There were two events on local waters this past weekend. The frostbiters were out on Manhasset Bay on Sunday afternoon with little to no wind, and over on the Mill Pond, the Mill Pond Model YC was busy on Saturday morning sailing their annual Millennium Cup Regatta. According to Greg Danilek, the vice commodore of the Mill Pond Model YC, the Millennium Cup is scored on the low point scoring system and the season Championship is based on the best average. First, the Millennium Cup results: 1. #375, Greg Danilek (22 pts), 2. #4343, Stu Smith (28 pts), and 3 #79, Jamie Ebenau (32 pts). The 2003 ODOM Season Championship Series Final Results: 137 races, 34 to qualify: 1. #375, Greg Danilek, 2. #308, Dave James, and 3. #2566, George Huntington. The Spring Series results, 26 races, 7 to qualify: 1. #70, Scott Spacie, 2. #375 Greg Danilek, and 3. #308, Dave James. The Summer Series, 86 races, 22 to qualify: 1. #308, Dave James, 2. #375, Greg Danilek, and 3. #2566, George Huntington. The results for the Fall Series: 1. #308, Dave James, #375, Greg Danilek, and 3. #4343, Stu Smith. The Commodore of the Mill Pond Model YC is Gary Kassl and the Vice-Commodore is Greg Danilek.

The "big boats" were out on Manhasset Bay this weekend sailing their IC Dinghies. While many could argue about calling IC Dinghies "big boats" and with the wind clocking in at 0- 2 knots, it is dubious if the six teams of frostbiters actually sailed or just drifted, one thing is certain, they all had a great time out on the bay last Sunday, Nov. 16. The RC managed to start (and finish) two races plus a crew race. Top on the leader board were: 1. #536, Pedro Lorson/Yasu Kawahara, 2. #603, Matt Kelly/Lynn Kochendorfer, and 3. #510, Steve Moore/Johanna Silbersack. Yasu Kawahara won the crew race.

The Olympic Team Trials are over, and several of those competing in the Trials were either from Long Island or are known to our local sailing community. Katie McDowell (Barrington, RI) and Isabelle Kinsolving (New York, NY) started the 470 Women's event strong, with three back-to-back bullets. However, their hold on the event appeared tenuous at times as they fought off the challenge from Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, NY) and Sarah Mergenthaler (Colts Neck, NJ) with whom they were tied at one point in the regatta. But the pair worked out the bugs and after winning the first race (of two) on the final day of the series, they too were able to retire from racing with the win mathematically secure. "One goal down, one to go (medaling in Athens)," said McDowell. "In some conditions we're blistering fast and in others we need some work. Our learning curve is still steep, but we've competed in Athens three times and feel comfortable there. It's a great feeling -- especially after so much hard work -- to come out on top." Clark/Mergenthaler finished in second overall, three points back, followed by Erin Maxwell (Stonington, Conn.) and Jen Morgan (Shoreline, Wash.) in third. Katie McDowell and Isabelle Kinsolving won the right to compete in the 470 Women's Event in the Mediterranean next summer for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, which will be held August 13-29, 2004 in Athens, Greece. Sailors in the top-five final results for the Trials are named to the 2004 US Sailing Team. For additional background, visit www.ussailing.org/Olympics/OlympicTrials/2004

US Sailing has awarded its Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to the crew of the container ship CSX Discovery for saving the lives of four sailors and a dog racing in the Bahamas 500 cruising rally from Beaufort, NC, to the Bahamas. The incident occurred on November 17, 2002, when David Hope, skipper of the Hunter 376 Summer Heat, and his crew encountered 50-knot winds and 20-foot seas. The boat was dismasted, causing the rigging to wrap around the propeller. The 700-foot container ship, CSX Discovery

responded to a mayday call from Summer Heat. The US SAILING Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal is an award given to skippers of pleasure boats or race support vessels who effect rescues of victims from the water. The award is made for rescues in U.S. waters, or those which occur in races originating or terminating in a U.S. port. The purposes of the award are to recognize the significant accomplishment in seamanship which has saved a life, and to collect further case studies in rescues for analysis for the US SAILING Safety-at-Sea Committee which will eventually be incorporated into the extensive educational programs of US SAILING.

Let your voice be heard. As a participant in the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Coaching Recognition Program, US SAILING's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) is soliciting nominations for 2003. The sport will recognize coaches in three categories: National Coach of the Year, Developmental Coach of the Year and Volunteer Coach of the Year. The aim of USOC's Coaching Recognition Program is to recognize and draw attention to the contribution coaches make to sport at all levels of athlete development, and to elevate the status of coaching as a profession. Working with criteria approved by USOC, a panel designated by the OSC will evaluate each nominee's accomplishments for the competition period beginning January 1, 2003. Nominations, due by December 1, 2003, should be sent to garybodie@aol.com. The winners for sailing will be announced in mid December. All awards are based on accomplishments during the 2003, and the coach must be coaching currently, or within one year of retirement. The criteria for nominations for the title of National Coach of the Year include: coaching an elite-level club; collegiate, Pan Am, or world championship team; or elite athlete who is competing at the highest level of the sport. Previous winners of sailing's Coach of the Year Award are Luther Carpenter (New Orleans, LA), Betsy Alison (Newport, RI), and Jay Glaser (Long Beach, CA). Criteria for the Developmental Coach of the Year: coaching a youth club, high school or junior level who is directly responsible for developing athletes to the elite national or junior national level. Previous winners of sailing's Developmental Coach of the Year Award are Mike Zani (Bristol, RI), Scott Ikle (Geneva/Manhasset), Adam Werblow (St. Mary's, MD), and Amy Gross-Kehoe (Bayville). Criteria for the new category, volunteer coach of the year: a coach who does not receive payment in any form for their involvement in coaching at any level. The nominee should be involved in developing athletes. Five coaches in each category will be selected as finalists for the USOC Coach of the Year and will be presented at a special function early in 2004.