The Second Youth Clinic & Regatta will be held at Balboa Yacht Club this weekend, combining expert coaching with exciting match racing in the waters off the Newport Pier.
Crews of three or four, all members of US Sailing, will compete in a round robin series on Saturday and Sunday, with semifinals and final races on Sunday. The winning skipper will be invited to the 2011 Governor’s Cup, to be held at BYC July 19-24.
For the clinic part of the event, Andrew Campbell, a nationally recognized coach, will provide both on-the-water and off-the-water coaching. Local coach Mike Pinckney will be available during the two race days.
International umpires will provide on the water decisions about protests and rules.
Annapolis Yacht Club, Chicago Yacht Club and a Connecticut group are sending racers to challenge the California entrants: Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, King Harbor Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club as well as the host BYC team.
Ryan Davidson will lead the BYC team, which will include Gregg Kent, Megan Kenney and alternate Shane Corwin.
From Newport Harbor Yacht Club, a new team that includes brothers Michael and Jimmy Madigan will also include Dom Re and Randall Hause.
Brandon Folkman from King Harbor Yacht Club has been match racing for many years under the direction of Brian Angel, last year’s coach for this event. In 2010 Folkman raced in Auckland, New Zealand, and is excited about being helmsman in larger boats in match racing for the first time.
Riley Gibbs from Alamitos Bay Yacht Club won the 2010 Junior Sabot Nationals as well as the Cal 20 Junior Nationals and is eager to take on match racing.
Nevin Snow from San Diego Yacht Club skippered the fifth-place team in the 2010 Governor’s Cup. His teammates, Jake LaDow and Jake Reynolds, raced in the 2008 Gov Cup as well. They return to try to improve their standings in the 2011 Gov Cup.
From Annapolis Yacht Club, Michael Carr returns to this event ready to improve his skills. He has raced in Texas, Rhode Island and Massachusetts in recent years in a variety of boats and events.
The Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association team will be lead by Ben Wilkinson, who is new to match racing, but experienced in many other racing events.
Alex Curtis will lead the team from Chicago Yacht Club. He has been racing on big boats in Chicago as well as competing in California on 420’s. He was bowman on the Lake Beulah team in the 2010 Gov Cup.
