Adrian Conn, his sister Lynnette, Grayson Blann and Ben Sweeny are determined to squeeze every ounce of sailing out of their systems before the chilly winter winds.
鈥淲e got the Pumpkin Bowl, Rocky Point, Port Moody and Royal Victoria Yacht Club regatta,鈥� 10-year-old Ben says while sitting on the 蜜桃视频appYacht Club鈥檚 deck with his fellow sailors.聽
For these young sailors, life doesn鈥檛 begin until there鈥檚 at least 15 knots of wind. Only then do they feel the rush of freedom that accompanies the sport.聽
鈥淚 like to be out in the middle of the water,鈥� Lynnette, 10, says enthusiastically.
鈥淚 just like the power of sailing,鈥� Ben adds.
鈥淵ou can do whatever you want,鈥� Grayson explained.
When Grayson first learned about sailing, he admits he thought it would be boring. He imagined he鈥檇 be stuck in a boat bobbing along the water. But dinghy sailing is far from dull, he exclaims; it鈥檚 an adrenaline rush as one aims to conquer the elements.
鈥淵ou are harnessing nature鈥檚 power,鈥� he says.
The four sailors all set off on their first sail when they 鈥渏ust kids.鈥� Lynnette was seven years old, Ben was six, Adrian was five and Grayson was somewhere in the middle. The Conns鈥� parents sail. Ben is quick to add his grandfather was a naval captain, and Grayson鈥檚 grandfather is also a man of the sea. His grandpa will be at the Pumpkin Bowl regatta in West Vancouver on Oct. 17 and 18 to watch the action on the water.聽
All of the youth are a part of the 蜜桃视频appYacht Club鈥檚 Learn to Sail program.聽
They practise in Optimist dinghies, the type of boats used in the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Sailing Championships held in 蜜桃视频applast month.
The youth agree that they plan to move on to faster dinghies down the road. Adrian, 12, dreams of sailing in the International 420 Class dinghy. The boat is equipped with a spinnaker. But best of all, Adrian said, the dinghy has a trapeze that allows sailors to hang out over the windward side of the haul to counter the force of the wind on the sail.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 so much fun.鈥�
Grayson and Ben hope to join forces in a 49er. This high-performance dinghy boasts two trapezes for its crew, allowing them both to 鈥渇ly鈥� while on a tack. Ben enjoys the competitive side of sailing.聽
鈥淚 like the higher pressure sailing,鈥� he says.
All four sailed in the nationals held in Squamish. Adrian placed first in the silver fleet, and Ben secured a bronze medal in the white fleet.聽
They placed 11th and 12th overall respectively.
Ben says he aims to compete in the top fleet 鈥� gold 鈥� next year.聽
The national championship will be held in Toronto in 2016. 鈥淚 am definitely going to be there,鈥� he says.
