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Calling Youth Sailors!

Are you a sailor and still in grade school or high school? Do you get back to the dock and all you can do is talk about what happened out there?

“…And when then wind came up and we took off!” “When we were all at the start and you were trying to push me off the line . . .” “Ha ha, I thought we’d smash for sure!”

Well, we want to hear from you!

Whether you like to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboards, or thumbs to screen, we want to hear about your sailing experiences, in your words.

The vibe down in the South Bay is always warm, fun, and welcoming.
© 2019 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Tim

The stories could be about races or practice days, boats, club events or any aspect of the sport you’d like to talk about. Perhaps you have a strong memory of your first time on the water — we’re interested in all things sailing. Please include a couple of photos, and a photo of you, the author — perhaps with your boat or club mates?

To get you thinking, take a look at some previous stories in which you or your events have featured:

C420 North Americans at St. Francis Yacht Club, July 10, 2019

Surprise. We thought we’d see 60 boats when C420 North American Championship racing kicks off tomorrow, Thursday. Instead, 102 boats registered from points around the USA. All competitors are under age 22, and this is the biggest youth regatta San Francisco Bay has seen in a while. Read more.

Boy and girl hauling boat
Man (and woman) handling the C420 on StFYC’s dinghy dock.
© 2019 Kimball Livingston

Leiter Cup at Richmond YC, July 10, 2019

Vanloads of teenage girls poured into Richmond YC on Monday, hauling blade cases bigger than they were plus all the gear for a week of racing Laser Radials on the Berkeley Circle. If conditions in the Slot get even gnarlier than usual, the race committee can move the action to the more protected waters of Keller Cove off Point Richmond’s Miller/Knox shoreline. Read more.

Sails on the floor
After checking in, each competitor stuck their sail number on brand-new practice and class sails.
© 2019 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

South Bay Youth Sailing on the Move, July 3, 2019

The Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation, or PYSF, has steadily been building its ranks over the years. Located on Redwood Creek, PYSF provides instruction, coaching, practice, and racing opportunities for kids from six years old through high school. Under the leadership of former Olympian Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer, PYSF has gone from 40 kids to about 200. Many of those kids have gone on to be highly competitive sailors, and PYSF has become well represented at national regattas. Read more.

Gavin Murphy (yellow shirt) rigs a boat at PYSF.
© 2019 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Tim

Bay Area Opti Sailor Tor Svendsen Headed to Bahamas, September 20, 2019

Flying to the Bahamas next week to compete in what he says is his most important regatta to date, the 2019 Optimist North American Championships, Tor Svendsen has been killing it on the Opti circuit this past year. He blazed the recent Pacific Coast Championships on the Berkeley Circle, winning four of six races sailed, and has consistently been at the top of the fleet at other Opti events. Read more.

Tor leading around a mark
Tor Svendsen racing at the 36th Lake Garda Optimist Meeting in Italy, in March 2019. ”One thousand boats,” said Tor’s dad, Sean. “Crazy!”
© 2019 Sean Svendsen

Did you participate in any of these events? How would you describe the experience? How would you describe your regular sailing on the Bay? However you sail, we’re excited to read about it.

To submit your stories or to ask any questions, please email [email protected].

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