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Schwab On Deck with America True and Sea
Scouts
By Bruce Schwab
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Sailors of all
ages,
The
Wocketeer had the opportunity to sail yesterday with one of
his heroes.
And for a good cause, too! My friend and supporter Grant
Miller (and family) had arranged to take a great group of Sea
Scouts out on the Bay, with none other than America's Cup
heroine, Dawn Riley.
This sounded like such a great idea, that yours truly
tagged along.
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In
case you had your head in the sand the last year, Dawn's
America True coed team had a terrific showing in the last
America's Cup challenger series. Against all odds, they
routinely defeated the likes of Team Dennis Conner and fought
all the way to the semifinals. Dawn has established herself as
a tremendous organizer and leader and produced a team with an
inclusive spirit that many fans identified with, myself
included. |
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Sea Scout Lowell at the
helm | |
We
sailed aboard Grant's beautiful Little Harbor 47 from the
America True headquarters in San Francisco. Dawn is an ex-Sea
Scout herself, and it was great to see her interact with such
a great group of young mariners. She is obviously a natural
leader and was very comfortable with
them. |
I
had a great time myself, as a few of the gang loved hearing
about my latest ocean adventure aboard Rage. We
also brought along Campbell Rivers, who at only 16 raced with
me on the trip. He did a great job giving the kids pointers on
sail trim, etc. I think it was good for the Scouts to meet
someone their own age with so much experience!
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have to say that I pick my heroes carefully. I am drawn to
those who have to work hard against all odds to succeed or
win. Cycling greats Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond are
possibly my greatest inspirations. Then of course it is the
sailing greats like Slocum, Chichester, Motissier, and more
recently, Pettengill, Goss, Autissier, and Soldini. |
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There
are many great and talented America's Cup sailors, but I find
Dawn an inspiration, knowing the dogged determination it has
taken for her to succeed against an established old boys
network. It was a great honor to go for a spin on the bay with
her. There was a real thrill for both of us in seeing the
nervous smile of a young sailor as they get to helm a large
sailboat for the first
time. |
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Dawn and Bruce below
deck | |
I
wasn't a Sea Scout when I was young, but it is a wonderful
organization. When our Open 60 finally hits the water, one of
my goals will be to provide the opportunity for some Sea
Scouts to feel the incredible thrill of high-speed ocean
sailing aboard such a fast boat. If they get half as big a
kick as I did from that first big surf down a wave, they'll be
hooked!
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Bruce
Schwab, considered one of the more athletic single handers on
the world’s courses, has sailed on almost every competitive
racer in the San Francisco Bay area. Universally admired for
his technical acumen, integrity combined with his desire to
win, fortitude and stamina, it’s appropriate that Bruce has
undertaken The Made in America Global Challenge.
Bruce is racing this multi-year campaign of global ocean races
in an Open 60.
America True wishes Bruce all the best as he prepares
for this adventure and congratulates him on his recent Pacific
Cup Division H win on Rage.
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