Skiff Culture in 3 Photos
(Brothers Jake & Miles Julien keep in perfectly balanced while full speed downwind during Day 1 of racing @MedoraMedia at Skiff Gen , Nov 21’)
Since it’s inception in 2020, Skiff Generation has embodied what it means to be a skiff sailor and been a magnet for pulling together the best talent in North American 29er, 49erFX and 49er racing. American skiff racing traces its lineage to the McKee brothers who spent the late 90s and early 2000s pioneering the explosive new, fast paced, high stakes class. Their approach established the “Squad Mentality” and brought competitors together at the end of each day to share their knowledge and newly learned skills. This exalted the McKees to the top of the skiff fleet, earning them a bronze medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Today we continue to carry their torch and pass it on to the next generation.
Jonathan Seigal (crew) and Clark Morris (helm) move quickly to get the boat upright after capsizing
LESSON 1: Falling isn’t what matters, what matters is getting back up.
29er sailing is difficult. Without the right touch, the boat will immediately flip under your feet. Now add another body to this balancing act. Learning to master the skiff is like learning to ride a unicycle. Downhill. With someone else riding with you. It’s not impossible, but it takes a lot of practice. And even for a skilled sailor with tons of experience, a shifty and puffy day can transport you right back to the early days of swim practice.
Mindset and effort is how we overcome challenge. In sailing and in life. And keeping a growth mindset allows you to look past mistakes and short comings and embrace challenges with your head held high. We succeed when “our desire to learn and grow exceeds our fear of failure.”
Carolina Zager (crew) and Sara Ortiz Vey (helm) ripping downwind.
LESSON 2: Embrace your competitors & convert them to Teammates
Context is everything here. These two battle one another in drills and in races. These girls are competitors. They spend most of their time figuring out how to beat each other. They both want something only one can have: the youth world’s spot in girls 29er. But they are also teammates. They train together and share information with each other. They have embraced the “squad mentality” and push each other knowing that a rising tide lifts all boats.
And on the Friday before this event Sara and Carolina were each without a partner. Their respective crew and skipper were away this weekend and neither girl could race. Turning an obstacle into an opportunity, they decided rather than sit the weekend out they would pair up. Each girl has a different style and routine with their partner. So joining forces would take deliberate recalibration and time to assimilate. Both are highly skilled in their roles and it didn’t take long for them to get in sync. This meant they enjoyed 10 races in extremely windy conditions improving their craft in a challenging environment.
Challenge is what makes us better. And the more you sail with new people, the more you challenge yourself to improve.
Mac Agnese (crew) and Truman Rogers (helm) motoring upwind in a classic Miami cold front.
LESSON 3: Mentoring the Next Generation
What the heck is an America’s Cup sailor doing racing a junior regatta? Seems like bringing a gun to a knife fight. But on the other hand, isn’t it so amazing that 29er sailing is fun enough to lure back an ace sailor like Mac Agnese, who just finished sailing the America’s Cup? We think so, in fact, we can’t thank Mac enough for spreading his glow throughout the 29er fleet. Throughout his career, Mac has always been at the top of the sport; winning bronze at the Youth Worlds in the 29er and Nacra. And when you talk to him you understand the approach that has led to Mac’s success: humility. Mac is always learning, from everyone and interaction. Now he’s giving back to this group of young 29er sailors who in his words, [with the amount of support and coaching] “have it way better than I did.”
But that’s what Skiff Culture is all about. Passing along lessons to the next generation. This isn’t some greek proverb: ““A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” Sailing keeps us young and we get to plant trees AND sit in their shade, enjoying the success of others and knowing their path will have fewer bumps in it.
The next Skiff Generation event on the calendar is scheduled for December 4-5, 2021. For information visit SkiffGeneration.com
