By JIM WHYMER
Times Herald
September 9, 2010
Kelsey Bert has grown up on a sailboat. Kelsey, 16, of Jeddo said she learned about sailing by sitting back and watching crew members do their jobs.
The Croswell-Lexington High School junior will put her years of experience to work Saturday morning as she competes in the annual Women’s Sailboat Race in lower Lake Huron.
She will not be trimming sails; she will be driving Liberty.
“It should be fun. I’m definitely excited,” said Kelsey, who has crewed with her uncle, Eric, and grandfather, Bob Bert, aboard Liberty for the last four Port Huron-to-Mackinac races. “I’ll been driving the boat for the first time in a race.
“I like it a lot, because it’s a very challenging part of sailing. You have to make decisions quickly, and you can’t second-guess yourself at all.”
Joining Kelsey aboard Liberty, a Beneteau 42, will be Jenny Dawson-Collins, Toody May-Ryan, Abby Collins and Jill
Henry. Gail Bert, Kelsey’s grandmother, was going to be the sixth crew member, but she will sit out the race with a broken foot.
Race Chairwoman Vickie Burda-Burgett said most of the yachts and crews are members of the Port Huron and Sarnia yacht clubs, which are the race sponsors. She expects 16 boats in the fleet and more than 100 women.
Among them will be Abby Sunderland, 16, of California, who attempted to sail solo around the world earlier this year before being rescued in the Indian Ocean. She will sail on Hope.
Sunderland also will be aboard Liberty on Sunday for the PHYC’s first Fall Series race.
The 9.46-mile race begins at 11:30 a.m.
Burda-Burgett added a Coaches Fleet to Saturday’s race to attract more entries.
One coach, male or female, is allowed on each boat. From the warning until the finish, a coach may provide only verbal coaching, but not assist the crew physically — except in an emergency.
Bob Bert will not be aboard Liberty assisting Kelsey, who has been sailing since she was 5. He said he has the utmost confidence in the talented young sailor.
“Kelsey has come a long way and is a very good sailor,” Bob Bert said. “I’m not just saying that because I’m a proud grandfather. She could join any boat and do well. She has the skills.
“I have all the confidence in the world in Kelsey skippering in the race. She has driven the boat at different times throughout her years of sailing.
“She is probably best on the bow and foredeck. That is the most challenging job on the boat — along with being the helmsman.”
Said Kelsey: “When I was younger, I really didn’t do anything on the boat. I just was out sailing. I learned by watching the crew work, and you are always learning something new. I figured the best way to pick things up was to watch and take it all in.”
Bob Bert said the biggest challenge for Kelsey will be leaving the yacht club and docking the boat after the race.
“If you think it’s tough parking a car, try docking a 42-foot sailboat,” Kelsey said.
When Kelsey isn’t sailing, she is involved in band and schoolwork at Cros-Lex, where she also takes classes in the St. Clair County Community College dual-enrollment program.
She has a 3.90 grade point average.
After Saturday’s women’s race, Kelsey and May-Ryan will head to Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit for the annual banquet for the 86th running of the Mackinac race.
Tags: Sailing, Times Herald