Pixels Compete for JSA LIS Championship Trophy at Larchmont Yacht Club

Pixels cross the starting line for Friday's first race.

The JSA LIS Pixel Champs regatta August 9-10 was described by one competitor as “one of my favorite regattas I’ve been to,” perhaps because of the highly competitive yet somewhat low-key nature of it, due to the small number of competitors.

“It was fun after the races, getting to hang out with people I knew in Larchmont’s awesome pool,” recalled Jack Belisle, a competitor from Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club.

At the same time, sailors detected a great atmosphere of intensity on the racecourse. 

“Most of the sailors were really competitive,” expressed Isabel Infurna, a spectator from Noroton Yacht Club watching the races on Friday.  “The mark roundings were especially intense, with everyone fighting to get around them.”

The competitive edge at this event was well received by sailors, who enjoyed the challenge and used it as an opportunity to show off their best sailing skills.

“Testing my skills against other sailors and going against some of the best of them made me feel good,” Larchmont Shore Club’s Alex Kirchgaesser said after the awards ceremony.

Matt Salditt (right) prepares the spinnaker pole for a race's downwind leg as his brother, Luke, steers and controls the boat.

“Just the thought of being here was very nice,” commented Molly Smith of Belle Haven Club.

And the sailors weren’t the only ones enjoying the excitement on the racecourse:  Race Committee was seen having a good time on the water as well.

“They were smiling a lot and you could tell they were enjoying it a lot too,” revealed Smith.  “They were also very informative and helpful.”

Overall there were seven races: four on Thursday and three on Friday (storms forced the sailors to return to shore around 1pm on Friday).

Lindsay Walsh and Corey Sabia from Norwalk Yacht Club accept their first place plates Friday afternoon.

The first place trophy for this year went to Corey Sabia and Lindsay Walsh from Norwalk Yacht Club, who dominated the racecourse with a series of first and second place finishes.  Coming in second place was the team of Andrew Rochat and Austen Freda from American Yacht Club, and tying with them was the Black Rock Yacht Club team of Jackson Longley and Benjamin Kasper, who came in third overall.  Full results are on the “Regatta Documents and Results” page of the JSA website (www.JsaLis.org).

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