Story courtesy of King Harbor Yacht Club
Photos by Karly Spalding
King Harbor Yacht Club’s Alex Beggs applied his knowledge of the local waters to claim third place in the Ken Hoover Memorial Youth Regatta over the weekend of May 1. Carly Kieding, from Santa Barbara Yacht Club, took first place, and Kanoa Lee, also from SBYC, took second. Over 40 young sailors took part in the final stop of the Optimist Series. Previous stops were in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Cabrillo Beach, and Morro Bay.
The rookie sailors of the Green Fleet competed on inside the King Harbor breakwater. The Champion Fleet, which participates in the International Optimist competition, sailed outside the harbor.
Optimists are 8-foot, single-sail boats, piloted by single youth racers, ages 8-15. Optimists are the largest one-design competition fleet in the world, with racers advancing to high school, collegiate, and Olympic competition.
Families interested in sailing are invited to enroll their kids in the King Harbor Youth Foundation summer sailing program. The Foundation also provides adult sailing lessons on 24-foot sailboats.
For more information, visit KHYF.org, email director@KHYF.org or phone (424) 287-7245. ER
