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Keelboat program tip by Richard Jepson - Sailing organizations should strongly consider adding a Keelboat Program. There are many benefits and the obstacles are manageable. Most importantly, you give your student base a long term reason to continue to patronize and support your organization.

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Budgeting tip by Leslie Keller - Ten easy steps to budget for your sailing program. Define objectives, gather information, identify fixed costs, program details, calculate program costs, calculate program revenues, assemble, add extras, tweak as needed and monitor.

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Sail trim tip by Bill Gladstone - For a given wind speed, a deeper more twisted sail shape is preferred in big waves or chop. A flatter, less twisted shape is better in smooth water. Same total power, but a different mix.

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Steve Maddox on lightweight rope fiber - Polypropylene is a lightweight fiber that is also cheap. Not only does it float, but refuses to absorb water too. It is not very strong and is subject to stretch. It deteriorates quickly in the sun. Polypropylene melts at low temperatures and is subject to damage or failure caused by frictional heat.

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Fundraising tip: Guilt doesn't work. The majority of donors resent the use of guilt tactics. Show them how their gift can make a positive impact.

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Susan Nahmias gives us a tip on how to keep sailors interested and involved... Make sailing relevant to the world around them by building connections, facilitate discussion of these sailing connections and the importance of mentoring at yacht clubs, community sailing groups, one-design fleets, etc.

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Club management tip by Gary Jobson: Does your club need a decoration makeover? Focus on your club heritage: paintings, burgees, pictures, showcase trophies, and honor Commodores.

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Racing tip by Dave Perry: The key to defending your hole is to be a “pitbull” about it. This is no time to be a nice guy. Being “nice” will get you nothing but a reputation! You need to be prepared to aggressively defend your hole. One way is to post a lookout, someone on your boat needs to be assigned the task of watching for potential attackers.

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Rope facts by Steve Maddox - Natural fibers are generally are used for traditional boat rigging. Typically these are hemp, manila, sisal, and cotton. Ropes made from the natural fibers are subject to rot. There are now several synthetic ropes that look like natural hemp.

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Fundraising tip: When talking to donors you should also encourage their attendance at events and participation in related programs. Involving prospects with the organization will lead to increased financial support.

Going Varsity

An interview with former George Washington University sailor Will Ricketson
by Jake Fish

It is important to take a look back at how far the sport of college sailing has come for so many programs around the county. One program in particular welcomed in the new year with outstanding news. After years of self evaluation, perseverance and dedication, on and off the water, the George Washington University sailing team has achieved varsity status.

Will Ricketson, a 2011 George Washington graduate and four-year member of the sailing team, led the charge throughout this extensive process of transitioning this program from club to varsity. The move is part of a strategic plan by the university to bolster its athletic programs.

Ricketson served as a coordinator for the first-ever US Sailing Road Show last summer and is now Olympic Coordinator for the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. US Sailing caught up with Ricketson to discuss the development of George Washington sailing as a varsity program and what it took to make this a reality.

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Things to consider when planning a junior regatta: competitor ability, size of fleet, venue, average wind speed and safety boat/ competitor ratio.

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Help set goals for your child by Jessica Moehler - Building a family mission statement can be facilitated by answering two questions:

1. When my child is 21 years old, what kind of person do I want him or her to be, and how will sports help us, as parents, get our child there?

2. What are the three most important virtues or lessons that I want my child to learn through involvement in sports?

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A racing tip from Dave Perry - If you are on port tack, be as selective as possible about the boat you choose to tack in to leeward of. When you make that tack, be sure to start low enough that you end up solidly overlapped with the new windward boat, as opposed to being too far forward and not securely pinning that boat.

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Do you have an iPhone or an Android phone? Search for the "Racing Rules of Sailing" to download the rulebook application to your phone! http://bit.ly/wa9oBI

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Steve Maddox asks, why splice a line? Knots weaken rope by up to 60% while splices retain 90-100% of the line's strength.

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College Sailing Tip by Jay Kehoe - Are you a high school senior applying to college and not sure how to contact the school’s sailing coach? Here are some tips: contact the coach before you come for a visit, send them your sailing resume, personal resume and grades, ask if you can attend a class in a subject that interest you while visiting, put together a careful letter to the coach explaining why you are interested in their school, look at schools that interest you BEYOND sailing, and remember to send a thank you note after your visit.

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Parenting youth sailors tip by Jessica Moehler: While elementary school children are discovering their likes and dislikes, exposing them to a wide range of activities is ideal, including singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies, big boats, cruising and racing.

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Tips on how to make team racing successful from Joel Hanneman: First rule of thumb is that the fun is in the action on the water. So everything about the event should be geared towards promoting the visual team elements, physical sailing requirements, and the overall visceral impact of a close, hard-fought race. This relates to everything from equipment, event format and location, to the PRO.

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Don’t be afraid to make changes to long-running events. The best events are scalable from year-to-year depending on sponsorship and number of participants.

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Not all kids who learn to sail Optimist Dinghies will want to race… and that’s OK! But, every kid should have the opportunity to experience the extra-friendly introductory part of Opti racing, before entering the “competitive” fleets, known as Green Fleet. It’s a great way to become a better sailor and add another exciting dimension to the sport. - Tom Coleman

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Looking for summer sailing instructors? There are a number of websites that advertise job openings for yacht clubs looking to hire junior sailing program instructors, including the Sail1Design site.