The Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County and Rotary Club of Vero Beach Sunrise hosted its fourth Annual Steve Martin Memorial Regatta last Saturday, with more than 40 sailors casting off to perfect sailing weather.
“Today was a spectacular day,” said George Hinman, a former America’s Cup sailor and past commodore of the New York Yacht Club. “The breeze was good for all the different classes and it was pretty steady. We couldn’t have hoped for better conditions.”
YSFIR students were joined by sailors from Melbourne to Palm Beach and set sail from the base of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge. Three racing classes sailed multiple races on three different courses, with spectators watching by land and by sea.
“We started in 2009 with zero boats. We now have 61 sailboats and 700 children have been through our program,” explained Charlie Pope, YSF founder.
The regatta honors Steve Martin, a dedicated instructor and supporter of the foundation who passed away as he was readying his boat to teach a sailing class. His devotion to educating others about the sport was the genesis for the regattas held in his memory.
“When he was on the water he was happiest,” said his widow, Eileen Martin. “Steve has been gone for three years and it’s amazing how the program has grown. He would just love this.”
Hinman said Alden Findley, an 18-year-old Vero Beach High School student, has weathered the wind since the beginning, matriculating all the way through.
“He built an opti with his father, was captain of the high-school sailing team this year and is going to sail for the University of Miami next year,” added Hinman.
Findley says he loves sailing because “it’s like playing chess on the water.”
After the regatta, participants and their families enjoyed an awards ceremony and barbecue sponsored by Sunrise Rotary of Vero Beach.
Looking to the future, YSF Executive Director Stu Keiller said the organization would like to build a community sailing center, adding, “We want to morph from just being youth sailing into a true community sailing center. People will be able to come down, if they’re qualified, rent a boat and go out.”
A proposed two-story building would house boat storage and shops on the first floor and air-conditioned classrooms, offices and instructional rooms the top floor, with an observation platform all the way around the building.
“Vero Beach has all this beautiful water, but it has almost nothing for sailing. We’re the only game in town. Sailing can be just like the art museum, the theater and other attractions here in Vero Beach; people who come to places like this because there is sailing,” said Keiller.
Join them on March 26 for Rock the Boat at the Moorings, an evening of cocktails, a sailing demonstration, auctions, dinner and entertainment.
For more information, visit YSFIRC.org.
