, but fulfilled, we have made it to the end of another year. We have traveled over 4000 miles, had our “Most Interesting Sailor in the World” video seen by over 1000 people, and have graduated both our seniors on time. But, how? Two and a half years ago there wasn’t even a team... I find myself speechless when trying to explain the experience of building our community from the ground up. With perseverance and lots of orange, we have grown from five sailors sitting around, talking about how great having a club would be, to a full-fledged, traveling team. A TEAM -- with a website!!
The best part is, no one person could keep us together. This is what I am most proud of. What one Commodore lacks, the next excels in. It is a precarious balancing act that would seem almost comical to the outside world but feels like home to us. A home that I must now leave to those I love and trust most. I would like to thank the Syracuse Sailing Team for being the greatest part of the Upstate New York Lifestyle. I hope you find calm seas and fair winds ahead. And when storms fill the skies, I hope you remember: It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Good luck & gods speed, Louise Browning
IT’S ALL
ABOUT THE
LOOK
get your team gear now at students.syr.edu/sailing
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Spring Practice With an incredibly warm Spring, the team began practicing on Cazenovia Lake in early April. Last year, the lake would have been completely frozen. While the water was only slightly above freezing, the team had several practices to prepare for future regattas. Go Orange!
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new boats
T
The team added 2 more boats to its fleet this spring
hanks to the generosity of the family of Devin Chambers (‘15) and Syracuse University Club Sports, the team added two more 420s to its fleet of 4. By the beginning of the fall 2012, we want all the boats to be functional and ready for practice. Two of the boats, both late 1970s, early 1980s are International 420s. One was left from a previous team. By having 6 boats, the team will be able to send out 12 people on the water at a time. This past fall, the team ran practices with around 20 people. This helps us by enabling more to be able to practice. Furthermore, races and drills can be more effective by adding more boats. If you have a boat you’re interested in donating or would like more information, let us know by emailing us. Donations qualify for a tax deduction.
RIl 9, 13, 16, 2 0, AN d 2 3 , 20 12
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Alumni
News
As the current incarnation of the Syracuse Sailing Team has now graduated the majority of its re-founders, we realize that we lack an outlet for alumni to reach us. We have asked that the graduating seniors, Louise and Sharon, take on this role for the next year. They will talk to the team weekly, help with outside of school fundraising, and pass the torch onto next year’s seniors when the time comes. If you would like to get in touch with the Commodores of Alumni Relations, simply e-mail the Syracuse Sailing Team and address it to Sharon and Louise!
(C) 2012 Syracuse University Sailing Team