Agenda

12 Metre America’s Cup Sailors Kyle Smith and Jonathan Wright

7:00 PM Social Gathering plus Meet and Greet America’s Cup Sailor Kyle Smith

Kyle tells his “luckiest guy in the world” story about sailing with Dennis Conner who according to Smith was more of a quarterback than a coach. Mr. Smith was a member of Team Dennis Conner’s programs in 1980, 1983 and the famous “last leg of America’s Cup” comeback win team in 1987. The event was one of the greatest achievements ever by a team representing America, the climax of Stars & Stripes’ four-race sweep of Australian defender Kookaburra III. Big and bulky, as a first-round draft choice in the National Football League, Kyle Smith lives the dream on Stars & Stripes with Dennis Conner, as he did with Conner on both Liberty in 1983 and Freedom in 1980. Kyle who says ‘I’d much rather crew than skipper,’ joined Conner on the Freedom crew after the skipper had spotted him in 1979 in a rival boat during a Southern Ocean Racing Conference series.

07:50 WGNO’s Molly Rosenblatt’s J/30 North Americans Weather Report

07:55 Introducing Leighton O’Conner Photography

8:00 PM Allstate Sugar Bowl J/30 Committee Opening remarks:

A few year’s back on a Wednesday night, we remember running race committee with 78 boats on the line. Today, we’re averaging about 50 boats after a come back from significant hurricane and economic impact. We’ll have to rally to keep the sport of sailing alive and growing. Mentoring, teamwork, altruism and camaraderie are imperative to succeed with the mission. Our goal: 80 boats racing in 2014.

Nicholas Hayes racing his B32 Syrena with Family in Milwaukee, WI

8:15 Presentation by Nicholas Hayes, author of award winning book, Saving Sailing, The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How We Can Make a Better Future.

Nicholas D. Hayes tells us that participation in sailing has decreased 70% since 1979. Hayes is making a point about how American families spend their time together, or perhaps don’t spend time together. Sailing, like many outdoor activities are in a per capita decline. Hayes offers insights and stories about the quality of a life that includes family and group outdoor activities, with sailing as the centerpiece.

Nicholas will talk about how to help others find sailing. It’s not a coincidence that the big themes will include “mentoring’, ‘accessibility’ and ‘community involvement.’ There is a strong desire to reach out and listen to young families and find ways to help them find sailing. So look for open gates, Facebook groups, shared fleets, on the water teaching, and family fun at clubs.

Nick doesn’t much like the idea of “selling” sailing. Sailing is something you do and when done, ask Kyle Smith, it sometimes inspires more doing, favoring sharing and direct relationships. Sailing isn’t a sport. It is much more.

9:45 PM Question and Answer session

10:00 PM Event Ends