Young sailors race in Redondo’s King Harbor; complete series
by Garth Meyer
Fifty sailors competed at King Harbor April 23-24 in the Ken Hoover Youth Regatta, the last event of a regional series.
Kids age 8-15 arrived from ten sailing clubs in Southern Calif.
The 26-boat “Champion Fleet” raced in the open ocean south of the Redondo Beach Pier. Inside the breakwater, 24 younger sailors competed. Each entrant commanded an “Optimist”, an 8-foot, single-sail craft, helmed by solo racer.
The Champion Fleet, on its course, tacked a half-mile upwind to circle a buoy, then sprinted in a straight shot downwind to the finish line.
High seas and brisk gusts greeted the kids on the first day. Then Sunday saw calm seas and light winds, which favored smaller skippers (less total weight to propel).
First-place for the Hoover Regatta – and the overall Southern California Youth Yacht Racing Association’s “Carrie” series – went to Cooper Keeves, of California Yacht Club (Marina Del Rey), who posted a “picket fence”, meaning first-place finishes in all six series races.
Taking second and third in the Champion Fleet were Jackson Rushing (California Yacht Club) and Leticia Lagutenko (Del Rey Yacht Club).
King Harbor Yacht Club Commodore Francie Hope presented trophies, along with Regatta Chair Andy Beggs (Rear Commodore).
Local King Harbor kids racing in the Champion Fleet included Cassady Lorentzen and Kingston Keyoung. Younger King Harbor “Green Fleet” sailors were: William Ahern, Matthew Burnett, Shane Estess, Henry Haran, Vincent Hebson and Neva Henry.
The Carrie Series includes events in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Cabrillo Beach, and Morro Bay. ER