Sailors from fourteen junior programs raced in the 2024 RS Tera North American Championship held June 8-9 in Long Beach, CA. The regatta got underway with a shifty 6-7 knot breeze that favored SoCal sailors over their competitors from St. Francis and Sausalito who were used to planing conditions. After four races, Jack Brodsky from Long Beach YC held a solid lead in the Sport Fleet qualifier but the next five spots were open game. In the Pro Fleet Balboa YC's Harper Swezea and Theo Goodman dominated with seven points each after four races on Saturday.
Sunday started light again with a predicable right shift as the breeze built to a sporty 10-11 knots. Sailors from the Bay Area and older kids from Sail Park City and Colorado started to close the gaps as weight and stamina came into play. Sailors in the Sport Fleet sailed two divisions. By race three top spot in the Gold Division was pretty much locked in by Jack Brodsky. 2022 champion Henry Richter of Union Sailing Club in Colorado made consistent gains to secure second and Able Berge from Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club rallied at the deciding fourth race to win a spot on the podium.
Silver Division was a tight race with the top three in contention for honors through the last two races. Arielle Lewis and Blake Brodsky from LBYC held on to take first and second place, with Brooke Swezea from BYC in third with a strong come back from an OCS on day one. Honorable mention to Violet Aguilar from the Newport Sea Base who placed 5th even though she's only 70 pounds and started sailing just a year ago. This was the first large regatta for eight of the fifteen sailors in Silver.
Sunday's strong breeze allowed Pro Fleet sailors to make full use of their skills to work though the building chop. Top honors to Harper Swezea and Theo Goodman with Court Maloof from Park City Sailing in third.
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club provided world class regatta management, and a venue these lucky juniors can look back to proudly in a few years when Long Beach hosts the 2028 Olympic sailing events.
Blake Brodsky (L) and Jack Brodsky (R) Photo by Charles Brodsky
Sport Fleet start courtesy Tony Sams Photos
Youngest girl sailor Violet Aguilar from the Newport Sea Base, 5th place Silver Division!