Local star featured in sailing DVD

Two Charleston sailors have combined their considerable talents and experience to produce a how-to video on DVD featuring David Loring, a two-time Sunfish world champion and Laser North American champion.

The instructional sailing video is directed by local sailor, art teacher, and film producer Dayton Colie. Colie has directed the short comic films "Voodoo Love Brush," "Action Figure Dance Party," and "Catnap," which was accepted into the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2005.

Colie also volunteers as a unified partner who helps Special Olympic athletes in regattas, and finds time to race Sunfish when he's not doing all these other things.

This DVD featuring Loring is titled "Back to Basics for Sunfish World Championship Speed." The video shows Loring's techniques in the world's most popular sailboat, the Sunfish. He last won the Sunfish World Championship when it was held in Charleston in October 2006, and the video was filmed in the harbor.

"It has been a lot of fun putting it together, and the video ended up better than I would have ever dreamed," Loring said. "My buddy Dayton did an incredible job!"

Contact them directly to get a copy at a cost of $50. Colie's e-mail address is seashoredayton@yahoo.com and Loring's is sunfish.racing@yahoo.com.

What's on your transom?

Boat US has released the list of the 10 most popular boat names of 2007. The list doesn't differentiate between sail and power boats. The winners are:

1. Black Pearl — Obviously from the Disney movie, and about as original as "Minnow" must have been in the 1960s Gilligan's Island era.

2. Liberty — This name rose in popularity after the 9/11 attacks

3. Second Wind — This one is pretty apparent.

4. Amazing Grace — Something for hymn and her?

5. Aquaholic — There's a 12-step program that can help.

6. Knot on Call — As local CORA racer/owner Eddy Evans will tell you, this name isn't just prescribed for doctors.

7. Second Chance — What about a second chance to come up with a better name?

8. Wanderlust — See comments at #7.

9. The Dog House — The local Sea Island One Design by this name was way ahead of the boating populace on this one.

10. Carpe Diem or Seas the Day

My choice for the best boat name didn't make the Boat US list, but I saw it recently in a classified ad on Sailing Anarchy. The name of a J/24 was Don't Panic — written upside down on the sailboat's hull.

Offshore Prep Course

An Offshore Prep Course that's free and open to the public will be offered Saturday at 11 a.m. at Charleston Yacht Club. Tripp Fellabom of UK-Halsey Sails will lead the seminar. "The seminar will be held on the floating docks behind the ChYC and an Ocean Sailing Academy Catalina 38 will be the demonstration boat. Handouts will be provided," Fellabom said. Fellabom helped start the Offshore Challenge series with the Charleston Ocean Racing Association, and several are coming up later this season. Information on the Offshore Challenge series is available online at www.charlestonoceanracing.org.

SATURDAY: Sailing for the Future regatta to benefit Charleston Community Sailing. Participants choose their favorite high school sailing team and take the students along for the race. A reception and awards ceremony follow at Salty Mike's. Boat call 11:45 a.m. Harbor start, 1 p.m. $100 registration. See www.charlestoncommunitysailing.org