Sailing, Eco, Health Adventures

Yoga and Riverdog Studio in Old Saybrook

2015-05-13T05:11:00.001-07:00

Whether you have never been to a class before and want to experience the beneficial effects of yoga or you regularly curl yourself into a pretzel while standing on one hand, the light airy studio at Riverdog has something to offer. Founded and managed by Kimberly Smith , Riverdog studios is as welcoming, fluid and responsive to peoples' needs and desires as yoga itself, always attracting a very high level of teachers. Some teachers have been there as long as Riverdog has existed.

According to Kimberly, yoga means "the union of body, breath and soul". During her Saturday AM, "Spinal Yoga" class, she teaches that if we can take only a few minutes to exercise every day, we should do the "6 positions of the spine". These involve:

1) taking Downward Dog pose, raising one leg in the air, bending the knee and having it lead our spine into a "C" curve on the opposite side of our body, expanding the outside of the "C" with our inhale and contracing the inside with our exhale, creating a nice stretch in our side. This can also be done on hands and knees for less advanced participants or those with injuries, by simply moving the knees and hands towards each other, creating that same curve of the spine.

2)   on hands and knees doing the cat & cow stretch several times coordinating with breath.

3)   Creating a twist of the spine by lying on your back and bending the right knee and bringing it across the body over the the left side while turning your head to the right and trying to keep your right shoulder on the floor. Relax in this position and focus on inhaling and exhaling several times. Then change over to the other side.

Kimberly founded the studio in 1999 when she and her husband, Hal Ostrom, who is an optometrist and avid sailor, moved to this area. She had been practicing yoga for years, has a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology/Cardiac Rehabilitation from UCONN and says she felt the need to feel "at home" in a community so she rented the studio and started Riverdog.

Hala Khouri, founder of "Yoga Off the Mat and Into the World" says that when we do yoga, we become more grounded; aware of our bodies and our responses.   When someone is in the "fight or flight response", they are impulsive and not as able to choose their responses to a particular situation. Practicing yoga keeps us out of the "fight or flight" mentality, which is unhealthy for our bodies and our lives. It gives us the awareness to detach and think things through, rather than being impulsive.

The classes range in size from about half a dozen people to a completely packed room with wall to wall yoga mats, depending upon the time of day, teacher & class.

Sadly, Riverdog Yoga is now closing it's doors at the end of this July. Kimberly has been spending most of her time up in Maine now for the past several years, as their young daughter is in school up there. As a generous farewell gift to Riverdog students, she has reduced single class fees to $12.00. Kate, Emrys, Grace and the others are all wonderful teachers. It is a joy to spend an hour or so in their company - I started practicing yoga at age 21 in Manhattan and the teachers at Riverdog are as great as the teachers I had at the Lincoln Center yoga studio where I started.

Take this opportunity to unite body, breath and soul in a very special, very clean, light airy space with a lovely community of people on our CT Shoreline. If you seek peace, calm, a healthy body and mind combined with perhaps some joy, wisdom and healing, you will find it here, across the street from where the three brown cows graze happily in their pasture and occasionally moo softly during satsavana or down dog.

Sailing, Goal Setting & Attitude Adjustments

2013-07-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

Do you ever look back and notice what your "life defining experiences" were?!? One of the great joys of being a Baby Boomer is being able to do this.

As a young girl who loved to sail, I was trained to race sailboats in a junior sailing program starting at age 12. My first introduction to sailing was at age 9, when my mother took me out for a sail in a Blue Jay. I still remember how exciting it was to feel the boat leaving the confines of the mooring and glide silently along the water, powered only by the wind. It felt so carefree and adventurous, not something I was used to feeling at home or in school as the eldest of 5 children at that time, which grew to 7 by the time I was 13.  At 18, my youngest brother was born.    I hadn't been sure I would like sailing, as I really loved horses but was not allowed to pursue my desire to become a horseback rider like a couple of my great aunts who were nationally ranked riders, one of them trained an Olympic equestrian. My mother was afraid of horses but she used to talk about sailing all the time. But after that initial sail, I couldn't wait to take sailing lessons the next summer!

The effects of those 5 years of sailing lessons, including 3 years of racing every single day of the summer, last to this day.   This childhood experience was to impact my life on many levels, which of course, I never thought about at the time.   I was just having fun out in the fresh air on the water with my friends and instructors, getting tan and learning to harness the wind to do my bidding and trying to get around the race course faster than any of the other boats because it was fun and exhilarating and it made my coach very happy when we won and I had a huge crush on him, as did the few other girls in my sailing class.   It is only through looking back at life and experiences that one can see what a great difference someone or something made in your life.

When one is learning a new skill so much depends upon a number of factors like how good your coach is technically, how much enthusiasm he or she has for the sport, your "chemistry" with that coach, and of course, how much or how little you enjoy it. Very important too is your motivation for doing the work required to excel. I was very fortunate to be in that junior sailing program at a time when we had a top notch coach/head instructor who loved to race, loved to win and was a very nice, very handsome guy with a great smile. There weren't too many girls in the sailing school back then, but the ones that were - we all had huge crushes on him!

Besides wanting to see my coach happy, as he always was when I won, and the fun of spending time with my friends away from the restrictive eyes of our parents, the main motivating factor for me was the sheer joy of sailing as fast as I could get the boat to go. It was such a heady, thrilling feeling of freedom, almost like flying, being "free as a bird".    I loved being out in the sunshine, on the water, feeling the wind and being one with nature. It was like riding a horse only I was "riding a boat"...on the water. I really enjoyed learning how to push myself as hard I could and use all that I had been taught and then getting to relax and celebrate afterwards. It was a great way to grow up and have fun with friends of all ages who also enjoyed sailing!

A big thing I learned as a young racer which has helped me with for my entire life is setting and achieving goals. As a racer, you are taught to break down the components of the race into winning the start, then winning the first, second and third marks and finally, winning the finish. Our coach taught us how to break down the important elements of each section and strategies for success with each one. First there was the start. Making a good start in the race, he taught us and proved to us was key to winning the race.   Still possible to win if you didn't, but you had to work very hard, make all the right decisions, be lucky and count on others making mistakes in order to win if you didn't know how to be the first or at least in the top three over the starting line.

This is not much different than making a good impression at a new job, in a class, at a meeting, on a sales call, in a social situation or at a job interview.

Your next goal is to get to the first mark in first or second place. Our brilliant coach taught us that it is actually easier to succeed if you get there in 2nd place by finding out ahead of time who the best sailors are, picking the one you think will get there first and copying their tactics without letting them block you. Once you both get to the mark, make the best mark rounding you possibly can and then work the rest of the race on trying to pass them. It is important while doing this, not to focus on the other boat and get all stressed about who is doing "better" but just to focus on your boat and what you know how to do considering all the elements of wind, water, boat handling & teamwork, without breaking any rules, in order to get there first. It is all about maximum efficiency working with a number of variables, you could call it "being in the flow". Sailors call it "being in the groove".

Since each day is different in sailing and each person, team and boat has different strengths and weaknesses, you learn after a number of races which conditions are easier for you than others and how to plan to do well that particular day. This really helps with your self confidence under conditions that tend to be easier for you and makes you know you need to work harder and smarter under conditions that are more challenging, but not to get discouraged or overwhelmed. You just continue to focus on doing everything you possibly can to win. As they say " if you focus on reaching the moon, even if you fail, you will still end up with the stars".

The Positive Power of the Internet! Congratulations to the creators and team of "Project Wild Thing" and "Night Running" on Kickstarter!

2012-12-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Especially during this time of year, I am very excited to announce that the spirit of Santa Claus is alive and well on Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) and "Project Wild Thing" exceeded their $30, 000 goal !! I enjoyed learning about this great endeavor and getting to know some of their team through our communications. This is a really professional, experienced group of caring, concerned filmmakers and I am excited to see them finish this important film. It is a great feeling to know that you have truly helped to make a difference by supporting the efforts of some brilliant, talented, dedicated visionaries who want us to have the best world possible now and in future generations. Sadly, "Project Wild Thing's" work is even more relevant today than it was a couple of weeks ago, as we have had to witness the tragic effects on a formerly tranquil Connecticut community of a young man who spent too much time with violent video games and technology rather than being supported in experiencing what is best about our world and nature. Granted, he had mental illness issues, but I think we can all see how spending so much time with violent video games and assault weapons rather than spending time learning about about and taking care of animals or exploring the wonders of being out of doors in nature could help send him down the horrible road he took to end his life and that of so many innocents.

Green Lion Productions were very professional in response to my request for their stated blog materials and sent them to me in a timely manner. Their timely response and materials enabled me to create the two blogposts I put together recently to share their concept with you and to help them reach their goal. Part of the fun of "supporting" a project, which can be done with as little as $2 or as much as $5,000 (the largest donation tier I've seen so far on a Kickstarter project) is that when you make a contribution, you then get to see the creator's updates and all the other backers (there can be over a thousand backers for one project!). "Project Wild Thing" had about 680 or so backers and when they were at about 520, I took some time to peruse them. You get to see their names, "avatars" (photo/icons if they have them) and how many other projects they have backed, if any.

When I have time, I like to look at the other projects people have backed to see what people of similar tastes to mine might like. One of "Project Wild Things" backers also backed a project about a new book called Night Running. I was curious about what the title meant, so I checked out the video clip on the project.  This clip really spoke to me and I think the book will speak to lots of people. Even though I do love to exercise, I am not a runner, but have friends who are runners. (True confession - I so wish I liked to run, as I do love to eat! I completely envy my running friends for their lack of fat and their ability to eat anything they want whenever they want.)

I was very taken by Night Running, as the concept of "running in the dark" has never even occurred to me, not being a runner (unfortunately!)   I couldn't even imagine why someone would want to run in the dark, but in watching the clip, I learned that running is so important to some people and their lives are so busy that night is the only time they can carve out to run.  There seems to be another unique slant to this book which is that the act of running is compared to the act of writing.  I am thinking this will be very helpful to people like me who must fight to overcome procrastination more often than not.   To quote Steve Kettman, Night Running's creator:

"Writing and running have a lot in common, especially that feeling in the pit of your gut that tells you to be afraid, very afraid, just before you start. But in writing as well as running, sometimes the fear and dread turn out to have been misplaced. Sometimes you are powered as if from without by a feeling that you can do what you have never done before.   NIGHT RUNNING is a project all about breaking through that feeling of fear and dread and discovering exciting new possibilities. It's a book of essays by five different writers, each alone in the night, each exploring the raw hope and agony of life that we so often keep hidden, bottled up inside or at best, meted out with half-ironic camouflage."

I am very happy to see both "Project Wild Thing" and Night Running exceed their goals and get funded and I look foward to seeing the finished products in 2013! Kudos to Kickstarter for helping these and many other amazing projects get funded! It is exciting to see different projects that people in your state, across the country or in a different part of the world are coming up with and it is a great way to support talented, enterprising people who are working hard to add their great ideas to our world. If you have a great idea that you want to put into play, Kickstarter is a great way to introduce it to the world, while getting support to help make it happen. My advice is to do a really good job in packaging and describing your idea and to study those who have been successful on Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) .

Less than 65 Hours to go for "Project Wild Thing"

2012-12-03T20:17:00.001-08:00

Two days ago, I wrote a post about Project Wild Thing. It's rewarding to see they have inched more towards their goal since then, but they are still only about 75% there and the deadline is drawing near! I really want to see this film and to see children playing out of doors, rather than glued to their electronics all the time, don't you?!? I think it will be a reminder to all of us to let children see us taking a break from our screens and going outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Please check it out and if you like it - help them reach their goal! www.bit.ly/projectwildthing "Pretty please with a cherry on top"!

I said I would post some copy from David Bond's blog that was sent by Green Lions. I have highlighted the paragraphs that were most outstanding in my mind. Here it is along with one of their photos:

"When I ask my children why they would rather watch TV than go outside, they say that television is more fun. But what is fun for a 3 and a 5-year-old? Their tastes are hugely influenced by my tastes. They emulate me, poor things. And I love screens. So when I complain about the barriers that stop them from playing in the big wide world, could it be that I am the problem, or at least a big part of the problem?

Indoor activity has evolved quite a bit since cave painting. Bad entertainment ideas like El Dorado [link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIP4QeIkXfw] have died off, and through a natural selection process we have been left with the screen content that does its job best. But what job?

TV shows or games that survive the media jungle are those with the power to hook in the greatest audiences. It is widely accepted now that what brings in the audiences is content that fires up emotion in viewers.

Agnes Nairn co-authored a UNICEF report that judges the UK harshly as a difficult place to bring up happy children. She says, “There is no evil marketeer sitting in a boardroom, stroking a white cat and plotting how to monopolise children’s brains”. Rather, she says, the whole system incentivizes the production of addictive content.

Addictive content is the stuff that best triggers our hottest emotions – our so-called ‘fight or flight’ reactions. The endorphins that we release to respond to fight or run from stress are very addictive. In the wild, the release of such chemicals is usually followed by intense exercise (as we escape the lion). In front of the television, this state is maintained for hours on end with no accompanying exercise. We are designed for flight of flight. But we need to recuperate from it. So when I turn off the television, my 3-year-old son usually reacts angrily. He is ready to punch me for denying him the fix.

So if screens are drugs, should we go after the manufacturers and suppliers, or the users? Should we start a war on screens? No – because, like a war on drugs, it will not work. Whatever the local rules, content is now a democracy and you can get your violent video game, or latest episode of Downton Abbey (they both push the same buttons) on demand on the Internet.

So whilst we could ban or regulate child-directed media, we would, I believe, get further by dealing with the addicts, like me. Spending hours on screens leads to more hours on screen. The stressed physical state means less sleep, and less energy for other activities. Going outside is pretty tough work after TV. So children do less outside and do more television and games.

Just 20 years ago children used to play out a lot more. 40% would regularly play in natural places. Now only 10% do. That is why I have appointed myself the marketing director for Nature. Because I figured Nature needs one. The sales of outdoor play to children have fallen off a cliff, while sales of screen activities have soared. Disney and Nintendo have eaten Nature’s breakfast. They are well on the way to winning the battle – and making outdoor play fully redundant.

I am making a cinema documentary about the loss of connection between children and nature. I want to know if it is possible to ‘sell’ the idea of the outdoors to children. Can we beat the screen content providers at their own game?

We have almost finished the film. We just need to shoot some final scenes. I am not giving away anything to say that I failed in the initial plan. We just could not get nature’s message heard over the racket made by billions of dollars of marketing budgets. But is has made me take a more subversive route – using guerilla marketing and crowd funding. That is why we are on Kickstarter. It is a platform where people pledge money to help complete the film, market nature, and in turn get rewards - like a free download of the finished film, tickets to the premiere, producer credits.

If this sounds interesting, take a look at www.bit.ly/projectwildthing for more information.

We have to do something to persuade ourselves, and our children that there is a whole world out there – outside of screens – that is rich, varied, stimulating, healthy and free. That is my sales pitch. Do you buy it?

"Project Wild Thing" on Kickstarter

2012-12-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

If you go onto Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) and search for "Project Wild Thing" you will find an amazing documentary based on the No Child Left Indoors philosophy from author Richard Louv's book of the same name.    "Project Wild Thing" is the perfect antidote to the many hours our children are currently spending inside, addictively glued to their electronic devices, instead of having good, clean healthy fun playing outside and learning to love and respect our natural world. Even though the film is produced in Great Britain, it addresses a wide problem that is also huge in the United States, as you can see from their website.  The film is being prepared for international screening and distribution.

David Bond and Ashley Jones, two award winning cinematographers who started a film production company in England called Greenlions, are the writers/directors/producers of this important film. The film is slated to come out in 2013 for international and right now they are on Kickstarter to raise 30,000 UK pounds needed to finish filming a couple scenes and for editing. They are already at 72% of goal with over 500 supporters, but only have 4 more days to get fully funded or they get nothing.   You can go directly to the "Project Wild Thing" page at www.bit.ly/projectwildthing .

The above photo is one that Greenlions sent at my request for additional information - it is a telling visual for how most children of well-meaning parents spend a great deal of our time, starting at a very early age.  This young child represents many children and is great motivation for this film, as he happens to be the son of one of Greenlion's founders. Soon, I will publish the article they wrote, but right now, I just want you to visit Kickstarter so you can see "Project Wild Thing" for yourself.

The way Kickstarter works is that you are given 30 days to meet your desired goal for funding and if you don't raise at least the total amount none of the supporters' credit cards get charged and there are no funds awarded.    Please check out "Project Wild Thing" and, if you like it, do whatever you can to support it. I think you will enjoy and appreciate this important, worthy film and feel good that you helped to make it happen. Even a little bit helps - the clock is ticking loudly now!   Thank you for your time and contribution. I look foward to seeing your name along with mine as a supporter of this project.

America's Cup World Series in Newport by Doris Colgate

2012-07-24T18:41:00.003-07:00

The America’s Cup Up Close and Personal

July 2nd, 2012

During the Sail America industry conference last week, Steve and I had the amazing opportunity to tour the America’s Cup compound at Fort Adams off Newport, Rhode Island . . . AND watch the races Wednesday afternoon. To say those 45′ super high performance catamarans are exciting is an understatement! They accelerate in no time flat, can capsize (though we didn’t see that happen on Wednesday), and require 150% of the skipper and crew, who each wear heart monitors that record consistent heartbeats of over 180.

Italian Entry Luna Rossa Swordfish Being Launched

The whole program is designed for spectators. Organizers call it “Stadium Racing” and it seems like just that as the entire course is visible from land, with boats tacking and jibing right close to shore. The eight boats racing represented 6 countries – the U.S., Korea, France, Sweden and Italy.
The actual America’s Cup races will take place in September 2013 in San Francisco Bay on 72′ catamarans with 160′ (I think) masts. In 2012 the teams have been training on 45 footers, with regattas run in various ports around the world. Prior to coming to Newport, they raced in Venice, Italy. How cool is that????

The magnitude of the operation, which in total moves from venue to venue, is hard to describe. But here goes:

Eight huge “tents” side by side, one for each team
Official race headquarters – the hub of all activities
A separate sail loft for sail repairs
A huge crane that travels with the whole shebang with one crane operator dedicated to the delicate task of putting in and taking out the rigs each day, and launching the boats
Press center
Visitors center
Sponsor centers
A superb set of billboards providing the history of the Cup
Stores chock-a-block with t-shirts, polos, jackets and other logo souvenirs for each team
Food centers, vip centers and so much more
The Two U.S. Entries - Oracle Coutts and Oracle Spithill - Side By Side

My husband and founder of Offshore Sailing School, Steve Colgate, raced on Twelve Metres in the America’s Cup Trials in 1967 and 1970. In those days teams trained over the summer for the final trials in the fall. The races were relatively slow and long, with spectator boats just about the only way to catch a glimpse of what was going on. Maybe a million dollars was spent on a campaign. Now it is in the hundreds of millions or more. Now the races are 22 or 32 minutes long. The boats can go double the wind speed (reaching more than 20 knots in moderate air). And you can see the whole thing from the shore or from your computer, tablet, phone or TV. Even if you don’t know how to sail or don’t understand racing, you’ll get it! Big time!

France's Team Energy "Tent" In The Compound

Yesterday (Sunday, July 1) the final races in Newport were broadcast nationwide on NBC at 2:30 p.m. with Gary Jobson explaining every move. He too has sailed in the America’s Cup, is a world-class sailor and commentator who covers sailing in the Olympics and just about every other major sailing event, and is currently President of US Sailing (the national governing body of sailing in the U.S).

With mics on every boat, cameras, GPS, flashing lights to tell them when they get too close to outer limits of the course or within a two boat length of a mark, and every other gadget – you will feel like you are aboard too.
You don’t have to wait until the next set of regattas, check it all out at the offical America’s Cup site and see what I mean. To get a glimpse of what it’s like to be aboard one of these catamarans as a spectator, take a look at SAIL Magazine’s video: http://www.sailmagazine.com/cup-watch/crewforaday. The magazine recently ran a contest offering a ride during a race to the winner of a short essay. His story is fun.

If you want to get into racing, Offshore Sailing School has a super Performance Sailing and Racing program. Check it out!

Doris Colgate
CEO and President, Offshore Sailing School

Anchoring Etiquette - The Unwritten 'Rules of the Rode'!

2012-01-18T20:00:00.002-08:00

If you are lucky enough to start the New Year off someplace where you can go coastal cruising or if you are thinking about heading someplace warm to sail, this article by Alex and Daria Blackwell of the SSCA (Seven Seas Cruising Association) will be of great use. They are the authors of Happy Hooking and their website is: www.coastalboating.net. Highly recommended with lots of well written informative content. For some reason I couldn't get their photos to show in my blog, so I took the liberty of substituting some of my own.

Anchoring Etiquette - The Unwritten ‘Rules of the Rode’!

Most, though not all, laws that govern us today are based in some way on common sense and established practice. Anchoring etiquette is no exception, and though mostly unwritten, there are still things one should or must comply with when coming into an anchorage and dropping a hook. The same goes for what we do once securely attached to the bottom. Of course, now that we’re writing about them, ‘the rules of the rode’ will no longer remain unwritten, will they?
Like many things in life, common sense often dictates how one should or should not behave. Combined with a strong sense of integrity, common sense also conveys a sense of what is right and what is wrong. Distinguishing between what is right and what is wrong allows us to make the next decision about what we should and should not do in relation. The combined sense of rights and wrongs as well as shoulds and should nots is what forms the basis of etiquette. When there is no written rule or law, common sense and etiquette will often dictate who is right if and when a dispute arises. And rest assured that it will.
There are actually two sets of considerations in anchoring etiquette. The first helps create order, and hence safety, in the way boats align in the anchorage. The second helps maintain serenity when chaos could prevail.
The cardinal rules of anchoring etiquette, therefore, are quite simple, and we hope that, at the very least, you will take these to heart:

(1) The first boat sets the precedent.
(2) Once anchored, treat others as THEY would like to be treated…with respect.

Anchorage at Duck Island, CT

The first boat sets the precedent
Anchoring etiquette dictates that the use of an anchorage is on a first come, first served basis. Boats coming later have to respect the space needs and swing radii as well as other attributes of those already anchored. This includes, but is not limited to the obvious considerations: type of boat, method of anchoring, selection of location and behavior of the boaters. Of course, if you are the fiftieth boat in the anchorage, it’s pretty hard to tell who got there first. You can spend the whole night going from boat to boat asking, “Who was the first boat here?” or you can treat all those who were there before you as setting the precedent.
Entering an anchorage
Be sure to enter an anchorage or mooring area at a slow speed. This is like moving into a new neighborhood. You want your neighbors to like you. Again, you don't want to create a wake that would upset someone's dinner or drink.
Look at your chart and guestimate where the other boats are. Cruise through the anchorage before selecting your spot. Look at how other boats have anchored. Ask for advice. Anchoring is a spectator sport, and chances are that folks keeping an eye on the anchorage at the height of activity in the evening will have their radios on to catch interesting chatter, and even to assist when necessary. We’ve had a couple of instances where we spoke to people in the know. Finding a spot to anchor is not always easy in a busy harbor.
When selecting your spot, check around for proximity of anchored vessels. How close is the boat next to the spot you are eying? Might they have a generator or air conditioning onboard that would create noise in the anchorage? Does it look like a situation with party potential, such as a raft up? Do they have anchors out in configurations that would create markedly different swing patterns than you are contemplating. If the people on the boats you're positioning yourself near are glowering at you, take that as a clue to anchor elsewhere. In the end, boating etiquette is pretty simple: a matter of being a good neighbor. Keep that in mind, and you'll be welcome in any anchorage.

No matter how much room there is an anchorage, someone always drops anchor near another boat. We call it the magnet effect.

Magnet Effect
Because of the magnet effect, even though most boats are plastic, if you drop a hook in the water in a secluded anchorage you are bound to attract the only other boat to come in. Yep, they’ll do a nice circle around your boat, wave to you, then drop a hook right next to you – never over on the other side of the bay. How close they drop it is a matter of vital importance. Now if you were there first, it is your right to speak to them and ask them to move. Remember, if your property or your safety are at risk, you have the right and the obligation to ensure the best possible outcome. Speak up. We’ve called over, hailed on the radio and in other ways ascertained the intentions of the anchoring vessel. We have similarly negotiated in reverse with the vessel there first.
Anchoring etiquette requires invocation of the Golden Rule – you know, that you treat others the way you'd like to be treated. So unless you are specifically invited to anchor next to someone, assume that you should give them as much space as possible. And unless an anchorage gets extremely crowded, don't anchor directly upwind of another boat.
Besides anchoring so closely that other boats don't have swing room, other anchoring no-no's include driving too fast through anchorages, dropping the hook in the middle of channels, and tying off to channel markers to fish. There's also a question of limiting noise pollution - after all, most boaters want to get away from it all on the water.
How much rode?
How much scope do the other boats have out? The angle the rode makes at the surface of the water is a quick indicator of how much rode you or your neighbor has out. The more acute the angle the greater the scope. More is better. A rode pointing straight down has minimal scope. The correct approach is to match their length, and don’t be afraid to ask if you’re not sure how to estimate. If they do not have enough scope, go elsewhere. Safety is the prime concern. If you cannot go elsewhere, consider negotiating with them to add more scope for safety.
Similarly, if someone comes in to the anchorage who anchors too close or does not use enough scope, it is fair for you to address them politely asking them to move or let out more rode. If they refuse and you feel uncomfortable with the situation, especially in questionable or deteriorating weather conditions, the best decision in favor of good seamanship is for you to pick up anchor and move. After all it’s your safety and that of your vessel’s that is in jeopardy.
By the same token, if you get to an anchorage first and the anchorage starts to get crowded, don’t be a hog with 10:1 scope and actively try to help newcomers find a good spot rather than accusing them of infringing on your rights. Not only is it the right thing to do, it could save someone a night of distress – often you. Don’t forget that what goes around comes back around, and you may be the one in need next time.
Whether you're the first to arrive or the last doesn't matter if you start to drag your anchor. Now yours is the burdened vessel in the eyes of the law and you must keep clear of all other boats. Everyone drags anchor at one time or another; it's how you handle the situation that makes the difference. If letting out more scope doesn't stop the dragging, the best thing to do is to move to a spot with a better bottom or to switch anchors to one that might work better for the given bottom type. Too many skippers delay the decision to move until they're bearing down onto other boats, and perhaps causing a chain reaction of dragging anchors that is very difficult to recover from. Maritime law is based on centuries of experience. It will go against you if you do not act according to traditional protocol and good seamanship.

Top 10 rude behaviors that show disrespect in an anchorage
Anchoring too close to another vessel which got there first	Shouting above engine noise
Anchoring with different configuration than other vessels in the anchorage	Shining a spotlight directly at anchored vessels
Anchoring upwind of vessels and barbecuing odiferous meals on deck	Running a generator very early in the morning or late into the night
Creating a wake in an anchorage	Allowing a dog to continue barking for prolonged periods
Playing loud music in proximity to others	Incessant cell phone ringing

Treat your neighbors with respect
We all have stories of loud parties going well into the night keeping everyone else up, boats careening through a crowded anchorage, cell phones beeping endlessly or having to partake of someone else’s lengthy and loud conversation, listening to someone go on endlessly about some barber in Seville at high volume when you’d rather be in Margaritaville with Jimmy Buffet. How about just plain general and overall rudeness? In some cases, you know there is no amount of training that will overcome a particular boater’s rudeness and then it is best to move on. However, there is a collection of behaviors that come to the top of the list and that once appreciated can be avoided. We hope to help you avoid some of the pitfalls by sharing with you what we have learned, on occasion by making the mistakes ourselves.

Five things to remember that can affect anchoring etiquette: Sound, Smell, Wake, Lights, and Proximity.
Please remember that sound travels far over water. Voices, music, engine noise, especially outboard motors, unmuffled go-fast boats, ski boats, jet skis, generators, barking dogs and the dreaded ‘ringing phone’ are all examples of the most egregious disruption of anchorage serenity. It is easy to see that common sense can prevail in predicting what will not be appreciated and protecting the serenity for the common good.
That is not to say that you should not enjoy a good party. If you are planning a raft up or just an evening of revelry with friends, try to be the first in the anchorage. Remember, the first boat in sets the precedent, and that can apply to the use of the anchorage as well. People who see a raft up with expect some degree of rowdiness, although excess can be hard to tolerate for anyone. There are also certain anchorages where raft ups are common and people expect laughter, voices, music and BBQ scents to be wafting throughout. It can be easier to anchor in such a “designated party place” if you are planning a party where a certain set of behaviors is anticipated and often shared.
Similarly, there is one particular anchorage where we know there is a slalom ski run set up so we know that if we anchor there, it’s our problem to bear if early morning skiers arrive. There is another anchorage where there is a wide open bay and ski boats make a point of coming as close as possible to anchored boats either as an annoyance factor or to show off. Believe me, we couldn’t care less how well you ski when our boat is careening in the wake after the sound of your passing made us jump out of bed to see what the ruckus was. Trust me, we’ll be cheering your every mistake and wishing you dramatic tumbles in vengeance, especially when our cat is cowering under the covers of our bed.
There is also an interesting phenomenon that occurs when boats need to pass around anchored boats. One would think they might pass behind where there is no anchor rode to snag, but no, most often they pass in front. We keep waiting for some unsuspecting tourist in the anchorage to pull up our anchor by mistake.
Then of course there is the proverbial bevy of mosquito-like jet skis that buzz around anchorages because they can. A friend once declared open season on jet skis that buzz anchored boats and I did not ask what that meant. But I did know what I wanted to do when it happened. Actually, we recently had a pleasant experience with jet skiers. They had a new version of muffled jet ski with 4-stroke engine and actually gave us a wide pass. It was not unpleasant; but don’t tell anyone. Yet, there is little worse, or more dangerous, than cooking breakfast below, hot coffee and tea in hand, and being thrown across the galley by a boat in a hurry.
But noise comes in many shapes and sizes. A party of revelers who stay active well into the night can be as annoying as any jet ski; unless of course you are part of the party. So where is the happy medium? You can invite neighbors to the party, accept that people won’t be happy with you in the morning, or temper your volume along the way. Your choice. We’ve had experience with all three so you are not reading anything saintly here.

Dinghies can often leave a bigger wake than larger vessels. Their engines can be loud, and the rider's voices can be heard far away, so don't make disparaging remarks about people's boats if you don;t want them to be heard.

Let’s consider some other particularly annoying things that can happen in an anchorage. You wake up one morning hearing a little dog barking incessantly. It’s Sunday and he wants to go, but his master was partying last night and is sleeping in. You want to sleep in but there is not a visible sign of action onboard. Do you get in your dinghy and take the doggone dog out for a walk? They’d probably arrest you for dog napping but at least the dog would stop yapping and the anchorage would once again rest in peace. What to do? Calling on the VHF won’t do it because they are not listening. This is one of those things that may make you move on. We’ve actually stopped by the offending vessel in our dinghy under the pretense of finding out if the dog is in some kind of trouble.
If you've got a generator, remember that noise carries great distances over water. Respect the fact that most cruisers appreciate tranquility. Many people do not realize that a generator can be very disturbing to fellow cruisers who do not have such mechanical gear on board. Sailors in small vessels have little aboard to generate noise. Anchoring a power vessel that has constant refrigeration or air conditioning that generates incessant noise of an engine and water running is inconsiderate. Try to anchor near other similar vessels that will not notice this type of disturbance to which you are accustomed.
There is nothing wrong with letting people know that something they are doing is bothering you. We usually stand there and watch as new people enter an anchorage. If they come too close to our vessel, we will often either hail them on the radio or indicate to them from the deck where our anchor was dropped so they know not to park there. Similarly, if boats come through the anchorage creating a wake, we will ask them to slow down and point out their wake. Probably about half the time, especially in the case of inflatable dinghies returning from shore leave, they slow down having been unaware of the havoc behind them.
Smell is another rather obnoxious way to interrupt someone’s idyllic evening. Barbecues light up in every anchorage and most people don’t mind the smell of burgers on the grill. But if you have an excessively smoky meal to cook or fish on the grill, being upwind of a boatload of vegetarians may be cause for strong sentiments. Sharing is not always a good thing, especially when you are upwind of other vessels and cooking something particularly odiferous.
The proverbial nemesis of calm and quiet and getting away from it all is the cell phone. There was a story I remember hearing about a cell phone incident in an anchorage. A vessel was enjoying dusk in a quiet anchorage when the ringing of a cell phone broke right through the magic. The cell phone appeared to be on deck of a nearby boat, whose owners had gone ashore without it. After an endless number of rings, it stopped. Ah, silence. Moments later, it started again. This pattern was repeated for an eternity as the many friends maintaining close contact refused to give up on their friend’s unwillingness to answer. Then from a boat anchored nearby, a dinghy crossed surreptitiously to the offending vessel. Having watched the owners go ashore and having endured several hours of torture, they decided to take action before something or someone snapped. As the teller watched, with binoculars of course, the mysterious dinghy skipper, climbed onboard, removed the battery and returned both to the safety of the cockpit. Our hero.
No wake zones
Any wake is a serious sleep deterrent at best and a hazard in the galley and elsewhere at worst. Just think of no wake as a zone where people are sleeping and do not want to be awoken. They also don’t want dishes flying off the saloon table, hot soup burning their hands, or bodies being flung against the rigging or off the boat. This is a serious offense in many anchorages, and remember that in many places, the harbormaster can pull you over and give you a citation that will cost you money. If you are determined to have been driving wrecklessly and endangering the safety of others, you can be charged up to $5000 in fines and serve jail time as well. So much for a joy ride! So in this case, a matter of etiquette can also be a matter of the law if the behavior crosses the line of common sense.

Lights
Light can be a major potential annoyance at best, and a serious hazard at worst. There are the boats lit up like Christmas trees with confusing configurations of lights that conflict with the anchor light required by law. Some people have their steaming lights, their deck lights, their underwater lights, and their landing lights on all at the same time creating light pollution in an otherwise secluded spot. All those lights require the generator to run all night long, which creates noise population to go right along with the lights. But as long as they stay far away, it’s not much of an issue. It’s when they start shining the lights on your boat that the problems begin.
Most people looks for privacy when they anchor. If you come into an anchorage at night and find that you must use a search light to find an opening, do not shine the light the directly at other people’s boats. Aside from disturbing their privacy and night vision, you may be lighting up more than you want to see. And never, never shine the light into people’s faces. You will blind them with the light, and if they are in motion as you are searching for the right spot, they will be incapable of maneuvering safely and may not see you coming after all.
A word on civilized communication during maneuvers
So who does not have an anchoring communications etiquette story? Like the one about the boat that enters a nearly empty harbor and drops anchor pretty close to on top of yours? Your first reaction is to yell out, “What are you blind that you didn’t see us anchored here? Anything wrong with the rest of the harbor?”
Be aware when anchoring (especially during the early evening hours), that almost everyone else in the anchorage will be observing you (as discreetly as possible, of course). It's just the way it is. You'll do it too. Just remember that it's not the anchoring, or the need to re-anchor, which separates the beginners from the experts - it's the amount of yelling and chaos that breaks out between the person handling the anchor, and the person maneuvering the boat.
In order to avoid the embarrassing shouting you have all heard during anchoring and other maneuvers, we have several suggestions for communications that won’t start a Mars and Venus kind of discussion. Develop a set of hand signals to communicate with one another well in advance. When you have someone on the bow working the anchor (we prefer the strong male in that department even though we now have a windlass and we both have to know how to do it) and the other person is aft at the helm, it may be difficult to be heard above the roar of the engine. We will usually use simple hand signals to let each other know of obstructions, intentions and speed or course changes, but we also use walkie-talkies (handheld FRS radios) that are available relatively inexpensively at most sporting goods stores.
These radios are especially useful when the wind is really blowing and your words are scattered from the bow before they have a chance to leave your tongue. We also use them to communicate from below decks to topside, like on night watch when we need to rouse a sleeping mate for a sail change or to communicate between the person on radar watch at the navigation station and the helmsman. The other great reasons to have these FRS radios are that you don’t need a license and they are legal for use on shore as well as keeping in touch with the dinghy brigade. Don’t forget, that VHF radio is for use solely on the water (and with special permit from land to water as in a marina dock-house).

Expect binoculars and cameras to be trained on you at some time in an anchorage, but try not to be too obvious if using them yourself.

Binocular etiquette
Don’t be too obvious with the binoculars, but recognize that they must be used at all times. How else will you know what they put down there, how much rode they let out, whether they have a snubber and what’s for dinner? Know in advance that there will be times when you and your target meet in binocular unison. Who looks away first and how you handle the intrusion will be most revealing to you about your own personality traits. And of course recognize that all eyes will be on you at some point in time. And if you have a pretty boat, expect the cameras too.
Pumpout religiously
There is nothing more disconcerting than an idyllic setting marred by boaters who inconsiderately and against the law, refused to use a holding tank and pumpout stations. Instead, they turned their heads overboard and turned the pristine envrionement into a cess pool. What a joyous thought to send your children swimming in proximity to such environmentally caring neighbors. NOT.
That goes for any environmentally unfriendly refuse and discharge. Do not empty your bilge in small coves where small leaks causing oily discharge can harm the sanctuary. Do not feed the birds and do not throw anything overboard, including biodegradables, that would not have been there naturally to begin with. This is not only a matter of etiquette and good environmental practice, but in many places it is also against the law.

Finding your boat via dinghy in the anchorage at night
Shore leave is a wonderful thing – it can be lots of fun, but getting back to your boat late at night, or worse yet in the fog, can be a little challenging. A common scenario is a shore party that had a lovely evening, toasted the season’s bounty in good company and is now having a jovial return to the mother ship. They are speeding through the anchorage, forgetting that dinghies often throw a bigger wake than their big sisters, they are shouting over the roar of the engine, having forgotten how far sound carries over the water, and they buzz boats everywhere, searching for the one they belong to and cannot find. Gone is the serenity of the anchorage in one ungracious moment.
At night, it helps to have a flashlight. Etiquette in the anchorage, however, dictates that one should never shine the light directly into other people’s boats unless you are prepared to awaken someone very rudely or see something you really don’t want to. Common sense dictates respecting the privacy of your neighbors in the anchorage.
If you are using your dinghy at night to go ashore or to visit others in the anchorage, consider doing so using oars and not your outboard. If you are rowing around the anchorage and see people on deck, you should be friendly but not intrusive unless encouraged, of course. Some boaters are friendly and like to socialize, while others are reflective and just want to be left alone. Tradition dictates that if you approach another vessel you should do so on the starboard side six to ten feet away. If you strike up a conversation and you recognize by their attitude that they really aren't interested, just move on. Similarly, if you approach a friend’s vessel and they are not on deck, approach from the starboard side and call out, “Ahoy, ‘vessels name’.” If they do not respond, move on. If they come on deck and respond, proceed as instructed. It is courteous to request permission to tie up and come aboard even if invited for a potluck dinner in advance. Never ever go knocking on the windows except in an emergency situation.
Dinghy etiquette, therefore, dictates driving slowly without creating a wake, speaking softly to maintain the serenity, not shining lights directly into other vessels, and finding your boat with some degree of accuracy to disturb as few neighbors as possible.
Adhering to the COLREGS
Even when being anchored, you are required to adhere to the USCG mandated rules of the road. The most significant to pertain to anchoring is staying away from restricted zones, never anchoring in marked channels, never tying up to government navigational marks like red or green buoys or lighthouses, and using the proper night lights and day shapes. In designated anchorages, you are not required to use the standard signals, but you may do so if you choose, and we always use an all around white light at night and black ball during the day. Although this is less a matter of etiquette and more a matter of adhering to law, etiquette is preserved when you adhere. You won’t be in the way of vessels navigating tight channels, you won’t be obstructing their view of markers or even dragging them off station, and you’ll be easier to see if you are well lit in aplace where there may not always be someone in the way.

For more on this and other anchoring subjects check out:

Happy Hooking - the Art of Anchoring

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Sailing, Eco, Health Adventures: Hoe Down at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center, Old Lyme, CT

2012-01-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

Sailing, Eco, Health Adventures: Hoe Down at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center, Old Lyme, CT

Another Great Article by Captain John Jamieson

2011-12-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

Five Golden Rules to Live By for Sailing Safety! By John Jamieson at www.skippertips.com

If you are anything like me, one of the toughest decisions to make seems to be the "go; no go" one. That final call every sailing skipper needs to make before casting off.

Use this five step process from the masters. You will gain the confidence to deal with those unexpected situations that come your way when day sailing, cruising, or racing.

It's one thing if it's just you alone. Single-handers have the luxury of just being responsible for themselves.
But if you have sailing crew aboard, you are tasked with their safety and well being. So how can you make that final call in a calm, confident manner?
Here are five reliable methods, used by the world's best blue water sailors, to help you meet the challenges ahead...

Prepare to the MaxPut yourself into a "what-if" mode of thought. Start at the bow and work aft. Could your anchor use another lashing (stopper) to keep it in place? Does the deck stowed dinghy or raft need extra bungee or lashings?
When was the last time you checked the chafe on each block and tackle, such as the traveler control lines, mainsheet, boom vang?
This becomes more critical as the weather deteriorates. Use this process underway and at anchor. Keep on top of little problems so that they don't become big ones.

Learn Three New Things Each DayLearn at least three new things every day. Read the writings of the masters, like Chichester, Moitessier, and Slocum. Roth, Chapman, Rousmaniere, Calder, Henderson, Hancock, Toss, Vigor, and so many more. These are guys that have "been there - done that".

You can pick up the fundamentals quickly, but half a lifetime is scarcely enough to perfect your techniques.

-- Hal Roth

And the masters I look to when I need more information. If you force yourself into this "3-a-day" discipline, you will find that your range of knowledge will exceed your wildest expectations.
These don't need to be complex things that involve hours of study. Learn an easier way to tie a common sailing knot, a better way to balance your small sailboat, or a safer method to reef your mainsail to boost your sailing skills sky high!

Practice, Practice, PracticeHow many of us sailors have bent on that storm jib or trysail, hoisted it and sailed with it? Or hove to, just to check out how our boat behaves in different conditions? Or gone through drills like man overboard, reefing, or flooding emergency with the sailing crew the first day of the coastal or offshore cruise?
Practice drills produce an automatic response under trying conditions. That's the main reason that military services have drill after drill. There's nothing familiar about the sea to human beings. We are land creatures. It makes sense that we practice techniques like sail reefing or how to tie a marine knot over and over again.
Once these become second nature, you move on to the next step on the learning ladder. As multi-time circumnavigator Hal Roth said about cruising under sail: "You can pick up the fundamentals quickly, but half a lifetime is scarcely enough to perfect your techniques."

Understand the WeatherFew persons look to the heavens more than once a day--sometimes never. Yet, clouds give the first clues of a frontal approach. Keep an eye on puffy, cotton-ball cumulus that might thicken and lower in the afternoon. Towering cumulonimbus can bring vicious squalls and thunderstorms.
Combine clouds with a barometer, and you can often forecast weather with better accuracy than a NOAA broadcast. Be on the lookout for wind shifts or a change in the sea-wave direction. The more you understand marine weather, the more prepared you will be when the rough stuff arrives.

Set the Example for Others to FollowBe the first aboard to wear a knife and lanyard on your person (not stowed down below). Or to put on the pfd when the weather turns foul. Or to don the sailing harness and clip on to the jack line. Remember, your sailing crew will often hesitate out of fear of how they will look in the eyes of their peers. Silly as it sounds, we all sometimes want to be the last to get the sailing gear on. Always keep in mind that your crew will look to you to show them the way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Follow these five tips from some of the world's wisest, most experienced sailors. You will build confidence and knowledge and gain the wisdom to make the right call to keep your sailing crew safe and sound.

"SEAMANSHIP SECRETS"
from International Marine / McGraw-Hill

"You will be in the hands of an experienced and trusted guide." -- Daniel Spurr, world famous author and former senior editor of Cruising World magazine.
"Written so clearly that navigation and seamanship will be comprehensible to anyone." -- Dave and Jaja Martin, circumnavigators, authors and stars of the documentary "Ice Blink".
"It should be read by anyone contemplating coastal cruising or blue water voyages." -- Ted Brewer, world famous yacht designer, veteran ocean racing and cruising sailor.
"It's a great book. The prose is simple and clear." -- John Vigor, acclaimed author of 12 sailing books and cruising sailor".

Captain John Shares 25+ Years of Experience to Show You How to...

Complete 90% of your navigation--before you cast off the lines.

Determine the best "window of opportunity" to transit any inlet.

Enter an unfamiliar harbor after dark in complete confidence.

Extend the trouble free service of any size inboard diesel engine.

Balance any sailing vessel in heavy weather in three easy steps.

Use "terrain effect" to forecast weather anywhere in the world.

Control boat emergencies with a simple method called M-A-T-E.

All this and much more. 326 pages tailored to short-handed sailors and crews.
Easy to read and loaded with crystal clear illustrations. Get your copy today!

"Trees In the Rigging" Land & Water Parade in Essex, CT on 11/28/11

2011-12-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

Essex, CT is a very quaint, charming New England town near the mouth of the Connecticut River. The town of Essex really loves a parade. A large shipbuilding town and important port on the way from the Atlantic Ocean to New York City, Essex even has a parade for the "Burning of the Fleet", the day the British tried to put a halt to the American Revolution by burning the fleet of merchant and pleasure ships at anchor in Essex. The 1st submarine was built in Essex in order to destroy British ships. Invented by David Bushnell, it is know as "The Turtle". It is now housed in the CT River Museum with copies in various other places, including the one built by students at Old Saybrook High School last year.

Anyway...back to this most recent Essex parade to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. There were antique cars and the antique Fire Engine, children & adults carrying lanterns, Fife and Drum Corps as well as Carollers, of course. I was with the Maritime Education Network and their Pirate Ship float. Earlier in the day at the school, after the men decorated and rigged the cannons so they would "fire" (smoke) found and hoisted the sails onto the ship and attached them, Kathy found the parrot and Sloan and I spruced up the children's faces looking out of the window of the stern of the ship. Kathy David is the Director of the Maritime Education Network and marched alongside the ship with the "Pirate Monkey". Sloan and I carried the Banner we'd decorated with tinsel and local children were found to ride in the float along with the adult volunteers. You can get more information at www.maritimeeducation.org .

After leaving the Town Hall parking lot and parading down the hill into town and stopping on Main Street "The 12 Days of Christmas" with the crowd, someone towed the Pirate Ship back to the school so the rest of us could watch the parade of boats light up the darkness on the Connecticut River competing for the best Christmas & Holiday Season's light display.

As they sailed by us a couple times, delighting us with their creativity and originality, you could hear the "oohs" and "ahhhhhs" from the crowd. Anyone connected with Essex Yacht Club frostbiting on the CT River was very happy to see our own "Fair & Square", the Race Committee boat, so beautifully decorated as Santa's shop on one side with the American flag on their other. There were even a couple of specially decorated and well lit kayaks paddled by very brave, hardy souls that had not ever been seen before, judging by the applause. Santa Claus was then ferried up to the CT River Museum dock where he was greeted by a long line of youngsters wanting to say "hi" and tell him their wishes. If you happen to be in chilly New England during Christmas season - "Trees in the Rigging" certainly gets you in Holiday Spirit!

Hoe Down at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center, Old Lyme, CT

2011-12-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

High Hopes is a magical place. You start to feel it as soon as you turn into the approaching drive and catch a glimpse of the gray wood building that houses office, stables and world class riding arena. There is a wide expanse of paddocks that seems to go on forever at the 120 acre equestrian and instructor training center. The stop sign at the beginning of the parking lot says "Whoa"! The Hoe Down fund raiser on November 10th with 65 vendors filling the riding arena with their beautiful wares and tasty treats was lots of fun and great Christmas shopping on a beautiful fall day. There was fun music to shop by , horses to see and even a horse drawn wagon ride. When I arrived before 1PM to work the "raffle table", there were already 500 cars parked in the paddock.

The day to day atmosphere at High Hopes is cheerful, friendly and well organized. The building is welcoming, fits in naturally in the country setting and is extremely well designed to contain stables, the riding arena, a reception area and lobby where you can watch the riders, offices and a kitchen. It is full of amazing people, amazing horses, kindness, compassion, continuous activity, heartwarming moments and lots of smiles. I have been volunteering as a "sidewalker" now since September and really look foward to it. When I started out and had more free time, I would sub in for other "sidewalkers" as often as I could, meeting various participants, horses and other volunteers. Sidewalking is also a great workout - "free gym", it's been called. Our Volunteer Coordinator mentioned this aspect during the 3 hour training required of new volunteers. Now I just get to "sidewalk" once a week, when I leave the office on Friday - from 5:30 - 6:30 PM. It is a highlight of my week, especially now that sailing season is over. I really look foward to seeing my student every week and help him have a great ride. The relationships that develop between the volunteers, staff and their students and families is very special. These friendships are enhanced by the healing power of the horses and the beauty of the surroundings.

For last night's session there was a full moon. What a joyful experience to be walking along the horse and my student with a couple high school student volunteers out in the crisp night air on the way to the lighted out door ring to do some more exercises. My student was a bit agitated last night when he first arrived, but after about 10 minutes on the horse, he relaxed into his riding session and was able to follow most of the instructor's and our requests. It was fun to see him enjoying so much the outdoor part of the session, he reminded me of a professional jockey or young cowboy as he sat so proud on the horse. He even smiled as he watched the Canadian geese take flight and a lone deer grazing nonchanantly on the grass close by.

Although volunteers are not told the participant's diagnosis, only what skills they are working on; I can tell you from experience with my 9 year old nephew with autism, that my student has a disability on the severely autistic scale. At age 12, he is really non-verbal, but it is a big thrill when his parents get him to whisper "bye bye" to me when it's time for him to leave. One of his major strengths is in trotting and posting! His posting skills are excellent. One of the first times I worked with him, he stood up in his stirrups for 1 1/2 times around the arena, long after the horse had stopped trotting. It seemed like he could have kept going longer too, but the 3 of us volunteers convinced him to sit down on the saddle and prepare to dismount. His balance is amazing! The biggest task I have with him is to keep reminding him to keep his hands on the saddle, as they continue to "fly up", almost though they have a life of their own. Sometimes he might get a little agitated and then we have him trot which always helps him focus and calms him down. Working with him brings out the best in me after sitting at a desk and working in customer service all week. Besides sailing, I've loved horses since childhood so it's really refreshing to be around horses and "horse people". It's incredibly rewarding to know that the horses, other volunteers, staff and myself are all helping to develop the self esteem, confidence and skills in our students that will serve them well in their future.

There are over 600 active volunteer staff and a very small professional staff who keep keep the busy schedule humming for the more than 250 child and adult participants at this world renowned equestrian and instructor training center. There are 25 horses of all varieties from quarter horse to hunter to draft horse to miniature horse. These horses must be so smart, so good, so kind and so well trained that out of every 100 or so horses offerred to High Hopes for donation, only 1 or maybe 2 are suitable.

One of my aunts, who is a world class horsewoman and riding instructor, said that "horses are a great way to connect people". This is certainly true at High Hopes. More information can be found at: www.highhopestr.org .

Dr. Bernie Siegel at The Graduate Institute: "Reflections on the Art of Living & Healing"

2011-12-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

For three consecutive Monday nights this September, I was one of the 25 or so lucky people attending Dr. Bernie Siegel's "Reflections on the Art of Health and Healing" at The Graduate Institute, www.learn.edu , in Bethany, CT. Bernie, as he prefers to be called, has been a leader in the field of Integrative Health and Medicine for many years, is renowned for his work with cancer patients and was one of the founders of The Graduate Institute over ten years ago. He is the author of many books, including A Book of Miracles; Faith, Hope and Healing; Affirmations For Living Beyond Cancer; Prescriptions for Living. Bernie and his wife live here in Connecticut, where they raised 5 children. They have also partnered together in some of the workshops involved with healing. It sounds like they had always had a lot of pets and other animals around their home - a loving, happy, perhaps sometimes chaotic scene for a family to thrive.

Bernie Siegel graduated from Cornell University Medical School with honors and was trained in Surgery at Yale New Haven Medical School. In 1989, he left his position at Yale as Asst. Clinical Professor of General and Pediatric Surgery in order to spend more time speaking with patients, their families and caregivers and write books about how love and happiness relate to healing illness. He has a very warm, positive, strong and dynamic presence, and is very approachable.

I first saw him speak a number of years ago when I was 28 years old. There were about 125 people in the audience. To begin his presentation, he asked the audience, "how many people here want to live to be 100 years old?" I was a bit smug about my youth, I guess, and had never known anyone that old before. 100 was quite a bit older than even my grandparents and I hadn't thought that many years ahead in my own life. So I didn't raise my hand and felt reassured as I looked around, as only a few people had their hands raised. Then he said, "those who raised their hands will have the happiest lives, the best relationships and the best quality of life because they are thinking long term and have the most reverence for life". I was a bit chagrined, and it was a real "aha" moment in my life for which I am eternally grateful.

Fast forward a number of years to September 2011. It is such a treat to be in one of his classes at this point in my life and to be able to look back over the years as well as to see the tremendous advances in medical thought, practice and the growing emphasis on preventative medicine in this country. Even with negatives such as soaring costs of medical insurance and for the doctors, soaring costs of malpractice insurance, the rising rates of autism and ADHD, obesity, breast and other types of cancer - people are now living much longer than 25 years ago and most with a better quality of life. Information about the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits and stress management is so widely accepted now in Western Medicine. This so complements our very advanced techniques in surgery and pharmaceutical research in this country for the benefit of the patient, who is now more of a client. People are now encouraged to take much more responsibility for their health than in the past.

Some pearls of wisdom Bernie shared during his seminar this September are: "If you want to enjoy the rest of your life, let your heart make up your mind." "If you want to live the longest, healthiest life - love your life and your body and let it know that you do". "Don't give others your power." "See yourself as a work in progress, like a painting." "If someone asks you to do something you don't feel like doing, say 'no'." "Find out what makes you lose track of time and do it as much as possible." "Have a vision of who you want to be and let people around you be your coaches." "Look for coaches and role models and imitate them."

In one session, he had us all draw 2 pictures. One was of ourselves. If anyone in the class had an illness, he wanted them to draw the treatment and how they thought about it. The other picture was of a scene in nature, or us with our family or us at work. I am not an artist, but was able to draw a picture of a harbor in the Caribbean filled with sailboats that made me feel happy when I was finished. This is what he does with his patients so he can analyse how they are thinking about themselves, their disease and their lives.

From his years of practicing medicine, Bernie is a firm believer that "A person's life affects their health" and in the power of the mind/body relationship. He believes we are alive in order to learn, grow and love others. "Fear is to keep you healthy, but if you live in fear you don't grow, so live in love." He also said, "Seek growth, not just joy and someday you realize you have enough."

In order to heal from an illness, disease or injury, Bernie says, "if you lose your health, treat it like you have lost your car keys." In other words, keep the focus on finding it again. He espoused the concept that whatever treatment the patient is receiving, it is very important that they believe in it thoroughly and feel that it is helping them.

Bernie Siegel is a master healer and a very warm, positive, down to earth presence who attracts a diverse group of people who are looking to heal from serious illness or tragedy with themselves or in their family, often involving children; as well as those who seek to heal others. It was a joy to be in his class and to meet some of the remarkable people who were there. The Graduate Institute is such an uplifting, lightfilled environment with all the glass that seems to bring the outdoors inside and feels somewhat like a spa or like being on a retreat. I look foward to the next time I am there and hope to keep the connection with Bernie Siegel and some of the amazing people I met in class.

Kiteboarding in Madison, CT

2011-11-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I drove to Hammonesett Beach in Madison to meet a good friend I've known since high school. Our goal was to get some good exercise walking that beautiful long stretch of beach as a pre-Thanksgiving defense against all the extra calories. I was really looking foward to being out of doors by the water as I had been stuck indoors all week at my "seasonal desk job". It was a sunny, windy, Fall day - good football game weather, as they say - and I was dressed for it with a scarf and gloves. It was windy, 50 plus degrees Farenheit, "warm" for New England at this time and I expected it would be great to be walking on the beach again, getting exercise with a friend, but I did not expect to be transported to another time and another place.

The first surprise was to see 3 colorful windsurfing sails skimming along the waves, their skippers dressed head to toe in black rubber wetsuits, of course! We were happy and excited to see them out there the weekend before Thanksgiving in Connecticut; there were others on the beach who were also entranced, just watching them. My friend, who is not a sailor said, "how can they stand it out there when it is cold and the water is so much colder?". "Well, they are a bit crazy" I said "and in love with the wind". Which is something one just has to feel or not, one can''t really explain it.

As we were walking along enjoying the sight of them skim along on the water with the sunlight and white froth of the waves, my friend was saying she'd never seen windsurfers like that before in action. Since she had visited me once when I lived in California for a few years in the 80's and I thought I remembered taking the Ferry to Sausilito together, where the windsurfers flock around the ferry and surf the rooster tail waves it makes, I asked if she hadn't seen them then. Their skill and ability made me think of kiteboarding and I started talking about that, and another friend's son who is big into kiteboarding. All of a sudden, she said, "Look at that!". I looked in the direction she was pointing and sure enough there was a kiteboarder jumping the waves and getting some serious air, right there on Hammonesett beach! Actually, there were 3 or 4 kiteboarders out there and a kite or two up on the beach, where they had set up their base. Then a man rode by us on a go cart, propelled by a kite. I was so happy and amazed to see this much activity on a beach in Connecticut with winter approaching; I felt like I was back on the California beaches again!

I really wanted to meet the kitesurfers, and saw that one with plaid surfer shorts on over his wetsuit, who had been doing some seriously high jumps and spins in the air (we are talking 15 - 20 feet or so), had landed on the beach saying "I'm done" and had asked one of his buddies to catch his kite. After he derigged, we introduced ourselves and I asked him where they were from and how long he had been kiteboarding. He said "Clinton" and mostly local, although some come down from Rhode Island and he had been kiteboarding since 2003, but it was easy to learn and get good within a year. He pointed to another sail on the water and told me that he had been doing it for just a year. He said they just travel around every weekend to wherever has the best wind, and that this day was minimum windspeed for him to go kiteboarding in the winter. It was blowing about 18 - 20 knots. He said they really like it at 30 knots and had even kiteboarded during Hurricane Irene, although he said the local authorities weren't too happy with them for that.

Mike is also a high school science teacher, photographer and the owner of www.nekiteboard.com. He gives classes in kiteboarding and helps out at the Coast Guard Academy. I'm sure he is very popular with his students and a great role model for staying healthy, fit, sharing his appreciation and enjoyment of our incredible natural resources and pursuing one's passions. Check out his website - I know you'll enjoy it!

America's Cup Racing Goes Extreme for 2013

2011-09-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a great summer with the young sailors, family and friends, but not so good for writing blogs so I will try to make it up to you now. Thanks to www.bizjournals.com, here is a photo of USA's entry "Oracle", driven by Australia's James Spithill in Plymouth, England. It is the 2nd leg of the America's Cup World Series in the 45 foot catamarans that are raced this year and the next. At this point there are 9 boats racing against each other. They represent the countries of: USA, China, France, Korea, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden. Several boats have dropped out already from Australia and from Italy, while several others are rumored to be working towards meeting the participation requirements.

The America's Cup finals in September 2013 in San Francisco will be in 72 foot catamarans competing for the oldest international sports trophy in the world, started in 1851. This truly international competition now brings billions of dollars to the economy in the city of the country that wins and hosts this event. One of the top three international sporting events along with the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, the stakes in this event are extremely high in just about every way you can imagine from yacht and equipment engineering to the incredible physical conditioning and attention to safety for the sailors. These new, incredibly fast catamarans have morphed the sport of sailboat racing into a thrilling event not just for sailors, but also for landlubbers. There is the magic of sailing combined with the intensity of Formula 1 racing, but on the water. It is a transformation akin to the introduction of Apolo Ohno's style of speed skating to the Olympics, snowboarding to the world of skiing events or perhaps even breaking the sound barrier in the world of aeronautics.

Next summer, the fleet of AC 45's and crews will be in Newport, Rhode Island, where there will be great spectator seating to experience the excitement. More than 10,000 spectators, many on land, in Plymouth, England are now viewing the daring feats of sailors on boats that can achieve speeds of about 40 miles an hour as they hurtle through the water. According to American Terry Hutchinson, skipper of the Swedish boat, "Artemis", when I saw him at Larchmont Yacht Club's Jr. Sailing Seminar in June 2011, the G Forces are such at that point that the sailors are all wearing protective gear and must be tethered to the boat so they don't fall off if the boat suddenly plows into a wave and stops. Besides world class sailing skills, these sailors have to have the mental and physical conditioning of top athletes in the world, as well as total trust in their team members and their boats. Hope to see you in Newport next summer!

"Roses for Autism"

2011-07-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

These roses are part of my blog because they are from "Roses for Autism", which is located at Pinchbeck Farm, Guilford Connecticut. The Pinchbeck family had been growing beautiful roses here as a commercial operation since 1929; with their greenhouses being the largest in the world at that time. They were one of the largest rose distributers in New England until 2008 when they were on the verge of going out of business. A couple good friends of theirs, one who has an autistic son, decided to form a partnership with the Pinchbecks so that the farm could continue to supply flowers as a place where young people on the austism spectrum could be trained to work in the business.

I learned about Roses for Autism from the local newspaper this winter right around Valentines Day. Since I really love flowers and also have a young nephew who is on the austism spectrum, I decided to go visit and see for myself. Driving in, I saw two of the largest greenhouses I had ever seen in my entire life. When I went into the shop, it had a very cheerful atmosphere, with the busy hum of people coming to get last minute Valentine's Day flowers, and nice young people helping customers with their orders and two ladies behind the counter wrapping the flowers and working the cash register.

I had heard that the lavendar roses were very special and the most fragrant so I wanted

to give a dozen to my nephew's family. However, I didn't see any in the refrigerator and was disappointed. A young woman asked if I needed help and I told her I was looking for the lavendar roses. She said she thought they were all out, but would go in the back and see. A few moments later, she came back with a dozen of the most fragrant roses I'd ever smelled and they were the most beautiful lavendar color! "The last ones there", she said. I felt very lucky as I paid my money for the flowers. There were so many beautiful red roses and other colors, I would have been happy with any, but I thought these would really be enjoyed as they were so special.

It was a nice, well-deserved surprise for my busy sister-in-law who was very thrilled with their color and fragrance. Since then I have visited "Roses For Autism" at least once a month; most recently bringing some to my mother for our big family Mother's Day party. Everyone who works at "Roses For Autism" is very nice and someone will be happy to help you carry things to your car, if you can't resist getting more than you came for! It is a great place to get beautiful roses at incredibly reasonable prices, even if you just want something beautiful for your own table. They have been a big hit for friend's birthdays, as hostess gifts and of course, on Mother's Day. When was the last time you paid $15 or $25 for a dozen of the the most fragrant scented roses you can imagine which bloom perfectly!?! They also sell very nice, healthy young vegetable and herb plants for your garden. If you love flowers and/or need some plants for your garden, you must make a visit there soon - it is definitely one of our Connecticut Shoreline treasures and a very special place!

First Aid and CPR - Symptoms for a Stroke

2011-07-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

It is a great thing to get your First Aid and CPR certification, especially if you get trained by a good teacher. Terri Benoit, a nurse and EMT who is an American Red Cross instructor, has been teaching 1st Aid and CPR for many years here in Connecticut. She was first recommended to me as an instructor through the Westbrook Parks and Recreation Department and has been very helpful in getting sailing instructors trained in First Aid and CPR over the years. She started out as a hospital nurse and also works as a personal trainer and is the mother of two school age children. I would describe her teaching method as relaxed, hands on, realistic and very informative. She has lots of stories to share from the field that help one make sense of all the information.

One of her stories was about the symptoms for a stroke. She told us that there is a 2 hour window for the victim to get to the hospital. She said that if you call 911, then do CPR and recussitate them right away, there is an excellent chance that they will be back to normal. People who are having strokes may get dizzy, confused, lose their balance, not be able to see out of one or both eyes, have numbness on one side or the other of their body, not be able to move their arms. A good test for stroke is to have the person stick out their tongue; if they can't do that, there is a good chance they have had a stroke. Another is to ask them to stick their arms out to the front or the sides.

Terri told us about her 96 year old uncle who couldn't talk because he was having a stroke so they called the ambulance right away. Medical breakthroughs have provided medications that can reverse the effects of a stroke if the victim is taken to the hospital quickly enough. Remember that one can suffer from a stroke at a much younger age and it is much better to call 911 if there is a health emergency than to suffer pangs of regret. Here's to your good health and that of your family and friends and also to your ability to act correctly and effectively in any health emergencies.

Healing a Rotater Cuff Injury; Why I am now a Fan of Acupuncture!

2011-07-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

Rotater cuff issues are tricky. My personal journey in this regard led from the Traditional Medical, effective treatments like Physical Therapy to Cortisone Shots to Acupuncture. Have you ever had a rotater cuff issue? It is not fun and involves pain which can range from "nagging, just annoying" to much more severe.

About 13 years ago, I injured my rotater cuff, without even knowing at the time that I had.  It happened when I was teaching a sailing lesson and there was hardly any wind.  My student and I were at a downwind point of sail and I had my arm up for awhile on a 26 foot sailboat in order to keep the boom from going back and forth over our heads while I was teaching a lesson involving points of sail and jibing.  The boom was passing over our heads back and forth as it does and was a bit distracting so I put my hand up to hold the boom away from our heads for a minute or so just to make my point. There was hardly any pressure on the sail or I wouldn't have done this.   The lesson continued well and I didn't think anything of it.

Later on, my shoulder started to ache a bit, but I just ignored it. Having been trained as a dancer during college along with growing up sailing and as an "outdoorsy kind of girl", then becoming a mom, and therefore not bothered by little aches and pains, I didn't pay my shoulder any mind until a few weeks later when it was still aching.   At that point, I sort of started watching it, getting a massage, taking Tylenol, etc.. and it didn't go away. It was really interfering with my tennis, something I especially enjoyed off season for stress relief and to stay in shape. Finally I consulted an MD. He had me take an MRI, which I did. His diagnosis was that I had an impinged rotater cuff and prescribed Physical Therapy. I asked him how I could have torn it - there hadn't even been any pressure on the sail? He explained that starting around age 40, especially if one has a small frame on top, as I do, it is not a good idea to ever have your arm in that position as it is very susceptible to rotater cuff injury.

After about 8 weeks of excellent Physical Therapy, with ElectroStim, Heat, Ice, Massage and prescribed exercises - my arm felt fine again. I was very pleased to be able to teach sailing again without any pain and to play tennis. I thought I was "cured" and that was the end of it.

A couple years later, I moved to Eastern CT, began teaching sailing up there and managing a large sailing program. Everything was fine the first year, but by the second year, my shoulder was really bothering me again, especially while playing tennis. I decided that I'd better get PT again, but this time it actually got worse with the Physical Therapy.   I became increasingly concerned as I had an important sailing event coming up and my shoulder was in such pain, that even with Tylenol, it was hard to stand the pain. The MD promised that if he gave me a Cortisone shot on Monday that by Saturday, I would be fine for the event. He have me that Cortisone shot and gratefully, I was fine for the event and pain free for 5 more years! The Cortisone shot was not a pleasant experience, but definitely worth it. If you are at all needle shy and your doctor will prescribe a tranquilizer beforehand, I would recommend taking it.

When the shoulder started acting up again during tennis season, I thought, "O.K., I'll just get another Cortosone shot and I'll be fine for another 5 years." Unfortunately, this time the shot only worked for 3 weeks and the pain came back. My doctor said this meant that I now needed surgery. At yoga class, I was telling my instructor about it and how I was going to have to miss yoga because of this operation and she recommended seeing a local acupuncturist who was also a yoga student.

I had always thought that acupuncture was just a hoax and not being a big fan of needles, I asked her if she was sure it would work. She said she wasn't sure but it was worth giving it a shot (pardon the pun!). She told me the acupuncturist was excellent and would let me know after the 1st session if she could help me and I should just try it. So I did. 4 months later and for the same price that I would have paid as a deductible for rotater cuff surgery, I was healed. This was about 5 years ago and I haven't looked back, so now I am a big fan of acupuncture!

While my acupuncturist said she couldn't have healed it if it was a bad tear and that would have definitely required surgery, I recommend acupuncture 100 percent for pain relief, as long as you find a qualified & talented acupuncturist. Just like a regular MD, the talent, experience and integrity of the acupuncturist is very important, so get references from people you know. My acupuncturist, Dr. Cynthia Frantz of Chester, Connecticut is excellent and uses the finest needles (they are red) for my treatments, and it doesn't bother me at all, in fact it is actually quite relaxing!

John Jamieson's Helpful Tips to Save You Money on Your Running Rigging Investment!

2011-06-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Five Tips to Save You Money on Your . . .

Five Tips to Save You Money on Your Costly Sailing Running Rigging!

If you want to learn to sail like a pro, you need to know how to keep your sailing rope in prime "fighting" shape. You see, every time you go sailing, those costly halyards, sheets, anchor rope rodes, and extra line in those sail-lockers goes into battle.

And it has a tough time against the five deadly enemies of all line--sunlight, dirt, salt, chafe, and shock! You can extend the life of any piece of marine rope and save tons of money in replacement costs if you do just five simple things on a regular basis.
1. Wash and Dry Before You Stow!
Did you realize that nylon line--like that used for docking lines or anchor lines--can lose up to 15% of its strength when wet? Or that wet line, stowed in a dark, dank sail locker presents a prime breeding ground for mold and mildew?
At the first opportunity, wash your anchor rode and cockpit sheets and halyards with fresh water. Get in there with a hose and spray it down. This will loosen up line-killing dirt and salt crystals.
Flake the line in alternate bites (loops) over a rail or your lifelines to dry it. Re-coil or stow the line after it has dried completely. This can add years of life to any line and it will stay supple for sailing or marine knots.
2. Keep Lines Under Tension
Halyards and Genoa or jib sheets must stay under constant tension to prevent fiber and strand breakdown. Lines too slack will shock and slack, which can weaken the line. But tension does not mean taught.
Some lines--docking and anchor lines--must have slack in order to perform their best. But your super expensive sail halyards and sheets should be under tension. When sailing, take in a couple of inches of sheet or halyard once in a while to stave off wear and tear.
3. Make Leads Straight and True
Straight leads are fair leads. You might have heard the sailing term "fairlead". Remember this any time you thread a sheet through a block, or lead a line from the mast back to your cockpit, or set up your Genoa furling line between bow and cockpit.
Keep acute bends--90 degrees or more--to an absolute minimum. The more you bend a line to lead it from one place to another, the more stress it places on the apex of the bend. Use straighter fairleads to pump life-blood into your lines to save on repair and replacement costs.
4. End for End Lines Once a Season
One of the huge jobs on those square-rigged ships of old was to end-for-end line once a year. This monumental task involved thousands upon thousands of feet of rigging. But it worked and added years of life. After all, those big ships were at sea for years at a time, and the cost of line back then was astronomical.
Today, the small cruising sailboat or racing sailboat skipper can use this same ancient technique to add years of life to docking or anchor lines. And it's a lot simpler because you aren't dealing with several thousand feet.
Just make the dead end of the line the working end. Do this once a season. For example, your anchor line's dead end attached to a ring bolt in your anchor locker. Or, it's the end you attach to your bow cleat. The working end attaches to your anchor. Once a season, switch them around. This end-for-end technique has been proven to extend the service life of anchor line up to a whopping 50%!
5. Whip, Dip, or Tape Bitter Ends
The ends of your lines can fray and unwind like a snake on a palm tree. Prevent this with a temporary whipping, where you wrap sail twine around the end. Or, use an easier method with a two-inch piece of duct-tape. Wrap the tape tight, two to three times around the end. Use a sharp knife to cut through the center of the tape.
Or, make your own end-whipping dip. Dip at least 1/4" of the bitter end into super glue. Any of these techniques are guaranteed to stop fraying off at the pass and save you lots of money.
Learn to sail like a pro with these five super simple marine knots sailing tips. They will save you lots of money and add years of life to any line--wherever in the world you choose to go sailing!

Learn more at: http://SkipperTips.com/

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Horshoe Crab Tagging sponsored by Sacred Heart University at Indian Cove Beach, Guilford, CT

2011-06-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen something that is so ugly that it is very cute? (Think about a Shar Pei or a Manatee!) That is how I would describe our humble but very important creature of the sea, the Horsehoe Crab. A species that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs, horseshoe crabs are a very valuable part of our marine ecosystem as well as helping pharmaceutical companies test different drugs in their pursuit to cure various deadly human diseases. Judy Knowles of Guilford loves horseshoe crabs, works with Project Limulus at Sacred Heart University and is on the board of the Menuntatuck Audobon Society. She was on hand recently with other volunteers who helped organize Horseshoe Crab tagging in Guilford at Indian Cove Beach.

Every May and June, horseshoe crabs congregate along the East Coast of the US with the rising tide in order to mate and lay thousands of eggs. These eggs produce baby horseshoe crabs and also help to feed other important aquatic species, such as the Red Knot, a bird who winters in Argentina and then flies 10,000 miles up to the Arctic for the summer to mate and lay eggs. They stop along the way in Delaware to feast on horseshoe crab eggs which keeps up their energy for the long trip.

The above photo shows horseshoe crabs mating before the female lays her eggs. The female is the larger one and the male is smaller with club shaped pincers underneath so he can grab onto the female's shell for mating. Some people are afraid of horseshoe crabs because of their tails, or they think they have a stinger which is not true. Horseshoe crabs tails are simply levers for them to turn themselves right side up, if they get flipped over somehow on the sand. If their tails are broken or gone, they will die, because they cannot flip themselves back over right side up and their insides will be exposed which are delicious food to certain types of birds and animals. This boy is picking up the horseshoe crab properly, by the side of the shell, like a bowl. Never pick up a horsehoe crab by its tail, as it could break off. A horseshoe crab's stomach is on the other side of his shell; he scoops food into it as he is travelling across the ocean floor. They can swim upside down or right side up.

Horseshoe Crab blood is very valuable. Approximately 250,000 are harvested each year so their blue blood can be used by pharmaceutical companies to ensure that certain drugs are safe for humans . It is required that the horsehoe crab is put back withint generally 72 hours, and most of the horseshoe crabs survive their blood donation, but about 30% don't. Many other horseshoe crabs are harvested for bait, especially the females, so it is important to track and protect them.

I had lots of fun putting a tag on the horseshoe crab that day with the other volunteers so he could be tracked. If you find a horseshoe crab with a tag, please call the phone number on the tag and tell them where you found it. Project Limulus, at Sacred Heart University here in Connecticut, has a computer database that keeps track of our horseshoe crab population so we can make the important effort to keep a healthy poplulation of these creatures, estimated to be between 300,000,000 to 450,000,000 years old! Do you like horseshoe crabs too?

"The Race" - A great 90 second motivational video

2011-06-14T01:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of Northeastern University's Academic Advisors for this, but not just for college students!

Click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM5A1K6TxxM

Father's Day Idea - Well-maintained 2002 Colgate 26 for sale at $27,000

2011-06-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy sailing and have been thinking about getting a boat, this could be the one for you - right in time for Father's Day! The beautifully designed, multi-purpose Colgate 26 design sailboat has been around now since 1997 and has gathered many kudos for quality, performance, comfort, and style. Whether you are into racing, daysailing or "gunkholing" (cruising close to shore - although the C-26 is rated to go offshore too) - this boat is a lot of fun!

Even if you are so new to sailing you are not sure which type of sailor you are, the Colgate 26 will make you feel happy and secure, as it was originally designed as to teach people how to sail. Conceived by Steve Colgate, it was designed by the legendary naval architect Jim Taylor. It is a very well built, comfortable, durable boat that novices can learn to sail in three days in just about any sort of weather conditions and is fun, fast, "virtually unsinkable", comfortable, and easy to sail. Since Jim Taylor has designed over 102 boats, including America's Cup boats, he could not help building in great performance as well. It is the wondrous result of an outstanding collaboration!

This boat is located in Old Saybrook, CT. It has never been raced, has North Sails including a racing spinnaker, only two owners with just light use, new bottom paint, depth and speed instruments and is ready to sail away! Just email HLSails@aol.com if you are interested in seeing it or have any questions. I am known as the "Colgate Queen", having sailed them since they first came arrived in 1997 and helping people purchase them since 2002. Don't forget about Father's Day!!

US Sailing Instructor Training - Level 2 at Pettipaug Yacht Club

2011-06-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had the great luck to be at Pettipaug Yacht Club in Essex on the Connecticut River for the last hour of the two day Level 2, taught by US Sailing Instructor Trainer, Rachel Miller. This course is for young people aged 18 and over who have already taken the four day Level 1 course and are planning to be Youth Race Coaches, or more advanced Youth Sailing Instructors. There were about 16 young people between the ages of 18 through 24.

When I arrived, the Level 2 students were in groups of 2 or 3 taking turns role playing various situations similar to some that had occurred in junior sailing programs. These situations involved written scripts they had to act out in front of the class and teacher who would then comment and make suggestions on different ways to handle the situation if need be.

It was inspiring to see these how well these young people roled played this situations and had figured out appropriate, positve ways to handle situations that required a lot of responsibility, maturity and professionalism. One example was a 16 year old sailing student who handed in an unsigned permission slip for a 3 day travel regatta on the morning they were leaving. She really wanted to go with her team and was upset when the instructor looked at the unsigned slip and told her it needed to be signed or she would not be able to go away with her team. The instructor, who was only 3 years older than the student, tried to call her parents, who happened to be in the midst of a divorce, but couldn't get ahold of them. The student tried to talk the instructor into letting her go anyway, but the instructor held firm on the fact that no one could go without a signed permission slip as there could be serious consequences for the parents and the sailing program if this rule was not followed. The instructor told the student he would try to arrange for something really fun for her to do at the club instead. Everyone in the Level 2 class appeared to feel badly for the student and thought this was a good way to handle the situation. Rachel emphasized how important it was for all students to have signed permission slips from their parents or guardians, especially in this age of litigation and custody battles and suggested that instructors set a "fake, early deadline" for permission slips to be handed in so that there is a week or so left to resolve issues like finding the time to get a parent to sign the necessary paperwork.

Other topics presented were: underage sailing students drinking at a high level "away" regatta which caused their team not to be able to compete which led to discussion on the importance of having a "contract" signed by the parents and students ahead of time spelling out the penalty for an infraction, ie.. the parent has to come get the student immediately or fly them home at their expense. Another topic was: "benching" a sailing student who had been "not paying attention and not trying hard during the practices, who happened to be the child of the Commodore; another was involved a younger sailing student who was upset and didn't want to participate because "no one liked her". The instructor did a great job of addressing this issue - asking the girl what she thought she was really good at and telling her he would work with her to let the other kids know about this so that they would think she was "really cool".    Besides sailing technique and having a good, safe time on the water - sailing instructors help their young students build a solid sense of self-esteem, good judgment, respect for others and good teamwork, respect for equipment, good sportsmanship and appropriate behavior. Hopefully, this augments those same lessons learned at home.

Youth Sailing Programs are most frequently managed in a "hierarchy" of adult volunteers and paid college/high school age instructors. Yet often these young instructors, especially the race coaches, have a tremendous amount of responsibility.  They not only teach their charges sailing/racing skills that will enable them to get around the course in the best position possible and the rules that one must not break that guide this sport, but also to exercise mature judgment in cases relating to safety and appropriate, legal behavior both on and off the water. These young coaches may travel miles from their home club with their team of half a dozen or more teenage or younger students and be responsible for them for several days while they are sailing and sleeping away from home. Of course, there are adults there as well, but it is the young race coaches who influence their sailing students the most at this age by their expectations and their own behavior.   The young people who do this well, (and I consider myself very fortunate to have known a number of them over the years), are outstanding examples of skilled, caring human beings with maturity and wisdom far beyond their years.   They usually do very well in whatever they undertake as adults.

Kudos to US Sailing for their rigorous, effective and fun methods of instructor training and for their high caliber instructor trainers who prepare sailing instructors of all ages for the joys, challenges and responsibilities of transferring their sailing knowledge and experience to their young charges!   And kudos to all the sailors and their parents and loved ones who support them in stepping up to the challenging, yet very rewarding opportunity to participate in US Sailing Instructor Training! For further information on US Sailing, go to: www.ussailing.org . For more information on Rachel Miller, US Sailing Instructor Trainer, go to: www.rozaliaproject.org .

Aging Parents and Fish Oil Supplements for Heart & Brain Health

2011-05-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Time for a new blog on the subject of health this Memorial Day weekend.   There has been a lot of information about Fish Oil Supplements and Omega 3 fatty acids possibly reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. This blog is more of a quick introduction to the topic with more to follow in the future.   For those of you fortunate enough to have your parents still living, if they are elderly, some of what follows may be familiar.  This inspiration for this blog is my mother who was unfortunately diagnosed last August, at age 84 w/early dementia.  Her doctor prescribed Arricept to slow the progression. In January, she was also put on Namenda, which is supposed to be a wonder drug for Alzheimers. I must say that Mom seems to be doing quite well under the circumstances.

One of my sisters drives 120 or so miles every Monday to take her to the psychoneurologist so Mom can do "brain games", get some "brain homework" for the week and discuss coping strategies for optimizing her situation. I have been driving 140 miles on another day every week to refill her pill boxes, as she needs to take 6 pills every morning and 2 every evening and another one every Saturday.    It takes less than half an hour now to line up all the pill bottles and organize her pills, but it does require a lot of focus, as too much of one drug would be dangerous and not enough would also be detrimental. When I first checked in with her doctor in January about which medications she should be taking, it turned out she was only taking four of her required eight pills a day.   The doctor found that her blood pressure was up to 160 because she was only taking one of her blood pressure medications daily, not two as she needs to maintain her health.    Three weeks after taking both medications, it was down to 148 and now it is down to 132, which makes her doctor very happy. My father is 84 and has other health issues to deal with.   I asked the doctor to write down a complete list of their medications and put the one for my mother on the outside of her pill refill box. My father is able to manage his own medications which is a blessing.

A couple months ago, one of my sister-in-law's and my five month old niece were visiting while I was there. She has been studying the brain for about six years, ever since their oldest child was diagnosed with autism. Because of her research on the brain, she suggested Fish Oil Supplements for Mom, which I seconded. I have been taking Fish Oil supplements daily ever since reading the book "Younger Next Year" by Chris Crowley and Dr. Henry S. Lodge. They discuss how great this stuff is for optimal health, especially after age 50.

My mother asked "How does it work?" .  She had attended medical school from '48 to '50 where she met my father. After leaving medical school, she took a year of English Literature in grad school, then worked for a year as an assistant for the famous MD specializing in pain management, Dr. Janet Travel, who was the personal physician to John F. Kennedy while he was in the White House. The next blog on this subject will be dedicated to answering her question about how Fish Oil works towards heart and brain health.   Do you take Fish Oil supplements? Were they recommended by your physician or do you take them on your own?

Bill Gladstone's North U. Presentation for the Mudheads at Shennecossett YC on April 13, 2011

2011-05-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy sailboat racing, you have undoubtedly heard of North U. and Bill Gladstone. You may have purchased one of his books, DVD's, or been to his clincs or attended his presentations. Originally from New York, he lived in Chicago from 1980 to 2000, then moved back East. His homebase with his family is now Madison, CT. Bill is famous around the world with racers who want to improve their speed, tactics, boat handling skills and knowledge of the rules. He travels quite a bit, as you would imagine, and we are very lucky to have him living here on the CT Shoreline.

Bill Gladstone is one of the brightest, most entertaining speakers you can imagine - I am definitely a fan, in case you can't tell! Quite humble, he graduated from Yale University in New Haven, CT, which may give you an idea of how knowledgeable and articulate he is about all aspects of sailing and racing. He was on the Yale Sailing Team along with some other great sailors who also reside in Connecticut like Dave Perry. If you ever have an opportunity to attend a clinic with these two, do not pass it up! I attended a Match Racing Clinc with Bill Gladstone, Dave Perry, Dave Delenbaugh and Liz Baylis, Women's Match Racing Champion, several years ago - some of the best info and best times I've ever experienced on and off the water!

I first got to hear him speak at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT back around 1998. Captivated by the depth of his knowledge and entertaining style with which he conveys tons of helpful information, I bought one of his books which has been enormously useful over the years. He is very approachable and happy to answer questions afterwards. Since that day, after running into each other a few more times on the sailing circuit, because of our mutual love of sailing, kids of similar ages and "working in the business", Bill and I have gotten to be friends. I even got to help him make a DVD with Dave Dellengaugh on the Racing rules. This is a great way to really get to know your rules because you can see them in realistic action. If you are trying to get better with your rules - you will love this DVD which you can get on his website: www.northu.northsails.com/ .

At Shennecossett Yacht Club in April, there was an audience of about 125 or so sailors happy to shake off the winter doldrums and/or change their focus from spring skiing to the upcoming sailing season for the Mudhead-sponsored presentation. The Mudheads are a "paper yacht club"; a very fun, competitive group of racers both on and off the water in the area around Mystic, CT. At the presentation, funds were being collected for the new upcoming Hospice Regatta in June. After Bill was introduced, he announced he would focus on Tactics, Boat Speed, and Boat Handling. These three areas, he said, are the foundation of the "Success Pyramid" in Racing. He mentioned that "in this case, tactics included strategy". Strategy he defined as "simply sailing around the race course as quickly as possible" as well as meaning "how one deals with other boats", one's competitors on the race course.

For Boat Speed, he gave a very detailed description of how to get the most out of the sails whatever the wind conditions, and when sailing up wind or downwind. He spoke about the angle of attack of the wind on the sails and taught us the meaning of some unfamiliar terms like "upwash", which means how the air bends on the sails. He also discussed sail-related terms such as camber, draft, and depth that all mean the same thing. He contrasted this to the polar opposite use of a word like "tack" which is used to mean three entirely different things in sailing. The reason for this complicated and confusing vocabulary, he said, is to fool the uninitiated and novice sailors into thinking that sailing is very difficult which helps keep sailing instructors, race coaches and boat captains in business!

With regard to Upwind Boat Speed and sail shape, he gave some helpful pointers like, "it's good to have the sail deeper aloft (up high) where there is more wind until there is too much heel". He led an excellent discussion on "Twist" with easy to remember statements like "the Mainseet controls Twist going Upwind" and "the Vang controls Twist going Down wind". "The Traveller", he explained, "controls the Angle of Attack without changing the Twist."

There is so much more great information he gave us that night and I will be happy to write another blog on the subject if people request it. Bill Gladstone teaches a "North U. Racing Course" in Captiva every April for Offshore Sailing School along with a bunch of other Racing "Rockstars". Each year, I keep promising myself I will attend....no luck yet, but it is definitely on my Bucket list! If you love racing sailboats and want to "kick it up a few notches" and also love sailing in "paradise and warm weather" with palm trees and dolphins, you should contact Bill or Offshore Sailing School and sign up for next year. Meanwhile you can catch him on his lecture or clinic circuit or get one of his DVDs or books as your "secret weapon" for this sailing season. Your racing friends will wonder how you got so much better so quickly!

Dr. Oz Show Health Tips

2011-03-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Since I'm currently working out of my "home office" one of the treats I allow myself, is watching the Dr. Oz Show. It starts at 5PM and ends at 6PM. I have yet to be able to have a whole undistracted hour to watch it, but even 15 minutes always provides a juicy tidbit of practical health information. 45 minutes provides an amazing array of topics from Gluten to Middle Age Cures Still Being Used to which "Healthy" Foods Really Are Healthy and more.   The website is: http://www.doctoroz.com/ . Lots of great information there, definitely worth checking out!

Everyone loves Dr. Oz because he is from a traditional medical background, yet relies on all possible sources to help people achieve optimum health while having fun.  He makes it obvious with his enthusiastic, charming, warm personality that he really wants all of us to understand what it takes to be and stay healthy.   One of the things I've learned are that the 5 numbers he thinks are key for us to know about our health are:

1) Blood Pressure
2) Waist Size
3) Weight
4) Cholesterol
5) Fasting Blood Sugar

It might be time to dig through those medical records and find out these numbers! When it comes to our health and that of our loved ones, knowledge is power and the key to all our adventures.   Do you think about doing something every day that adds to your health and well-being?