Santa Barbara Seashell Association and Santa Barbara Yacht Club served as co-hosts for the US Sabot National Championship on the weekend of August 9-10, 2008. 48 young skippers representing various yacht clubs from Redondo Beach, Marina del Rey, Westlake, Channel Islands Harbor or Santa Barbara participated in three separate classes based on experience.

The more experienced sailors (A & B Fleets) sailed the majority of their twelve races outside of the harbor, just off the end of Stearn's Wharf. Choppy conditions in up to 15 knots of breeze both days provided a sizeable challenge, particularly for some of the smaller sailors. Santa Barbara delivered National Championship conditions to these young championship sailors.

The C Fleet sailed all of its races just off of "Seashell Beach" in the quiet area just west of Stearn's Wharf. While protected from the ocean chop and swell, the 25 C-Fleet sailors also saw big breeze on the inside course. Beachgoers were treated with lots of action as the large fleet saw very close racing in a small area with plenty of wipeouts.

Winners in each of the classes were Chris Villicich (KHYC) in A Fleet, Cole Sakamoto (KHYC) in B Fleet and Jane Clark (DRYC) in C Fleet. Complete results and hundreds of pictures can be found through either the Yacht Club or Youth Foundation websites (www.sbyc.org or www.sbyf.org).

Results
Photos by Jane Watkins, Roger Chrisman & Mike Shimer
Photos by Cheryl Muir (Mostly C Fleet and some B Fleet) Saturday, August 9
Photos by Cheryl Muir (Mostly C Fleet and some B Fleet) Sunday, August 10

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