Ben Buhl to Coach Opti Development Team
on Sunday February 5, 2012 04:54PM
FBYC is pleased to announce that it has hired Ben Buhl to coach the FBYC Opti Development Team in 2012. He will be one of two coaches to instruct this growing team (more about the second coach soon!)
Ben first participated in junior sailing at FBYC in 1997, and was a member of the Opti and Laser Race Teams from 2005 to 2011.
In addition to numerous top finishes in the Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada, Ben has also received a number of awards from FBYC.
In 2007 he was was awarded the Hutcheson Jr. Memorial Trophy, an annual award given to the junior sailor with the highest standing determined by giving equal weight to sanctioned regattas and intra club races.
In 2008, Ben was awarded FBYC's Reid A. Dunn Trophy, an annual award given the the junior sailor who demonstrated outstanding sailing abilities by placing highest in FBCY races during the regular season.
In 2009, he was awarded the Roberts Bowl, an annual award given to the sailor who shows most interest in sailing as evidenced by enthusiasm, improvement in sailing techniques, awareness of rules and cooperation with the members of the Junior Sailing Program.
And in 2010, Ben was awarded the Competition Trophy, an annual award given to the sailor who most successfully represented the FBYC in sailboat races hosted by other clubs.
In recent years Ben has become active coaching young sailors as well. He volunteered as an Assistant Sailing Instructor at FBYC during Junior Week in 2010 (teaching the Intermediate Class), and again served as an Assistant Sailing Instructor during Junior Week in 2011, teaching the Opti Race Class.
According to Ben, "the Fishing Bay Junior Program has made me the sailor I am today and has helped shape me to be the person I am today. I am eager to give back to the Junior Program."
And we're eager to have Ben teaching again this summer. We and anticipate an action-packed program for the Opti Development Team.