Recently, 382 competitors from 66 countries gathered on the shore of McGee Beach for 110 sailing races over six days in Corpus Christi Bay. Photo courtesy of Youth Sailing World Championships
The United States brought home the Nations Trophy and four gold medals this year in the Youth Sailing World Championships in Corpus Christi. The international Olympic-qualifying event was the 48th edition of the Youth Worlds, which began in Angelholm, Sweden, in 1971. Only 16 nations competed in two events that first year. The regatta has turned into a prestigious and esteemed event with 382 competitors from 66 countries racing their wind-powered craft over Corpus Christi Bay on July 16-20.
The Youth Sailing World Championships have not been held in the U.S. for 22 years. The Rhode Island city of Newport hosted the last American-based event in 1996. Since then, the regatta has toured six continents before returning to North America.
Young sailers ages 12-19 competed in 110 races from the city’s downtown McGee Beach.
[image id="27867" title="Youth Sailing World Championships"] American siblings Carmen and Emma Cowles of Larchmont, New York, compete in the Women's 420 Fleet Start. The twins sailed into first place, ahead of Great Britain and France. Photo courtesy of Youth Sailing World Championships
“These are the best young sailors in the world,” said Paulette Kluge, CEO of the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau. “I don’t know what your favorite thing in the world is; to them, it’s sailing. They love their boats. They were such remarkable, darling, polite young adults.”
The event was not a simple task to host, but everything went swimmingly thanks to the combined efforts of 140 volunteers, the Corpus Christi police and fire departments, and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Kluge volunteered during four days of the event.
“This certainly was a community event,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without our volunteers. Everyone bent over backwards to make it easier for us.”
The championships made a more-than-$900,000 economic impact on the city and put Corpus Christi on the map as a world-recognized sailing spot.
In a City Council meeting July 24, Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb recognized those who played a key role in the “extraordinary service and tireless dedication” in hosting the event.
“This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Corpus Christi has firmly implanted a remarkable impression on the city to millions around the world, and we really do appreciate it,” McComb said. “The eyes of the world now know where Corpus Christi is via the Youth Sailing World Championships, and we are most grateful to you.”
[image id="27865" title="Youth Sailing World Championships"] The United States took home the Nations Trophy this year in the Youth Sailing World Championships in Corpus Christi. The team was made up of 14 young sailors, six of whom took home gold medals. Photo courtesy of the Youth Sailing World Championships
The U.S. Youth Worlds Team took home the Nations Trophy for winning gold in four classes and silver in a fifth, including:
• Charlotte Rose (Houston), the Girls Laser Radial World Sailing Royal Netherlands Centennial Trophy;
• Carmen and Emma Cowles (Larchmont, New York), the 420 Girls RYA Trophy;
• J.C. Hermus (Bellport, New York) and Walter Henry (Syosset, New York), the 420 Boys Youth Sailing World Championship Trophy;
• and Geronimo Nores (Miami Beach, Florida), the RS:X World Sailing Paul Phelan Trophy.
The remaining trophies included:
• World Sailing St. Lawrence Award, Laser Radial Boys — New Zealand
• World Sailing Paul Henderson Trophy, Nacra 15 — Argentina
• World Sailing Prince Henry the Navigator Trophy, 29er Boys — Norway
• Malaysian Sailing Association President’s Trophy, 29er Girls — Norway
• World Sailing St. Moritz Windsurfing Trophy, RS:X Girls — Great Britain
The United States Sailing Association, known as U.S. Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing. It was founded in 1897 and headquarters in Bristol, Rhode Island. The nonprofit offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including the National Championships and the U.S. Sailing Team Sperry. For more information, visit ussailing.org.
