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Thankful for Sailing Friends and Volunteers

Last week, we were able to purchase and pick up six FJ sailboats from Middle River, Maryland. These Chesapeake hulls will be a great addition for our youth and college sailors–beginners who are just learning and experienced folks who want to try racing.

Donors over the years to FOYC sailing and the foundation account for IUP sailing made this possible. We were able to pool resources to purchase a joint fleet; each organization taking responsibility for half.

Thanks especially to Nathanael Arthurs, who helped facilitate the purchase. And to all the volunteers who helped us unload, organize, and put the boats away for the winter.

We are always looking for new sailors. Are you a youth or adult who wants to learn how to sail? Are you an experienced sailor looking to get back into the sport, perhaps even teaching others? Please contact FriendsOfYellowCreek@gmail.com

We want sailing to be accessible to all with modest participation fees. Our expenses are ongoing, including insurance, new sails, and equipment repairs.

If you are able to contribute, both community sailing at Friends of Yellow Creek and the sailing club alumni IUP Foundation invite tax deductable donations. Write FriendsOfYellowCreek@gmail.com or IUPSailingClub@gmail.com

Donations are accepted any time via:

FOYC PA Parks and Forests Foundation

IUP Foundation Alumni Sailing Club

March 2023 – Launch

Sunday, March 26, the sailing club began rigging its JY15s for the season. Several sailors enjoyed a high-wind sail aboard the FOYC Flying Scot.

Rigging and first sail 2023
First Sail 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IUP Sailor Swanson ’24 Earns Certification

Ben Swanson qualifies as a US Sailing Small boat sailor after exploring the sport at Yellow Creek Lake as part of the IUP Sailing club.

 

Kittanning native Ben Swanson ’24 had never been on a sailboat when he arrived at IUP during the midst of the Covid pandemic. But the novice was attracted to the image of sailing off into the sunset. It was also a good time to join an outdoor activity you enjoy when there’s a breeze blowing.

Four semesters later, the junior Economics major and Cook Honors student has completed the fourteen areas of theory and practical boat handling to earn his Small Boat Sailing certification from US Sailing. This establishes that he is capable of skippering a dinghy, keel or centerboard day-sailor in light to moderate air.

Swanson was selected as the club president and “Commodore” last Spring. Along with other club members, he has sailed in college regattas hosted by Gannon at Lake Erie and Drexel on the Delaware River. The club also spent several days of the 2022 spring break “training” at Bow to Stern Sailing in Oriental, NC.

Like all new members of IUP sailing, Swanson gained practical experience with the club boats that are docked in nearby Yellow Creek State park, at the FOYC community sailing base. In September, October the sailors learn to rig and launch boats, navigate, trim sails and even practice righting a capsized boat. In March they wait for the lake to thaw and launch boats again for April and May. During winter, the club focuses on shore-school, sailing theory, knots and social activities.

Dr. Ken Sherwood, IUP Sailing Club advisor and certified US Sailing instructor, gave Swanson his final skills checkout at the lake in mid-October. Happily, Swanson had completed his capsize test in warmer months. Most IUP students, like Swanson, have not been previously exposed to sailing. The club teaches beginners the basics, fosters camaraderie, and gives the most serious sailors a chance to experience competitive racing. Sherwood encourages interested students to check out the club on Instagram and Crimson Connect or to email IUPSailingClub@gmail.com for information about joining. Dues are low and becoming a sailor can open up a lifetime of priceless opportunities.

IUP Sails in the Battle of Lake Erie Regatta

Five IUP students travelled to Erie PA to race in the college sailing regatta hosted at the Erie Yacht Club the weekend of 9/17.

 

Ben Swanson (’24), skipper, and Archie Perella (’24), crew, led the Hawks A fleet boat. Olivia Lawton (’24), skipper, and Ben Lawton (’24), crew, took charge of the B fleet boat, Reserve sailor Alex Sidora (’24) had the chance to crew in his first regatta after being introduced to the sport in August!

IUP Sailing welcomes all students, especially beginners. Anyone can learn the basics at the home base at nearby Yellow Creek State Park. “None of the five sailors at Erie had sailed prior to enrolling at IUP,” according to club advisor and Prof. of English, Ken Sherwood. Many club members enjoy relaxing sails and BBQs at home. In order to give advanced sailors the opportunity to race, the club applied to the Mid Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association.

Ben Swanson reflects: “I’m very proud of our team for facing off against people that have sailed their whole lives and staying competitive throughout each and every race. Everyone did a fantastic job. It was also a lot of fun!”

“The Erie race was a great team building experience and a wonderful opportunity” according to Oliva Wanat, who observed that IUP “did a great job and got a chance to explore our passion for sailing.”

IUP students are welcome to reach out to the club via social media or Crimson Connect; attend a Thursday 7:30pm (Jane Leonard) meeting; or join the club for a Sunday (noon, Hub Circle) sail while the weather remains warm this fall.

Hosted by Gannon U, the college regatta involved 7 boats sailing around a buoyed course in Presque Isle Bay, with a committee boat, mark set boat, and two safety boats supervising while the non-racers and spectators watch from the EYC docks. During a three-minute countdown, the boats jostle for position at the start line before powering across and tacking towards the upwind mark. Winds were light Saturday (5-8 knots, SW) and so the racing was suspended after 10 races at 3pm. Sunday morning brought a great breeze (WSW Winds 10-12 and gusting to 20) which made for fast sailing and one capsize — not IUP!

Other competing schools included Gannon, Pitt, Penn State Behrend, U Rochester, RIT, and Syracuse. IUP typically sails in two or three regattas per year. The regatta name references the historic naval victory of the Brig Niagara and Com. Oliver Perry’s fleet against the British in the War of 1812.

IUP sailors also volunteer maintaining boats and the sailing base at Yellow Creek. In August, they invited incoming students to a Welcome Week sail at the park.

IUPSailingClub@gmail.com
sherwood@iup.edu

 

Learn to Sail 101

IUP Sailing club invites new and returning members to the first session of spring “shore-school.” The lake is still frozen, but you can get a head-start on the sailing season by learning the basics through shore school. In the first of four half-hour sessions introduces teh wind, boat physics and nomenclature, capsizing and basic knots. Have you ever wanted to learn to sail? The IUP Sailing Club is open to all members of the IUP community (students, faculty and staff.) Weather permitting, the club sails each Sunday at nearby Yellowcreek State Park.

Club meeting begins at 8pm in HSS 112. Shore school at 8:30pm.

For more information visit our blog https://iblog.iup.edu/iupsailing
write IUPSailing@gmail.com
or find us on Facebook.

IUP Recognizes Corinthian Sailors

corinthians2016The IUP Sailing Club recognizes the Corinthian spirit as inherent to good sailing and good citizenship. Each year it may recognize one or more members as models of that spirit. Seniors Karl Richter (Safety Science) and Philip Dorn (Hospitality Management) received the innagural award in May 2016.
According to US Sailing, “The Corinthian Spirit” entails “Good sportsmanship, rules compliance, helping other sailors, putting your crew first, good behavior, and prioritizing values all add up to the Corinthian Spirit…. It provides the framework within which sailors can pursue their own personal goals and have fun with friends.” (US Sailing)

Karl Richter has been a member of the club for eight semesters, serving as Fleet Captain, Educator, and Equipment Manager. As a club officer, he participated in regattas and devoted over 160 hours of service to the club and Yellow Creek State Park. He instructed IUP students in learn to sail and helped facilicate outreach programs.

Philip Dorn has been a member for four semesters, serving as treasurer and 2016 club president. Phil has volunteered over 60 hours to club projects and work at Yellow Creek State Park, including construction, landscaping, and leading sailing outreach programs.

Both sailors have represented IUP at regattas in the Mid-Atlantic Sailing Association.

Happy end of semester

atbase

 

The sailing season this spring was shockingly short — with ice on the lake into April!  But hearty souls don’t mind getting their feet wet in the frigid water.  Have a great summer, sailors.  If you live in the area, and are certified, remember you can use the club boats.  Graduates, alumni … remember you are eligible for life to be a member of the club.  Don’t quit sailing just because you’re done taking classes!

Contact the advisor with questions about access.

 

Team Sails in First Ever Intercollegiate Regatta for IUP

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Annapolis, MD – May 3, 2014
IUP Sailing Club members Karl Richter and Joe Cristello represented IUP in the Pinkerton Memorial Regatta on Saturday. The pair traveled to Annapolis where they sailed against the University of Maryland, Salisbury University, and University of Maryland Baltimore.
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“It was our first and certainly not our last! Here’s to a long lasting legacy for IUP Sailing” said Richter. And from Cristello’s perspective, “The regatta was an amazing experience with wonderful people at an absolutely beautiful location”
Waking at 6:00AM, the IUP sailors headed to the water to rig and launch the two-person FJ sailboat. They competed in a series of 16 round-the-buoy races, sailing for a total of seven hours. “We had a blast! Next time we’ll bring more sailors. Sailing for seven hours is tiring and the other teams had constant rotations.”
Racing began at 10am with light air but built to 8 knots by noon and peaked at 13 knots around 4pm; perfect conditions for a race.
According to Cristello, “There’s no beginner’s luck in sailing. But we learned so much competing against other sailors and we were able to gradually improve and hone our abilities through the day.” 

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“We were a very competitive team for out first time. We only missed 3rd by a few sets,” said Richter.
Another challenge for the new racers–this was the first time Cristello and Richter had sailed FJs. “We learned a lot about FJ sailboats. And we met a neat group of people, students and coaches from the other schools” said Richter. Visiting teams bring their PFDs and personal gear, while the host team provides sailboats for all competitors in intercollegiate regattas. One team-mate takes the tiller, while the crew member tends the jib sheets.

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Karl Richter, a Sophomore and Safety Science major is from Bangor, PA. He sailed for many years and works at the waterfront of a summer camp when not studying at IUP. Karl was elected Fleet Captain for 2014-15. Richter notes he’s proud “knowing we were the start of something new for IUP and for the sailing club!”
Joe Cristello, is a Freshman Natural Science/Pre-Pharmacy major from Natrona Heights, PA. He learned to sail with the IUP club beginning this past fall. Joe was elected club president for 2014-15.
The club regularly sails at Yellow Creek State Park, 12 miles west of IUP in Penn Run, PA. The new IUP Sailing Club was founded in 2012, and purchased six JY15 sailboats with the support of the Student Cooperative Association in 2013. Currently, they are collaborating with the park and Friends of Yellow Creek to reopen the historic sailing base.
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The club welcomes beginners and experienced sailors. All members of the IUP community may join, including staff, faculty, and alumni. Classroom workshops are provided fall and spring, and free sailing lessons at the lake are provided during the good weather while school is in session. Instructors Richter, Julia Campbell (club educator, Sophomore, Child Studies) and club advisor Kenneth Sherwood (Prof. English) are US Sailing instructors, giving members the opportunity to become certified small-boat sailors. For more information, visit the website at: blog.iup.edu/sailingclub/ or email iupsailingclub@gmail.com
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