River Romp comes to North Shore Park
It was quite a sight to see. Dozens of sailboats out on the waters of North Shore Park.
Nearly 300 young sailors came out this weekend to compete as Lee County hosted the 2016 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival – River Romp, presented by Edison Sailing Center in collaboration with US Sailing.
Now in its 21st year, the sailing festival is a nationwide series of youth sailing regattas with the goal to encourage the enjoyment of sailing and skill development among sailors of all skill levels.
From dawn until dusk on Saturday and Sunday, the River Romp featured sailors ages 8 to 15, with some events up to age 21, competing in five different classes.
Ross Webb, founder of Edison Sailing Center, said the competition was expected to be hot and heavy all weekend, and it really has become a huge plus for the sailing center.
“We’ve had this race under US Sailing for 15 years. It’s a fundraiser and we do it to give back to the community. Most of these kids are from Florida, except one from Puerto Rico and another from Grenada,” Webb said. “They come to race from other places, and we do it for the community and for those who sail.”
Laser, Radial, Laser 4.7, Optimist and C420 are the classes, in order of difficulty in class. Webb said registration was a little down this year from the nearly 350 who came last year as a result of Hurricane Matthew.
Thankfully, the water quality was fine, having been tested last week and deemed safe to compete in thanks to the drier conditions.
“There’s little bacteria. It only happens when it rains for three days and the overflow from the septic tanks comes in and washes it in. In two days, it’s gone,” Webb said.
Most of the kids arrived at the park right about sunrise to prepare their sails and boats for competition. For them, their sport is a passion.
Paige Dannenhauer, 17, from Fort Myers, said she got started by doing a summer camp at Edison three years ago. She was competing in Lazer Radial.
“I want to sail in college. I’d like to go to Florida, but I’m not sure where I’ll get into. I like being on the water with my friends,” Dannenhauer said.
Edison sailor Derrick Lyons, 15, of North Fort Myers, was going to compete in a two-man boat with his friend, a C420, which is considered to be a collegiate boat. He got started six years ago.
“My fifth-grade teacher got me started. She always talked about her son coming here so I got started and really got into it,” Lyons said, who also coaches during the summer. “I’d like to take this sport as far as I can.”
Rhys Pillar, 9, from Fort Lauderdale, came four hours to compete. He got into sailing at age 6 on the encouragement of his dad, who told him it would be fun. Now, he wants to race in the 2024 Olympics.
“He said it would be cool and we’d travel to a lot of places. I like to be in the water and I like water sports. I like how the waves feel when I race,” Pillar said. “I finished 48th here last year and in my last regatta I was in the Top 20.”
It has also given the area a nice economic shot in the arm. Last year’s event generated approximately 400 hotel room nights, $2,000 in resort tax and $150,000 in direct economic impact.
“The sailing event will showcase our nation’s most talented young sailors, many of whom are on the pathway to the Olympics,” said Jeff Mielke, executive director of Lee County Sports Development. “We’re looking forward to an exciting competition and a great opportunity for sailing fans and spectators to see these gifted athletes in action along our waters.”
The Edison Sailing Center was created to teach kids to sail and make it open for everybody. It teaches 300 to 400 kids every summer and the only requirement is they need to know how to swim, Webb said.
River Romp comes to North Shore Park
It was quite a sight to see. Dozens of sailboats out on the waters of North Shore Park.
Nearly 300 young sailors came out this weekend to compete as Lee County hosted the 2016 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival – River Romp, presented by Edison Sailing Center in collaboration with US Sailing.
Now in its 21st year, the sailing festival is a nationwide series of youth sailing regattas with the goal to encourage the enjoyment of sailing and skill development among sailors of all skill levels.
From dawn until dusk on Saturday and Sunday, the River Romp featured sailors ages 8 to 15, with some events up to age 21, competing in five different classes.
Ross Webb, founder of Edison Sailing Center, said the competition was expected to be hot and heavy all weekend, and it really has become a huge plus for the sailing center.
“We’ve had this race under US Sailing for 15 years. It’s a fundraiser and we do it to give back to the community. Most of these kids are from Florida, except one from Puerto Rico and another from Grenada,” Webb said. “They come to race from other places, and we do it for the community and for those who sail.”
Laser, Radial, Laser 4.7, Optimist and C420 are the classes, in order of difficulty in class. Webb said registration was a little down this year from the nearly 350 who came last year as a result of Hurricane Matthew.
Thankfully, the water quality was fine, having been tested last week and deemed safe to compete in thanks to the drier conditions.
“There’s little bacteria. It only happens when it rains for three days and the overflow from the septic tanks comes in and washes it in. In two days, it’s gone,” Webb said.
Most of the kids arrived at the park right about sunrise to prepare their sails and boats for competition. For them, their sport is a passion.
Paige Dannenhauer, 17, from Fort Myers, said she got started by doing a summer camp at Edison three years ago. She was competing in Lazer Radial.
“I want to sail in college. I’d like to go to Florida, but I’m not sure where I’ll get into. I like being on the water with my friends,” Dannenhauer said.
Edison sailor Derrick Lyons, 15, of North Fort Myers, was going to compete in a two-man boat with his friend, a C420, which is considered to be a collegiate boat. He got started six years ago.
“My fifth-grade teacher got me started. She always talked about her son coming here so I got started and really got into it,” Lyons said, who also coaches during the summer. “I’d like to take this sport as far as I can.”
Rhys Pillar, 9, from Fort Lauderdale, came four hours to compete. He got into sailing at age 6 on the encouragement of his dad, who told him it would be fun. Now, he wants to race in the 2024 Olympics.
“He said it would be cool and we’d travel to a lot of places. I like to be in the water and I like water sports. I like how the waves feel when I race,” Pillar said. “I finished 48th here last year and in my last regatta I was in the Top 20.”
It has also given the area a nice economic shot in the arm. Last year’s event generated approximately 400 hotel room nights, $2,000 in resort tax and $150,000 in direct economic impact.
“The sailing event will showcase our nation’s most talented young sailors, many of whom are on the pathway to the Olympics,” said Jeff Mielke, executive director of Lee County Sports Development. “We’re looking forward to an exciting competition and a great opportunity for sailing fans and spectators to see these gifted athletes in action along our waters.”
The Edison Sailing Center was created to teach kids to sail and make it open for everybody. It teaches 300 to 400 kids every summer and the only requirement is they need to know how to swim, Webb said.