Corpus Christi hotels, offices, and homes make up the background of the World Youth Sailing Championships on McGee Beach on July 15-20. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo
A parade of nations led by a mariachi band and Folklorico dancers marched along Shoreline Boulevard in Corpus Christi Sunday on July 15 to mark the beginning of the 2018 World Youth Sailing Championships. The 382 sailors from 66 nations were greeted with a big Texas howdy from Mayor Joe McComb before each of them took the stage to add a jar of their home water to a communal bowl. The water will later be poured into Corpus Christi Bay.
This is the first time in 22 years that the Youth World Championships — an essential step on the road to the 2020 Olympics — has sailed on U.S. waters. The last time was in Rhode Island in 1996. The world’s most prestigious youth sailing competition, which is now in its 48th year, got underway Monday, July 16, and will continue through Friday, July 20.
Fourteen young sailors from the United States will compete, while hundreds of local residents are working as volunteers at the event’s staging ground at McGee Beach.
The keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies, American Marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, urged sailors to spread the word about environmental stewardship to their home countries. The speech was just one of several means being employed during the week to promote environmental awareness and to possibly earn the Sailors for the Sea Platinum Clean Regatta Certification. It is the first event in Texas to participate in the Clean Regatta program and will be extended to another 15 events in the state.
The program focuses on six areas:
• using reusable water bottles;
• not using single-use plastic bags;
• recycling;
• conserving water;
• not using soap to clean boats;
• using reef-safe sunscreen.
“We’re really excited about Team USA this year,” said team leader Rosie Chapman in a media release. “We have a lot of sailors returning and some great new talent coming up the ranks. It’s a great variety of sailors.”
Weather conditions are expected to be prime with plenty of sun and winds up to 15-20 knots forecast throughout the week.
“The team is strong across all conditions,” Chapman said. “Corpus Christi is historically a windy venue, but, having trained here on and off for two years, we’ve seen a mix of conditions. We’ve had a great lead-up, and this is essentially home waters for them. I think we’re the most prepared team here.”
You can watch daily highlights of the competition on World Sailing TV YouTube Channel. To follow the event on social media, visit Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Sailing for the U.S. Team are:
- • Laser Radial Boy: Chase Carraway (Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina)
- • Laser Radial Girl: Charlotte Rose (Houston)
- • 420 Girls: Carmen and Emma Cowles (Larchmont, New York)
- • 420 Boys: J.C. Hermus (Bellport, New York) and Walter Henry (Syosset, New York)
- • Nacra 15: Nico Martin (Houston) and AnaClare Sole (Houston)
- • 29er Boys: Charlie Hibben (Concord, Massachusetts) and Nicholas Hardy (Newton, Massachusetts)
- • 29er Girls: Berta Puig (Miami, Florida) and Bella Casaretto (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
- • RS:X Boys: Geronimo Nores (Miami Beach, Florida)
- • RS:X Girls: Dominique Stater (Miami)
- • Event Coaches: Rosie Chapman, team leader (Houston) Steve Keen (Stamford, Connecticut), and Phil Muller (Miami)
