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Oakcliff Grads Build Our Future
June 01, 2026
Oakcliff
Our Graduates are shining a golden future on the sport of sailing and beyond. This newsletter is almost exclusively dedicated to their stories.
We also have some immediate opportunities for you to join in on the learning and the fun. You can dip your toes into offshore sailing with deliveries.
Match Racing is full steam ahead as well. The Grade 3 this weekend is full, but there are more opportunities to race, officiate, or just volunteer and join in the parties throughout the season.
And of course our regularly scheduled weekly racing has begun.
The Oakcliff Fleet is on the move and you can be too. There is no competitive pressure, so more learning and less stress. There is also no weight limits on people or gear, so you can do crazy stuff like bring a book--highly recommended over a phone. Just ask the MANY Acorns who have sent theirs swimming.
We have room/need for extra hands on these deliveries:
June 2 (Tomorrow): Temptation JV66 Oyster Bay to Newport RI
June 9 (Tuesday): Farr 40 Blue and Farr 40 Red Oyster Bay to Newport RI to be ready for NYYC Annual. There is one sailing spot on Blue as well if someone would like to stay up and race.
June 14 (Sunday) or very early Monday 15: OC86 Oyster Bay to Newport RI
June 19-23: My car can be driven from Newport RI to Oyster Bay
June 24-29: Bermuda to Oyster Bay
June 25 - 29: Bermuda To Newport RI
If you are ready to jump onto the JV66 tomorrow reply to this email. Otherwise please click the link below.
Grad Ben Owens winning in the UK @RickTomlinson @RORC
The De Guingand Bowl Race is a highly technical 24 hour race where they give you the course 1 day before. The tides in the Solent and the English Channel are legendary. This last weekend, Graduate Ben Owens '25, along with Luke Lawrence won IRC Double Handed and came in 2nd overall!
Ben reported, “We are really happy. Two races in with Leonard, to win IRC Double Handed and come second overall is pretty special, especially in such a competitive fleet,” Ben hails from Georgia, and is also racing Leonard in the 2026 Round Ireland Race. “With 15 two-handed teams, and when you look at the calibre of sailors around us, we knew we had to work, work and work. It paid off."
Our Graduates have gone forth and are conquering new frontiers. Three of them are featured here.
Adrien LePleux '15, is now Chief of Staff at Firestorm Labs and they just announced an $82M series B funding. They are working on a fundamental problem: How to manufacture and sustain systems in environments where supply chains don't hold.
Randy Neuenhaus '11 has called Seattle as home for the past 10 years and is now the Chief Naval Architect at Delta Marine, where working on (very pretty!) 40–70 meter motor yachts. He says that all Oakcliff grads are always welcome for a tour at Delta. While he hasn't done much racing recently, has rebuilt an ’80s IOR one-tonner and spends his summers cruising the Inside Passage through Washington and British Columbia. Just FYI - Randy is also looking for a replacement mast for Mike Plant's older Open 60 Duracell. If anyone knows of any in the 75 foot range, please let him know.
Collin Weston '12 is the Director of Naval Architecture at Saronic Technologies. He's a licensed professional engineer with experience working in the naval architecture, structural, and marine engineering fields. He holds an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University at Galveston and master’s degree from University of New Orleans. Throughout his career Collin has worked on a wide variety of hull forms including yachts, combatants, jack-up oil platforms, amphibious vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles, hydro foiling vehicles, and inflatable craft. We knew and Saronic Technologies benefits from Collin's passion for the ocean which ensures each design in which he is involved is of the highest quality possible. He and Leslie also have an adorable family too.
Max Brennan '18 raced with Cole Tapper and their young team who won the prestigious Congressional Cup last month. I think it has been a while since the Crimson Blazer ended up in the pool and I just love the enthusiasm of this photo above! Congratulations to all.
The World Match Race Tour Academy led by graduate Chris Kennedy '11, is being held June 12-27. This Academy is fastest way for sailors, from young high-schoolers to people taking sabbaticals to launch themselves onto the world stage.
Isis Langer Wright' 25 rushed home from the successful Block Island Race on OC86 to finish her exams in Rhode Island. Then, on Thursday, she presented her senior project and graduated as the Valedictorian of the MET (high) School. Icy started out in the Courageous program, and has become a confident and key person on our maxi boats!
Oyster Bay High School students sailed with SailGP's Inspire Foiling Program this past week. B Lindsay '18 and Graduate Brian Reilly '19, who runs Seawanhaka's Waterfront Programs, joined together to make it a great experience for 'our' kids as well as Rocking the Boat's and many other community groups. It also made the front page of the Oyster Bay Herald.
Speaking of SailGP, Graduate and Board Member, Doug Reynolds '12, in his role as sailing Director at Brooklyn Bridge Sail Club, ran the support site for last weekend's NYC SailGP along with Liz Shaw '13 and many other "Oakcliffers' sprinkled around the race course, tech and hospitality sites.
Basically, our Golden Spinnaker keeps growing and we invite you to help contribute to the successes of the future.
