Our new fleet of O'Pen Skiffs will arrive in early April. We can't wait to see these fun boats, and there is a line of sailors who want to try them out. Want in? Send us a note. We hope to be able to arrange demo days for registered sailors.

Please save the date for our annual Parent Orientation, currently scheduled for the evening of May 4 (if that date needs to be pushed out, we'll let you know). We've got a new, fun format planned for this year. We will start with class-by-class tables for introductions by our morning Opti, afternoon Opti, Feva, Laser, and 420 parent liaisons, then gather for a quick group overview of the program, and then open the floor for conversation and mingling. And, speaking of open, the bar will open for complimentary wine and beer. We hope for a fun and casual evening to talk sailing, to make new friends, and to catch up with old friends, too.

Finally, the junior clubhouse is getting a refresh, with new artwork, a trophy display, and upgrades. And this is one area where we can use your help. If you know a former Pequot sailor (or if you are one!), and if they (or you) sailed in college, please send in a college pennant. We'd like to celebrate the post-program paths that our sailors take, with college pennants that will have the names of the TeamPequot alumni under them, as well as the year they "graduated" from the junior program.

> The "Sunset Sail" returned and we hosted over twenty parents who sailed with their morning Optimist kids. There were a lot of laughs, a fair number of lightly-bonked heads as the bigger adults contorted themselves into a boat not made for two, and one accidental parental swim, taken in stride with a smile and a laugh.

> Pequot Race Week - our back-to-back Invitational and Rumble regattas - was a fantastic success thanks to innumerable volunteers and great weather. Lots of random photos here and in a Long Island Sound (maybe even worldwide??) first, a dog, the lovable Lilly, ran race committee.

> Our instructor team upheld Pequot's longstanding tradition of exemplary teaching by not only training a new crop of learn-to-sail Optis, but also bringing home the silver. A list of notable regatta results is attached as a PDF; for some motivation for next summer, print it out and stick it on your fridge with a magnet. If you have one of those wood-paneled fridges, no worries; use a ridiculously giant glob of e-tape for an authentic nautical look.

> We can't help but brag about Team Pequot's Big Boat Domination. That's right, Domination with a Capital D! Team Pequot's two big boat teams captured 1st and 2nd in ALL THREE 2019 big boat events: the Lubeck Memorial Junior Big Boat Regatta at Black Rock, the Stamford Yacht Club Dorade Trophy, and the Beach Point Overnight.

In fact, with a win at the Beach Point, Pequot topples a record set in 1976 -- yup, that's forty-three years ago! -- by Noroton Yacht Club, and becomes the first club EVER to win the Beach Point Overnight FOUR years in a row!

Our photo shows this year's Beach Point winning team enjoying (really? looks actually really uncomfortable, but, whatever) a well-deserved rest as the boat motors back to Southport after the 15 hour race.

> And finally, we celebrated the season on Thursday, August 16 with a feast and with our annual awards (a list of award recipients is attached). Congratulations not only to those winners, but to everyone who supported the team and who made this season so special.

It's just September, and planning for 2020 is already underway. We have several BRAND NEW initiatives to make next season the best yet, and surely it must be, as it will be Pequot's 100th Year. We can't announce all of them yet, because we are doing some things that have never been done at PYC or on the Sound, and we have to get approvals and okays and yada yada -- but we're gonna make that happen, and we'll continue to update you through the fall and winter.

Vanessa Caporrino has accepted the role of vice-chair for next season. With a ton of experience on the water, Vanessa grew up sailing at Seawanhaka Yacht Club and then instructed at Port Washington Yacht Club. Now as a teacher and mom of Kate and Charlie, Vanessa brings her vast experience and foresight to the program.

And we are very excited to announce that our friend, leader, and role model Chris Oburchay has accepted a promotion to become Pequot's first Director of Junior Sailing! In his new, expanded role, Chris will be active in planning the program over the winter, and next summer, will have direct oversight of the instructing team both on and off the water, as well as a larger role in the program's day-to-day operations. Chris' extensive expertise in teaching and leadership will surely make the 2020 season run smoothly, happily and funly. (If that's not a word, it will be.)

Stay tuned, and thanks for a great season,

Treef and Vanessa

Treef Rosow (Chair) and Vanessa Caporrino (Vice Chair)