Grade 8 Student Competes at Thistle National Championship


Grade 8 student Rebecca Glass sailed into a fifth place finish at the 2017 Women’s Thistle National Championship on Chautauqua Lake, New York, on Saturday, July 22. 

The Pymatuning Yacht Club, where Rebecca sails, did not have enough junior sailors for her to skipper in the youth category. Determined to compete, she signed up to skipper in the women’s division. “I was the youngest competitor in the women’s division at age 13, and I’m guessing that the oldest woman was in their mid to late 60s,” Rebecca said of the experience. “I was never actually intimidated or scared, but I was slightly nervous because I had never competed at this level before.”
 
Rebecca and her crew were pleased with their finish, as they were up against a very seasoned group of competitors. Rebecca was the only junior skipper to sail in the women’s division. “I was happy [with fifth place] considering it was my first major regatta where I skippered the Thistle,” she said. “We were in third place up until the last race when the wind completely died.”
 
Rebecca is already gearing up for next year’s Thistle Nationals in Westport, Connecticut, at Cedar Point Yacht Club where the competitors will sail on Long Island Sound. “It will be a completely different experience since I’m used to sailing in fresh water with no current or tides. On the sound, we will be sailing in saltwater and will be up against the currents and tides.”

Congratulations, Rebecca!

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