North Americans 2025 and Fleet Sail Purchase Schedule - Vote Required

[Graham Siener]

Hi all, two important matters require fleet consideration and voting:

1. 2025 North Americans Championship

We have identified August 22-24, 2025, as proposed dates for hosting the North Americans Championship. A vote is required to approve these dates so we can proceed with logistics and planning. This is a significant opportunity for our fleet to showcase our venue and hospitality.

2. Fleet Sail Purchase Schedule Review

Several items have been raised regarding our sail purchase schedule:

a) Request for Accelerated Spinnaker Purchase

We have received requests to expedite a spinnaker purchase for the 2025 summer season. The last purchase was in 2019.

b) Sail Loft Evaluation

The Sail Committee (Arthur, Brad, Scott) is currently obtaining quotes from additional sail lofts as part of our due diligence process. This review will help ensure we're maintaining quality while achieving the best value for our fleet.

   

c) Proposed Purchase Schedule Review

The attached schedule outlines our proposed sail purchase timeline and requires fleet review and approval.

NEXT STEPS:

A fleet meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, to discuss and vote on these matters. If you are unable to attend, please submit your votes to me in advance on both:

• Approval of North Americans dates (August 22-24, 2025)

• Sail purchase schedule and associated recommendations

Please direct any questions or concerns to me before the meeting. Your input is valuable in these important fleet decisions.

For those who cannot attend, proxy votes must be received by EOD on 2025-02-07.

Best regards,

Graham

Attachments: Proposed Sail Purchase Schedule

[Beth Scholle]

Hi Graham,

A Fleet vote will also need to be taken in order to add the races on the first Saturday in August (August 2) to the IOD World Qualifier Series, IN CASE we don’t manage to get 8 races completed in July.

See attached 2025 proposed racing schedule.

Thanks,

Beth

CCing Doug Walker and Tom DuPont, since they will be the rising RC Co-Chairs this summer.

[Graham Siener]

👍

Graham Siener reacted via Gmail

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On Feb 1, 2025, at 9:49 AM, Graham Siener <sie...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Beth Scholle]

Also, you might want to get the updated host rotation for the IOD Worlds.  Chester did not host in 2023, Nantucket picked up hosting that year.  The new rotation should be on the website. If not, you could ask Oliver Parsons…

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On Feb 3, 2025, at 2:15 PM, Graham Siener <sie...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Graham Siener]

Thanks everyone for a productive call.  I've summarized the decisions made below, and here's the agenda with some notes for reference.

1. 2025 North Americans Championship

The fleet voted to set the dates to June 27-29.  We'll offer spots to 8 fleets (inclusive of Fishers) and reserve 2 boats for breakdowns.  Given the timing of this event, teams will need to ensure their boats are ready to sail.

As a reminder, the Fishers Island representative is based on performance in the previous July series.  Removing probable Worlds invitations (Zallee + Norwegian Wood), the next boats up are, in order: Ginch, Sirius, Jester, Duchess, Etesian.

Stay tuned for additional details and opportunities to volunteer in support of hosting a great regatta, including volunteers to organize Housing, Boat preparation, and Race management.

2. 2025 Racing Schedule

The Fleet voted in support of adding races on the first Saturday in August (August 2) to the IOD World Qualifier Series, IN CASE we don’t manage to get 8 races completed in July.  

3. Fleet Sail Purchase Schedule Review

The Fleet voted in support of purchasing spinnakers off-cycle for the 2025 season.

The sail committee is seeking bids on suppliers, and will come back next week with more information and a set of recommendations on supplier, material, etc..  They're also collecting feedback on preferred duration of use for each sail (currently set at 4 years for jibs+spins, 8 for mains).  If you haven't already, please share any feedback or recommendations for them to consider in making an updated schedule.

-graham

On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM Beth Scholle <bhsc...@gmail.com> wrote:

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On Feb 1, 2025, at 9:49 AM, Graham Siener <sie...@gmail.com> wrote:



Hi all, two important matters require fleet consideration and voting:

[Graham Siener]

Hi fleet,

We've made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming North Americans due to insufficient registrations. While I'm disappointed we couldn't make it work this time, we felt it was the responsible choice rather than proceeding with an event that wouldn't be viable. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

-Graham

[John Burnham]

Sorry that all the work that went into planning for the regatta was in vain, but now that lengthens the June series, right!?

Let's all get set to race by the previous weekend, June 21.

 

John Burnham, PCC
John Burnham Coaching

johnsburnham.com

401-835-2686 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/fishers-iod/CAHh3kMjgjwpO0OzG_4gN059-JjEsrSUMbsdfxqUgrcM7xfs8Og%40mail.gmail.com.

[Graham Siener]

Hello fleet, happy September,

What a fantastic summer, capped off with a beautiful Round Island Race.  I know that everyone is still putting their boats away for the Winter, but I wanted to make sure a few items are on your radar.  

1. 2026 Worlds
The 2026 Worlds are hosted next June in Marblehead.  As in years past, the fleet is relying on our help to bolster their fleet with some Fishers Island boats.  As motivation, they're hosting an Invitational the weekend before (June 12, 13) and providing housing.  I'd like to capture an initial round of interest.  Even if you're just considering, let me know.

2. 2026 North Americans redux

We weren't able to get a critical mass of entrants for North Americans this year and the World Class Association has asked if we can make another attempt next year to host.

Have you ever yearned to find a suitable weekend and coordinate logistics for a regatta?  If yes, let's talk!

3. Sail Purchase - Mains

Earlier this year we voted to catch up on a missed Spinnaker cycle, which pushes the order for new mainsails to 2026.  The sail committee will be working on next steps to share with the larger group.

[John Burnham]

Norwood will support Marblehead Worlds, probably sailing up there Memorial Day weekend or the weekend after that. We already have a 2nd crew interested in sailing another boat up if your boat is available. Would be happy to have company although Marblehead will likely be happy to trailer some glass boats.

Graham, the Worlds hosting list in your table needs updating as 2023, 2024, and 2025 were NAN, NOR, NEH.

John

John Burnham, PCC
John Burnham Coaching

johnsburnham.com

401-835-2686 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/fishers-iod/CAHh3kMicCHZ5d6yAn%2Bm-8nZ-oZnFir2Y84MzQCCVEFim2hEyaQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Jonathan Farrar]

All,

The North spinnakers that were supposedly built to our specs are not ever remotely the same. They measure about 45 square feet smaller than the old Farrar kites .

It was my understanding that the “plan” was to do a sail that was close to the same thing we had and with the same panel lay out.

As I have stated before, it is crucial that any mainsail design should be as close to our existing sails as possible. If not,  all the tuning , mast step positions and mast rakes that we have developed over the past 20 years would become obsolete. The depth , luff curve and broad seaming need to be accurately made to the same specs as our existing mainsails in order to control the continuity of our fleet. This is a cornerstone of our strength as a leading fleet..

North did not do well with the spinnakers and did not use  high quality cloth to make them either..

I am very concerned that haphazardly just ordering new main sails will send us backwards real fast as a fleet. Additionally the main and existing jib combo need to match …I have had conversations with Will at North this summer about all of this .. Has the sail committee had the same conversations?The sail committee hopefully understands these issues and should be requesting a prototype before any

Purchases is made . 

Aside from the details and development there is cost issues ..

For our team and for a few others that have been representing our fleet at events this endeavor has become remarkably expensive just to sail. For example:

Last year jibs  at 2500

Norway worlds at 6000

Spinikers this year at 2500

Neh worlds.       4000$

Main sails… close to 4000$

Marblehead worlds..4000$

The total  in the last 2 years to sail IODs at fishers for team Zallee will be approximately  26,000 $ .. I suggest that the sail committee consider these points. I look forward to hearing from others in the fleet..

Best,

JF

Jonathan Farrar

Northeastern University Sailing Team Head Coach

+1.305.720.8572

jft...@gmail.com
Skype: jfacat

Please excuse my brevity. This email is sent from my mobile telephone. 

On Sep 3, 2025, at 10:10 PM, John Burnham <johnsb...@gmail.com> wrote:



Norwood will support Marblehead Worlds, probably sailing up there Memorial Day weekend or the weekend after that. We already have a 2nd crew interested in sailing another boat up if your boat is available. Would be happy to have company although Marblehead will likely be happy to trailer some glass boats.

Graham, the Worlds hosting list in your table needs updating as 2023, 2024, and 2025 were NAN, NOR, NEH.

John

John Burnham, PCC
John Burnham Coaching

johnsburnham.com

401-835-2686 

On Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM Graham Siener <sie...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello fleet, happy September,

What a fantastic summer, capped off with a beautiful Round Island Race.  I know that everyone is still putting their boats away for the Winter, but I wanted to make sure a few items are on your radar.  

1. 2026 Worlds
The 2026 Worlds are hosted next June in Marblehead.  As in years past, the fleet is relying on our help to bolster their fleet with some Fishers Island boats.  As motivation, they're hosting an Invitational the weekend before (June 12, 13) and providing housing.  I'd like to capture an initial round of interest.  Even if you're just considering, let me know.

2. 2026 North Americans redux

We weren't able to get a critical mass of entrants for North Americans this year and the World Class Association has asked if we can make another attempt next year to host.

Have you ever yearned to find a suitable weekend and coordinate logistics for a regatta?  If yes, let's talk!

3. Sail Purchase - Mains

Earlier this year we voted to catch up on a missed Spinnaker cycle, which pushes the order for new mainsails to 2026.  The sail committee will be working on next steps to share with the larger group.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/fishers-iod/CAFnBYf9ngrTqqCuKZB_YJ-NHLXos0xPX1uMbndyYLnKHAwW5pA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Eliot Merrill]

I have a strong relationship with Doyle Marblehead if that can be helpful.

Eliot

Eliot Merrill

eliot....@me.com

(917) 690-2545

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/fishers-iod/C41DE0B8-07A2-4E6F-AFED-C254941B2ADE%40gmail.com.

[Tod Williams]

Maybe each boat should ante up some amount each season that would support some of the costs of attending Worlds for the winner of July.   Table stakes.  

Best

K

On Sep 4, 2025, at 9:18 AM, Jonathan Farrar <jft...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/fishers-iod/C41DE0B8-07A2-4E6F-AFED-C254941B2ADE%40gmail.com.

[Jonathan Farrar]

The Costs will be what they are…and in some cases at big clubs members are supported by the membership dues to represent at events .. I don’t believe we are in that situation here at FIYC . My point is more about the timing of the purchase in relation to the schedule of events to hopefully take into consideration….

Best

Jf

Jonathan Farrar

Northeastern University Sailing Team Head Coach

+1.305.720.8572

jft...@gmail.com
Skype: jfacat

Please excuse my brevity. This email is sent from my mobile telephone. 

On Sep 4, 2025, at 9:50 AM, Tod Williams <todwil...@mac.com> wrote:



[Graham Siener]

Fleet,

I'd like to organize a fleet meeting to discuss the topics below.  I've created a poll with some potential times over the next 2 weeks.  Please mark your availability:

https://doodle.com/group-poll/participate/avJ54m5a

Of note: +Charlie Van Voorhis has graciously agreed to run point on hosting North Americans.  We'll need to agree on a date in order to start the planning process.

The proposed agenda includes these topics.  Please reply all or let me know if you have suggestions on additional topics to discuss.

1. 2026 Worlds & June Invitational at Marblehead
2. 2026 North Americans on Fishers
3. Sail Purchase Schedule

Thanks everyone, talk to you soon.

-Graham

[Graham Siener]

Hi everyone,

Bumping this to remind everyone to mark your availability for an upcoming fleet call (or send a representative if you can't make it).
https://doodle.com/group-poll/participate/avJ54m5a

The current frontrunner is Monday Oct 20th at 7pm, but we are still missing several boats.

Thanks, Graham 

[Graham Siener]

I've sent an invite for Monday Oct 20th at 7pm.