Proposal to host

Thistle National Championships

Thistle Women’s & Junior’s National Championships

2009
Cedar Point Yacht Club

Thistle Fleet #99

Prepared by Regatta Co-Chairs:

Brian Joyce

Sean Joyce

Kristen Barnard




The 2009 Thistle National Championship

Host Club: Cedar Point Yacht Club

1 Bluff Point

Westport, CT 06880

http://www.cedarpointyc.org



Date: August 1^st, 2009 to August 7, 2009
Contacts: Brian Joyce at brian.joyce@kornferry.com

Event Co-Chair & CPYC Race & Regatta Liaison

District Governor and Event Co-Chair

Fleet Captain and Event Co-Chair

The Cedar Point Yacht Club (CPYC) requests the right to serve as “host club” for the 2009 Thistle National Championship.
History – Cedar Point Yacht Club was organized in 1887 by a group of local yachtsmen seeking to establish a local venue from which to test their sailing skills against each other and all challengers. This spirit of competition, on which CPYC was founded, remains its focus today.

The Thistle fleet was organized and introduced to the club in the mid to late 1950’s and by 1960 a full racing program was underway. 

In 1966, thanks to the vision of a handful of Club members, CPYC moved across the river to Bluff Point on Saugatuck Island, its current location. An ambitious project was undertaken to dredge a harbor basin and fill the swampy land to develop a beautiful property with stunning views across the Sound. The membership met the challenge, and the result, which we still enjoy today, is among the finest sailboat racing facilities anywhere. Today CPYC hosts active fleets of Atlantics, Stars, Thistles, Lightenings, Flying Scot’s, Vanguard - 15s, Lasers, and PHRF boats.

In 1998, CPYC was awarded the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for excellence in race management by US Sailing in recognition of the successful 1997 National Team Racing Championship Regatta for the George R. Hinman Trophy.

CPYC continues its 50 year tradition of hosting annual regattas for each of the classes represented at the club, and is regularly selected to host major championship events. Over the years, the Club has developed a reputation for running outstanding regattas. As CPYC looks ahead to the next century, it remains guided by the original mission first put forth in 1887, to "promote interest in the sport of sailing."

RACE MANAGEMENT:

Major Regattas Hosted by CPYC since 2003:

2007 Flying Scott Husband Wife Regatta

2007 Laser Last Chance Olympic Qualifier

2007, 2005, 2003 Atlantic Class National Championship

2005 US Sailing Youth Championship

2004 Laser North American Championship

2003 Lightening North American Championships

2003 Vanguard 15 National Championship

2005 Thistle Atlantic Coast Championship

1994 Thistle National Championship

1984 Co-host Thistle National Championship

1978 Co-host Thistle National Championship

1970 Thistle National Championship

Annual Thistle East Coast Fall Series Regatta, the Fontelieu Invitational.

Multiple Long Island Sound Thistle District Championships

5/31-6/1 2008 Thistle Long Island Sound District Championships

9/2009 Star North American Championship
Race Committee:

The race committee for this event will be lead by Dick Thackaberry who will be the Primary Race Officer. Dick completer the US Sailing Advanced Race Management seminar and passed the certification test at the Regional PRO level and brings with him years of experience. Dick was also the PRO for the Lightening North American Championships held at CPYC in 2003. He serves as the PRO for the annual Cedar Point Fontelieu Fall Classic regatta which is apart of the East Coast Fall Series.

Cedar Point Yacht Club has a highly qualified staff that will be able to facilitate race management for the regatta. Cedar Point Yacht Club has also been awarded the US Sailing One Design Club of the Year in 2002 and most recently 2007. US SAILING President Jim Capron outlined this achievement with the following, “To recognize the yacht club of the year for administrative excellence, fleet growth, creative programming, regatta support and member contribution at regional, national and international levels of the one-design.” Dave Marselli, Cedar Point’s Race & Regatta Chairman concluded with, “In summary, Cedar Point Yacht Club this year had one of the most active one design schedules in recent memory, anchored by the volunteerism of the club’s members that help run each regatta. Cedar Point is always contemplating hosting the next “big” event at every individual fleet, and race and regatta meeting, as the members are comfortable that we have the knowledge, experience, and facilities to do so.”

The Club is located on Saugatuck Island in Westport Connecticut, overlooking Long Island Sound from the mouth of the Saugatuck River.   The property was designed with sailboat racing in mind, and the facilities are perfectly suited for running a wide variety of one-design and handicap races and social activities afterwards.

Facilities include a clubhouse encircled by an upper deck, verandah and lawns affording spectacular views of the busy harbor and Long Island Sound. The clubhouse includes a snack bar separate kitchen facilities and a self service bar (there is no restaurant), and shower facilities.  Additional shower and bathroom facilities will be brought on-site for additional ease and access. There is a grill area adjacent to the clubhouse for outdoor meals, two sandy beaches, a fenced playground, and parking for 200 cars.  The private basin provides well protected slips for 130 racing and cruising sailboats with fresh water service and electricity.  Depth at mean low water is 8 feet.

Our race support fleet consists of a 34’ Diesel committee boat, a 22’ foot Trip and 20’ Maritime Skiff Pioneer to act as high speed chase boats, three 18' skiffs, 2 Boston Whaler’s, a rigid bottom 15’ Zodiac ProMan, a 15’ Avon Rib inflatable, and enough marks, flags, etc. to comfortably run up to three racing circles simultaneously.

Our dry sail facilities feature a wide launching ramp, beachfront launching for smaller dinghies, two high speed one ton electric hoists and a large rigging dock.  There is space for more than 150 dry sailed boats and several large staging/rigging areas with fresh water service, enabling CPYC to easily handle large numbers of boats for major regattas.  The entire facility is free of overhead wires. 

Boat launching will be handled by our two self operating hoists and a boat ramp. Both are directly attached to the dry stall area. Complete reconstruction of our bulkhead and hoist foundations will take place in 2008.

The race course will be an area of Long Island Sound south of Westport, bound by Cockonoe Island and extended reef on the south, the Saugatuck river entrance on the west. The racing area is approximately 2 miles east to west and 1.25 miles north to south. Chart below.

In the first week of August, CPYC can expect a pretty consistent weather pattern. Like other venues, our wind velocity increases as the land heats up. One can expect lighter winds in the morning (3-6 knots) that will build to the low teens by early afternoon. The average temp for the day is the mid 90's and in the evening one can expect the high 60's. CPYC’s website has a weather link that not only displays current conditions, but also an interactive library of historical data. Link below http://www.cedarpointyc.org/Home/CPYCWeather/tabid/77/Default.aspx

Friday July 31^st

Possible afternoon Measurement for Women’s and Junior’s Nationals

The Club will open to traveling boats

Measurement

Women’s & Junior’s National Championship

Award Ceremony, Women’s & Junior’s National Championship

Measurement

Practice Race in the afternoon

Opening Ceremonies after racing

Race 1 (2 starts- a/b, c/d)

Break for Lunch on the water

Race 2 (2 starts a/c, b/d)

Dinner & Social planned
Tuesday August 4^th

Race 3 (2 starts a/d, b/c)

Divisional Split will take place

Night off- a list of area activities will be provided

Wednesday August 5^th

1^st Race, Championship

1^st Race, President’s Division

Break for Lunch on the water

2^nd Race, Championship

2^nd Race, President’s Division

Dinner & Social planned
Thursday August 6th

3^rd Race, Championship Division

3^rd Race, President’s Division

(Make up races if cancelled earlier in the week)

Night off-a list of area activities will be provided
Friday August 7^th

Final Race, Championship Division

Final Race, President’s Division

Awards Ceremony

We have designated a housing coordinator who will contact our entire membership base to arrange personal housing options. Fairfield County has a very strong presence of National Hotel Chains and many local hotel options. We have reached out for and discussed discount hotel rates and have been successful in arranging packages with nightly rates starting at $85 a night. Between our member base opening their doors to Thistlers and a plethora of Hotel options, we are able to accommodate the 2009 Thistle National Championship.

Formal social events are planned for each night that dinner will be served as per the above schedule. A host of additional land activities including an organized ping pong tournament that will last throughout the week (trophy provided), bocce, croquet, volleyball, etc. are in the planning stage. Our Junior Sailing program runs through August 15^th and discussions are taking place as to the ability of that program to accommodate visiting youths. The club has a playground for children and a self service bar for the adults.