Message from Program Director Joey Mello

I can’t believe the summer of 2009 is already over; our 9 weeks of sailing flew by. The boats are now put away and the CJ Buckley Sailing Center has closed its doors. It’s always sad to see the season come to a close but that just helps build the anticipation about how great next year will be.

The summer of 2009 certainly turned out to be a great one following a slow start. June and July were plagued by rain, thunderstorms and light winds, but it was worth the wait as August was awesome. Through all the rain and wind delays, each class managed to work hard and developed a great understanding. When they were able to get on the water, the GBSA sailors made the most of it.

The staff of Instructors and Coaches was incredible. As a team, they were the BEST group I have ever worked with! Our staff knew what to do and really helped to push our students to be the best. From well designed lesson plans, to new and creative drills, this group knew how to teach and did a great job of keeping it fun. More importantly, this crowd kept it safe. On the water, the sailors were surrounded by safety boats and the watchful eyes of their coaches.

Out on the bay, the GBSA Racing Teams were nothing short of impressive. The sailing teams went out on the NBYA circuit and quickly climbed to the front of the fleet. Whether it be in Optis, Lasers or 420s, the East Greenwich sailors set their mark as front runners. In the end, the NBYA Race week was the ultimate culmination of years of hard work and great coaching. We are all incredibly proud of our sailors and racers; they truly had an extraordinary year.

In my position as the director of this great program, I am very happy with how everything went. This year started with many questions about the new format and new classes but just one week in, it was obvious that the new design was a success. The addition of new classes, and adjusted schedule gave us the flexibility to put students in classes where they could fit in and thrive. It was a great deal of fun watching these classes out sailing and pick up this life long sport that we all love.

I can’t thank enough all the volunteers and members of the GBSA family who helped make this summer a great success. There are endless hours spent by parents, family and friends of this program who make what we have possible. For all of those who helped, no matter how big or small, thank you! I greatly appreciate all that you do.

I hope everyone had a great season, and I wish you the best on this school year and we look forward to seeing everyone back next summer.

Best,

Joey Mello