Conditions at the Alter Cup are challenging to say the least. The boats, venue, round robin format and sailing opportunies seem to be a good fit for our youth teams with Luke Lawrence/Caroline Wright in 8th place as of today's results (OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE) Right behind them is our past youth winner Mike Siau sailing with skipper Ken Marshack in 11th place and right behind that is skipper Sarah Newberry our last years youth winner sailing with Jamie Livingston in 12th place. No, the racing isn't over yet but sitting here in California and watching the kids do so well says volumns for their dedication and maybe a little for our youth program. These kids are first class sailors and are not going to sit around. The adults have to start watching because these guys will sail right past you before you know it.

I recently wrote an open letter entitled "It's time to take responsibility for our actions". Some 3276 views and 136 relpies and a great debate ensued. Thank you all for getting involved. Now the Alter Cup is in full swing and with so many kids doing so well, I believe we can say without contradiction our childrens program has started the proverbial ball rolling.

There are those outside of our Multihull Community that think we can't come together as a group and produce quality candidates for Olympic sailing. I disagree and plan to change that perception. With your help we can offer kids a place at the table. Get involved with us, see www.nayma.org for how that's possible.

Youth and exuberance can always be overcome by age and deceit. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

What ever happened to AGE and WISDOM?

Art is right, here come the Youth as they get the Blade dialed in:
Lawrence/Wright 1st 5a
Marshack/Siau 1st 4b, 2nd 5a
Newberry/Livingston 2nd 4b

BTW, Still have the plaque given to me by a then senior mentor, "Old Age and Treachery will overcome Youth and Vigor" Not always true.

Caleb Tarleton

Caleb, isn't this a first-ever event that a youth has won a race in the GOLD fleet? I think Mike Siau managed to comeback from the Silver fleet and finish the last race of the Alter Cup last year in Gold. I thought that was outstanding and now this..........

Proposed article in Los Angeles Times sports page:

Sailors Catattacked by Youth at Alter Cup

There is certainly something exiting happening.

Darline Hobock commented in her daily report that :"Blades have been a good choice of boat for this event because all team weights can do well. "

Source : http://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/usmhc/alter07/Daily%20Update/Daily%20Report.asp


And it appears that this is exactly what were are seeing. The male-female teams are perfectly mixed with the all-male teams, with the youth sailors really getting stuck in there as well.

And not only did the youth representatives Luke and Caroline won a gold fleet race (in 8 knots of wind) but they mostly stayed in the gold fleet for the duration of the event. In 14 to 20 knots of wind they STILL scored a 4th, 5th, and 6th placing. Only at one time did they score an 8th in the gold fleet, putting them into the silver fleet once. Promptly the came in 3rd in the silver fleet (13 points) earning their ticket back into the gold fleet. This means that they are top 5 material IN ALL CONDITIONS, giving even more credence to Darlines statement.


After race 7 has been completed it is fully expected that Luke and Caroline will be at 4th or 5th spot in the overall listing. We allready know that both Kenny/Spina and Gillespie/Page will fall in the scoring because of their excursion into the silver fleet (min 11 points hit). This will the youth team still remains in the gold fleet with a maximimum of ten points for race 7.

This means that top 5 will have the youth team in it together with two mixed teams and two all-male teams. Can it get any better mixed up then that ?

Great fun.

Wouter