KHYF and KHYC host Ken Hoover Memorial Regatta

REDONDO BEACH — A total of 76 Optimist sailors spent two days on the water racing in a total of six regattas. Race participants helped make the Ken Hoover Memorial Regatta/Carrie #6 the biggest sailing regatta of the year in the South Bay.

The regatta, co-hosted by the King Harbor Youth Foundation and King Harbor Yacht Club, is the final event in the Southern California Youth Yacht Racing Association’s Carrie Optimist Series. The Carrie Series consists of six regattas hosted at yacht clubs throughout Southern California.

For two days, Optimist sailors ages 8 to 15 sailed their hearts out in an attempt to top the scoreboard.

Luke Pond finished third in the regatta. Audrey Mahowald finished 13th, followed by Emma Tallman, who finished 18th after missing the first day of racing due to illness. Isaac Cervantes and Margot Okuno finished 20th and 21st, respectively. Calvin Tiernan, who suffered equipment failure that knocked him out of the first day of racing, finished 31st.

Scotty Hemstreet, Audrey Gneiser, Nolan Anderson, Ethan Eddins, Jacob Schnel, Ian Baker, Jack Shaffer and Annie Dilsizian competed in the Green Fleet, which is comprised of first year sailors and is scored separately from overall regatta results.

The weather proved challenging on April 25 with winds blowing 20 to 25 knots and a rain storm coming through in the afternoon. The Green Fleet attempted to race inside the harbor, but the 22 knot gusts at their start proved too much resulting in racers to abandon the first race and head back into the harbor.

The Championship Fleet, however, got off three races on the outside course on the ocean.

On April 26 Mother Nature provided a more comfortable 10 to 15 knots and plenty of sunshine. The Green Fleet completed 7 races inside the harbor, and the Championship Fleet completed 4 races.

King Harbor Youth Foundation runs sailing lessons for youth and adults at King Harbor YC. For more information, visit khyf.org.

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