O’pen Skiff North American Championship takes on Clarks Hill Lake
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Around 200 people were in Augusta, some from all over the world including Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean for the O’pen Skiff North American Championship.
More than 80 young sailors from the ages of 8 to 18 took to Clarks Hill Lake this weekend; kids and young adults competed in various weather conditions, making it even more of a challenge.
It was a weekend out on the water.
“Like exhilarating, focused, a little bit nervous and excited, a really good feeling,” said Emmett Ford, a sailor.
And this competition is different than Regattas they’ve held in the past.
“Even though we abide by all the rules of racing, according to world sailing, there’s additional fun involved. And so the kids do freestyle, which are stunts and tricks with their boats, the kids sail through what they call the bridge of doom,” said Daniel Fodera, a member of the Augusta Sailing Club.
It was a challenge, especially in the wind and rain but some say it was perfect for sailing and competition.
“They just really love sailing because there’s just so much you get out of it. And it’s also just a community. It’s amazing to be a part of,” said Elizabeth Eden, a sailor.
It’s a community people travel all over the world for. “Three flights from St. Vincent to Miami, Miami to Charlotte, overnighted in Charlotte’s and got to Augusta,” said Sabrina Marks Jasent, a parent.
It was a journey that she says was worth it, “It’s been great to come here because the kids are consistently sailing the same kind of conditions out there. We have 12 to 15 knots of wind and 85-degree water. So this weekend has been fantastic because they’ve got to sail and very light winds. Heavier winds today very cold water today. So it’s been a real challenge for them. But they all did really really well,” she said.
All while making long-lasting friendships, “Her daughter and me are now friends since this regatta and I’ve been hanging out with her and it’s been really fun,” said Lainey Putnam, a sailor.
And she encourages other people to give sailing a try.
“It’s a good way to like make new friends if you go to different regattas, and it’s very fun and like energetic and you could do many different things with sailing,” she said.
The top male and female in the U-15 class were given boat charters for the O’pen Skiff World Championships in Italy this summer.
Various other prizes were also given out but when talking to people there they say the weekend was mainly about learning and having fun.
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