Ahoy J/109 Vento Solare Friends,
This message contains the following:
- Tell Bill your Sailing desires & goals
- Twenty Hundred Club Spring Shore Party – Vento Solare getting Silverware!
- Prep for Launch Status & Help Wanted
- Upcoming Crew Assignments
Tell Bill your Sailing desires & goals
We have a great mixture of returning crew and new crew members to fill in where people have moved on. I would like you all to reply with a brief note indicating the following:
- Desired position on the boat – as 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. This will help me make position assignments. Ideally everyone will gain the skills to be plug and play anywhere, but we'll start with honing the skills for your primary roles first.
- Tell Bill what your goals are for sailing on Vento Solare. My goals are to have fun, place well and maintain the boat in top notch shape. You may have some personal goals you may share with me.
- Let me know if you want to do some pleasure sailing. I frequently am at the boat during the season and will go out single handed, short handed or with crew, just to be out on the water. I also do some evening sails. Let me know if you want to be notified for these pop-up sailing opportunities.
You may click on bill@j109.org to open a preformatted message to reply directly with your responses.
Twenty Hundred Club Spring Shore Party – Vento Solare getting Silverware
The Twenty Hundred Club is having its Spring Shore Party at the Sailing Museum in Newport on Thursday April 11th 6pm-9pm. Vento Solare is bringing home some silverware based on 2023 season results. There is a bar with sponsored beverages and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Unfortunately this conflicts with the 6th birthday party for my grandson Kai so I can't make the event. I am encouraging crew members to represent Vento Solare at the Spring Shore Party to have fun and collect the awards. You may purchase tickets online at this link for $60. Choose the Associate Membership + Member Ticket option, which gets you membership and is the same price as a non-member ticket!
Prep for Launch Status & Help Wanted
Thanks to Gardner Howe for the helping hand to wet sand the bottom. Vento Solare is well along with launch preparations with the bottom done and hull waxed. Burch Thornley has volunteered to help with some tasks. I'm waiting for the temperatures to get warmer so I can do some cosmetic gelcoat work, then will launch the boat. Vento Solare is currently at Borden Light Marina, across from the travel lift. I would like to ask for help at Borden Light Marina with the tasks listed below and am flexible on timing over the next few weeks. Beverages will be supplied.
Please reply and let me know if you are available for boat work to help with the spring chores and when you might be available. My schedule is very flexible and I can support both during the day and after work, plus some weekends.
- Wax topside surfaces
- Teflon coat hull (wipe on, buff off – after gelcoat repair)
- Polish topside stainless
- Inspect and tape all lifelines
- Pressure wash topside
- Declutter inside boat (tools, boxes, etc.)
- Vacuum inside boat
- Wash down inside boat with Murphy's oil soap
- Clean & Lubricate Winches
- Flush and fill fresh water tank
My goal is to get Vento Solare launched by Tuesday 16 April, sooner if we get warm weather for gelcoat work. After launch tasks:
- Go up mast to replace wind sensor, windex and steaming light
- Stock refrigerator with appropriate beverages (when shore power available)
- Cushions and sails to boat
- Initial rig tune
- Bend on sails
- Weather permitting (no wind, flat water) head out under power for calibration runs (compass, speed, wind)
- Shakedown sail and fix any discrepancies
Any day after those tasks are done, we can coordinate a nice delivery from Borden Light to the Navy Marina on a nice day!
Upcoming Crew Assignments
Thanks to those who have updated your crew availability. I plan on updating the crew assignments for events through the end of May by the 3rd week in April. Subsequent months will be done on a rolling basis with designated one design and some special events assigned early. Some events are oversubscribed, including the two training days 30 April and 7 May. I will make sure that all those who signed up for crew practice get to sail at least one of the two practice days. Priority for follow on assignments will be given to those who have committed for the longer term in the season. Some people will be asked to "Stay Ashore" or be assigned as "Standby" crew for some events.
Looking forward to sailing with a keel again!
Recent Comments
This photo from Block Island Steve
98TH CONANICUT YACHT CLUB AROUND THE ISLAND RACE
Great time on the water today and after at the CYC awards party. Third place finish in a class with 11 boats.
These pictures taken by Block Island Steve after the start of the Ida Lewis Distance Race.
Henry & Matt Trimming
Henry Trimming
Elena Trimming
The 2025 ILDR was a light air challenge for the Vento Solare crew. Pia, Elena & Henry made up 50% of the crew to qualify as a youth entry. They were joined by Peter, Matt & Bill. The crew was recognized at the awards ceremony with the 1st place Youth trophy and 3rd of 8 in the Coronet class.
Youth Trophy 1st place presented to Vento Solare crew
3rd of 8 boats in Coronet class
Tristan Mouligne captured this picture from the Class 40 Res Potentia on Saturday morning. Vento Solare is limping into Newport with the spinnaker wrapped around the headstay. This occurred when a letterbox douse was attempted the evening before while trying to round R32 off Gay Head, Marthas Vineyard. The spinnaker became badly wrapped around the headstay and jib while unfurling the jib for a letterbox douse. Sarah was hoisted up the mast 1/3 of the way in the dark to try and unwrap the spinnaker but was unsuccessful. Thus the decision was made to retire and motor back to Newport. We tied up to a mooring at Coasters Harbor and hoisted Sarah to the top. The spinnaker head was fouled under the headstay and caught on the upper swivel, preventing the furler from moving in either direction. Sarah disconnected the spinnaker halyard and was able to unwrap the spinnaker. Once that was done we were able to unwind the rest of the spinnaker without damage, and completely unfurl, then refurl the jib.