Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories
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Marbella Marlo at the 2024 Youth Match Race World Championship
This past November, I had the incredible opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2024 Youth World Match Race Championships in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sailing alongside Justin and Mitchell Callahan, Michael Kirkman, and Spencer Kriegstein, with guidance from our coach Jeffrey Petersen, we secured 5th place out of 12 boats.
Competing at the Youth Worlds was a transformative experience, especially as someone who had recently graduated college and stepped away from the youth sailing circuit. The event opened my eyes to the intensity of youth keelboat match racing on a global scale and challenged me to confront conditions far beyond the collegiate sailing environment I had grown accustomed to.
The regatta was hosted at the stunning Jeddah Yacht Club, a world-class venue that provided the perfect setting for six days of sailing—three days of practice followed by three days of intense competition. With no prior experience sailing together or on the FarEast 28, our team focused on accelerating our learning curve to compete against seasoned teams who had been training together year-round.
Although we didn’t achieve the finish we had envisioned, our progress in boat handling and tactical execution was substantial. We were fortunate to enjoy phenomenal conditions every day—15 to 20 knots of breeze, waves, and sunshine—and shared the water with incredible competitors and supportive regatta officials.
A heartfelt thank you to the Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation and US Sailing for their financial support, and to Zhik for providing pinnies and shirts. This unforgettable experience was made all the more special by the camaraderie of the sailing community and the vibrant atmosphere of Jeddah.
2024 Youth World Match Race Championships
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2024 Youth World Match Race Championships
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia