3rd Annual Keith Dinsmoor Trophy Regatta, Aug. 22-23

Photo credit: Lahaina Yacht Club Junior Sailing.

By Maui Now Staff

The 3rd Annual Keith Dinsmoor Trophy Regatta will be held in the waters off Māla Wharf in West Maui on Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, 2015.

The event is the largest junior sailing regatta ever to be held in Maui waters and reflects the growth of junior sailing in Hawaiʻi, event organizers said.

The youth regatta for sailors between the ages of 8 and 17, includes participation from members of the Lahaina Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team on Maui, and the Hawaiʻi Kai Boat Club Junior Sailing Team on Oʻahu.

More than 36 boats and 40 sailors will compete in the divisions that include: Open Bic (single man, single sail) and RS Feva XL (two-man, triple sail) boats.

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 start separately to spread the boats out on the course.  Event organizers anticipate close competition saying 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,” said Bruce Olsten, event information chair for the Lahaina Yacht Club Junior Sailing organization.

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 volunteers and coaching staff of the LYC Junior Sailing program.