Local Knowledge
The 3rd Annual Keith Dinsmoor Trophy Regatta will be held in the waters off Mala Wharf over the weekend of August 22 and 23. Over 36 boats and over forty sailors will be competing in O’pen Bic (single man, single sail) and RS Feva XL (two-man, triple sail) boats. Sailors range in age between 8–17 years old and are comprised of members of the Lahaina Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team from Maui and the Hawaii Kai Boat Club Junior Sailing Team from Oahu. This will be the largest junior sailing regatta ever to be held in Maui waters and reflects the growth of junior sailing in Hawaii.
Six races will be held each day, with three separate classes: Bic under 13 yrs old, Bic 13-15 yrs old, and RS Feva. The fleets will be started separately to spread the boats out on the course, and the racing is expected to be close in these one design sailboats. Both teams have been training and making improvements on their technical abilities and boat handling skills.
Junior sailing is growing by leaps and bounds on Maui, the boats are exciting to sail, and there are motivated sailors and coaches. Although the competition will be heated at the top of the fleet, the emphasis is on sportsmanship, good clean fun, and instilling the joy of sailing in a new generation of children here in the Islands. The kids are developing skills that will last for their entire lifetimes.
The event is being hosted by the Lahaina Yacht Club with support from Matson, West Coast Sailing, RS Sailing, Open BIC, 2015 Trilogy, Bluesmiths, Neil Pryde Sailing, Pioneer Inn, Sheraton Maui, CJ’s Catering, Starbucks, HFM Foodservice, VIP Foodservice, Tropic Water, Maui Soda & Ice Works, and the tireless volunteers and coaching staff of the LYC Junior Sailing program. At the end of the day it is about the kids having fun!
