From
the Commodore

From the Commodore - Craig Milliken
December 2008   

Make plans now to attend the 2009 SAYRA Annual Meeting, February 6-8 at the Marriott Hotel in Columbia, SC. More information follows in this newsletter. Thanks to Priscilla Parker, Linda Bowden and Carla Moore for their many hours of hard work and effort organizing the many details that make this a fun and informative weekend for everybody.

The fun will start on Friday afternoon with a return visit by Dave Perry who will provide us with another entertaining and informative session on the world of competitive sailing. Dave has worked up plenty of new material since his last visit to SAYRA with the recently completed Olympics and upcoming rules changes. After Dave’s presentation, bus transportation will be available to take you to Columbia Sailing Club’s new clubhouse for a cocktail party sponsored in part by Mount Gay Rum. Mount Gay Rum’s link to sailing dates back to the 1700s. It is up to us to maintain this tradition by attending the cocktail party on Friday night!

Saturday morning’s General Meeting will give each SAYRA Committee Chair the opportunity to provide members with a report on 2008 activities and a preview of what is in store for SAYRA in 2009. SAYRA Juniors will have a private session with Dave Perry . . . no adults! The General Meeting will close with Dick McGillivray conducting the 2009 Helen Hanley Memorial Fund Club Challenge. Please remember the Helen Hanley Memorial Fund financially supports SAYRA members when competing in US Sailing sponsored championship events and encourages training and instruction for all qualified SAYRA members.

Saturday afternoon will be once again used for the various committee meetings listed later in this newsletter for planning 2009 SAYRA activities. The committee meetings are open to all SAYRA members and we urge everybody to attend and participate in as many of these sessions as you can. Please make your reservations for the Saturday Evening Banquet early for planning purposes.

The Board of Stewards will meet Sunday morning to conduct SAYRA business. Please make sure your club is represented at this meeting.

2008 has been a good year for SAYRA:
• Club enrollment remains at 41
• SAYRA’s race management program remains strong. At the end of September US Sailing reported that out of 1,182 certifications (judges, race officers and umpires), Area D accounted for 268 certifications, nearly twice as many as the next highest area. SAYRA is responsible for 89 of the 268 certifications in Area D. SAYRA has six US Sailing certified instructors that are qualified to teach Race Management Classes.
• SAYRA has 18 judges with 4 in the training pipeline.
• SAYRA was represented in the Finals of the US Sailing Bemis, Adams and O’Day National Championships.
• Ruth Creighton was presented US Sailing’s Timothea Larr Award for her lifelong commitment to sailing education. This award is the US Sailing Training Committee’s highest honor.

I look forward to seeing everybody in Columbia and hope that each of you has a safe and happy holiday season.

Craig Milliken, Commodore