SAIL - April 2015

24

APRIL 2015 PHOTO COURTESY OF MARION TO BERMUDA RACE

R

acing to the Onion Patch in the classic

Marion to Bermuda Race is one of the

country’s great Corinthian-level offshore

challenges. It’s also a perfect way to experience

bluewater racing, sans a huge amount of racecourse

pressure or the unspoken prerequisite of buying a new inventory of

carbon racing sails. Now, the time-honored bluewater classic has

become more user-friendly still by adding a youth-sailing element to

this already family-style race.

Announced over the winter, the Offshore Youth Challenge Trophy

has been specifically designed to bolster interest in offshore sailing

amongst “juniors” (defined as sailors aged 16-23 at the time of the race’s

June 19 start) and seeks to match up greenhorn sailors with experi-

enced salts to foster safe learning environments.

Boats are eligible to compete for the Offshore Youth Challenge

Trophy if they carry a minimum of four junior sailors or if at least

two-thirds of the crew qualifies as a junior sailor. While college sailing

teams are likely to be an obvious source of “junior” talent, there are no

requirements that juniors must attend the same school or represent

the same program, thereby opening up the chance of cross-college (or

cross-country) pollination.

“From the point of view of the students, it’s a great way to have their

own category to compete in and a goal to work toward,” says Matthew

Wall of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who is coordinating

MIT’s offshore sailing program. “Having the Youth category in a race

gives our students a

chance to get their

feet wet.”

“The creation of this

trophy and trophies like

it is vital to the growth

of our sport,” says Mark

Gabrielson, a Marion to

Bermuda Race Trustee.

“Not only will the level

of competition in the

race increase with the

participation of new

talent, but the social

events in Bermuda

are sure to be even

more fun.” s

UNDER SAIL

RACING

Bermuda Tenderfoot Trophy

OTHER YOUTH KEELBOAT

OPPORTUNITIES

Ida Lewis Distance Race

Youth Challenge & Collegiate Challenge

trophies: ildistancerace.org

Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta

Storm Trysail Club: stormtrysail.org

Beach Point Overnight Race

Junior Sailing Association of Long Island

Sound: jsalis.securespsites.com

Transatlantic Race Youth Teams class

New York YC, RYS, RORC & Storm Trysail

Club: transatlanticrace.org

By

David

Schmidt

A new opportunity for young sailors to prove themselves offshore

The storied Marion

to Bermuda Race is

working to encourage

younger crews