High school student Paige Railey continues her success, this time winning the Swedish Championship. Her lone USA Laser joined competitors from Sweden and Finland. The middle of the three days of racing was the most interesting, Railey said. It also had the most miserable weather.
"It was raining a lot," Railey said. "So Fredrik (Lassenius), the coach, and a master Laser sailor named Lars and I took an extra sail of mine and made a tepee over the motor boat so it shielded us." Railey won the races on the first day in light to moderate breezes.
"On the second day, I managed to get a third in the first race," she said.
"Being a blonde and all, I sailed the course wrong twice. I thought Fredrik was going to kill me when I finished," Railey joked. "But then I finished the day with another first."
On the third day, she had a four-point lead over the second-place position and five over the third. The wind was light and the current strong, almost like a river. But with a good start Railey won the race with a two-minute lead over the next boat, taking the Swedish title for the second year.
Sailors wishing to climb to the top of the sport in small boats need to train in Europe where the competition is more intense. Railey left for Stockholm on June 1 and will not return until Aug. 2. She will be training with Lassenius and traveling to regattas around Europe.
"Some days I sail by myself, with the coach in a boat alongside telling me everything I am doing wrong," Railey said. "Some days, I sail with the Royal Swedish Yacht Club Laser team."
Next weekend, there is a regatta in Kiel, Germany, where she will vie to repeat her win. After that, it's on to Warnenmunde, Germany, then Gdynia, Poland where Railey will try to defend her crown in the International Sailing Federation Youth World event. In August in New Jersey is the Leiter Cup, the qualifier for the Youth Worlds. SCHOOL'S OUT REGATTA: The Davis Island event was well attended by youth. There were 47 Optimist Dinghies in the fleet, with Jason Kuebel of Team FOR winning in fleet and the Red division. Clearwater's Mary Hall of Team FOR topped the Blue fleet. The Green, for new sailors, had Alex Joblonski of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club team take second. Zach Marks of SPYC won the Laser Full Rigs, and Joe Blouin of Davis Island took all of his races to win the Sunfish. In 420s, Conner Blouin and Katie Gallagher, Davis Island, topped the fleet.
KEY WEST RENDEZVOUS: The name has changed several times in 19 years. Clearwater Yacht Club's spring race to Key West combines several clubs' fleets and sponsorship to make this a fun rendezvous at the Conch Republic. The event started in Clearwater for local keelboats. There were starts in Naples and Boca Grande. They met to enjoy three days of parties and award ceremonies. Key West Bight Marina dock master Terri Gibson said that "for the most part," it was smooth sailing for the fleet that had 78 registered boats. Clearwater Yacht Club Commodore Dick Boblenz said there were some holes in the wind but that the majority of the fleet finished well ahead of the time limit.
CLEARWATER SUMMER SERIES: PHRF keelboats are invited to the Saturday races. The course is outside of Clearwater Pass, near Green 1 buoy, and will have a heading of 335 degrees to a buoy and back. Two races each Saturday are planned. Boat entry fee is $10. For information, go to clwyc.org.
