Amped for the Sabot

A panorama of salt-encrusted board shorts, worn-down flip flops and sun-bleached lifejackets implied a calm sense of summer at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club Monday.

But in fact, the tension was building. Monday was the qualifying races for Junior Sabot Nationals, a three-day regatta that’s more anticipated than most.

“This race is so built up, there’s so much hype,” said Bob Yates, who was at the yacht club to cheer on his grandson, Ronnie. “It’s Mecca to the believers.”

While it may not quite be a religious rite of passage, Junior Sabot Nationals is a pretty big deal in Newport Harbor.

The regatta, which has taken place annually in Southern California every summer since 1948, begins today and continues through Thursday evening, culminating with a dinner, raffle and trophy presentation in the club’s formal ballroom.

All the club members’ yachts were even cleared from the course in front of the clubhouse — something that is almost unheard of because it requires so much coordination.

Junior Sailing Program Director Caleb Silsby couldn’t help but laugh about all the hype surrounding the regatta.

“It’s funny because the kids completely change the day they arrive. They get here and they get all inquisitive, really attentive and really amped up for the regatta. They want to learn everything we’ve been trying to teach them all summer, in like, 15 minutes,” Silsby said as he watched the sabots cruise by.

The 163 kids sailing in the regatta range in age from 10 to 17, come from skill levels anywhere between C1 and A and are divided into eight colored “flights” for organizational purposes. Most of them are experienced, talented and dedicated — but only half of them will move on.

Veteran sailor Jack Driscoll, 15, pre-qualified for the regatta and said he was “relieved” to be on the sidelines today, watching his younger sister.

With sunscreen on his nose and his eyes trained on the water, Jack, who has sailed in this regatta four times, said, “a lot of people who haven’t sailed before are nervous … it’s pretty competitive.”

Jack, who said he’s “pretty confident” about his odds of placing well, cited his many years of practice and experience on boats as he offered up a nougat of advice for some of the younger and less-experienced sailors.

“When you get a great start and you can tack on the first shift, you know you’re in good shape,” said Jack, who comes from a renowned San Diego sailing family. “It puts you ahead of everyone right away. Once you’re ahead, you can sail your own race.”