Youth sailboat racing team on the road again
Going back through the history of the Lewes Yacht Club, sailboat racing has been a central part of the club’s existence. On weekends and during the week, boats compete in Delaware Bay throughout the summer.
LYC’s commitment to youth sailing is among its most important activities.
With the season underway, 10 LYC junior sailors are slated to compete in regattas hosted by two regional sailing organizations: the Mid-Atlantic Yacht Racing Association in the South Jersey Summer Series and the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association junior regatta series in Annapolis, Md., based on age and experience level.
They will participate in the Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Sunfish, and Optimist classes. This year’s racers are local to Lewes and Milford or from farther away, including Washington, D.C.; Roanoke, Va.; and Durham, N.C. Sometimes, it’s a family affair with siblings William, Leyton, Andrew and Malee Burke, and siblings and cousins, Max and Asher Weiss and Phoebe Wolf. Some are newer to sailing, or they’ve raced at LYC previously, including Gavin Charles, Henry Cummins and Riley Stazzone.
After four regattas in New Jersey, three LYC sailors have placed first and fifth in the Laser Radial and 4.7 classes. Several other sailors have notched top 10 finishes.
Sailing takes commitment, and regatta days can be long. Often, parents and their sailors leave at 4 a.m. with a boat strapped to the roof or in a trailer to make an 8 a.m. start time. Or they’ll spend a night in New Jersey to ensure they’re on time.
The action isn’t only in New Jersey or Maryland. This summer, LYC is hosting two youth regattas in Lewes. On Thursday, July 25, sailors from clubs making up the CBYRA will travel to Lewes to compete. In 2022, 79 sailors competed in this event, with sailors from across the region.
On Friday, Aug. 9, LYC will host an Opti Team Race regatta in coordination with MAYRA.
For more information, contact LYC’s Director of Sailing Angus Robertson or go to lewesyachtclub.com/sailing.
