West Coast Tour - Treasure Island Thursday Night Dingy Sailing

by Kate Sheahan

West Coast Tour Coordinator

Avery Patton Whitmarsh and Matthew Sessions

Every Thursday night throughout the spring, summer and fall, San Francisco dingy sailors trade business suits for wetsuits and get out on the Treasure Island basin for some competitive action in Lasers and Vanguard 15s amidst serious City Front winds. A recent article in Forbes magazine entitled, Why You Should Fill Your Company With 'Athletes' by contributing author David K. Williams, speaks about why you should hire those who have athlete traits, which he deems akin to leadership traits. He lists that athletes, “never give up, develop new skills, are entrepreneurs, strive for balance, and work well in teams.” This is perhaps why the Treasure Island Svendsens Thursday Night Series is on its thirteenth year and a success.

Generally a Masters fleet, with all ages welcome, the evening sailing in rigorous conditions is a time to take a break from the workplace, physically practice as an athlete, “and we still give the kids a good run for their money at events,” smiles Laser fleet Co-Chair Mike Bishop. Matthew Sessions, a graduate of Boston University explains the TISC evening sailing culture as “a really nice group of ex-college sailors of all abilities, but at the upper end of dingy sailing.” Fleet members range from collegiate All-Americans to big-boat sailors looking for tighter action and more tactical situations. Those who work hard need to play hard and so the evening is split between four to seven collegiate-style short-course buoy races, and a couple hours of barbecuing and conversation afterwards. The start is 6:15pm every Thursday for 25 nights and most believe it to be, "the best way to begin the end of the week."

As the Forbes article reminds us, “athletes are tenacious—they seldom or never give up. They also have a strong work ethic and the ability to respect and deal with the inevitable issues of temporary pain...” “Getting here through traffic is difficult,” says Mike Bishop, “there are a number of other fleets in the Bay area, but not quite with the wind and challenges found at Treasure Island," so there is always a solid turnout. Mike goes on to explain that, “most of the Laser fleet comes out of the East Bay, while most of the Vanguard fleet comes out of the City, so there is a good mix of demographics.”

Vanguard 15 Fleet Captain, Al Sargent recalls that Nick Adamson and Carissa Harris started the Vanguard 15 fleet in about 1998 out of Encinal Yacht Club and from 2000 onwards it has been racing at Treasure Island. “On a weekly basis there are a solid fifteen boats on the line, and between Tuesday night team races and Thursday night fleet races there are about 250 races held per year.” The fleet races April through October at Treasure Island and also attends a ski/sail event in Tahoe in April, hits the High Sierras in July, the V15 fleet champs wrapped up this past weekend at Inverness Yacht Club and the St. Francis Fall Dingy event under the Golden Gate will be held October 26-27.

Mike Bishop explains that a number of sailors have two boats, which has helped to develop the fleet. For example, John Russell, a Kiwi boat builder for America’s Cup Team Artemis, contacted the fleet through the website and was able to take a break from the AC mania and jump in a spare boat for about five or six weeks. “Guys borrow and then tend to buy,” says Mike. Racers store their boats and launch from the Treasure Island Sailing Center and storage fees go to support the quickly growing non-profit community youth programs. Read more from the West Coast Tour about the new TISC Sailing in the Schools program thanks in part to the America’s Cup Organizing Committee in partnership with the America’s Cup Legacy Fund. For storage details check out: tisailing.org/storage

For details about Treasure Island Laser sailing visit: tilaserfleet.org and the Laser District 24 site at: d24.laserforum.org. District 24 covers California from San Luis Obispo to Oregon and most of Nevada except for the Las Vegas area.

For details about Treasure Island West Coast Fleet 53 Vanguard 15 sailing check out: vanguard15.org.

For an album of stills, check the US Sailing Flickr Photo Stream: Treasure Island Thursday Nights, a set on Flickr.

Follow the West Coast Tour on Facebook and Twitter at @USSailing as I get out on the water for High School sailing practice with some of the top teams in the country as they begin their 10-month season.