Sail Newport Youth Challenge: 420s

This past weekend I was over in Newport Harbor to photograph the Sail Newport Youth Challenge, an annual early season event for junior sailors.  All of these kids are still in school but manage to get themselves together for a two day regatta in early June.  I saw a few familiar faces and was out shooting for both days of sailing.  

Day 1 proved to be a very windy day as the seabreeze filled around 2 p.m. to 20 knots or so and at times, 3 foot rollers.  A good day of sailing quickly turned to a heavy air event for the last two races.  Every few minutes on the radio you could hear kids retiring from racing, but several pushed through!  

Everyone was sailing a Windward-Leeward twice around, which became rather hectic at times as 420s and Lasers were sailing upwind through the Opti traffic, which was rounding a separate windward mark only a few boat lengths from the 420-Laser windward mark.  This may very well have been the first sailing event of the season for many of these juniors, but many of the 420s were in full form with no indication of months without sailing.  (While some may have competed for their high school teams, the summer season involves spinnaker sailing, an element which high school events don't see.  For high school season coverage, see my other Blog Posts:  NK vs. Prout, NK vs. Rogers, and NK Practice)

Here are some of my favorites from the 420 class!  Be sure to check out all the regatta photos on my website, www.catebrownphoto.com

Personal Purchases can be made through the Regatta Viewing Gallery.  

More favorites from the Lasers and Optis still to come!