by Mark Kondracky
Pete Bergendahl is ECSA's new Commodore. Pete has served Eastern Connecticut
sailors as Vice-Commodore and as division scorer. The job of the scorer is to tabulate
the amount of points each boat earns as it competes in ECSA circuit races. It can be quite a task chasing down yacht clubs for results. As commodore, Pete hopes to increase participation in big boat racing and to involve more Junior sailors in off shore
racing as well. Currently ESCA offers a number of programs for the juniors. Check out www.ECSA.net for the schedule.
ESCA is also offering a one day course on race management. The course will be offered on March 27 at Shennecossett yacht club. All circuit races must be run by
a certified US Sailing Club Race Officer. The ECSA board will recognize the best race committee by awarding the Stu Silvestri trophy. (2003 winner Off Soundings Club, check out previous articles on this site)
Pete also reported that Essex Yacht Club's Rum Challenge has retained it's status as an ECSA sanctioned event. The club had been on probation for problems associated with the Rum Challenge hosted in 2002. Last year the event was plagued with drifting marks resulting in cancellation of the race. Essex Yacht Club has agreed to ECSA's terms for hosting the race. Some of these terms include having a Certified US Sailing Official on board the committee boat. Also the club plans to use government marks instead of drop marks. Pete added that this was in the best interest of all the sailors involved. The event has been very well attended and we hope that continues.
We wish Pete the best of luck.