Last weekend (April 17–19), I competed in the 2026 ILCA 6 Pacific Coast Championships at Coronado Yacht Club. It was a really fun three days with a nice breeze (12-18 knots).

Representing Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, and Coconut Grove Sailing Club, I’m excited to share that I won the ILCA 6 class overall (including 1st female). Here’s a link to the RESULTS and video highlights.

Tactics

A big part of this result came from better decision-making on the water. Over the past two years, I’ve focused on improving my tactics and decisions in races so I can position myself better and leverage the fleet.

Throughout the weekend, the conditions were very tricky and shifty. It was breezy with flat water, so while boat speed was very important, being on top of the shifts was even more so.

My main focus was staying on the numbers (compass), looking ahead on the course, and maintaining awareness of the fleet to stay in control of my positioning. The shifts were unpredictable a lot of the time. There were races where I felt like I was playing a side really well, only for the other to get a massive shift at the top of the course that I couldn’t capitalize on.

Moments like that were definitely frustrating, but my boat speed on the reaches and downwinds allowed me to recover quickly and minimize losses.

Fitness and Endurance

At Coronado, in flat water and breeze, boat speed was key. That kind of condition really rewards consistency & technique, which is where fitness plays a big role.

Over the course of the regatta, my conditioning helped me maintain strong hiking, stay technically sharp, and avoid any drop-off in performance, especially later in the day. It allowed me to keep pushing the boat at full speed while still staying mentally focused on the race.

Thank yous!

Thank you to my coach, John Bertrand, for all the support and guidance. He’s been a big part of my progress.

Thanks to my family for encouraging me, as well as NHYC, CBYC, and CGSC, for helping to support me to be able to attend these regattas.

Thanks to Coronado Yacht Club + the race committee for running a great event, and to everyone behind the scenes who helps make this possible. Also, to my competitors for making the event super competitive but fun!

Looking forward to building on this as the season continues.

Thank you for reading and supporting,
Paloma Arrigo
ILCA 6 | USA 226942
Newport Harbor YC • Cabrillo Beach YC • Coconut Grove SC
CDMHS ’26 | Tulane ’30

Join the fight against cancer by supporting below. You can save a life!!

Or click here: Join Sailors4Life registry. If you’re not eligible, please consider sharing this post with someone who might be!!

Last week, I competed in the 2026 ILCA 6 Midwinters East Championships at Key Biscayne Yacht Club in Florida (February 19–22). The event served as a major qualifier for the 2026 ILCA 4 & 6 Youth World Championships, so it brought together a really strong fleet.

The ILCA 6 class had 103 competitors, and the conditions were extremely variable throughout the event. The first day was light and testy, 5-9 knots, but by the final race on Sunday, the breeze built to 18-24 knots. It made for a challenging series where I found adaptability, patience, and consistency were key.

I’m proud to say I achieved:

• 1st USA female

• 2nd female overall

• 11th overall out of 103 competitors in an open event (~ 35% female, 65% male)

• qualification to represent the USA at my fifth Youth World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, in August 2026.

• qualification for the USA Youth National Team, ILCA 6

I’m really happy with how the regatta went, especially with the consistency across the races.

Overcoming Challenges

The past year hasn’t always been straightforward. There were some bumps in the road - equipment issues, injuries, a contested protest, and a few regattas where I just didn’t execute at the level I needed to. This event felt like a step forward and a reminder that, over time, the work does start to show.

The journey to this point has been built over the past few months, with key events in Florida:

• October 2025 - U.S. Youth Championships at Lauderdale YC

• November 2026 - U.S. Youth Sailing Thanksgiving Clinic at Miami YC

• December 2025 - Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta at Coral Reef YC

• I capped it off with the 2026 ILCA6 Midwinters

  ---

Gratitude

Thank you to Erik Bauer and Sam Bartel, who coached me during the regatta and reminded me that when I execute the basics, the rest will click.

Thank you to the people who have helped me along the way, including my coach, John Bertrand, who has played a huge role in my development this past two years and is currently recovering well from a bone marrow transplant. I’m also proud to help support Sailors 4 Life, which encourages sailors to join the national bone marrow donor registry (join the national donor registry).

Thanks to Sheila Doyle for sports psychology, preparation, and planning; Lionel Rangel for strengthening my fitness program; and to Jacques Kerrest from Dynamic Dollies for his support. I appreciate the understanding, patience and support from the faculty at Corona del Mar High School as I work to balance travel, training, and sailing with academic responsibilities. Finally, thank you to my family for support, planning and cheering me on and supporting me by attending regattas, and to my friends for always pushing me on the race course.

I’m also thankful for the support from the Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation, the BYC Maritime Sciences and Seamanship Foundation, and the communities at NHYC, CBYC, and CGSC.

And of course, thank you to the Key Biscayne Yacht Club race committee and volunteers for running a great event. Running races in the shifty conditions and variable winds- I can only assume, was no easy feat.

What’s Next

I’m looking forward to continuing to train and prepare for the rest of the season, including the CISA Clinic, Midwinters West, Pacific Coast Championships, National Championships, North American Championships, and more.

Overall, it was a really rewarding regatta and a good step forward going into the rest of the year.

Fair winds,
Paloma Arrigo
USA 226942
ILCA 6
CDMHS ‘26, Tulane ‘30

Tunnel to Towers Donations

Today, on World Cancer Day, it seems like a good time for me to share something that hits close to home and motivates me to spread awareness about something that could save lives. It’s about my coach, John Bertrand, a legendary sailor who’s faced down more than just rough seas.

His journey with leukemia reminded me how fragile life can be, but also how a simple act of kindness from a stranger can change everything. John, as many of you know, is a well-known figure in the sailing world. But a few years ago, he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). It was a tough blow. He was faced with a grueling choice: continue with chemotherapy, which can be exhausting and uncertain, or opt for a bone marrow transplant, which offered a potential cure but came with its own risks.

After careful consideration, John chose the transplant. The challenge? Finding a compatible donor. In the United States, participation in bone marrow registries isn’t as robust as it is in other parts of the world, like Europe. That means fewer potential matches for patients in need. John was incredibly fortunate to find a young 20-year-old donor in the U.S. who was a 10/10 match. Because of that high compatibility, John’s recovery was smoother than most.

He was recently released from Stanford Medical Center, feeling great, surprisingly, with only minor symptoms.

Leaving the hospital was a moment of pure joy, capped off by the hospital staff playing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” as he “rang the bell” signifying he was cancer-free. John shared his update on social media, and his words capture the gratitude and positivity that carried him through.

Here’s what John posted about his experience

“The big news: I was discharged from Stanford on Thursday, January 22nd, 9 days early!

This is rare for an allogeneic transplant, thanks to a smooth process with virtually no side effects from chemo, infusion, or post-transplant meds. I’m deeply grateful to the donor for their cells, to Stanford’s expert team, and to your prayers and support. I went into the hospital in such a positive mental state, buoyed by being surrounded by positive people last year and that incredible wave of support as I headed in. This was maybe even the biggest reason things went so well. It cannot be overlooked how much that mindset and community lifted me through. I’m now at my sister’s in the Bay Area for the first 100 days, rebuilding my immune system while monitoring for GVHD (graft-versus-host disease) with regular check-ups, meds, and precautions (masks, clean diet, no crowds). Physically weak, stairs are a challenge, but strength will return as the new bone marrow ramps up, aided by PT and rest. Already eyeing getting back on the water, coaching, and out in the Montana mountains.”

The donor gave him another chance, one that would allow him to return to what he loves: sailing, coaching, and the outdoors.

Not everyone is as lucky as John. Thousands of people in the U.S. and around the world are waiting for a bone marrow match right now. Many don’t find one in time because there aren’t enough registered donors.

That’s why I’m writing this: to encourage you, my readers, to consider joining a bone marrow registry. It could be you who becomes someone’s hero. Joining is easier than you might think.

If you’re 18–40, healthy, and live in the U.S., you can sign up with the NMDP. It’s free and takes minutes. You sign up online, they mail you a cheek swab, you send it back, and you’re added to the registry. That’s it. You could save someone’s life. The U.S. needs more donors, and change starts with us. One small action can give someone another chance to hug their family or chase their dreams.

Joining the Registry

• Registration: You sign up with the donor registry.

• Cheek Swab: You provide a simple cheek swab, which is used for HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) typing to match you with patients.

Ready to join? Scan this QR code to get started:

Or click here: Join Sailors4Life registry. If you’re not eligible, share this post with someone who might be.

Thank you, truly, for taking the time to read this. Your support matters more than you know, and I hope you’ll join me in standing together in the fight against blood cancers.

Fair winds,
Paloma Arrigo

Every time I rig my ILCA and push off the dock, I’m reminded of how much freedom I have, to compete, to travel, to build a future in this sport I love. None of that happens without people who protect our ability to live freely, safely, and openly in this country.

Some of them don’t come home.

Some leave behind families who suddenly must navigate the unthinkable, emotionally and financially.

I’m 17, and I can’t fix everything.
But I can use my platform to do something.

Starting today, every email, every race report, every update I share will include an evergreen donation link to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T), an organization that supports the families of fallen first responders and military service members, and builds smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans.

👉 Donate directly here
🔗 Tunnel to Towers
(This link goes straight to Tunnel to Towers. I don’t collect or handle donations.)

Why This Matters to Me

In sailing, we talk constantly about perspective.

Wind shifts.
Bad races.
Protests that don’t go your way.

But perspective is also knowing that some families are dealing with loss far greater than a bad finish line call.

Tunnel to Towers steps in when a hero’s family needs help the most:

• Paying off the mortgage so their family can stay in their home

• Building specially adapted smart homes for severely injured veterans

• Ensuring first responders’ families aren’t left alone in financial crisis

They don’t just honor sacrifice, they act.

That resonates deeply with me. Sailing teaches responsibility, accountability, resilience, but service is the highest expression of those values.

No Middleman. No Complexity.

I don’t touch the money.
I’m just the messenger.

• Click the link`

• Donate directly on their secure site

• Receive the tax receipt directly from Tunnel to Towers

You’re not supporting me — you’re supporting them.

Why an Evergreen Link?

Because impact shouldn’t be seasonal.

Not dependent on “Giving Tuesday.”

Not a one-time thing.

This is now baked into the DNA of this newsletter and my racing journey:

If you enjoy following my story, consider supporting theirs.

Every time you read an update from me:

• I’m training harder

• I’m leveling up

• I’m giving back

And you can too in one click.

I’m Not Asking for Donations…

…I’m offering you the chance to make an impact.

If you never donate, I’m still grateful you’re here supporting my journey.

If you do, you’re helping a family that sacrificed far more than I ever will for the opportunities I have.

Evergreen Link (This will appear in every newsletter going forward)

Support Tunnel to Towers Foundation: https://t2t.org/

Thank You

For reading.
For supporting my sailing.
For supporting something bigger than sailing.

If nothing else, I hope this makes you pause and appreciate the people who make your life and freedom possible.

See you on the racecourse.

— Paloma

The 2025 Youth Championships were, for me, the best of times and the worst of times. I want to express my gratitude to my family and my coach for their support, to our sport’s governing body, volunteers, and the host venue for selection and participation in this championship event. At the same time, I hope readers will understand my sense of duty to also raise an important issue to help make our sport better.

What happened at Youth Champs, and what could change

“You haven’t won anything if you don’t have the respect of your competitors.”
— Robert Johnstone, Founder of the Youth Championships for the governing body for competitive sailboat racing

I had no big expectations for myself. I was just excited to race against some of the best youth sailors in the country, learn a lot, and see how I stacked up. I never imagined I’d end the regatta feeling both incredibly proud of my sailing and deeply disappointed in how things played out.

The Regatta

I was racing in the ILCA 6 fleet, with both boys and girls combined, 62 boats in total. The girls were ranked based on our overall fleet scores and finishing positions within the combined fleet. The racing was tough. The top boys are fast, and with big fleets, starts and boat handling have to be sharp. The weather didn’t make things easy either: the first two days were light and unstable, and we spent long hours on the water waiting for a breeze. In total, we only managed three races, just enough to make the event count.

Going into the final day, I just wanted to put together solid races. To my surprise, I finished the regatta in second place among the girls and, more importantly, as the top 19-and-under sailor. That meant I had earned the single U.S. spot for the Youth World Championships. I was shocked, proud, and honestly a little overwhelmed. I’ve worked hard to improve, and it felt like it had all come together.

“It felt like everything I’d been working toward had finally clicked.”

The Protest

That feeling didn’t last long. When I got back to shore, I found out for the first time that I was being protested by the sailor who had finished just behind me. She claimed that I hit a mark during the last race, which I didn’t. I was stunned. Even more surprising, the witness they brought forward (ultimately in third place) wasn’t near the rounding in question, and it seemed that personal connections may have influenced how the testimony was perceived. Finally, the ultimate U19 female winner and her witness pressured my witness not to testify – not to share evidence that likely would have prevented me from being disqualified.

This was only my second protest ever. I’ve always believed in playing by the rules and respecting the game. I went into the hearing and told the truth. But the protest was upheld. With only three races sailed, there was no throw-out, which meant the penalty changed the standings. I lost the Youth Worlds spot, and it went to the sailor who had protested me.

How That Felt

I was heartbroken. Not because I lost to someone who sailed better, but because I didn’t lose on the water. I lost in a protest room, over something that didn’t happen. That’s a very different feeling. I’ve always believed sailing is about honesty, respect, and competing hard but fairly. What happened didn’t feel fair.

“Winning through a protest may count on the score sheet, but it doesn’t necessarily earn respect.”

What Could Change

In sports like water polo or soccer, players can’t make up stories and change the result of a game. There are referees right there, watching everything, and what happens on the field decides the outcome. Sailing is different, and I get why. The racecourse is huge, and you can’t keep your eyes on everything. But because of that, situations can sometimes come down to people’s words instead of facts. That’s what happened to me.

I started thinking about ways to make that better. We already have automated mark bots on the course, so why not add cameras to them? With the technology we have now, it wouldn’t be that hard. It wouldn’t replace protest committees, but it would give real evidence when there’s a dispute. It would make things fairer and cut down on actual fouls, which often go unchallenged.

“A simple camera could turn a ‘my word vs. yours’ situation into clear, fair evidence.”

Why I’m Sharing This

Again, I want to thank our governing body and host club for the event. Many volunteers worked tirelessly to do their best, create an enjoyable environment for the competitors, and select the best representatives for the USA. So, I’m not writing this to complain or point fingers. I’m doing it out of respect and appreciation for our sport, with the courage to critique. I hope my critique will not overshadow my attitude of gratitude.

I sailed my best, and I’m proud of that. I’m sharing this because I believe moments like this are opportunities for the sport to become fairer. Protests are part of sailing, but we should make sure they’re used in the spirit of fairness, not as a way to change outcomes after the racing is done.

This regatta has made me stronger and more determined. I’ll be back, and I’ll keep racing with honesty and respect, because in the end, that’s what really matters.

Congratulations to Arabella Duer for a well-deserved first place overall. (Arabella is over the U19 limit and ineligible to attend the Youth Worlds, which is why the spot for qualification to the Youth Worlds went to the top 19-and-under sailor. That was originally my position before the protest)

A Father’s Perspective

On the flight home that night, Paloma and I talked about everything that had happened. She was disappointed, of course, anyone would be, but what struck me most was how quickly her focus turned from what she’d lost to what could be fixed. She kept saying how unfair it felt that something like this could decide a Youth Worlds berth. If this protest had come in the middle of the regatta, it likely would have been a non-issue, not only because she didn’t hit the mark, but because it wouldn’t have determined who advanced. The timing made all the difference.

Some sailors could have been witnesses to support her, but chose not to out of loyalty to the protestor, and others who witnessed against Paloma out of apparent jealousy. That was hard for her to process. Sailing is the only sport I know where the second and third place finishers can file a complaint about a rule infraction over an hour after the event and succeed in knocking out the leader, and their motives are apparently not considered. As happened in this situation, an opaque process compromised due process^[1] because exculpatory evidence from a favorable witness was improperly blocked by the plaintiff, a female ILCA6 U19 sailor who ended up protesting her way into first. That shrinks the sport and encourages bad actors. In a rush to nominate a competitor for the world event, our U.S. governing body curtailed the appeals process, shortening a key window of time to file a dispute from 7 days to 24 hours.

Still, even in that moment, Paloma wasn’t focused on blame. She was thinking about how to make the sport better, how to make sure no one else has a victory taken away in the same way. Some good entrepreneurial ideas came out of that. Watching how Paloma handled this with grace, honesty, and resilience made me prouder than any victory ever could. See also “A Father’s Perspective and An Athlete’s Duty: Gratitude and the Quest for Integrity”

Michael Arrigo

^[1] A Section 1983 claim involves deprivation of a federal right (e.g. for example, due process), and a violation “under color of state law” where an entity acted as the authority but did not have it, e.g., making rules such as curtailing the time to appeal from seven days to 24 hours, which curtails due process. Reasonableness test: for example, in Florida, and in federal court, you generally have 30 days to file a notice of appeal after a lower court’s final judgment or order is entered; sometimes this is shortened to 14 days. In arbitration, there may only be narrow grounds for appeal, but generally, it is possible, if it is discovered, for example, that the process is tainted by one party’s efforts to successfully withhold exculpatory evidence. Yet, the time to appeal an arbitration ruling under federal law is generally three months to file a motion to vacate or modify under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA).

First, I sailedthe Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR) in Long Beach. I had a short breather—just enough time to rinse the salt off my gear—before heading up the coast to compete in the ILCA4 Youth World Championships at Cabrillo Beach. Then, three days later, I was back on the start line for the ILCA 6 Youth World Championships.

To say I’m feeling the effects of racing three major international regattas in such a short span is an understatement. I’m physically drained, mentally tired, and emotionally complete. And even though it might’ve been more strategic to focus on just one event, the opportunity to gain this much high-level experience in one summer was too good to pass up.

The Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR)

OCR was my first time racing side-by-side with some of the world’s best sailors—and the learning curve was steep in the best possible way. Watching how they handled pressure, made decisions, and stayed fast across the course was like a live masterclass in performance sailing. I was especially happy with my ability to consistently nail good starts, hold lanes, and apply high-level technique I’ve been working on all year. I also had the chance to meet and learn from a two-time European Champion, who shared a few key tips and encouraged me to keep pushing. Those small moments of connection can make a big difference.

It gave me a chance to test myself against top international talent and apply big-fleet tactics that don’t come up in smaller events. While I’ve raced in the ILCA 4 all season, moving up to the ILCA 6 in this regatta pushed me physically and mentally—which was exactly what I wanted.

Youth Worlds

Switching back to the ILCA 4 (f.k.a. Laser 4.7) felt familiar but also highlighted the contrast in physical demand and technique. At Cabrillo, I kept my momentum with solid starts and strong positioning.

Qualifying for the Gold Fleet was a huge confidence boost.

The short turnaround between the ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 events meant I was still in regatta mode, but the fatigue was starting to creep in.

By the time the ILCA 6 Youth Worlds began, I was running on fumes, with some fatigue after the ILCA4 Worlds and little time to rest. The conditions brought big breezes, and while my speed on the reaches and downwind legs improved dramatically, I struggled on the upwind. That was a clear sign that I needed to level up my hiking fitness—and I will.

Still, competing at Youth Worlds was a highlight. I know of only one other female sailor this year who raced both ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 worlds, and I’m proud of how I handled that challenge. Every race, every leg, every start added another layer of experience that I’ll carry with me.

Looking Ahead

This summer gave me more than just results. It gave me memories, lessons, technical growth, and a whole new gear to train toward. I’m excited to carry all of that into the next 12 months as I begin preparing for next year’s ILCA 6 Youth World Championships—which, by the way, will be held in Aarhus, Denmark, on the · 11th to the 19th of August 2026.

But first: a much-needed break. Time to rest, recharge, and recover—just in time for school to start.

Thanks for following along, and thank you to Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club for running a great World Championship Regatta.

—Paloma

Other interesting posts

Heavy Air Sailing

The first half kicked off with a series of back-to-back events that had me bouncing between the West Coast and East Coast, often with less than 48 hours between travel and competition. From early morning training blocks to long regatta days, every stop brought new challenges and opportunities to grow.

In the Spring, I enjoyed the U.S. Sailing Women’s Youth Single-Handed clinic (Leiter Cup) in New Orleans at the Southern Yacht Club.

Then the last week of school was pretty light, so I checked out early and jumped straight into some heavy air ILCA 6 training in Cabrillo Beach, where the 2025 ILCA Youth World Championships will be held. That rolled into a three-day training block with my Texas crew at the US Sailing Youth Match Racing National Championship (Rose Cup).

Two days later, I was on the starting line at the ILCA North American Championships in Long Beach, racing in the ILCA 6 fleet. It was intense. I racked up four UFDs—yes, four—which, believe it or not, was part of my coach’s plan to push my aggression on the starting line. He was happy. I was even happier with the gains I’ve made in upwind speed.

The next day, I flew east to the ODU campus in Virginia for the US Sailing Ida Lewis Double-handed Championship, teaming up with my good friend and fellow single-handed sailor Marina Wardlaw from Miami (pictured). We were the tallest team on the water (at about 5’9” each), but we made it work, and we were fast in the clinic days in big breezes of 15 to 25 knots, but the regatta itself brought classic Chesapeake summer conditions—light and patchy, under 5 knots most of the time.

Then it was right back to California for the Rose Cup, racing with the Texas squad —this time on the bow. Usually, I’ve got the tiller in hand, so learning the intricacies of the “pointy end” was a great challenge. I walked away super motivated to come back next year as a skipper.

The next day, I launched into a five-day training block in Long Beach to prep for the Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR). I lined up with the British team for a few training races and trained with the Polish team and two-time ILCA 6 European Champion Agata Barwińska, who shared some tips (pictured).

And that was only the first half of summer.

Next up: the OCR itself, where I’ll get a front-row view of what Olympic-level ILCA racing looks like. Then it’s straight into the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships at Cabrillo Beach, followed just days later by the ILCA 6 Youth Worlds—a quick transition in both equipment and mindset.

So far, it’s been an incredible run—exhausting, rewarding, and completely unforgettable. I’m beyond grateful for my coaches, teammates, family, and everyone cheering me on from near and far. The second half of this wild ride is just beginning.

Now… maybe a nap?

#NoTimeToRest #PalomaArrigo #ILCA6 #ILCAYouthWorlds #OCR2025 #RoseCup #IdaLewis #YouthMatchRacing #SummerOnTheWater

Sailing in heavy air challenges me mentally and physically, sharpening my resilience as I gear up for the ILCA4 and ILCA6 Youth World Championships, which will be held from July 18th, 2025, to August 6th, 2025, in Cabrillo Beach, California. This grit pushes me beyond my limits, making each puff of wind and wave an opportunity for growth!

The physical effort required to trim the sail, handle the boat, and maintain balance under these conditions increases muscle strength, endurance, and agility. Mentally, sailing in challenging conditions requires focus, quick decision-making, and the ability to handle stress, all of which can contribute to a greater sense of resilience. 

I always feel great after I finish a day in conditions like this.

Developing essential sailing skills, fitness, and mental resilience is vital to sailing the ILCA. Regular practice in strong winds also helps me improve my boat control and adaptability.

I selected a fantastic sailing venue with wide open beaches to launch, and epic wind conditions. Windsurfers, kite foils, and my boat were out to enjoy perfect wind and warm temperatures flowing off the land.

I worked on helming, trimming, and holding my body in the correct position to help my boat produce the maximum VMG.

I used my larger sail plan to challenge myself, knowing I could change down to the smaller ILCA4 for events where I competed in that class.

U.S. Sailing, Southern Yacht Club volunteers, and some great coaches organized an excellent event for me and other young women sailors in New Orleans. I truly appreciated the hospitality, tour of New Orleans, the grits, biscuits, and beignets, and most importantly, the friends I made and the people who made it happen.

“The value of Tom Clagett’s vision behind both the Ida Lewis and Leiter trophies is immeasurable. For the past 28 and 43 years, respectively, the opportunity. For Junior Women Sailors to have the competition to help them improve their sailing skills has been not only an exceedingly valuable experience, but for many, a memorable and prominent step in their sailing and racing experiences. For many, Ida and Leiter have been where young women have met, made lifetime friends, shared coaches, and improved their sailing skills, all while attending these clinics and regattas. This camaraderie amongst the girls has been a backbone to their sailing.”

– Judy and Stephanie McLennan, daughters and granddaughters of Thomas Clagett and Nancy Leiter Clagett.

Thank you to Zim Sailing, including John Colby, who was on site, and Sam Patterson for providing ILCA charter boats free of charge for the event.

Thank you, Judy and Stephanie McLennan, U.S. Sailing, Southern Yacht Club, the volunteers — especially Samantha Frost, my hosts, the Harris Family, and coaches Charles Barclay and Sweta Shervegar!

We decided to continue focusing on the ILCA4 over the ILCA6 for my goals, AND on single-handed sailing over the FJ and 420, primarily because:

• The 2025 Youth World Championships will be held in Cabrillo Beach, aka “Hurricane Gulch.” I’m competent and confident in my ILCA6 youth-level sailing skills, but as a 16-year-old, I felt this was a better fit (see my next point on why that is).

• Ironically, the ILCA (f.k.a. Laser) was designed and initially built in the U.S. The European, Australian, and New Zealand youth programs now dominate the ILCA.

  • The progression in these regions is to focus heavily on the ILCA4 until about age 17. In Europe, it is common to see a 100- to 150-boat ILCA4 fleet and an additional 150- to 200 boys competing in the ILCA4.

  • In the U.S., the “4” rig was dismissed as a toy rig, and that “real” competitors need to be in the “6.”

  • My experience at two World Championships in Portugal and Greece and the 2024 Youth European Championships in Izola, Slovenia, proved this false.

    ILCA4 is ideal for developing skills and being in a rig that enables learning and doesn’t cause sailors to be overpowered before they’re physically ready for the 6.

  • You can’t argue with the results. Australians, Kiwis, and Europeans dominate at many levels in international sailing, while the U.S. struggles to field winning sailors at the highest levels, instead of focusing primarily on youth sailing progressing into 420s and FJs in college sailing. Don’t get me wrong, my sister and dad had a great time sailing in college. But in Europe, for example, college sailing is non-existent.

  • In the eastern U.S., people are figuring this out now.

• So, despite the pull to the 420 for pre-college sailing and the FJ for west coast high school sailing, my coach reminded me that a strong single-handed sailor hones their skills in a physically demanding boat where they are accountable only to themselves. As a result, they can sail anything. This proved to be true when I jumped in a 420 for the Women’s North American Championships and we earned two top-five finishes in a 35-boat fleet with little practice before the event.

My high-performance mindset keeps me focused on weights several mornings per week and pool work for water polo. So far, I have maintained a strong GPA and qualify as a USA Water Polo Academic All-American. This cross-training makes me stronger.

This week, I’m excited to head to New Orleans for the US Sailing women’s clinic.

I’ll share another post soon on my regatta and clinic schedule over the spring and summer.

Thank you for reading my post!

Unequivocally yours,

Paloma

My sailing coach, emphasizes that single-handed ­sailing provides an on-ramp to top-level doublehanded sailing and beyond. He likes my two-sport athletic schedule in water polo. Could solid doublehanded sailors succeed in the 420 with little prior experience? I decided to test this theory out in a big way.

College sailors tell me that the collegiate sailing rules fit well with how the ILCA dinghy should be competitively sailed. You can be vastly more physical and aggressive in an ILCA on tacks and gybes, coming out of these maneuvers with more speed.

As a single-handed female sailor, I work to leverage the physicality of my water polo training to try and match the male ICLA sailors. I believed this would translate to better boat handling in the C420 and an ability to be much more competitive on the starting line and use aggressive tacks and gybes pre-start to get solid starting positions. I have trained to be “water polo tough,” which is a take no prisoners style where you aim to sink your opponent and steal their possession of the ball. Could all of this come together for me in a major C420 regatta? I was about to find out.

In July 2024, I decided to jump into a C420 with my crew and sail the Women’s North Americans held at Westpoint Harbor, Redwood City on San Francisco Bay - with no prior C420 regatta experience.

Before this decision, my water polo team finished in Spring, 2024 as Division 1 CIF champions. After a break from the water polo season, I traveled to Slovenia for the ILCA4 Youth Worlds in Izola, Slovenia. The Worlds were held in mostly heavy on the Gulf of Venice with chop and current.

A few weeks after I arrived home, I was preparing for the ILCA4 Worlds in Portugal when I got a text from a sailing friend who wanted me to helm at the C420 Women’s North Americans. With little time to prepare, I didn’t hesitate. We made our plans.

My high school double-handed sailing and ILCA sailing gave me the confidence to try the C420. What I learned is that my foundation in single-handed sailing worked well in this double-handed event.

On our practice days in the C420, San Francisco Bay was expectedly choppy, with wind speeds up to 18 knots and the usual heavy current. My experience sailing on the city front in San Francisco and in Europe helped prepare me for those conditions.

Aggressive maneuvers on the race course helped, and I was pleased with our results: We nailed our starts and had two top finishes. We were incorrectly black-flagged in one race where we finished fith, and in another race finished sixth, but with no prior C420 sailing experience and no practice days I was pleased with the outcome. We were strong on our starts and weather work, competitive downwind, and needed to improve on the reaches.

This is not to say that perfecting my C420 sailing is done—that’s just a start. But I was pleased that my cross-training in two sports and single-handed sailing was beneficial.

Thank you to Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer and the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation (PYSF) for hosting a great event.

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On Sunday, December 15th, I was honored to attend a water polo camp run by the Stanford University women’s water polo team. It was great to practice with peer-level athletes and those who attend ODP camps to up my game. The Stanford Avery Aquatic Center is an amazing facility. The Stanford coaches were fantastic, and Stanford women’s team members assisted. It was also inspiring to meet young women who have achieved in academics and athletics.

I flew home to prepare for a week of final exams at Corona del Mar High School, have attended pool and weightlifting practice, and look forward to helping my team continue our undefeated record against San Clemente High School.

I will have just enough time to pack my bags and ILCA gear and fly to Miami on December 20th for the annual Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta. My sister Isa will sail Snipes with our friend and top-ranked women’s single-handed champion from Portugal, Luisa Perez.

I will have updates from the regatta next week.

2024 ILCA District 15 Championships

When we decided to head to Dallas for the District 15 Championships on November 9th and 10th, 2024, I looked forward to gaining some lake sailing experience. We braved thunder and lightning storms and a flight diversion to Houston but arrived at Love Field, Dallas, looking forward to a new adventure.

Before we left, I did my homework. Lake Ray Hubbard spans 22,745 acres and has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Before the lake was created, locals used the basin as a recreational area called “The Bottom.” Lake Ray Hubbard is one of the largest lakes in North Texas and the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Research Says Lake Sailing is Shifty, I Learned That is True

In preparing to do some lake sailing, I read, “winds may flow with the length of the lake, causing a parallel shore effect. This means the wind may be stronger on one shore than the other.” Sure enough, forecasts for Lake Ray Hubbard showed days of northerly and southerly breezes. I read, “In lighter wind, sail toward the pressure and stay in it.” Sage wisdom also suggested, “Have a crew member look for and call out the next puff or two up the course.” Well, that is definitely challenging when you’re a single-handed sailor.

Texas Lake Sailing Honed My Skills for the Future

This event's competitors came primarily from Rush Creek / Lake Hubbard, Fort Worth / Eagle Mountain Lake, Houston, and the Texas Gulf Coast in Corpus Christi.

The unpredictable sailing conditions at Lake Hubbard became evident as the regatta got underway. For example, in Race 1, my start was great, and after getting comfortable on the lake in the ILCA4 rig, I found a fantastic left shift, which kept me in the hunt for a win. In the end, I was second. In race 2, my start could have been better, but I recovered quickly by finding a huge right-hand shift and finishing in third.

This regatta was a fantastic experience because of the lake sailing conditions. It was great to take in the polite and collegial culture of the sailors from Texas. Rush Creek YC did a great job making everyone welcome, and a Texas-style barbeque dinner on Saturday night was also a highlight. Boat wash down was easier, too, after hauling my boat out of fresh water. I also found a great training partner for future events.

After the racing, I spent time in windless conditions practicing roll gybes, roll tacks, and propelling the boat forward using pumping to improve my boat handling skills. This will not manifest in executing a plan to violate Rule 42 in the future, but it is, as I learned from my coach, a method to learn how to move the boat in light conditions and build fitness and coordination.

I chose to sail the ILCA4 rig to continue preparing for the anticipated heavy air conditions at the Youth Europeans, which will be held in Puck, Poland, on the Baltic, and the Youth Worlds in “Hurricane Gulch” California. I have learned that the Europeans, particularly the girls, train in the “6” rig and drop to the “4” rig in heavy air conditions up to and including age 17. European fleets in the “4” rig exceed 100 boats. I love the ILCA6 rig and, in retrospect, felt I could also have been highly competitive in that fleet. Balance is always tricky, but I strive to refine it in life.

Focus, Balance, Outcome: Now and in the Future

I was pleased with my second overall and first girl for this regatta. Though I love double-handed sailing, for example, in the FJ, 420, and Snipe, and aspire to sail higher-performance boats, I continue to believe that if you’re strong in single-handed sailing, you can helm any boat in the future. My mentors in the Laser / ILCA and Finn classes have proven this true.

My near-term sailing event plans include St. Petersburg, Miami, and Long Beach events.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my coach for his continued guidance and my steady improvement.

I returned home to resume water polo, sailing practice, and a steady homework load in my AP classes. Thank you to the faculty and staff at my high school for understanding my schedule and helping me achieve balance.

I remembered that Monday, November 11th, was Veterans Day. I thank my family members and others who have served.

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What is “The Catch”?

Invite Your Friends to Read The Catch

NEW! My latest post is here about my summer 2025 sailboat racing schedule.

I compete in the ICLA4, ILCA6, Flying Junior (FJ), C420, and keelboat classes. I participate in international sailboat racing events, including the Youth World Championships in Greece (ILCA4), the Youth European Championships in Slovenia (ILCA4), and the Youth World Championships in Portugal, the Miami, Florida, USA Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta (2021, 2022, 2023), Midwinters East (Clearwater, FL), Olympic Classes Regatta 2022 (Long Beach, CA USA; 1st place ILCA4 class), Olympic Classes Regatta 2022 (San Francisco, CA USA) and the Pacific Coast Championships in San Francisco (ILCA4, first place). I train under three-time World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist John Bertrand, sail for the Corona del Mar High School sailing team, and am a Corona del Mar High School's Division 1 CIF Championship water polo team member. I am proud to be a USA Water Polo Academic All-American.

So here’s “The Catch.” It’s a special sailing and water polo phrase describing something top competitors in both sports strive to achieve by perfecting their finesse through hard work and regular training.

The Catch in Sailing

• In sailing, "the catch" is a racing technique used when tacking; it involves easing the jib sheet to increase its drive and reduce its healing force while encouraging the boat to round up and, depending on wind velocity, backing the jib to help the boat come across the eye of the wind and ultimately tack, while keeping the main sheet relatively tight.

• The boat is mostly steered through the tack by the balance and the heel of the boat to minimize rudder angle and maintain speed through the tack

• Ideally in a dinghy, particularly in light air, you can gain speed through the tack, rather than losing speed.

“Easing the Jibsheet. This will increase the jib’s drive while reducing its healing force, shifting the center of effort aft in the boat, with more pressure on the mainsheet, which will increase the suction on the lee side of the main (its “power”), increasing both its drive and healing force. The change in heeling forces nearly cancels, resulting in a net increase in the forward drive from both sails. The catch is that the main is “headed” less, increasing the tendency to stall. There will also be an increase in weather helm due to the center of effort moving aft.

The Catch in Water Polo

• In water polo, "the catch" refers to the act of a player successfully receiving the ball thrown by a teammate, usually by extending their hand out in front of them and softly guiding the ball into their palm, ensuring they maintain control while staying afloat in the water; only one hand can be used to catch the ball, except for the goalie who can use both hands.

Key points about catching in water polo:

• One-handed catch: Field players must catch the ball with only one hand.

• Soft landing: The goal is to catch the ball with a soft touch to prevent losing control.

• Hand positioning: To facilitate a smooth catch, players should position their hands slightly in front and face your shoulders towards the incoming pass.

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