Sailing Away

A view of the team from the Harbor. Photo: Michael Anderson

        Monday March 14, The Long Beach State sailing club braced themselves for heavy winds at Practice. The wind blowing at a steady 15 knots with gusts up to 22 knots around 4 p.m. Five members of the club showed up to sail away including Laura Newton team captain, Dustin Durant, Shane Young, Chase Young, and Russell Olson. Team members rigged four club FJ sailboats. The team set sail for what they hoped to be a good day.
         Within 20 minutes of sailing Chase young and Russell Olson capitalized after preforming a Faulty roll tack, in other words the wind was so strong that it caught the sails and the boat tipped over. "Thankfully we were still in the jetty and not in deep water yet, so everyone recovered safely." Team captain Laura Newton explained.
          After sailing out of the jetty the two boats sailed at a fast reach around the nearest oil island, which is about an hour round trip, making it in a hour was difficult due to the conditions of the ocean being very choppy. Eventually both boats made it back to the yacht club safely as the sun descended beyond the horizon. "Its days like these that make you want to come out for more, the adrenalin of being in the deep ocean is so thrilling." Club member Chase young explains. The Members sailed into the Long Beach Yatch Club de-rigged their sailboats and tied them up to the docks. Newton explained that the sailing club also is a team at Cal State Long Beach and competes in sail races regularly as well as free sailing days.