King Harbor Yacht Club hosts final event in regional Carrie Series.
Credit: KHYF Staff
More than 100 young sailors took to the water off Hermosa Beach this past weekend as the King Harbor Youth Foundation and King Harbor Yacht Club hosted the annual Ken Hoover Optimist Regatta, closing out a competitive six-event regional sailing series.
A total of 103 sailors representing 12 yacht clubs participated in the two-day event, with some competitors traveling from as far as San Francisco. The regatta marked the final stop in the Carrie Series, a six-part circuit held over the past six months at venues including Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Pedro, Marina del Rey, and King Harbor.
Conditions proved ideal for racing, with consistent breeze, light swell, and clear weather throughout the weekend. The favorable conditions allowed for a full schedule of 14 races, creating tight competition across the fleet and showcasing the skill level of the region’s youngest sailors.
The regatta featured the Optimist dinghy, a single-handed vessel designed for sailors ages 7 to 12. Widely regarded as the foundational training boat for youth sailing, the Optimist serves as an entry point into the sport, with many participants advancing from beginner programs to competitive racing within just a few years. Known globally as “Optis,” these boats represent the largest youth racing fleet in the world, with strong participation across North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
Volunteer support played a central role in the event’s success. The regatta was organized and run by the King Harbor Youth Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to developing youth sailors throughout Los Angeles County since 1992. Staff Commodore and KHYF President Andy Beggs oversaw race operations, including starts and finishes, ensuring a smooth and competitive weekend on the water.
When racing concluded, Mason Lim of South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club secured the overall regatta victory, along with the top finish in the Carrie Series standings. Teammate Tristan Gerber followed in second place, while Callan Feiblatt of the Santa Barbara Youth Foundation rounded out the podium in third.
Local sailors also delivered strong performances, with King Harbor Youth Foundation’s Vincent Hebson earning second place in his age bracket and Charlie Barth finishing fifth in the Green Fleet, a division designed for sailors new to racing.
For many competitors, the Ken Hoover Regatta represents more than just a weekend of racing. It reflects months of training and progression through the Carrie Series, providing young sailors with opportunities to develop skills, gain experience, and build connections within the sailing community.
Programs like those offered by the King Harbor Youth Foundation continue to play a key role in that development. The organization provides learn-to-sail summer camps as well as race-focused teams for middle and high school students, helping to introduce new sailors to the sport while supporting those pursuing competitive pathways.
As youth sailing continues to grow throughout Southern California, events like the Ken Hoover Optimist Regatta highlight both the accessibility of the sport and the depth of talent emerging from local programs.
For more information on youth sailing opportunities, visit khyf.org.
Full regatta results are available at theclubspot.com.
