IN THIS ISSUE:

Editorial

July Swan Rolex Regatta

August Trip to Canada

Windcheck Round-a-bout

Opportunities 

Editorial – May is always a busy month and all our OPO skippers and many members were out sailing. I just got back from the Caribbean this past weekend. Many more are sailing this June. Opportunities are still coming in with a few good ones listed here. By the end of June most offshore passages will come to an end as hurricane season officially started today. Short local deliveries, local races and coastal cruising takes it’s place. We will bring you as many summer opportunities as possible. Come this fall be ready for lots more opportunities heading south. This will be our 8^th annual NARC Rally from Newport to the Caribbean. We are also doing the crew networking for the Caribbean 1500 this year. 

The Caribbean Season ended well with a 4^th place at Antigua Race week. Just like last year, we were the first non-local boat and just out of the money. We had two full Swan crew sail back from St. Martin in May and in two weeks we have one more round-trip aboard Avocation that is also full. The next sailing opportunity will be to join us at the end of July for the Rolex Swan North American Championship at the New York Yacht Club in Newport RI and then a two week trip up to Canada late in the summer. See below for details. 

Rolex Swan North American’s – We participated in this regatta 2 years ago (biennial event) and raced in the racing division against a swan 68, Swan 601 and a pair of Swan 56’s. It was not a pretty site as the New York Yacht Club has a reputation for running a lot of races with several windward leeward legs. We therefore have entered the Cruising division so we can race around the bay and not get so bruised up. We will be docking in the middle of the event right at the Newport Shipyard where they have crew parties every night after the races. During the week all crew are honorary members of the New York Yacht Club and can dine at the Harbor Court Facility in Newport. We have arranged a special room rate at a very nice Inn. This is a very high end event, in a great sailing port, in the height of the season. A rare opportunity to do something special. We have limited space, so if you are interested you should let us know soon and also make reservations before June 15^th at the Pearl’s of Newport” B & B we talk about below.  

The dates: Race days from Monday July 14^th through Friday July 20^th. We will sail up from Huntington NY on Saturday July 12^th to be in Newport the 13^th. Crew can sail up with us or meet us in Newport Sunday July 13th. We will sail back to Huntington on Saturday morning July 21^st. To crew for the 5 days of racing and all the crew parties you can sign up by sending a $500 deposit towards the full fare of $1100. A few people can stay aboard the boat for an additional $400, but you need to take your linen and gear off the boat each day. There are very good shower facilities at the marina. We have also worked out a deal at a very nice B & B within walking distance, but you need to sign up in the next two weeks and make your reservations soon. “It is called Pearls of Newport”, a Bed & Breakfast Inn with about 25 rooms in three houses. They are giving us $75.00 off per night if we sign up before June 15^th.  We had a Wine & Cheese Party there last year for the NARC and several NARC Rally people stayed there. I spoke with Lisa Downey and her number is 401-848-0061. They are located at 41 Pelham St. RATES - 

July 15 - July 20 (straight through) 
 
4 Rooms 
 
July 16 - July 20 (straight through) 
 
8 rooms 
 
Our rates are: (we have discounted these rooms by $75.00 per night for 
your group) 
 
$200.00 per night - deluxe rooms 
$250.00 per night - suites 
 
includes breakfast, bottle of wine, complimentary fitness pass, discounted 
tennis benefits at the Tennis Hall of Fame. 
 
These rooms will be first come first secured, we cannot "hold" the rooms 
at this rate so please have them email ASAP with credit card for full 
paymont. 
 
Thank you 
Lisa Downey 
General Manager 

End of summer Cruise from NY to Halifax Nova Scotia - We have Captain Murray Jacobs back. After delivering a dozen Swans in two years with us Murray took a full time job working on a Swan 56 & a 60 for the last 5 years. After delivering his present charge to Holland this month he will be back in Newport for the summer to work freelance. In August Murray has agreed to sail Avocation up to Halifax Nova Scotia and back. I will depart Huntington NY on Saturday August 18^th for the run up to Newport RI where Murray lives. On Monday you will depart for the Cape Cod Canal, up to Nova Scotia. Crew change in Halifax will be Sunday August 25^th. The planned one or two stops will be dictated my weather and inclination, but one “must” stop is Lunnenberg Nova Scotia. On the return passage I will meet you in Newport to sail back to New York to end the Labor Day Holiday Weekend and the summer. You can sign up for the first 8 day leg or join for the entire 16 days. The cost is $1600 per leg or $3000 for the round trip. Only a $500 deposit is required now to reserve a booth and remember we take credit cards now. This includes the boat, skippers, onboard food and linen and towels. 

2007 2^nd Annual ROUNDABOUT

with WindCheck Magazine and Offshore Passage Opportunities. 

Join us August 5^th to August 12^th on this one week cruise out to Block Island Rhode Island and back. This info is directed to OPO members with boats in the Tri-State area and are interested in meeting on Block Island Rhode Island for a big party at one of our members housed on Block Island. You can start with us in Huntington NY and sail out to Block Island and then back, Or Plan to meet us on Block Island Wednesday August 8^th for a big party ashore. After we see what boat owners are coming we will see who has room for other OPO members as crew, or you can plan to take the ferry over to Block Island and stay ashore and join us for the party. I have included all the information that WindCheck magazine is sending to their mailing list. Any OPO members, with a boat in the area, I hope you will take a look at your Calendar and see about joining us.  Please let me know if you are interested or have any questions.  

“Thank you for your interest in participating in the 2^nd WindCheck Roundabout. In this mailing we cover the proposed itinerary and include a short sign up sheet to “officially” join this year’s Roundabout. The itinerary and format for the week allows some flexibility dependant on weather, so study the route we will be taking – if you want to spend an extra day at any of our ports o’ call that is certainly okay.  There are three stops along the way that you won’t however, want to miss (Saturday, the 4^th, in Huntington, Wednesday, the 8^th, in Block and Saturday, the 11^th, in Black Rock) those are our party days! 

The cruise is intended to be a learning tool for new folks to cruising as well as a fun week for like-minded people to meet each other and have a good time. A number of boats in the fleet have participated in a similar rally once referred to as “The Mother Duck Cruise.” Organized annually from 1998 to 2003. Hank Schmitt of Offshore Passage Opportunities, will be skippering one of the lead boats and helping us run the event.  

The Roundabout starts on Saturday Night with a rendezvous in Huntington, NY where we will have our first official skipper’s meeting to get organized for the week. We will then sail to Port Jefferson, Greenport, NY, then to Block Island, RI for a few days of relaxation, and then on to Old Saybrook, CT before finishing in Black Rock, CT (the home port of WindCheck). We list the dates and port-o-calls below. Ideally everyone will be able to make every port and join for the full 8 days, but you can let us know if you plan to join for part of the Roundabout – applicable pricing will apply. 

New boaters are encouraged to use the week to learn how to cruise with their boats. We have two lead support boats with Chris Gill aboard Tenacious and Hank Schmitt aboard Avocation. Besides acting as hosts for the week they will be eager to answer your questions about anything not being covered in the daily briefing during the week. The VHF radio net throughout the week will also help keep everyone informed. A few days before the Roundabout starts we send out one more mailing with more details and a list of participants. In Huntington we will have a skipper’s meeting when we will all be together under one roof – at that time you will receive a binder with information on each destination in your skippers’ bag.                                           
 

Roundabout Itinerary 

Saturday, August 4^th – Fleet will rally in Huntington NY for Sunday night BBQ 

Sunday, August 5^th – Skippers meeting in the morning and sail to Port Jefferson, NY 

Monday, August 6^th – Sail to Greenport, NY 

Tuesday, August 7^th – Sail to Block Island, RI 

Wednesday, August 8^th – Party on Block Island 

Thursday, August 9^th – Lay Day Block 

Friday, August 10^th – Sail to Old Saybrook 

Saturday, August 11^th – Sail to Black Rock, CT (Wrap-up party at Captain’s Cove) 

Sunday, August 12^th – Sail Home 
 

The sign up sheet (included) will help us organize making arrangements for you. In some ports you have a choice of anchoring out, picking up a mooring ball, or going dockside. Dockage and mooring fees are separate from the Round-a-bout fee sinze it varioes according to boat length and we do not want to collect people credit card info. The numbers for reservations are provided for you to make reservations. Don’t forget to say you are with the Windcheck Round-a-bout Group.    

WindCheck Roundabout Sign up Sheet 

Your Name: __________________               

Address: _____________________ 

_____________________________ 

E-Mail:_______________________ 

Boat Name: ___________________  Type (Model):__________________ 

Size:_______Beam:_______Draft:______ 

Hull Color:_________ Sail # __________  Hailing Port:________________________ 

Navigation equipment aboard (radios/GPS, etc.):__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Number of anticipated crew________ 

Skipper Name:  ___________________  T Shirt Size ____   

Crew names:    ____________________ T Shirt Size ____  

                         ____________________ T Shirt Size ____  

                         ____________________ T Shirt Size ____  

                         ____________________ T Shirt Size ____  

                         ____________________ T Shirt Size ____  
 

Special licenses or skills that you or your crew possess? (Medical Doctor, Captain, diesel mechanic, musician, etc.) _____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Does any member of your crew have a special medical condition?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 

Port-o-call sign up sheet: 

Do you plan on joining for the entire itinerary   Yes_______   No _______ 

If not please check which ports you will be with us:  

1. Huntington, NY ______ Moorings ______Dockside (HYC)

2. Port Jefferson, NY   ______ Anchor out (Raft-up)

3. Greenport, NY  ______ Dockside (Municipal Marina)

4. Block Island, RI (2 day stay, check which you prefer) Choice of _____anchor out for free______ Town Moorings ______Dockside

5. Old Saybrook, CT  ______Dockside at Saybrook Point Marina

6. Black Rock, CT ______ Moorings______Dockside at Captain’s Cove

The cost for the Roundabout is $350 per boat and will include most everything (with the exception of dockage fees). Boats joining for half the event will be charged $250. Please make check payable to “WindCheck Magazine” and return with your completed sign up forms.