Archive for tag Youth sailing
May 17, 2010 at 06:40 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events
On Wednesday, May 12th, approximately 100 people were treated to a very special evening at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. The Milwaukee Yacht Club Foundation sponsored a special event, benefiting high school sailors from our greater Milwaukee area. It was an evening made in “sailing heaven” as not one, but 4 sailing icons were present to support our youth.
The keynote speaker was Gary Jobson, current President of US Sailing, an America’s Cup Winner, ESPN commentator and all around “sailing all-star”. Introducing him, was our local sailing royalty, Buddy Melges. His sailing adventures also include the America’s Cup, in addition to Olympic Gold and Bronze, World Championship titles, and numerous other personal and business accolades, that are too many to highlight. John Ruf, Olympic bronze medalist, Wisconsin native, and local hero, showed his support and his ready enthusiasm for the sport, by supporting the event and inspiring the kids to see the potential for greatness in all of us. 
To round out the “final four” was Olaf Harken, legendary local businessman, who is the “supplier to the stars” in the sailing world. Harken is a leader in sailboat hardware and accessories.
Gary treated the group to numerous stories and video clips of world class sailing events, in addition to personal inspirational messages.
For more information about youth sailing in the Milwaukee area, visit the MYST website at www.mystracing.org. Additional information regarding summer lessons can be found at the MYC website, the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, or the Inland Lakes Yachting Association.
Posted by: 
Karen Trepton
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March 27, 2010 at 06:47 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events
The spring season for MYST is up and running. Our local high school kids will test their mettle in an “Icebreaker” regatta, against college sailors from UWM and Marquette. They’ll be sailing 420’s and lasers in front of the Milwaukee Yacht Club. It’s supposed to be a nice day. Stop by and watch!
Posted by:Karen Trepton
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October 28, 2009 at 03:46 PM
Many of you may know that I blog about youth sailing in Southeastern Wisconsin. It’s a big part of my boys’ lives, and something my family is passionate about. I will have another article in the next few days, about the updates of our local Milwaukee Youth Sailing Team. However, in the interest of fairness to other sports “water”, I would like to highlight a local water ski team, that has been invited to China. Yesterday, several Wisconsin residents set out for a 13 day trip to China, to participate in the annual Sino-American Water Ski Show. It’s a fabulous opportunity for the water skiers selected. A local Lake Country native, Jenna Strobel, is one of the participants. Her younger brother plays soccer with my son, and it was exciting to see the enthusiasm and eagerness in her face at a recent game, as she described what will be the trip of a lifetime for her and the others. Several different teams are represented on the current USA team to China, including Badgerland (Waukesha, WI), Must-Skis (Beaver Dam, WI) and Tommy Bartlett’s (Wisconsin Dells, WI).
Growing up living on Golden Lake, in Lake Country, my summers were filled with daily waterskiing. My brothers and I would run the boat from morning till dusk, skiing slalom, doubles, trick skis and barefooting. It was endless fun. I can only imagine how thrilling it will be for Jenna and the others selected, to participate in something they love, while being “Good Will Ambassadors” to our neighbors on the other side of the world.
To follow along on this adventure, you can read their blog by clicking here.
Posted by:Karen Trepton
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July 20, 2009 at 07:55 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events
This past weekend youth sailing heated up on Big Cedar Lake between Hartford and West Bend, with the annual Wisconsin Yachting Association Championship Regatta. Sixty-seven boats arrived to test their skills against their peers from around the state. Shifty breezes and tight quarters gave the race committee a run for their money, but they executed a beautiful regatta along with the gracious volunteers from Cedar Lake Yacht Club.
The weather felt more like fall, with cool temps and rain, but the spectators bundled up and the sailors stayed warm and dry with spray gear. A fun item of note was the addition of a “special” spectator…the Met Life Blimp, as seen in the accompanying photo. The blimp hovered over the races for quite some time, before heading out.
Kate Klement from Lake Beulah won the overall title with 2 bullets out of 3 races. Nick Clemence from Pewaukee took 2nd, Connor Trepton from Lac LaBelle took 3rd overall and the bullet from the 3rd and final race, Charlie Kutschenreuter from Beulah was 4th and Natalie Kay from Okauchee was 5th overall.
Pictured are photos of the racing, a close up of an X boat, and a great shot of “Team LaBelle”.
Posted by:Karen Trepton
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July 13, 2009 at 04:14 PM
If you have read my past blog posts, you may have noticed that youth sailing is a topic that I am passionate about. All three of my boys are sailors. It’s a great sport, filled with camaraderie, challenge, unique opportunity, and the list goes on.
Each summer, my kids and I participate on the regatta circuit, and on Lake Geneva, during their annual youth race week. This year was no exception, however, we did have a new twist. My middle son opted to skip the Lake Geneva event, and participated in the Kazube Cup, hosted by South Shore Yacht Club. We have never done this event in the past, but have heard that it’s such a fun regatta.
The regatta features optis, 420’s and lasers. Kids come from Greater Milwaukee, as well as from other yacht clubs around Lake Michigan, such as Chicago, Lake Forest, Waukegan, etc. The beauty of the event is that for the opti sailors, they can test their skills in Lake Michigan, and sleep on a “big boat” sailboat. Members open their cabins to sailors who request housing, provided they have a minimum number of kids on the boat, and an adult chaperone. Can you say “fun” with a capital F?? What a treat for a young sailor! Sailing in Lake Michigan, with the city backdrop is a treat for sailors and spectators, alike.
The host club provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to the regatta fee, at a very reasonable rate. My son had a fabulous time with good friends, sailing his boat and enjoying a night on a sleeper sailboat. The “MOM” in me can’t help but note that the best part of the event for him was the fact that the regatta fell on top of his birthday, and he won the opti event. Happy Birthday, Parker!
Summer sailing in Southeastern Wisconsin, is just one more reason to love living here!
Posted by:Karen Trepton
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June 19, 2009 at 08:54 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events
In spite of a questionable start, summer has arrived in Wisconsin, and with it, comes the youth sailing season. A “boat load” of regattas are available for kids to attend. Last weekend, young teens showed up on North Lake, for the annual QUINT regatta. Sailors from North Lake, Lac LaBelle, Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Okauchee sailed a very challenging regatta due to very little, and ever shifting breezes. 20+ boats were on the line, and the event ended with the top three skippers, tying for points and using a tie breaker for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Home lake skipper, Blake Kenney and crew, won the tie breaker and the 1st place overall finish.
Thursday, we found our young opti sailors on Okauchee Lake for the LOP’N Regatta.( LaBelle, Okauchee, Pewaukee and Nagawicka) The morning was inviting with steady breezes from 5-10mph. The 20 boats were sailed in one course, with designations for junior or senior status, by age. One of the younger skippers, Henry Chapman, son of a local boat dealer, showed up the “big boys” with a stunning win on the first race. The second race was won by home lake skipper, Tommy Groskopf. After lunch, a fast approaching wind shift and weather front, brought in the winds of 15-20mph, sending all of the junior skippers except for Henry, in to shore. The remaining senior skippers, raced two more exciting races, with back to back photo finishes. Ethan Heinze of Nagawicka and Trevor Trepton of LaBelle, duked it out at the finish, with 
Trepton nudging into the first place spot. The last, and fourth race of the day, was in heavy wind, also. Kids were hiking out of their boats, and using their skills to maneuver a course in heavy air. Trepton and Pewaukee skipper David Winquist, were neck in neck on the last downwind, and finished the race in a very exciting upwind tacking duel. Trepton inched ahead at the finish, to win the race, and the overall first place title in the senior fleet. Henry Chapman secured the overall first place finish in the junior fleet.
Youth sailing is just one of the many activities that makes Lake Country Wisconsin, a great place to be in the summer.
Posted by:Karen Trepton
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