King Harbor Yacht Club welcomes young sailors at Optimist regatta

REDONDO BEACH — King Harbor Yacht Club played host to the final event of the Carrie Series of ‘Optimist’ youth sailing regattas, wrapping up this annual six-race competition, May 5-6.

The rookie sailors competed on a racecourse inside the breakwater. The “Champion Fleet,” which participates in the International Optimist competition, sailed in the open ocean. Optimists are 8-foot, single-sail race boats, piloted by single youth racers, ages 8-15 and comprise the largest ‘one-design’ competition fleet in the world, with racers graduating to become the best high school, university, and Olympic sailors.

Katherine Doble, from California Yacht Club, won the local Ken Hoover Memorial Trophy, as well as the Carrie Series overall regional championship. Blake Behrens, Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC), took second place in both the local regatta and in the regional championship. Aston Smith, Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation, took third place in the local regatta, while Oliver Stokke (SBYC) took third place in the regional championship.

The Carrie Series includes stops in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Cabrillo Beach, Morro Bay, and finally King Harbor. The race action entertained family members and the community at large. Fifty-eight young sailors competed in the regatta.

Learn about summer camps, youth sailing lessons and adult sailing lessons through the King Harbor Youth Foundation at visiting KHYF.org, emailing director@KHYF.org or calling Madeline at 424-287-7245.

Editor’s Note: Regatta Co-Chair Andy Beggs submitted the sailing event roundup.