Youngsters Ready to Sail from Newport to Ensenada

Tom Madden is one of hundreds of sailors prepping to race in Friday's Lexus Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, but his crew includes sailors who are much younger than most.

Nearly 200 boats are expected to set sail in the race to Mexico from Newport Beach. Madden's boat, the Stella Maris, will have a crew of 10, which includes two boys and two girls --who are 12 and 13-- plus their four dads. Madden has competed in the race a handful of times and said he is looking forward to having light-hearted kids aboard.

"They are very excited and have been coming up with competitions for the race like who can bring the best chocolate chip cookies, who can bring the best playlist on their iPods," said Madden, who is the commodore of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. "They even want me to come up with a quiz about the different safety systems to see who knows the most."

This is the second year Madden has welcomed junior sailors on his boat for the overnight race, reputedly the largest international yacht race in the world. Junior sailor Sammy Pickell said although she has sailed for quite some time, she's never been in a race of this magnitude.

"I have sailed some races that took only 30 minutes and some races that required three hours," Pickell, 13, said. "I have never sailed in a race quite like this, and I know I will remember this for the rest of my life."

Madden is confident the youngsters are well-prepared for the race thanks to the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club's junior sailing program. Safety comes first on Madden's boat, and he said he has a "competent crew" and a "really good boat."

The young sailors also know exactly what to do and what they need to keep their eyes on, Madden said.

"They sail Newport harbor in small boats like CFJ’s, and it is much more difficult to sail a small boat," Madden explained. "You have to be very attentive, and they really are. They watch the sails, watch for signs in the water and changes in the wind."

Last year Madden's team finished the race at 6:30 a.m., and he still remembers crossing the finish line.

"My junior sailor last year was real determined to be awake when we completed the race," Madden said. "I have to be real honest: when I saw his face, I knew I wanted to do it again."

Those types of memories are exactly what inspired Madden to invite the kids to sail on his boat in the Newport to Ensenada Race.

"I hear a lot of older sailors talk about their first time in the Newport to Ensenada Race, and I want that first time to be on my boat," Madden said.

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