I write to you today reporting live from the EYC hut.  Some call me the Director of Programs; others call me the Fix-it Man, but today most call me the Weatherman.  As the scattered t-storms drop down on us with little warning, I sit and wait, (and email, and print lesson plans, and make flyers, and check on boat registration, and use 3M adhesive remover to fix the front of the Zodiac) ready to pass the word along to those on the water of the omnipresent danger that lurks above.

Using the color scale on the radar for this weeks updates, I'll start with the most easy going and least threatening class, the Light Green Sloops.  This week, they continued to learn the points of sail and parts of the boat.  With 8 new sailors in the sloops, and only 2 returning from last session, the old kids had some things to teach the first timers.  Each person got a chance to steer outside of the harbor, and a good time was had by all!

The slightly heavier rain and harder class is the Orange Intro to Junior Sailing class.  This week, Tuesday was spent with the full class on the Opti dock.  The points of sail were gone over, followed by a rigging demonstration done for the newcomers.  On Thursday of this week, the whole class enjoyed a sonar cruise out around Marblehead Rock and Children's Island.  Though there was some heavy rain to start the morning, luckily, there was no thunder to end the class.

If your radar reads red, you best watch out; the Opti I kids can really cause some destruction!  The smallest class this year, Opti I started out the week with some HEAVY winds.  Sailing in an Opti would have been a challenge to the youngsters, so the staff and kids bundled up and took out Sonars.  With gusts up to 25 knots, this was probably the best route to go.

If pink is your radar color, you're about to loose your signal because the intensity of Opti II is about to take over.  With some newcomers in Opti II, the points of sail and part of the boat were reviewed for the class this week.  As a treat later in the week, Opti II got to sail out of the harbor working on their downwind and jibing skills.  They also got some practice going around a triangle.

Chances are you'll never see purple on a radar, unless you look down towards Riverhead to see the MICRO BURSTING OPTI III class!!!  With Race Week behind them, some are now looking forward to the Mass Bay Junior Olympics.  For more open water practice, the Opti III class has been sailing outside the harbor for most of their classes this week.  They've started coaching drills such as "tacking on the whistle" and practice starting.  They also got to join Opti I on Monday for the 25 knot plus breeze in the Sonars.  Big boat experience is always good to get under your belt.

Well the skies are clear and the sun is out.  It's time to head into the sun!

Eat, sail, and be merry.

Mad Max standing by