2012 Thunder Bay Yngling Youth Championships

      Despite calm waters early in the day, the 4^th annual Alpena Youth Sailing Team regatta only completed 5 of a planned 7 races due to high winds.  That was enough for Alpena’s Clay Jacobs to win the regatta with 3 first place finishes and 2 seconds.  Jacobs was at the helm of 7-Up, with Ben Diamond and David Resnick as crew.  Sailing team coach Mark Upham said “Clay really put it all together.  All four crews showed good boat handling skills and made some good decisions, but Clay had the right combination to win today.”  Jacobs, Resnick and Diamond took home the trophy, but they can’t rest on their laurels yet… they head to Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota this week to compete together in the North American Yngling Championships. 

     Upham also noted an impressive performance by the youngest crew in the Regatta, which featured skipper Aaron Diamond and crew Evan Thayer and Jared Blumenthal sailing Old Fool.  Upham noted that each boy had been out with more experienced sailors during the season, but “This is the first time all these new kids are out together in one boat.  I was impressed at their boat handling and look forward to watching them develop their skills.”  Old Fool finished fourth in the regatta. 

     Other boats competing included Laura, with Hannah Thayer at the helm and Emily Thayer and Lexi Rushing as crew.  Jessica Resnick was skipper of Iris Too, with Erin Wilson and Parker Wedge as crew.

“We had some really exciting starts and everyone learned a lot about racing.   We’re developing good sailors but also young adults who know how to handle themselves in a difficult situation, how to make decisions, and how to be graceful competitors,” said team coach Pete Wilson.