Dream of ’92 Olympics Puts Wind in Teen-Ager’s Sails

Jayne Fenner flies the world over to compete in board sailing events and admits her jet-set style takes a toll. “I don’t have what you would call a teen-ager’s life,” said the 16-year-old San Juan Capistrano resident.

“I like my life the way it is,” she added, noting that she recently returned from Brazil after placing 12th in the Women’s World Board Sailing Championship. “I learn something from every race I enter. They all help me to my goal.”

And that’s the 1992 Olympic Games in Spain. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” said the teen-ager, who is enrolled in an independent high school study program, giving her time to practice and compete in worldwide board sailing events.

“It’s better for me,” she said. “I can progress at my own rate, and I meet with my teacher every week.” She said she is carrying a B average.

Jayne is currently ranked No. 3 by the Florida-based U.S. Board Sailing Team and is the youngest of the 18-member squad. She does most of her board sailing training in Dana Point Harbor.

“My parents are very supportive of me,” she said, pointing out that she taught both to board sail. “They know what it feels like, and they both would like to see me make the Olympics.”

Jayne figures that she will have a good shot at the gold, if not in 1992, then in 1996.

“I’ll be 21 when I try for the Olympics in 1992, and if things don’t work out the way I’d like them to,” she said, “I’ll only be 25 for the 1996 Olympics.” She said board sailing athletes don’t reach their prime until they’re 26.

But everything depends on a rule change. Olympic board sailing competition is currently for all comers, men and women. “Everyone in board sailing thinks that by the 1992 Olympics there will be separate competition for men and women,” she said.”

In the meantime, she’s trying to find more sponsors to help with the training cost and air fare to each event.

“It cost my parents $15,000 last year,” she said. And that’s after financial help from a sunglass firm and bathing suit company that sponsor her.

To help, she works as a box girl at a supermarket when she isn’t off to another race.

When her amateur days of riding the waves on her sail-equipped, oversized surf board are over, Jayne plans to turn professional “unless my other goal of becoming a fashion model steps in the way,” she said.

But for now, “I want to become the best woman in United States board sailing,” she said. “I know I can do it. It just takes time.”

Based on what her 13-year-old daughter wrote, Dora Sissi, 45, was named Mother of the Year in the 14th annual Mother’s Day contest sponsored by the Anaheim Plaza Shopping Center.

Yvonne Sissi’s essay, limited to 75 words, was selected from 4,500 entries, the most ever submitted.

And typical of a mother, Dora Sissi said it was an achievement for her daughter.

This is Yvonne’s winning essay:

My mom is like a rainbow. When I’m feeling gloomy and down, my mom forms the most beautiful rainbow over my head.

When I look at my mother, I see the peacefulness of the countryside, the beauty of the mountains and valleys and all nature’s wonders.”

When he celebrated his 100th birthday recently, neighbors gave Fred Ostlund of San Clemente a plaque in honor of the occasion.

But Ostlund, who makes his own coffee, washes his own clothes and says he doesn’t want to live in a retirement village with a bunch of old people, got another surprise from a higher source: a plaque was sent to him from President Reagan.

The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club is getting ready for its 43rd Annual Fish Fry on June 3 to 5, and part of that is a Miss Mermaid-Miss Costa Mesa beauty contest open to anyone ages 17-22 living anywhere.

But get this. Beauty contest chairman Eric Johnson said the winner will be called Miss Mermaid-Miss Costa Mesa only if she lives in Costa Mesa.

If she doesn’t, she will only get the title of Miss Mermaid.

But the city wants an official Miss Costa Mesa who lives, goes to school or works in the city, so judges will pick a Miss Costa Mesa from the list of runners-up to Miss Mermaid.

“I know it’s confusing,” Johnson said.