NESSA News

Greetings NESSA,

FALL REGATTA SCHEDULE

With kids returning to school this week, the fall season will be underway September 7th with the Polar Bear Open at Bowdoin College in Maine.  There are several events during September and October for teams at all levels including NESSA Member Schools, start up teams and conglomerate teams.  The fall is a great time to introduce new sailors to the sport, plus get tuned up and train for the spring season.  Compared to the spring, the water is warm and the weather is good, so get kids together and have a good time competing on the weekends this fall.

The fall 2008 regatta schedule is posted on the NESSA website. http://nessa-sailing.org/race.htm. Click on the individual Notice of Race (NOR) to read the complete details for each event including eligibility requirements and how to register.

If you are hosting an event in your area and wish to have it posted on the NESSA website, email the NOR to Doug Heil at dougheil22@hotmail.com for posting.

2009 NESSA SINGLE HANDED CHAMPIONSHIP for the HEALY TROPHY

The Healy Trophy is the NESSA Single-Handed Trophy being held this year at Wickford YC in North Kingston, RI.  This is a NESSA district championship regatta so Schools wishing to enter must be 2009 members of NESSA before the Regatta. Notice of Race can be found on the NESSA website at http://www.nessa-sailing.org/race.htm

Judges may be needed for this championship.  Contact NESSA VP, Andrew Nugnes at alnuggs@hotmail.com
The top 4 finishers in each the Radial and Full division will qualify for the Cressy Trophy, ISSA ‘s Single Handed Championship held in Ithaca, NY, Oct 17-19, 2008.

GREAT OAKES REGATTA

The Great Oakes Regatta (GOR) is a national event held each year at Southern YC in New Orleans, LA, November 14-16.  Started in 1999 by former ISSA President, Larry White and his wife, the GOR is for developing teams that have not been to the Mallory or Baker in the past 4 years. 
For the Great Oakes Regatta history, go to:

http://www.highschoolsailingusa.org/NationalsResults/trophyHistory.htm#greatOaks
For the NOR, including eligibility requirements, go to http://highschoolsailingusa.org/future.htm .  Just a reminder, each school must be a current ISSA (and NESSA) member to compete in this event.

There are 30 berths total to the GOR.  NESSA has 4 berths determined by 4 qualifying regattas this fall; 1-Polar Bear Open, 2-Casco Bay Open, 3-Fall Funfest and 4-TBD.   The top finisher of GOR eligible schools will receive the berth at the qualifying regattas.  Sorry, but Conglomerate teams are not eligible. 
 
NESSA MEMBERSHIP

Your school must be a current 2008-2009 NESSA member to compete in a NESSA Championship.  This includes the 2009 Healy Trophy held this fall September 27, 2008.  To check your school’s membership status, renew your membership, or become a NESSA member for the first time, go to (http://nessa-sailing.org/membership.htm) and follow the directions.

Contact NESSA Treasurer, Evan Olmstead evan_olmstead@greenwich.k12.ct.us with any membership questions.   

NESSA TROPHIES 
Holders of NESSA trophies are reminded of their responsibilities under Article M of the NESSA by-laws.  (http://nessa-sailing.org/bylaws.pdf)
HEALY TROPHY - The Hotchkiss School and Milton Academy
O’DAY, MARK TROPHY, HERRESHOFF TROPHY - St. Georges School
 2008 ANNUAL MEETING
 
The NESSA Annual Meeting will be held on November 2, 2008 at Tabor Academy’s Lyndon South Auditorium in Marion, MA. 
Agenda items including proposed by-law changes for the 2008 Annual Meeting should e-mailed to NESSA President, Doug Heil, at dougheil22@hotmail.com  before noon on Friday October 24, 2008.  Items received after this date will not be addressed at this year annual meeting. 

OUTLINE for NEW TEAMS PROJECT

In the spring of 2007, St. Georges coach, Beth Holland, spearheaded a program to educate and provide resources for new teams to get started racing in NESSA.  This is a work in progress that we hope to have available before the New Year.  If you have any input or would like to help with this project, please contact Doug Heil dougheil22@hotmail.com or Beth Holland at brholland@gmail.com

ISSA NEWSLETTER

To keep up to date with what’s happening with the Inter Scholastic Sailing Association go to http://www.highschoolsailingusa.org/ . 
To view the ISSA Fall Newsletter, go to http://www.highschoolsailingusa.org/CurrentNews/08FallNewsletter.pdf . There are the district reports, revised ISSA By-Laws, Championship results, including a piece about the 2007 Baker where St. Georges and Tabor scored 1st and 2nd, championship NORs, district allocations/championship rotations, and many pictures of HS sailors. 

SPRING 2009 NESSA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The NESSA officers would like to nail down the host sites for the spring 2009 racing season before the Annual Meeting in November.  If you are interested in hosting a spring championship, please contact NESSA VP, Andrew Nugnes at alnuggs@hotmail.com.

As Always- fair, clean, fun and safe competition remain the focus in NESSA.  Have a good fall racing season.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact me. 
Doug Heil
NESSA President
PO Box 4689
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
508-265-3322
dougheil22@hotmail.com