For more than 25 years, CISA Clinic has been an opportunity for America’s top youth sailors to come and learn from the best coaches around. This year we had 110 sailors in 6 classes under the watchful eye of 18 elite sailors and coaches. We pushed the envelope yet again by having soon to be 2-time Olympian Graham Biehl, and 2-time College Sailor of the year Charlie Buckingham sailing throughout the clinic along side our sailors, showing them where they should set their sights as they springboard off the CISA Clinic into the 2012 racing season.

Each morning we had a 30-minute physical training circuit, followed by briefings on the day’s sailing. Alamitos Bay Yacht Club was, as always, a fantastic host, providing our sailors with the best sailing conditions anyone could ask for: 10-12 knots on Thursday, 15-25 knots on Friday, 12-18 knots on Saturday, and 6-12 knots on our regatta day Sunday. Our conditions ran the gamut from sunny with flat water to lightning, hail, and 5-7 foot swell on Friday afternoon. After sailing, the kids and coaches alike were entertained by some fantastic speakers. Former clinic director and St. Francis Yacht Club’s Robbie Dean talked about the new CISA Clinic to happen this summer in San Francisco focused on windsurfing. Friday night, we had a skype-link conversation with 2-time Volvo Ocean Race sailor and CISA alum and coach Andrew Lewis to talk about his recent experience offshore racing with Team Abu Dhabi. Saturday Etchells World Champion and Pt. Loma High School’s National Champion Coach Steve Hunt gave a great lecture covering the fundamentals of tactical sailboat racing. Read the rest of this entry →