Sailing News

Last week (as of this writing), while all of New England held their collected breath and hoped for the final jewel in the Patriot's perfect season, I began thinking of what it truly means to have a "Perfect Season". Here at MSA, our goal is to make this summer, the Summer of 2008, the Perfect Season. Or, at least, as perfect as it can be without sacrificing all the fun and excitement that have become synonymous with our program over the last six years of my tenure. We have taken a lot of steps this off-season to make sure that happens.

One of our most exciting news items is that the fleet of new inflatable coach boats that began trickling in at the end of last summer is now fully operational and ready for the new season. These state-of-the-art inflatables are faster, stronger, more capable and safer than our skiffs ever were, not to mention the fact that they look really classy on the water. Finally, a fleet of boats that truly represents how great a program we have at MSA.

Thanks to the generous support of all our friends in the MSA community, we were also able to continue with the capital improvement of our sailing fleet, adding six brand new Optis and new racing sails for the 420 team to the mix. Combined with the recent purchases of new 420s and Dyer Dhows over the past few years, we are boasting one of the newest fleets in the Northeast!

Combine all this great news with the reputation of MSA as a fantastic place to work and what you have is another excellent off-season of Instructor recruiting. As I sift through the resumes, I am looking forward to adding some new names to our ranks, while welcoming back a few of our favorite local Instructors to keep MSA feeling like your home away from home.

At this point, I am sure you are wondering how you can join in on this "Perfect Season" in the making. Well, you hold in your hands the first step. While we still support the U.S. Mail and appreciate that many of you enjoy getting this information in hard copy form, we want to remind you that we went almost 100% online last year with registration and payment for classes, and it was a great success. If you joined the online revolution last year, you?ll find the process even easier this year. If you bought a stamp instead, check out www.manchestersailing.org and give technology a shot. You won't be disappointed with the online registration process. You will also notice a new look to our website, which will enable us to post race results and important news in a very timely manner. So check back to manchestersailing.org frequently throughout the spring and summer for important updates.

The first of our two-week sessions begins June 23, so let's all pray for no more snow days so you can be there right from the start! We'll sail through to August 15 this year when the fourth session, and the Perfect Season, come to a close. Sign up for one session, sign up for all four, but make sure you sign up soon because classes fill up quickly and waiting lists grow even faster! As always, we hope the flexibility of our schedules allows you and your family to take advantage of all the opportunities that the summer offers you while still getting some quality time out on the water with us.

As the fans of New England let out that collective breath, let's hope it fuels some summer winds for all of us to enjoy. Will this be the "Perfect Season" It can be as long as you take the time to enjoy the journey. And the journey starts right here, so get ready!

Doug Nebel-Program Director
MSA Office: 978-526-8345
(During the Season Only)