ESS Fleet Update - notes to ESS Family

ESS Fleet Update - notes to ESS Family from the Sailing School Board

420 As many you know, we’ve seen a surge in 420 interest over the past year. We held a well-attended family meeting of 420 sailors and parents last fall, and we sponsored a field trip to Zim Sailing this winter.

We bought one boat at the end of the season. With an additional purchase at the end of March this year, we now have two brand new school boats topping off the 420 fleet, thanks to the courtesy of some individual generous donors, plus the proceeds of our highly successful Sunfish raffle, and the labor of our hardworking staff. As our talented Opti sailors come up through the ranks, we have a terrific group of new 420 sailors to piggyback on the success of sailors who have been honing their 420 skills for years. And now we have the boats. (((The 420 classes are nearly full))), and our sailing skills are shining as brightly as the gelcoat on Edgewood's new hulls.

Rhodes 19 Our Rhodes 19 fleet is also shaping up nicely. With new sails and covers, and with some improvements in fittings for the upcoming season, our keelboats provide a unique opportunity for both adults and kids learning to sail, or learning to sail better. For those of you with kids in ESS Youth programs, our Rhodes 19 fleet provides a terrific path for you in the Adult programs to learn to sail too – or to upgrade your sailing and navigation skills, or to hone your racing technique. Check out our schedule of adult classes, as well as the (((Starter Sailor))) program for kids, which also utilizes these spritely 20-ft boats.

Opti Last but not least, our Opti fleet continues its process of annual upgrade, with one new hull being added to the fleet again this year. Over the past few years, we’ve successfully transitioned away from the most tired Optis and replaced them with hulls that can be competitive on the race course as well as easy on the eyes. This summer's (((two-week Opti classes))) span nearly the whole season, but are getting full. Meanwhile, our core fleet of about 16 boats is ready for usual spring sprucing up – watch for an upcoming announcement if you’d like to lend a hand to those efforts on “Parent Project Day” for ESS.

Look Out for ESS!

Changing boats? – Saturday April 11 – ZIM Sailing is reviving a Rhode Island tradition - The "Spring Boat Swap" .
We’ll be at Warwick Mall on Sunday, April 12 from 11am to 4pm, the weekend after the holidays, advertising our 2015 program and signing up students. Everyone wear your ESS shirts and hats, and come along to meet families and new potential-sailors.
"By The Bay" - On the evening of Saturday, May 30, we’re hosting a cocktail reception at the Shuster house on Mill Cove in Warwick. A fun event with a fund-raising silent auction.
And then "2015 OPENING CEREMONIES" on Thursday, June 25, we’ll hold our ever-popular “opening ceremonies” event for the 2015 season, with fun for all and a few hours of open sailing.

Look for us-ESS at all these events, and watch out for the expanded full 2015 schedule soon!

SCHOLARSHIP applications are due April 9 - available for all classes

Scholarship Application online form must be received by April 9 to get into the first group of awards. Whole process is confidential. Registration should be done first; but payment is not required while the scholarship request is still being considered. Scholarships are available to assist both the first-time and the continuing Youth sailors, and can be applied to any class during the Youth 2015 Program.