At age 8, Conner Harding participated in his very first sailing summer camp and hated it. “Sailing is too slow and boring,” Conner said to his parents. For the rest of the camp, Conner watched sailing from the coach boats. Soon enough, Conner gave sailing...
Kate Bjerregaard grew up sailing on Narragansett Bay in Bristol, RI on dinghies and keelboats. She began racing Optis at a young age and transitioned to 420s. While racing 420s, Kate was able to compete at a higher level. Around 11-years-old, she became the bowman...
Austin "AC" Colpaert grew up sailing at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan with his family since he could walk on the deck of a boat on his own. He started racing Optis in 2003 at age 7 for the Bayview Yacht Club Junior Sailing...
Arizona native, Stuart Henry, grew up sailing at his summer home on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. He became enrolled in the summer programs there and began to race Optis. Stuart also began crewing on Scow boats and his father’s Melges 24. After wanting to compete...
Ed Chimney started sailing at age 3 months. It was not until the age of 6 that Ed began racing on board a 40′ sloop. Ed spent the next 17 years crewing on One Designs, Universal, CCA, IOR, and PHRF rated yachts. In order to earn...
John Horton, a resident of Newport Beach, California, started sailing in 2011. He began sailing sabots and later transitioned to lasers and FJs at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. In 2013, he was introduced to the skiff world and the 29er community. His love of skiffs...
Wells Drayton from Newport Beach, California began sailing at age 7 for Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Wells began sailing the Naples Sabot, and later on, he moved into FJs and big boat racing. At age 10, Wells began sailing 29ers. However, it was not until...
Born and raised in Imperial Beach, California, Zach Malcolm has always had a passion for the water. Growing up, Zach enjoyed surfing and spending days on the beach. At the age of 10, Zach started sailing sabots. In 2011, Zach began sailing 29ers and has...
Andrew Person started sailing at the age of 7 in the Naples Sabots in Newport Beach, CA. He progressed through the sabot fleet and moved on to begin sailing FJs, Lasers, and 420s. Andrew realized his passion for double-handed boats and set his sights on...
Michael Sabourin recently discovered his love of skiffs after joining the 29er community. He had previously sailed lasers, but skiffs became a major part of his life. The skiff community allowed Michael to travel to new destinations outside of California, which he had never experienced...