Orcas Island J/70 fleet wins US Sailing Club Award
by J/Boats 3 Apr 2022 11:08 PDT
Orcas Island J/70 fleet wins US Sailing Club Award © Ryan Carson Photography
US Sailing has selected Orcas Island Yacht Club for the 2021 One-Design Club Award! According to club "ring leader" Ron Rosenberg, "we are all honored and humbled by this extraordinary recognition. This means so much to our passionate sailors and our low-key picnic shelter of a yacht club."
Ron continues to exclaim, "as Peter Harken taught me so many decades ago, "It's all about the people."
What began as a Covid experiment for local double-handed and family sailing, has taken on a life of its own.
Back in March 2020, when the world dished out lemons, we gathered together and decided it was time for a special brand of our local lemonade.
We began with just one J/70 and a mix of similar kinds of boats. Together, we went to work creating something so special and so much fun for everyone involved that we quickly gathered momentum. And, we simply kept growing, improving, and having fun on the water together!
It just keeps getting better.
We often describe ourselves as "learn-it-alls" rather than "know-it-alls". We welcome beginners and expert sailing talent alike. And, we continue to aim high and thoroughly enjoy the healthy process of self-improvement.
Now, just two short years later, we're up to more than TWENTY J/70s competing together in our area (6 more coming by fall 2022!). We have reinvigorated our own vibrant theme of one-design sailing with a full year-round race calendar.
This past year, we had five different teams travel across the country to compete in the very competitive big fleets on the J/70 Florida winter circuit. Yes, this is even more fun than it sounds!
I've included a YouTube video link for you that a young school teacher made for us recently to celebrate her one year 'Learn to Sail Anniversary' with us. This short video was recently presented at the Rolex Awards Reception at St. Francis YC, and it was a huge hit by all accounts! Please feel free to share this video any way you wish.
Thanks again for your kind support of our "J/Pod Sailing Program" out of Orcas Island YC, on Orcas Island, Washington.