CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! CBI Prepares For April 28 Open House

We're planning on holding an Open House on the 28th and we need some help.  Our goal is to introduce folks to CBI, sign them up for a membership, take 'em for a sail and treat 'em to a delicious grilled gourmet CBI hot dog or burger. mmmmm......so good.  What we need: CBI Volunteer Sailors available from 11 to 3 to take folks out for a sail and CBI Grillers to individually cook and serve delicious and succulent burgers and hot dogs.  The cookout will have a suggested donation of $5.  For anyone who purchases a full year membership on the 28th the cookout is on us. 

So...A Call To Action!  :

1)  Email me at charlie@community-boating.org. or Andrew Alletag at Andrew@community-boating.org.  Let us know that you can volunteer as either a Sailor or Griller.  Many Thanks!

Charlie

America's Cup Get's Interesting

Check out this link to see the latest footage of America's cup racing   http://www.youtube.com/user/AmericasCup?feature=watch . I have to confess, that after the last America's Cup where gigantic sailboats (one cat and one tri) cancelled racing one day for some pathetic reason such has too much wind,  I lost complete interest in America's Cup racing and took up wall paper watching.  Trust me, watching wall paper was more interesting than watching the last America's Cup.    However, it is very good news indeed for those of us who love the sport of sailing to  see the current version of America's Cup racing.  The byline today  is "The Best sailors. The Best Boats." They might have it right. The racing is great to watch. The boats go fast and crashes are not uncommon. There's a reason the crews wear helmets.   I wonder if they might be interested in hot pink floaty things (that's a technical term) at the top of their masts?    Whether you know anything about sailboat racing or not, you will find a lot to enjoy in the competition which has become the new America's Cup.

Charlie   

Learn to Race Class to Kick Off in April

I've spent a good part of my life teaching sailing, and sailboat racing.  Throwing yourself into sailboat racing is the best way I know of to learn the fundamental boathandling skills you need to truly become an excellent sailor.  It's not the competition per se but rather the instant feedback loop.  You know immediately if your sail trim is off, your point of sail is off, if anything is off,  as you watch your competition's transom as they sail away.  When I can't figure out why my competitor is pulling away from me I go through a systmatic procedure of comparing and contrasting what I'm doing and what she is doing.  If this doesn't turn the light bulb on for me then when we get back to shore I seek her out and ask her what the heck she was doing to go fast.  I've learned a lot about sailing and racing in this way.  So I want to encourage you as you develop your skills as a sailor at CBI to start racing.   And we have the perfect way  -  CBI's now famous "Learn To Race Class ".  Taught by the extraordinary CBI volunteer Jennifer Bodde, this is a series of three classes, Intro to Racing, Basic Racing Rules, and Basic Racing Strategy.  The first series runs for three consecutive Wednedays, April 18, 25, and May 2, from  7 to 8:30 at the boathouse. 

Charlie  

In memory of Norman Priebatsch

CBI's President, Karyn Brudnicki has authored today's blog remembering  Norman Priebatsch.  Reflecting the complexity of life, we all have our own memories, recollections and feelings when we lose someone. I know I'm not alone in expressing deep sadness that comes from losing a friend. Karyn has remembered Norman beautifully.  Thank you Karyn.

Charlie

Walking out on the new docks, it is impossible to miss the red shed hosting a fleet of windsurfer sails and the array of windsurfing boards hanging on racks beside it.  Perhaps like me, you’ve even abandoned the comparatively stable (and dry) boats to check out a windsurfing class.

Our windsurfing program has come a long way from where it was when I first joined CBI in 2002.  We now have an impressive fleet of over two dozen windsurfers, with a range of beginner to advanced boards, a dedicated crew of volunteers that fixes the equipment, and robust class offerings including windsurfing clinics.

All this is possible largely due to the efforts of one particular volunteer, Norman Priebatsch. 

He dedicated countless hours to improving CBI’s windsurfing program, leading working groups to acquire new equipment, as well as to maintain and improve the quality of the programming offered at CBI.  He was passionate about infusing his zest for windsurfing into countless members’ lives. 

A week ago, Norman emailed out to announce that Dan Weiss of US Windsurfing would open the season with a rigging class in the morning of March 31st.  On that Saturday, Norman led his last volunteer effort for CBI, helping rig sails and prepare the equipment for the season.

Thus it is with a very heavy heart that I write to share this news with you.  Norman was hiking the Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington on Sunday afternoon with friends and family when he fell into a deep crevasse.  Rescue efforts have been suspended.

I always knew Norman as the go-to windsurfing guru, but it was not until I joined the Board in 2008 that I got to know him on a more personal level.  He welcomed, encouraged, and supported me on the Board.  An award to recognize the efforts of our volunteers was his idea.  At his request, I drafted the wording for the volunteer award, the first of many policies I created or reviewed, thanks to his initial inspiration.

Norman always had a bright smile on his face and an even brighter idea to share about how to improve CBI.  It was a challenge to keep up with him – he was more energetic than 10 members, putting those ideas into action and spurring others to participate.  A noted entrepreneur, he employed his business talents serving CBI as a Board Member from 2007-2009.

You could always find Norman on the water.  The classic Norman outfit was a pair of sneakers, white socks, and sporting a walkman.  How many people do you know who still rock a walkman, much less on the water?  Norman carried it in a plastic bag in his fanny pack, while both windsurfing and running on the Charles.  (Yes, on the Charles, not just by it!)  He didn’t care if it got wet – it was only a walkman after all.  He generally listened to books on tape, turning to rock and roll only when it was particularly windy.  This truly embodies the type of person he was – someone with strong intellectual drive and a passion for active living.

An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed exploring nature through windsurfing, cycling, running, skiing, and hiking, among other pursuits.  He truly seized life by the horns and would wish for no regrets.  In his honor, I plan to try windsurfing again this summer and I hope you’ll join me.

He leaves behind a strong legacy on the Charles River:  a superb windsurfing program with top-notch equipment and enthusiastic volunteers and sailors.  His efforts will be felt by members of our community for generations to come.  Norman, you will be sorely missed.  I invite members to share your favorite memory of Norman, to celebrate his life and impact on CBI.  

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) Receives International Recognition

Link to CRWA Prize  http://www.crwa.org/events/Riverprize.html

For quite a few years we have been telling folks the good news about the water quality of the Charles River.  With the exception of the swimmers in the annual Charles River One Mile Swim, CBI sailors, windsurfers, and kayakers, have a more intimate relationship with the water of the Charles River than just about anyone. So we've witnessed first hand the significant and steady improvements in the water quality over many years.  Many hands have worked hard at making the Charles River clean.  However for all of us here at CBI I extend a heartfelt thanksand congratulations to the folks at CRWA for their leadership in advocating for a better Charles River. 

Charlie

Amazing View of Ocean Currents

From a very young age we've all learned about ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream.  Ben Franklin was one of the early folks to write about it in detail.  For thousands of years sailors have been making their way about the planet using ocean currents to their advantage when ever possible.  Sailboat racers spend a lot of time, energy, and thought plotting the best way to cross the Gulf Stream on their way to Bermuda.  Finding that perfect spot to cross the steam often results in trophies and accolades at the the finish line.  So in prepartion for your next ocean voyage check out this video to get the most comprehensive and condensed view the our planet's ocean currents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xusdWPuWAoU

Charlie

Blogging, It's a Lifestyle

Last year on April 28 I started blogging.  I wrote a total of 42 posts. It was fun. I enjoyed doing it. It also was a pressure cooker!  Finding topics to write about. Finding words to express things well. Finding the right balance between light hearted and deeply serious...... and then  the followers...so intimidating to "have followers".  ..Well not really. Granted there were only a handful, and they were mostly folks I begged. (thank you) ..but still ..the ..pressure.. Now the truth and confession.  I ran out of gas. CBI went through a lot in the previous year getting the new piers built while pushing our programming onwards and upwards.  And I just ran out of gas.  Now anyone who knows me, knows that this new age of social media is dragging me along kicking and screaming.  However, now is now and then was then, and bloggin is a lifestyle, so today I sit before my computer, newly energized with the dawning 2012 sailing season before us, and a lot to write about.    CBI is an exciting place to be lately and it will be my goal to communicate to the entire world how incredible this place is.  So here's is some of the latest news. 

CBI has a new website.  We've tried to make the web site work better and present CBI with more pictures, more video, more fun, more excitement...in short more of everything that we think makes CBI so special.

In addition to our email newsletter we are using Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.  You can expect to see more and more of our communication through these media.

CBI is adding two Sonars to out fleet. They'll be coming online in the next few months.

And about those pink bouys at the top of the Mercuries.....  Some of you may have noticed a shocking pink splash of color living at the top of our Mercury masts this spring.  This came out of experiments last year with various floats at the top of the  masts.  Our goal here is twofold. One, to minimize the number of capsized Mercuries that "turtle", turning fully upside-down and sticking their mast into the mud, and two,  increase visibility of our fleet. Anyone who has ever had to evacuate our entire fleet of sailboats from the river in advance of a summer thunderstorm  can appreciate improving our ability to identify our boats.   As is our usual method we are constantly testing ways to improve our programming and on-the-water safety.  Our hope is that the new bright floats at the top of the mast will serve this purpose. 

There's much more to report but I want to save that for my next postings. So stay tuned.  Finally, I want to express a big thank you to the many volunteers who have been helping in the shop this past winter and at work parties.  Thank you!

Opening Day : SATURDAY, MARCH 31 OPEN HOUSE

Cheers,

Charlie