Women's Sailing Convention - Feb. 2

The SCYA Women's Sailing Convention has both on-the-water instruction and classroom courses for novice and expert sailor girls - plus Capt. Linda 'Nauti' Newland as the keynote speaker. Saturday Feb. 2 at Del Rey Yacht Club -- click here for details.

The Night of 1,000 Squalls ...

Before ... during ... & after.
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Prepare to get wet!

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST: NOAA NWS SAN DIEGO CA
749 AM PST THU DEC 6 2007
SAN MATEO PT TO THE MEXICAN BORDER OUT 60 NM

SAT Dec 8 
WIND W 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR
LESS. SWELL W 5 TO 7 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF
TSTMS.

SAT NIGHT
WIND NW 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL
W 4 TO 6 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF TSTMS.

SUN Dec 9
WIND SE 10 KT...BECOMING NE AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES
2 FT OR LESS. SWELL W 3 TO 6 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE
MORNING. SLIGHT CHANCE OF TSTMS.

Talk about a 'dreamboat' ...

Nauti Chicas 2nd Place in the Linda Elias Memorial Women's One Design

This year was an exciting women’s one design regatta for the Nauti Chicas. The net-net is we tied for first with a 2-2-2 but lost the tie breaker to CYC with a 4-1-1 and thus we were second place. But there is a lot more to the whole story. First off, we’ve been doing this for a few years now and we’ve evolved into a very experienced and specialized team. We have 12 gals in three departments as I call them, with the T&G (that’s trim and grind) being the core engine of the boat, and then we have the foredeck crew that does their salty magic, and the back of the boat that makes sure we’re going in the right direction with every shift, lift, and header. Managing such a large crew is at times like herding cats, but everyone really came together with the practices and it paid off.

On day one we had very light winds in the usual starting area of inside Long Beach harbor, so the RC led us out to Seal Beach pier, where there was more wind, but as the day went on the unprotected waters made it pretty rough. We had 3 races on day one. Two 2 lappers and a 3 lapper. On the first race we realized we had good speed and point against the others, and we made some smart moves to take advantage of shifts, particularly jibing soon after the weather mark. Our leeward gate roundings went very well and we had a lot of confidence building. On the second race we and the 1st place boat from San Diego YC were called over early, which in one design racing is usually a death toll, but we came back to 2nd place again thanks to our tactician Terri Manok, and again, the whole team. On the third race we were again over early stuck in a predicament of closing out a barging boat or digging a hole with a leeward boat. We kind of halfway did both and that didn’t work. So back we went again, and back we came again, another 2nd place!

After the first day of racing we had a little bit of fun. We dressed the boat up in a hula skirt with bow lei, had a birthday cake for Tami and Betsy, and then strategized for Sunday morning. We had some pretty detailed plans on our starts against Cal YC and San Diego YC. Forecasts were for strong Santa Ana winds below the canyons and passes gusting to 50kts. We were cognizant of that but had this feeling that it won’t be so bad in Long Beach. Wrong! The fleet went out in patchy winds and about 45 minutes before the start a sheet of wicked wind came on through. We hid behind the lee of an oil island for an hour or so, wind was clocking 38-40 according to the official wind meters of iwindsurf.com. It looked like a textbook Beaufort force 8 or whatever – spray off the top of the waves, plus sand off the Belmont shore beach. The RC called the race and we headed back in, but our engine couldn’t power through it and we needed a tow. This is a whole other story, I will just say thank you to Capt. Mike on Storm, who set up a bridle and took us in tow in really nasty conditions.

Sue Senescu

Nauti Chicas Make Internat'l Yachting News

When the Nauti Chicas speak, the world listens!
Elaine Bunting mentions Sue & the NCs in her YACHTING WORLD blog.
'Guess there're no secrets any more ...

LEMWOD Update

Crew shirts are 1) white (long-sleeved) and 2) periwinkle. Please have a pair of 1) navy-or-black, and 2) khaki shorts/pants to coordinate. I don't know which ones which day however please do not arrive bottomless. Wear one and be prepared to change.

Please be @ LBYC at 9 am Saturday. The Braintrust will go to the Skipper's meeting and the rest of us (Brawntrust?) will set up the boat so we can boogie* asap. (*technical sailing term)

Finally - if you haven't submitted your sailing resume to Sue, please do so asap -- otherwise I will fabricate a sailing resume on your behalf and it won't be pretty ... :-D
~ Starboard T&A Chica

Today's Practice

The sun's just reappearing here and I'm guessing the rain that pounded us all yesterday afternoon and evening is down your way now.

In light of our canceled practice, I'll suggest we all do something individually today to help improve our team: go to the gym, run, read an article on sail trim, watch a sailing video ... anything to use this 'free time' productively. LEMWOD is next week!

STEP IT UP - WIKI-WIKI CHICAS!

I like to think I’m really slow at kick-boarding because I have dainty feet. (Duke Kahanamoku was an Olympic medalist in both swimming and surfing presumably because he had massive feet – in addition to Incredible Hulk-like upper body strength)

I’ve been trying to ‘step up’ my workouts in preparation for SD to PV race (not just to be fit & strong – but also because the temps can tickle the 80s and I have this sexy sundress I want to wear when we collect our trophy). So the first thing I did was candidly review my weekly workout schedule, which it looks like this:

Daily –
Walk the dog repeatedly (barely increases my heart rate but is good upper body workout as we tug-of-war over who’s in charge: me or Rusty) -- although length of walk is random

Monday –
Half hour cardio, half hour upper body workout

Tuesday –
Half hour cardio, half hour abs and legs

Wednesday–
One hour aqua aerobics plus one-two hours beercan racing (varies in intensity!)

Thursday –
Half hour cardio with full hour weight lifting

Friday -
Off - unless I'm pathetic and don't have a date (which is often) and then I go to the gym at night

Saturday / Sunday -
Hour-long dog walks along the bluffs plus occasional visit to the gym depending on work sked, sailing sked, and lack of dates

Well gee, this looks kind of pathetic!

So I’ve been thinking about stepping it up, and these are a few ways …

1) Increase the time of existing workouts

a. kickboard or do laps 10-15 min following water aerobics

b. add 10-15 min of cardio after my weight training @ the gym

c. time the dog walks and establish a ‘minimum’

d. pump up the weights and/or reps on exercises

2) Schedule my workouts in my calendar

a. increase regularity of workouts so I’m doing something every day

b. treat my workouts as any other important appts that are ‘etched in stone’

c. have my workout bag and clothes clean, packed and ready to go

d. keep it varied so I’m exercising different muscle groups

And this all brings me to: Denise’ 8-Week-Wiki-Wiki*-Chica-Workout.

There’s a reason Denise has that teeny tiny waist and cutie bootie (which she showed the RC at the Charity Regatta … )! This is a real kick-butt workout that builds over a period of eight weeks. It’s a combo of strength training (M,W,F) and cardio (T,Th,Sat) alternating between a steady pace cardio workout (40 min) or intervals (28 min). It involves sprinting (call the waaaambulance!) or fast walking at an incline. Let me know if you want me to send you a copy: I’ll just send the first four-weeks so as not to scare anyone ;-)

I have a goal in mind for myself (Yeah. Be like the Amazing Kreskin and guess - ‘cause I’m sure as hell not going to publish my weight on the web) and – although we’re holding right now during the parental-unit visit and pending LEMWOD and birthday cockcake extravaganza – I am going to STEP IT UP starting Oct. 22.

I’ll keep you posted. Email me anything you want and I’ll post your input and/or use the comment function (below)

Aloha, Wiki-Wiki-Chicas!

* wiki-wiki = fast

Nauti Chicas Bio's for Women's One Design

Nauti Chicas Sailing Team Bio’s for the LEMWOD ‘07

Sue Senescu, Co-skipper and Helm, is a member and Staff Commodore of Dana Point Yacht Club. She has been sailing for 18 years. She has been active in learning, teaching, and crewing in women’s sailing programs. Women’s races include: 5 Long Beach Women’s’ One Designs, 3 Regatta Las Marietas de Femenil Women’s One Designs in PV, and many other local women’s races. She was navigator and crew in 2 all-women Transpac teams, and 2 all-women Ensenada teams. She has raced in 4 Transpacs and 3 PV races. She and her husband own and race Rattle & Hum, an Antrim 27.

Denise Eldredge, Co-skipper and Trimmer, is a member of DPYC and has been racing for 13 years on the West Coast in numerous local and long distance races. She has competed in: 3 Adam's Cups, 4 Women's One Designs, 3 Regatta Las Marietas de Femenil in Puerto Vallarta, 1 Newport to Cabo San Lucas and too many Newport-Ensenada races to count. Her next goal is to compete in the 2009 Transpac. Denise currently owns Rhinestone Shades, a J-24. She has also taught DPYC and WORSA woman’s sailing classes.

Helena Cannady, Bow, has been racing for the last 30 years up and down the East and West Coasts; blue water cruising in various parts of the world, including a delivery from Hawaii to San Francisco. Helena has also taught sailing both on the San Francisco Bay and San Diego. As a member of the San Francisco Yacht Club since 1980 and many championship teams, Helena has raced in: 2 Rolex Intl Women's Keelboat Championships, 4 Adam's Cups, 4 Women's One Designs, among many others and has a goal to be part of a winning Transpac Team in 2009!

Lisa Lebold, Mast/Mid Bow, Lisa has been racing over 15 years on both coasts. Her primary boats include J/22, J/24 and Olson 30s. In these boats she has competed in Regionals, Nationals and North American Championships. Currently, Lisa is campaigning a full rig Laser on the Masters circuit and still keeps her hand in the Thistle fleet from time to time. Lisa also has delivered boats from Honolulu to Long Beach, Seattle to Long Beach and numerous deliveries from Ensenada to various ports along the Southern California coast. This is Lisa' second women's one design with the Nauti Chicas and her goals through 2009 are offshore races to Cabo, PV, a Pacific Cup, LA to Tahiti or the 2009 Transpac with the Chicas. Lisa is also in the process of securing a berth for Sydney-Hobart 2009.

Jennifer Payne, Mast/Mid Bow, began recreational sailing and cruising on the east coast on the Long Island Sound in 1982. In 1995 began west coast sailing out of Dana Point and other South coast harbors participating in PHRF Club racing as pick up on different crews. She spent a full season racing on a J 105 out of Oceanside Yacht Club; races included the Newport to Ensenada and the Little Ensenada. Boat deliveries include Block Island to the West Indies, and Ensenada to Oceanside. She was a team member of the 1996 Nauti Chicas. She currently lives and coastal cruises on a 50 ft. sail boat in and out of Oceanside Ca.

Yvonne Galvez, Pit, has been racing for the past 19 years, crewing for both the women’s/coed teams @ UCI. At the same time, she began sailing the International 14 skiff, which continues to this day, traveling to many overseas events over the years, as well as traveling the west coast. PHRF & other one design events have included Women’s One Design Regattas (‘93/’94), 2 Newport to Ensenada races, the Cabrillo to Dana Point Race, NOOD Regattas in both San Diego & Long Beach, Long Beach Race Week and many Leukemia Cup Charity Regattas. Yvonne is a member of ABYC, and was Proposer/Co Chair of the 2006 International 14 Worlds hosted by ABYC.

Judy Rae Karlsen, Main, has been racing for 15 years. She began her racing career on the Great Lakes, and has competed in the Chicago-Mackinac race, Chicago NOODS and after moving to Long Beach, CA has competed in five Newport- Ensenada races, 4 Woman’s One Designs and numerous local and long distance races. Judy is currently the Treasurer of the WOD Regatta and a LB/LA WSA Board member.

Valerie Navarro, Crew Capt, has been racing for 27 years mostly in Long Beach, Newport and Marina Del Rey. Valerie crewed on many boats in this time period, from a Merit 25 owned by her Dad, two boats owned by her and her husband, up to the 70 raters when these were popular in the 90’s. Her experience is not limited to any one position on the boat. Today Valerie is calling tactics and trimming on a Schock 35 in the Schock fleet and working bow on a Farr 40 in the Farr fleet. The race experience has not been limited to the buoys as she raced to Hawaii in 1997 and completed two PV races. Valerie is a past LEMWOD skipper, winning the regatta in 2000 and a past crew member for Linda Elias.

Betsy Crowfoot, Trim and Grind, has done three Transpacific Yacht Races from Los Angeles to Honolulu and serves on the TPYC Board of Directors. A sailor for 15 years, she’s sailed the Pacific coast from San Francisco to Zihuatanejo. A veteran of the WOD regatta since 1996 and past champion under skipper Linda Elias, and two-time participant in the Regatta Las Marietas de Femenil in Puerto Vallarta; Betsy writes about the marine environment for magazines such as Sailing and Dockside, newspapers, the web, and broadcast.

Myrna Welsh, Trim and Grind, has been sailing for 12 years. She began as a day sailor and cruiser, chartering boats through various sailing clubs in Southern Calif. Her love for the sport drew her to racing where she has competed in seven Newport-Ensenada races, 5 Women's One Designs and many local regattas’. Myrna is a member of WORSA and has volunteered as an instructor in Dana Point Yacht Club's women's sailing classes.

Tamara Tatich, Trim and Grind

Terri Manok, Tactician, is a member of Oceanside Yacht Club and US Sailing. She has been racing for 6 years in multiple PHRF and One Design regattas from San Diego to Oxnard as well as competing in Antigua Sailing Week in the Caribbean. Women’s races include WOD Regatta 2004 and 2004 Regatta Las Marietas de Feminil women’s one design in PV. She and her husband own and race Predator, a J/35.

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