IUP Sailing
iblog.iup.edu/iupsailing
Author: Sherwood
Assoc. Prof. of English Co-director, Center for Digital Humanities and Culture TA Mentoring Coordinator, Graduate Literature and Criticism
Thanks to the sailors from Penn State Erie and Pitt who traveled to YC for our Messabout Regatta this weekend. Congratulations to Penn State … and to all those who braved the strong winds. (You may be interested in the data from the weather station at the base of the park windmill). Thanks also to all the volunteers, especially Dan, Will, Terri, and Savelle Brown for taking care of the safety boat, the grilling, and the race scoring! We want a rematch next year, after we’ve fixed our boat.
The 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.
Need sailing gear? The “Go Sail / Give Back” program sponsored by Windrider will donate 6% of sales back to Friends of Yellow Creek for improvements at the park sailing base. Need a PFD, new sails, or other marine parts? Considering buying a new sailboat?! Please use the link to automatically associate your purchase with Yellow Creek Sailing.*
(*IUP sailors, the Coop is not a partner of Windrider but FOYC is; any money donated goes directly to improvements at the sailing base enjoyed by FOYC members and IUP Sailors. )
On Sunday 9/27, sailors from IUP, Gannon University and the University of Pittsburgh converged on Yellow Creek Lake near campus to enjoy a day of racing and camaraderie. The Messabout took place at the Yellow Creek Sailing Base and was co-sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Yellow Creek.
Eleven sailors from IUP participated: Phil Dorn, Karl Richter, Joe Cristello, Ryan Sweeney, Kaleigh Gilmer, Karen Hill, Allie Jane, Will Brunner, Sean Horan, Denali Davis, and Ellie Kapp.
Gannon brought eight sailors from Erie, and Pitt also brought eight sailors. All three schools are members of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Sailing Association, and so they are eligible to compete in formal regattas on the Great Lakes, Chesapeake, and Atlantic. None of the three teams is more than four years old however, so it was decided a less formal “Messabout” would be more appropriate than a strict regatta.
Six races were held, with boats visiting the committee boat in order to substitute crew members, so that as many sailors as possible could enjoy the fun experience. Winds were perfect for an exciting race day, with sustained speeds of 10-11 mph and gusts up to 19 mph!
While the racing was not a “sanctioned” regatta, a standard “T-1” course was set up and the teams raced very competitively. Typical of college racing, the host team provides the boats; so IUP provided its six sailboats for the teams to share. So each school had two boats on the water, and each boat has on sailor who is the “skipper” and is accompanied by the “crew.” Scores are calculated on a low point system, with the winner of a given race receiving one point and the last place finish 6 points.
Final results were: Pitt Boat 03, First Place; IUP Boat 02 and Gannon Boat 05 tied for Second Place, with Pitt Boat 04 in third place.
Since some sailors had never participated in a formal race, and one or two crew were totally new to sailing, one could see improvement as the races progressed. There were several close finishes, one equipment breakdown (fixed on the water), and one capsize!
The racing was followed by a BBQ and campfire to warm back up after the “refreshing” sailing. IUP Sailing is a community affair with alumni members and faculty eligible to join.
Like Pitt and Gannon, the IUP sailing club welcomes new members. Experienced members can become involved in racing, but the focus of the club is on welcoming new sailors to the sport. The club “captain” Karl Richter and club advisor, Prof. Ken Sherwood, are both certified US Sailing instructors. Finance Prof. Dan Lawson and experienced student sailors also help teach the novices. As part of the club membership, interested students can learn and then achieve official US Sailing certification. IUP Sailing meets in Leonard 118 on Thursday evenings at 8pm. Look them up on Crimson Connect, http://iblog.iup.edu/
College sailing season for Fall is August – Nov 1, and Spring sailing begins when the lake thaws in April.
Yellow Creek Messabout
(a fall, sailing festival)
Noon, Sunday 9/27
You are invited to a fall sailing festival at Yellow Creek State Park. Come join us for sailing, socializing and food. Beginning at noon, we expect sailors from University of Pittsburgh and Gannon University to join IUP for informal racing. We’ll have social sailing on FOYC boats and SUPs (stand-up paddle boards) for Friends members. But if you’re not a member, come join the festivities and find out about our sailing lessons and growing community sailing opportunities.
The Messabout is a relaxed alternative to the formal regatta. Bring your boat, if you have one … or hitch a ride with the friendly sailors at Yellow Creek. We’ll provide hotdogs, BBQ supplies and drinks. You’re welcome to bring your own favorite food to grill and share.
Yellow Creek Messabout is co-sponsored by Friends of Yellow Creek (FOYC.org) and the IUP Sailing Club (https://iblog.iup.edu/iupsailing/).
The Yellow Creek sailing base is accessible via College Lodge Road off of Rt. 422. (Beach launching only at the sailing base; if you are bringing a trailerable boat, please launch from one of the park launch ramps on the north shore.) Email FriendsOfYellowCreek@gmail.com for more information.
