Sailing Association

Hot pink ribbon-like patches sprouted Monday on life vests at the Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis as junior sailors prepared for practice, bright remembrances of the 14-year-old student who died last week in an accident during practice. Friends of Olivia Constants made dozens of patches, decorating them with fabric paint and marker to note her dates of birth and death. The club's junior sailing program, where Olivia was in the top level for junior racers using the Club 420 sailboat, will be closed Tuesday for Olivia's funeral.

Samuel P. SislerCoast Guard workerSamuel P. Sisler, a retired department supervisor at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay, died Feb. 5 of pneumonia at the Old Court Nursing Center in Pikesville.The 90-year-old Randallstown resident retired in 1968 after 29 years at the Coast Guard Yard.He had come to Baltimore in the early 1930s and operated his own painting contracting company for a time. The Connellsville, Pa., native graduated from Fair Chance (Pa.) High School. He was a member of the Liberty Lodge of the Masons, the Baltimore Forest of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Cyrano, skippered by Bob Mosby of the Broad Bay Sailing Association, finished with the top time in the IMS class yesterday during the Annapolis-to-Hampton Virginia Cruising Cup.Cyrano's time of 14 hours, 46 minutes, 10 seconds beat Miss Take by about 32 minutes.

BaltimoreOct. 20-23 Natural Products Expo, Convention Center. Contact: Kay Gazaway, 303-939-8440. Estimated attendance: 7,500Oct. 27-31U.S. Sailing Association national meeting, Hyatt Regency. Contact: Wanda Goodwin-Tuck, 401-683-0800. Estimated attendance: 500Nov. 1-2 American Rental Association conference and product showcase, Sheraton Inner Harbor. Contact: Mary Slabon, 309-764- 2475. Estimated attendance: 1,000Pub Date: 10/18/99

A 14-year-old Annapolis sailing student who died during lessons in the Severn River was remembered Friday as a much-loved teenager who enjoyed sailing with her family and playing soccer on a high school team. Investigators said Olivia Constants was trapped underwater for several minutes after her boat capsized around 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Based on a preliminary investigation, they believe a harness she was wearing "got entangled in the rigging of the sailboat," said state Department of Natural Resources Police spokesman Sgt. Art Windemuth.

Helping draw attention to one of the films currently playing at its IMAX theater, the Maryland Science Center is sponsoring a sailboat regatta in the Inner Harbor today.The first Maryland Science Center Frostbite Regatta is scheduled at 1 p.m. on the waters off the Science Center's main entrance, with 20 Laser class, single-handed boats sailed by members of the Glenmar Sailing Association.The event highlights "Race the Wind," a film about the ways humankind has harnessed the power of the wind to provide speed.

Host St. Mary's College will be one of 18 schools competing today and tomorrow in the Senators Cup intercollegiate regatta on the Chesapeake Bay. Washington College, Salisbury, the Naval Academy, Loyola, Maryland, UMBC, Georgetown and George Washington are the other area schools that will compete in the Senators Cup. Completing the field are Hobart and William Smith, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Hampton, Ocean County (N.J.) College, University of Pennsylvania, Old Dominion, Queen's University, University of Virginia and Christopher Newport.

BaltimoreOct. 27-31 U.S. Sailing Association national meeting, Hyatt Regency. Contact: Wanda Goodwin-Tuck, 401-683-0800. Estimated attendance: 500Nov. 1-2 American Rental Association conference & product showcase, Sheraton Inner Harbor. Contact: Mary Slabon, 309-764-2475. Estimated attendance: 1,000Nov. 1-4 Council of Educational Facility Planners international convention & trade show, Hyatt Regency. Contact: Deborah Moore, 602-948-2337. Estimated attendance: 1,200Nov. 5-6 Black Professional Men's Entrepreneurship weekend, Morgan State University, Hillen Road.

Today: Whitbread Skippers Forum, Race Center Stage at City Dock, Annapolis, 9: 30 a.m., open to the public. Entertainment, Race Center Stage, noon to 6 p.m. Celebrate Whitbread: The Annapolis Salute -- Eastport Yacht Club and Severn Sailing Association are hosts to this ticketed benefit for Whitbread Chesapeake, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. A welcome by America's Cup yachtsman and ESPN commentator Gary Jobson is followed by an evening of top-line entertainment and...

William A. Hoffman of Severn Park, was recognized by Harbor HospitalCenter for his insight in founding the "Race for the Gull" regatta in 1985 and indeveloping a lasting partnership between the hospital, the Magothy River Sailing Association and the Rock Creek Racing Association.The sailing regatta and post-party celebration have become an annual fund-raising event for Harbor Hospital Center. This year's event on July 13 attracted more than 500 party-goers and more than $8,000 was raised for the hospital's Pediatics Unit.