Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories

Siena Nichols at the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta

Event Website

Results

My personal goal at the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami was to grow my knowledge and handling of a new boat, learn to sail in larger fleets and in the ocean.

Coral Reef Yacht Club hosted a four-day clinic the week before the regatta that my sister and I attended. I really was able to learn how the controls affected the boat, how sail ties affect the sail shape and my boat speed, and how to use the sprit pole, something that a sabot does not have. Learning an aggressive roll tack with the centerboard helped my overall boat handling substantially and it helped me work my way through the chop and the wind. 

During the clinic the weather ranged from very light, to windy with even a squall line coming through one day that was a lot of fun. It was amazing for me to see my improvements from the first day of the clinic to the last in my boat speed, and my overall boat handling. I became comfortable working the chop and I became much more comfortable with tacking in little to no wind. The four-day clinic was an amazing opportunity, and I am very thankful for being able to use it as a tool to advance my knowledge in the Opti and better prepare myself for the regatta. 

The Orange Bowl regatta had two qualifying days and two championship days planned. During the regatta I experienced my first 800-foot starting line with 70 boats and a trapezoid course. I really learned how to better my large fleet perspective because there were 200 Opti’s at this event and we were broken out into 70 boat fleets. The wind during the regatta days was light, shifty, or never filled in. Sailing in this range of conditions taught me the importance of getting to the pressure quickly on such a large course, trying to always have a fast boat, and learning how to throw in a double tack in an Opti, something you don’t do in a sabot. I really focused on how important it is to keep my open lane, maintain my speed on the reaches, and sail fast.

It was an amazing experience for me in Miami to advance my experience in the Opti and learn both heavy and light air boat handling. I also had a fun being able to meet people from around the world that enjoy sailing like I do. It was an amazing time in Florida, and I want to thank the foundation for your support to help me get there!  I look forward to going to many more Orange Bowls in my future with my sister.

Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta
Siena Nichols

Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta
Siena Nichols