Midwinter Optimist Champ and Green Classes – Youth sailing in the fog
by Andy Kopetzky on 18 Feb 2014
Foggy Start - 2014 SCYA Mid-Winters Cristie George
During the weekend of February 15 and 16 the Southern California Yachting Association's Mid-Winter Optimist Champ and Green Classes featured 27 of the small pram type boats sailed by Southern California's finest young sailors.
The youngsters ranged in ages from eight to 15 years old and age was not a factor in winning. When all the scoring was over 11 year old Kieran Shocklee won the Champ class with a pair of bullets, a pair of thirds and a fourth in the one throw-out series.
In the Green class 10 year old Aidan Koslu rattled off six firsts to become victorious in the 14 race series.
The foggy conditions gradually gave way to part sun and haze and the Del Rey yacht Club Race Committee was able to run six races in the more experienced 'Champ' class and 14 in the 'Green' Class over the two days.
The Champ class was sailed out on the bay while the smaller Green class was sailed inside the Marina Del Rey Harbor.
In addition to their sailing skills these young folks are to be commended for their excellent display of sportsmanship and corinthian spirit as they root each other on and the more skillful among them serve as mentors to the others.
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