{"id":68531,"date":"2014-04-22T22:24:43","date_gmt":"2014-04-23T02:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=68531"},"modified":"2023-05-19T08:45:05","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T12:45:05","slug":"jobsons-junior-all-stars-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/racing\/jobsons-junior-all-stars-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Jobson’s Junior All-Stars 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since 2001, we\u2019ve presented a Junior All-Star list of high-achieving young sailors from around the United States. Many of these sailors have become collegiate All Americans, Olympians, and champions in a variety of classes. There are many sailing opportunities for young people today thanks to dedicated parents, forward-thinking yacht clubs, and managers of high school sailing programs. Most of these young people get to know each other as they race throughout the country and the world. These are friendships that will last a lifetime, and the competition helps build skills and character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to create our list, I review the results of dozens of junior regattas, consult with coaches, and look for special achievements that stand out. In truth, our list could easily number over 100 sailors. Here, we present five sailors who represent an impressive cross section of junior sailing in the United States today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nic Baird, 16<\/strong>, grew up watching his father, Ed, earn a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year title, win multiple world championships, and drive Alinghi<\/em> to an America’s Cup win. That’s a big legacy to live up to, but Baird and his older brother, Ty, have been building their own strong resumes. In 2013, Baird won the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship for the Smythe Trophy and finished in the top 10 at the Laser Radial North Americans, Cressy Nationals, U.S. Youth Sailing Championship, and the Orange Bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baird started sailing Optimists out of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) YC and now races for the Shorecrest Prep School. His main focus is on singlehanded classes, but he also likes the 29er and the club\u2019s junior offshore boat, the Frers 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He credits his family for his success: \u201cMy dad has shown me what is possible in the sport of sailing along with my mom\u2014they have given me their total support. My brother, Ty, has been my training partner.\u201d Looking ahead, Baird says, \u201cI hope that joining a sailing team will be a major part of my college experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Barton, 18<\/strong>, of San Anselmo, Calif., won the U.S. Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup for the second consecutive year in 2013 with crew Sammy Shea, Alex Moody, and brother Sam Barton. Barton understands that improving is a process: “No matter how good you get at sailing, there will always be more to learn, and there is always someone in another fleet who can beat you. That’s motivating because it shows there’s no end to what you can achieve if you’re a truly dedicated sailor.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barton started sailing Optimists at the age of 6 and has since focused on Lasers and J\/22s. His home club is the San Francisco YC, and he also crews on a Santa Cruz 37, Tiburon<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Barton would like to get more involved with match racing, and he hopes to attend the California Maritime Academy next year. When asked about his mentors, Barton says, \u201cMy father has always inspired me; seeing his success in the sport has motivated me more than anything.\u201d However, he does mention an unfortunate incident when he was 9: \u201cI sailed a Mercury with my dad. One race he let me skipper. I couldn\u2019t find a hole at the start and ended up sailing through the side of the committee boat\u2014a 17-foot Boston Whaler.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casey Klingler, 17<\/strong>, races out of Larchmont (N.Y.) YC, and she’s on the Hotchkiss School Sailing Team. She was part of the team that finished third at the 2013 Mallory Cup. In 2013, Casey and her crew, Fiona Walsh, also traveled to Limassol, Cyprus, where they placed 11th at the ISAF Youth World Championship in the Girl’s International 420. Meg Gerli sailed with Klingler at the 2013 International 420 Worlds in Valencia, Spain, where they were the top female U.S. team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klingler started sailing Optimists at age 7. Both of her parents are active sailors, and she races a J\/70 with her father. Her grandfather, Butch Ulmer, is one of America\u2019s most accomplished sailors. Next year, Klingler will join the sailing team at Yale. \u201cI decided I wanted to go to Yale when I was in eighth grade,\u201d she says. \u201cIt has the right combination for me of challenging academics and a very competitive sailing team, with a great coach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klingler credits her coaches with her growth in sailing: \u201cSteve Keen has been great at teaching me technique and keeping me focused on fitness. Elizabeth Kratzig really helped me with teamwork. Zach Leonard has helped me learn to maintain mental toughness during regattas.\u201d Leonard will be one of Casey\u2019s coaches at Yale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elena VandenBerg, 18<\/strong>, races out of the Annapolis (Md.) YC, and she’s the co-captain of the Archbishop Spalding High School Sailing Team. She, too, started at the age of 7 in an Optimist, and currently prefers one-design racing. “My favorite boats are Club 420s and J\/105s\u2014the fleet on the [Chesapeake] Bay is very competitive.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vandenberg has been racing for the past four years with Lilli Salvesen, of Annapolis, and also with Amelia Hardy, from Richmond, Calif. Junior sailing is an important part of her life. \u201cI have had the opportunity to travel to a lot of amazing places and meet a lot of new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her hard work has paid off: She finished 11th out of 102 Club 420 teams at the 2013 Orange Bowl and in the top 10 in the Club 420 at the Buzzards Bay Regatta, the Club 420 North Americans, the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship, and the U.S. Junior Women\u2019s Doublehanded Championship. Next year, she\u2019ll attend Stanford and plans to sail on the team there.\nWhen asked about her inspirations, she says, \u201cAdrienne Patterson is the one person who really stands out. She got me really excited about sailing, worked with me during my transition from the Opti to Club 420, and helped me get to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duncan Williford, 18<\/strong>, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., sails out of the Lauderdale YC. The club has worked hard to build a strong junior program, and Williford shows that the effort is really starting to pay off. Williford also races on the St. Thomas Aquinas Sailing Team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his crew, Matthew Mollerus, Williford won the 2013 U.S. Youth Championship in the 29er class with eight first-place finishes in 14 races. The duo also placed ninth at the 29er World Championship in Denmark last summer. He likes the 29er for its high performance and fast pace, and looking ahead, he\u2019d like to race a 49er and eventually reach the Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williford credits his twin brother, Christopher, as the person who has been most influential in his sailing (Christopher was on our 2010 Junior All-Star list): \u201cWe started sailing together and have pushed each other every day since.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for motivation, Williford says, \u201cSailing is special because you\u2019re given the opportunity to compete internationally at a young age. There\u2019s no better motivation than knowing you\u2019re competing against the best in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For an embarrassing moment, he recalls an Opti green fleet start: \u201cAt 30 seconds to go, I accidentally ran into the back of Christopher\u2019s boat, knocking him in the water. He still ended up winning the regatta, but I earned myself an honorary mention at the awards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All-Star Honorable Mentions<\/strong>
\nLindsey Baab, Cat Feder, Henry Fernberger, Haddon Hughes, Marion Lepert, Charlie Lomax, Luke Muller, Maximo Nores, Ravi Parent, Dana Rohde, Nicholas Sertl, Carolyn Smith, Kristopher Swanson, Allie Toppa, Wade Waddell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article first appeared in the March\/April 2014 issue of Sailing World.<\/em> Click here to read more from Gary Jobson.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Nic <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Nic Baird<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Nic Baird<\/span>\n Courtesy Nic Baird<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jobson <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Nic Baird<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jobson Junior All-Star Nic Baird shows great form in the Laser Radial at the 2013 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship in Corpus Christi, Texas.<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jack <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Jack Barton<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jack Barton<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jack <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Jack Barton<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jack Barton<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Casey <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Casey Klingler<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Casey Klingler<\/span>\n ISAF Youth Worlds\/Icarus Sailing Media<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Casey <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Casey Klingler<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Casey Klingler<\/span>\n ISAF Youth Worlds\/Icarus Sailing Media<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Elena <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Elena Vandenberg<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Elena Vandenberg<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Elena <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Elena Vandenberg<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Elena Vandenberg<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Duncan <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Duncan Williford<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Duncan Williford<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Duncan <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

Duncan Williford<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n
\n Duncan Williford<\/span>\n Third Coast Photo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Phenomenal Five: Gary Jobson presents five sailors who represent an impressive cross section of junior sailing in the United States today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40044,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Gary Jobson","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20140422","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"159","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"The Phenomenal Five: Gary Jobson presents five sailors who represent an impressive cross section of junior sailing in the United States today.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Jobson's Junior All-Stars 2014 %%sep%% %%sitename%%","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"RAKX2GR4NNLPDL5FZALNGZQBGY","arc_website_url":"racing\/jobsons-junior-all-stars-2014\/","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[159],"tags":[361,178],"class_list":["post-68531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racing","tag-jobson-report","tag-sailboat-racing"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}