West Coast Tour - High School Sailing - Excellence from the Get-Go

by Kate Sheahan

West Coast Tour Coordinator

Point Loma High School sailing practice with Coach Steve Hunt

PCISA or the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association includes over 80 High School teams from SoCal, NorCal and Hawaii. The season generally runs from late September to May with teams competing mostly in double-handed FJs. The top events are the Baker Team Racing Nationals and the Mallory Fleet Racing Nationals. In preparation for Nationals, teams sail five major regional events hosted along the West Coast between October and March. Points from the regionals, as well as points from the Pacific Coast Championship count towards a spot at Nationals. Additionally, five "friendlies" are hosted as one-day regattas meant to get new skippers and crews serious regatta experience. Regional events see about sixty teams (gold and silver fleets combined), while the more relaxed "friendlies" boast upwards of forty to fifty boats. The West Coast Tour caught up with the Point Loma High School Sailing Team for their first day of practice out of the San Diego Yacht Club. With a long winning history PLHS is looking to defend their dual Team Racing and Fleet Racing Champion titles again this year. Head Coach Steve Hunt creates excellence by keeping his messages simple and working from the bottom up. Read on as team members share their own advice based on experiences from being apart of a truly successful team.

SDYC has a fleet of 24 FJS to support four High School teams

Maddy Brownsea, entering her fifth and final year on the Point Loma High School Sailing Team says, “when she was younger her older teammates really helped her to grow in sailing, and in life, so as a senior it’s a cool experience to be able to do that for the younger members.” Her advice: Keep it simple. Don’t tack or gybe too much.

Blake Buckner and Peyton Thomas who were paired up for their first day of practice say they’ll be focusing on getting the timing of their roll tacks and gybes down over the first month and Blake looks forward to traveling to regattas. Peyton, who has sailed on both the East Coast and West Coast believes,"the winds are puffier in San Diego, and that makes for better sailors because they're used to focusing on the breeze." Their advice: Sail on the long tack. Sail in more wind.

Pre-practice briefing at the Malin Burnham Sailing Center

Rebecca McElvain and Jennifer Johnson are one of a couple all-womens teams. Rebecca who is transitioning from crewing to skippering this year says that working with Head Coach Steve Hunt has taught her to stay calm and composed, which has helped with not only her sailing, but with speeches and dealing with the demands of school. Jennifer says she, “is focused on working hard, keeping a level head and being the best that she can be.” Both believe that a co-ed team makes members more conscious of being respectful. They say they feel lucky to have a great facility, varying conditions to learn more aspects of sailing, and a supportive environment. Their advice: Stay calm and composed.

Champion sailor Scott Sinks and crew roll tack off the pin.

Two-time National Champion Will LaDow believes there is a lot of talent condensed in to a small area of the Southern California coast making for highly competitive practices and local competitions. Admittedly more of a laid back guy, Will believes that working with his Coach Steve Hunt has made him enjoy being more disciplined. “Steve has ingrained in us to be the first one off the dock, get a good night sleep, and finish homework early so we can focus on competing.” To help the team focus more, Will explains that, "coach Steve breaks down sailing in to small pieces and doesn’t overcomplicate the messages, which [he] thinks helps even the most advanced sailors." Will says he does yoga for a strong core and surfs to stay peaceful. His advice: Be early and cross train.

Practices see 18-24 boats on the line.

Champion sailor Nick Kashack graduated from Point Loma High School in 2008 and believes his coaching style, sailing style and philosophies were shaped by his experiences from working with High School team head coach Steve Hunt. A recent graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara, he has now returned to be the PLHSST assistant coach and further reinforce the culture that has proven to be so successful. Nick believes coaching from the bottom up gets the team as a whole good, which elevates the level of practices. He also believes in a huge emphasis on the fundamentals of boat handling and boat speed before teaching advanced tactics and strategies. His advice: Pick a college that suits you and don’t worry about entering college as a top tier recruit. Be in great physical shape, show determination and prepare to work hard.

Catch video interviews with Point Loma High School Sailing Team members as they talk about the formula for a winning High School team and encourage more students to get out on the water. San Diego Yacht Club Junior Director John Fretwell explains the paths junior sailors take through the program and why West Coast teams are so good.

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Point Loma High School Sailing Practice Fall 2013, a set on Flickr.