Ecuadoran teen shines in Sunfish

A 17-year-old sensation from Ecuador came to Charleston and captured the Sunfish North American and junior North American championships last week. Jonathan Martinetti held off a storming comeback by Charleston's David Loring, a two-time Sunfish world champion, to win the 11-race regatta hosted by James Island Yacht Club. Loring won the Sunfish Worlds here in 2006.

Early in the regatta, Loring pulled off a classic horizon job on the fleet and appeared to set the stage for another major championship title for the South Carolina native, who was sailing at his home yacht club. But a deep finish (50th) in an early race used up Loring's throwout race and meant every other score was going to have to count. Martinetti stormed back to win six of the 11 races and claimed the title, but not before Loring won four of the last six races. Charleston's Alan Uram finished third overall.

Some participants spoke of aggressive sailing tactics by some of the younger sailors, but despite some of the comments, there was a lack of official protests. When I asked about this, Charleston's Ryan Hamm, an experienced Sunfish sailor who also competed in the Worlds here in 2006, said, "It was an exciting regatta to witness. There was some aggressive sailing, but for the most part, I'd say it was within bounds."

Other local finishers in the top 30: Nick Ewenson, ninth; Seth Siegler, 14th; race committee chairman Rick Whitehurst, 20th; Peter Rupp, 21st; Brian Swan, 24th; Ryan Hamm, 26th; Reid Cabiness, 29th.

Patrick Wilson turns pro

Patrick Wilson, who came up through the ranks of Charleston's junior sailing programs and went on to compete in the Pan Am Games, the NOODS, crewed with Will Hanckel to win the Y-Flyer nationals, and sailed in many other high level races, is now sailing professionally as the boat captain for a TransPac 52 campaigned out of Annapolis, Md. Wilson heads up the program for the boat named Anema & Core, which is Italian for "heart and soul," reflecting the national origin of the yacht's owner.

Patrick's father, Joe Wilson, who is also a fixture in the Charleston sailing community, says, "A few years ago, Patrick told me he wanted to turn pro. We asked around about how to do that. That's when Patrick started traveling around sailing in about 40 regattas a year."

Sailing legend John Bertrand has personally requested that Patrick trim main for him in key regattas on a Farr 40.

Patrick says he could never have gotten to this point without his father's help. "None of this would be possible without dad first and foremost and the Charleston sailing community in general," Patrick said.

Asked if sailing as a pro takes any of the fun out of sailing, Patrick said, "It makes it a lot more serious. It takes 15 people to sail this boat, the owner drives, and everyone must know their job." Wilson says the other crew members are unpaid amateurs, but highly dedicated and skilled.

This will probably not be the last time we hear of Patrick Wilson climbing to a higher rung in the sailing ladder, but no matter what he accomplishes, I will forever have a snapshot of him in my mind going around to all the members of the race committee at the James Island Yacht Club regatta several years ago and personally thanking each volunteer for their work putting on the regatta. Patrick Wilson obviously has great sailing skill, but he also has something much more important — class.

Reach Will Haynie at willh@thepickledish.com.