AYC Members Loan Boat to Junior Sailors

From AYC: There is plenty of kindness in the world if you look hard enough. Whether a neighbor lends another a cup of sugar or a gentleman helps an elderly woman cross a busy roadway, the kindness is there.

And sometimes, you just hand over the keys to your J/70 to a foursome of junior sailors headed to South Carolina.

Thanks to the support and kindness of their local sailing community, the junior sailors — Porter Kavle, Will Comerford, Jake Vickers, and Leo Boucher — are preparing to compete at Sperry Charleston Race Week from April 20-23. But as Kavle knows, the biggest contribution came in the form of a loaned J/70 named Zombie from Annapolis Yacht Club members Kristen and Brian Robinson.

“They have helped us out tremendously by introducing us to supporters for the regatta as it is a big undertaking for a bunch of teenagers,” Kavle said.

Kristen Robinson said she thinks that the AYC team will not only perform well in Charleston, but that other teams might want to take notice of Skyline Racing, which is the temporary name the boys have given the boat.

“They’re going to race competitively,” Robinson said. “I think they are excellent sailors. They could be the team to beat.”

Ullman Sails will donate sails to the boys’ endeavors at Charleston. Robinson, now the vice president of USA J/70 Class Association, called Kavle in October 2016 to gauge his interest in competing in the J/70 Corinthian Nationals which were held in Annapolis. Ed Furry, owner of Sail 22, was offering the use of his boat to Kavle, who, alongside Comerford and three other juniors, placed 12th in a crowded field of 45 entries.

“It was a huge learning experience,” Kavle said. “Lots of big breeze and a large fleet.” A chance meeting with Kristen Robinson in December sparked Kavle’s venture to Charleston. Kavle agreed with Robinson that he should assemble a team for CRW, with the only issue being he had no boat to sail at the regatta.

“She said that wasn’t a worry as she would loan us her boat for the regatta,” Kavle said. “I thanked her profusely and we got the ball rolling in January to put together a crew.” Kavle did not need to look far for his crewmates. He had just won the Sears Cup in Mission Bay with Comerford and Vickers. They put their heads together and decided to bring on Boucher, one of the country’s top Laser sailors who won that class at the 2016 Orange Bowl Regatta.

Things were coming together nicely for the team. The foursome will sail at Charleston in hopes of finishing as the top junior team, which would qualify them for the U.S. J/70 Youth Championships in Newport, Rhode Island from August 11- 13. A win at Newport would earn the boys’ home club — AYC — the use of a J/70 for one year.

“The boat can be used for practice and to train other sailors who are looking to be more competitive in big boat racing,” Kavle said. “We are really excited.”

Team AYC will look sharp throughout Charleston Race Week as AYC is donating the use of Club-emblazoned apparel to outfit the boys. AYC General Manager Brian Asch said the Club recognizes that it is imperative to impart the love of sailing as a life sport at an early age.

“We are proud to support several of our more distinguished junior sailors as they compete in the upcoming Junior Class for J/70s at Charleston Race Week,” Asch said. “Not only are they representing the Club as great sailors, but as a team, they embody the true meaning of Corinthian Sprit.”

Robinson agreed: “I don’t care about the boat — it can be fixed,” she said. “It’s more important
to help our sport and foster these kids.”

Image courtesy of AYC