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Young Sailors Win Big In Championship Races
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | --Photo Courtesy of Jason F. Pierson, Pine Beach Dozens of boats, commandeered by young sailors, raced it out on Barnegat Bay recently. |
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The Toms River Township Gilford Park Yacht Club opened its summer season by hosting the New Jersey State Optimist Championship.
Sponsored by Island Heights Yacht Club, the two day regatta on the Toms River included 84 boats, each commandeered by a sailor aged 8 to 15 years old. The event featured children from sailing clubs from throughout the state who were vying to win the title of New Jersey State Champion.
The regatta was made up of three fleets, the Red, White and Blue, and it was a fight to the finish for the title.
Jack Swikart, 14, Shrewsbury Yacht Club, broke a tie to win the regatta for the second year in a row. Scott D'Alessandro, 15, Mantoloking, came in second in the tie breaker. Third place went to Dan Ricker, 14, Shrewsbury Yacht Club. Fourth and fifth place were won by Scott Barbano, 12, Brant Beach, and Dylan Herrmann, Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club.
Sharon Fisahn of Bridgewater, relaxed with family members in lawn chairs set up along the river to watch 10-year-old CJ, a member of Island Heights Yacht Sailing Club.
With her 12-year-old son, Joey, and CJ's grandparents, Dave and Marge Walsh of Island Heights, the family enjoyed the beautiful weather as they looked out over the river where the Opti-boats were circling the huge yellow markers in the bay. With binoculars in hand, they scanned the fleet looking for CJ.
"It's so gorgeous out here and there is a nice breeze," said Marge Walsh, who brought along water and snacks for the family as they settled in to watch the four races that took place on Wednesday. Opening day for the regatta began Monday, June 25.
"This is the third year that CJ has raced," said the proud grandmother. "He is a natural." Later in the day, judges agreed when CJ was awarded The Weber Trophy, a prize given to the top finisher in the age 10 and under bracket.
The eight foot Optimist dinghy is the world's foremost training boat for children learning to sail said coach John Kempton, 19, of Island Heights. Aside from sailing skills, he said, the sport teaches the children how to work independently and yet be part of a team.
Kempton, who coaches out of Bayhead and Mantoloking, said he has been sailing since he was 6.
"I have the perfect job," he said at the finish of the race. "It's tons of fun and the kids are great. They learn team values and they learn how to handle competition," he said, adding, "Friendly competition."
"The regatta is open to sailors who have been sailing for more than two years. The timing of the race and the format are designed to teach and encourage young sailors to continue on to larger regattas at the regional and national levels," said Skip Swikart, regatta chairman.
The sport is open to both genders and there were a number of females in the sailboats.
Ashlee Keating, 13, Linwood, and Maddie Widmeier, Brant Beach, said that sailing is fun.
"We have a good time," said the friends.
Dale Keating agreed. "It's a great sport," she said. "I have seen Ashlee improve herself. With sailing, they learn to think for themselves and also to help each other."
Keating credits the team's coaches. "They look up to them," she said of the sailing students. "They are like mentors to them. The children really respect them."
Elizabeth Gutowski, Barnegat Light, waited anxiously as her son, James, 12, pulled his craft on shore. "He absolutely loves sailing," she said. "He has been sailing for three years. He enjoys the competition."
As he pulled his boat up by the club, 14- year-old Dan Ricker said he did well in the day's races. "I did better than last year," said the young sailor. "Next year, I will do even better."
Tom McGovern, commodore of Gilford Park Yacht Club, said that the club was happy to host the event. He said that they do it for the kids.
Gilford Park is a boating club but not a sailing club, said Swikart. "They stepped up when we asked them to use their facility. It was key to be able to launch from there so the kids didn't have to sail far to get to the actual race course."
"We hoped it would go smoothly and were glad that having it at our place was helpful," said McGovern. "I'm glad that everyone had a good time."
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