Welcome Aboard, Chloe Eenmaa, ‘Latitude 38’ Junior Reporter

We’d like to introduce Chloe Eenmaa, junior rear commodore at St. Francis Yacht Club. Chloe is one of StFYC’s junior flag officers and a competitive racing sailor. As a student at University High School, she is also an avid writer and has recently joined our crew as junior reporter.

Chloe started sailing on San Francisco Bay when she was 9, joining summer camps out of
St. Francis Yacht Club. “I immediately loved the sport,” Chloe tells us, “sailing Teras in the chop off
Marina Green. It was a difficult place to learn for sure, with strong winds and ripping current, but I enjoyed the challenge.”

The summer camps taught Chloe the basics, — how to rig her boat, how to tack, and how to right the boat after a capsize. “But I’ve learned the most from the people I sail with now: coaches, teammates, and older sailors who take the time to talk me through tactics or rig tuning,” she explains. “I love the feeling of sailing — it’s fast, exciting, and totally unpredictable. It’s great to spend time on the water, especially on days when everything clicks and the boat just flies. The Bay is also beautiful. I love spotting birds and seals and watching the fog roll in. And honestly, I love the challenge of racing. There’s always more to experience and more to learn.”

Chloe also sails 29ers with the team at San Francisco Yacht Club. “It’s an exciting high-performance
boat, and I love training in the wind and waves there.” She says one of the best parts of being on
the team is the community. “We’re a close group of friends who really support each other. I sail with kids from all over the Bay Area, so it’s been a great way to meet people who go to different schools and live in different neighborhoods. We also have an amazing coach who’s super-passionate about sailing and always pushes us to improve.”

“The whole experience has made me a much stronger sailor and teammate,” Chloe continues, and adds that she races and trains aboard her own 29er. “I haven’t named it yet, but I probably should, considering how much time I’ve spent fixing it and racing it. I’m open to any suggestions!”

Among her most memorable sailing experiences, Chloe recalls sailing Lasers out of St. Francis Yacht Club during COVID. “It was way too big for me but I didn’t realize this at the time!” she says. “Just being able to get out on the water was a huge break from all the anxiety during those weird years. I’d get to see my friends there too, and I relied on it to find normalcy and freedom. That’s when I realized how much I loved sailing, and that I didn’t just want to do it here and there; I wanted to pursue it seriously for the long term.”

Chloe is certain that sailing is a part of her future. “Right now, I’m focused on getting better on any type of boat. I hope to sail in college, where I’d enjoy being part of a competitive team and continuing to grow as a racer. Long-term, I’d love to pursue sailing at the highest level — maybe even an Olympic campaign someday.” Recently she’s begun match racing and team racing, which, she says, demand totally different mindsets and strategic approaches.”

“I know sailing will always be a big part of my life,” she concludes, “whether it’s through racing, coaching, or just enjoying a day on the water.”

We invite you to join us in welcoming Chloe to the team and cheering her on as her sailing adventures continue.