West Coast Tour - 2013 Junior Sabot Nationals at Mission Bay, San Diego

by Kate Sheahan
West Coast Tour Coordinator

In the works since February, the 2013 Sabot Junior Nationals concluded yesterday with a win by Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club’s Derek Pickell out of 148 competitors.

The event was run by the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs, which comprises four area clubs and was hosted by Mission Bay Yacht Club of San Diego. Chris Wright, Mission Bay Junior Sailing Director, explained that, “all the resources of every club were required to pull off the event.”

Monday included “Flight Selections,” which grouped racers in to Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron fleets for the two-day Nationals. The day ended with guest speaker, Zach Brown, of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider and a talk about making a performance-oriented goal for the regatta, and one new friend. Zach is campaigning in the 49er class with Fred Strammer for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and he reminded competitors that his strong foundation in Sabot sailing at Mission Bay helped him to be where he is today. Tuesday and Wednesday saw three races a piece with flight rotations off the Mission Bay Yacht Club beach.

Perhaps similar to the 49er, Sabot Junior National sailors explained that the Sabot requires more fine-tuning than the Opti and a lot of finesse to point around the course. Competitor’s found Mission Bay conditions choppy with strong and shifty breezes making for nail-biting jumps in the standings with every race.

All competitors had an individual sense of style; perhaps sensing it is now their time to make a unique mark within the legacy of sailing Sabots. In addition to neon Zinka noses, cheeks and lips; a riot of colorful hull graphics; and stylish sunglasses, many had lucky charms and a story about their forefathers. B Lindsay of San Diego continues the old tradition of tying her regatta ribbons, now in the dozens, to the back of her boat to remember each and every regatta, a tradition she says she is passing down to younger sailors at her club. Cole Harris of San Diego inherited a whole boat, passed down to him from past champions Tyler Sinks via Jake LaDow, both from San Diego as well. For the event, Cole’s Sabot got custom labels from family and friends with encouraging words like, “You Rock!” and “Sail Fast.” Christian Rosere and Pearce Mendoza of Balboa Yacht Club say their entire team simply loves stickers.

See a quick clip from the starting line, plus interviews about Mission Bay conditions, Sabots versus Optis, and traditions - new and old.

Follow the West Coast Tour on Twitter at @USSailing as I drop in at the Mission Bay 24-hour Snipe Regatta.

Click to check out The West Coast Tour Schedule

Sabot Junior Nationals 2013, a set on Flickr.