Late Summer Dinghy Racing

The Youth Racing Scene Late July Through August

With summer’s end in sight, the youth racing circuit has been packed with action, including the Maryland State Championship hosted by Rock Hall Yacht Club on July 24-25, the Miles River Junior Regatta hosted by Miles River Yacht Club on August 7, and the Oxford Annual Regatta hosted by Tred Avon Yacht Club on August 9-10. Below, you will find the top three finishers at each event.

On July 30, a colorful edition of the annual Ranney Sunfish Challenge unfolded on Langford Creek, where competitors from the Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School racing team tested their skills in a fleet of 11 Sunfish. The race was held on a hot, sunny day, perfect for the Le Mans start which required the young sailors to start on land, run across the sandy beach, and splash through the water to reach their boats, before navigating the three-and-a-half-nautical mile course around Cacaway Island. In the end, Opti sailor Colt Watson claimed victory, edging out several more experienced competitors.

Go Big!

Thanks to the efforts of dedicated adult sailors around the Bay, youth around the Chesapeake have opportunities for exposure to all kinds of sailboats. Harbor Sailing Association is introducing youth sailors to big boats with its Sailapalooza aimed at getting young people comfortable on keelboats. Another great effort: Seafarer’s Yacht Club and its Youth Summer Program partners have teamed up provide local kids an unforgettable experience on the Schooner Woodwind, while teaching life skills, seamanship, and more.

This month, look for young racing sailors to descend upon Tred Avon Yacht Club on September 20, when the club hosts its inaugural Pumpkin Patch Regatta for Opti Green, Opti RWB, Junior ILCA6, and C420 classes.

Top Three Finishers

Maryland State Championship

C420 (17 boats)

1. Walter Daigle/Viana Johnston, AYC
2. Amelia Wire/Shane Churilla, WRSC
3. William Tweed/Parker Lefever Farino, AYC

ILCA 6 (10 boats)

1. Christopher Hanson, SSA
2. Andrew Hanson, SSA
3. Marucs Kozlowski, SSA

Optimist (43 boats)

1. Quillin Moran, AYC/SFYC
2. Sam von Schwarz, AYC/Carolina YC
3. James Hillyer, AYC

Miles River Junior Regatta

C420 (17 boats)

1. William Tweed/Parker Lefever Farino, AYC
2. Walter Daigle/Viana Johnston, AYC
3. Maggie Dowling/Grace Wilcox, WRSC

ILCA 6 (8 boats)

1. Alec Berg, FBYC
2. Riley Clary, FBYC
3. Christian Merrill, RHYCSS

Optimist RWB (49 boats)

1. Brooks Crawford, AYC
2. Arthur Haneberg, AYC
3. Aubrey Marino, AYC

Oxford Annual Regatta

29’er (3 boats)

1. McKenna Bridgman/Liam McKenzie Peterson, SSA
2. Sophia Schmidt/Josephine Schragger, SSA
3. Mike Gilliland/Eliza Whitehead, SSA

C420 (20 boats)

1. Walter Daigle/Viana Johnston, AYC
2. Hartley Cooper/Louisa Kalinski, Tred Avon YC
3. William Tweed/Parker Lefever Farino, AYC

ILCA 6 (18 boats)

1. Christopher Hanson, SSA
2. Andrew Hanson, SSA
3. Andrew Shingledecker, SSA

Optimist RWB (59 boats)

1. Trey Waters, AYC/EYC
2. Daniel Skutch Tyson, AYC
3. Charlotte Sites, AYC

Opti Green (43 boats)

1. Owen Cal Tyson
2. Thomas Blanchard
3. Oliver Basile