Wow! It seems like just yesterday I was at the Danmark Trophy at the Coast Guard Academy, learning to use my new camera, trying to figure out what questions to ask the collegiate sailors, and explaining what exactly a Sailgroove is. Well, it's October again and Sailgroove.org has now been online one year. The time has flown by, but the numbers the site has up are astounding: 3150 videos (800 from Sailgroove users), 6,175 photos, 78 regattas covered, including over a dozen National, North American or World Championships, and the top events in College High School and Jr. Sailing. Thanks to all the volunteers who contributed!

Over the past year, I've gotten to know hundreds of sailors from Olympians and America's Cup skippers, to teenagers who shred in different dinghy classes, to people sailing in their first regattas. I've been to more harbors and coastlines than I ever would have imagined, slept in motel rooms, on guest beds, air mattresses, couches and on boats and spent hours driving, flying and bobbing around in powerboats. I wouldn't give it up for the world.

In my first blog ever, I told you:
I'll be putting up new videos about regattas, team racing, team practices, training, coaching, advice, rules and lots of other stuff that's just plain interesting. I want you to use the site to learn, improve, and hear from the top minds in sailing, even if you live a 1000 miles away from them. I want you to experience regattas at every level, as if you are there. And if you are one of the few sailors I do get to interview or watch race, I want to give you the attention you deserve. I know there are a lot of affected individuals just like me who are craving this kind of thing, but can't get it elsewhere.

I hope, so far, I have accomplished what I set out to do. But this is just the beginning! With one year behind me, I go forward better equipped, with much more knowledge and experience than I had that weekend at the Danmark. This upcoming year should be ten times better than the last.

Even so, I need your help! If you have an event you'd like me to cover, or a place to stay while I'm there, let me know. If you want to join me behind the camera, or want to volunteer to go try it on your own, or if you have an event near you that you want to showcase, by all means, get involved! The great thing about Sailgroove is that you, its followers, only make it better! Just browse through the user videos, the photo galleries and the blogs and you'll be amazed at all the fine work that's on display that were created without my help.

This is an exciting time for Sailgroove. I'm scheduling regattas well into 2010, I've got some new series in the works, and the cutting-edge web platform that drives Sailgroove is likely to add even more features and improvements.

Thanks for your support over the past year. Stay tuned. The best is yet to come.


Chris