Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories
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2018 US Youth Match Racing Championship (Rose Cup)
This past week, I was lucky enough to sail the US Youth Match Racing Championship in Oyster Bay, New York. Crewing for Porter Killian (BYC), I trimmed the jib and worked the pit on the Sonar, along with Jeffrey Petersen (BYC) and Derek Pickell (BCYC). This was my first match race regatta, and first time sailing a Sonar, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to compete with some of the most talented match race and keelboat sailors from around the country. Dave Perry, US Sailing Director and former head coach for the US Women’s Match Racing Team orchestrated the event in the form of a ‘clinegatta’, where the first two days were dedicated to a clinic, where the sailors could work on boat handling and tactics in preparation for the last three days of racing.
This year, Rose Cup was held at the Oakcliff Sailing Center, a high-performance sailing and training center that hosts several renowned programs and clinics, as well as a place where sailors can gain connections to use their skills in other professional pathways. On the first day of the clinic, when my team and I were settling into our dorms, we were invited to sail an M32, and to our excitement, reached 22.4 knots sailing downwind! However, the rest of the week did not meet our initial expectations, and we were unable to sail the last day due to the lack of wind.
During postponement, we spent time at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, and enjoyed the view of Oyster Bay while creating new friendships with other sailors. Competing at the 2018 US Youth Match Racing Championship has unveiled a plethora of opportunities for me. I have realized my affinity for both keelboat sailing and match racing, and I plan to develop my experiences in both areas in the future. I am grateful for Newport Harbor’s support for my sailing and I hope to compete at Rose Cup next year at San Diego Yacht Club.
2018 US Youth Match Racing Championships
Marbella Marlo | Porter Killian | Jeffrey Petersen | Derek Pickell