Meet the Sailors of the America’s Cup Endeavour Junior Hobie Wave Regatta: USA and Turks and Caicos

Youth sailors will be part of the excitement of the 35th America’s Cup this June, when they will compete aboard Hobie Waves in Bermuda. Mirroring the main event, teams have gathered from around the globe for this sailing extravaganza. Racing for the America’s Cup Endeavour Junior Hobie Wave Regatta will take place from Wednesday June 21 through Friday June 23, with a special AC35 halftime show exhibition Saturday June 24.

Let’s meet the youth sailors who hail from the western hemisphere, teams USA and Turks and Caicos.

The Twins: Caroline and Kimberly Locke

Hailing out of Florida, these 13-year-old twin sisters have been sailing Hobie Waves for eight years. Sailing is a huge part of their lives; they’ve competed in hundreds of regattas.

They feel it would be an experience of a lifetime to participate in the premier sailing event in the world, to hang out in the America’s Cup Village, meet world class sailors and make sailing friends from other countries.

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“I love sailing because you can go really fast and you have the freedom of going wherever you want and it’s really fun,” says Caroline. Kimberly feels much the same. “What I love most about sailing is that you get to feel the wind in the sail and the power of the boat and you get to go really fast and fly across the water,” she says.

Caroline won the Treasure Coast Opti Series Championship two years in a row. Kimberly is an acclaimed artist. Her self-portrait Sailing to the Finish Line won the Art Olympiad, and was displayed around the world and at the Olympic Games in Brazil.

The Chicago Duo: Peter Barnard and Annie Samis

Ten-year-old Annie and 12-year-old Peter sail for the Chicago Yacht Club. Peter’s been on the water from the age of two. Annie started by signing up for a summer sailing session, and never wanted to stop.

They want to go to the AC Endeavour Junior Hobie Wave Regatta in Bermuda to meet new people and new sailors, and to learn more about the foiling catamarans of the America’s Cup.

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“I love sailing because it is great competition and the conditions are always different. I have sailed in many beautiful venues including my first International Regatta at Lake Garda, Italy. I love that there are always new people to meet and there are always new friends to make. I love that my coaches are always there to help me and make me a better sailor,” Peter says.

Annie adds: “I also love it because of the competition; my coaches are supportive of me, trying different sailing techniques. Sailing also gets me in shape, which is a key to becoming a better sailor. Most of all, I like to just rig and take my boat out.”

The Islanders: Oliver Downes and Maya Lopes-Wilson

Oliver, 14, and Maya, 12, call the Turks and Caicos home. They race for the Providenciales Sailing Club. Maya calls herself a true water baby. Peter started sailing at 6 years old.

“The water is where I belong,” says Oliver, who loves the adrenaline rush of sailing. “I’m lucky enough to live in one of the best places in the world to sail. We enjoy an endless summer and we get to sail on warm turquoise waters year-round. Sailing is my life; my current goal is to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games but competing in the America’s Cup Endeavour Hobie Regatta will be the highlight of my life so far. I can’t wait!”

Maya feels most alive when she’s on the ocean. She “loves the speed that comes with racing. We have a fantastic community of sailors and a great youth program at the Provo Sailing Club. Most importantly we have loads of fun when we get together to sail. I can’t wait to meet you all in Bermuda!” she says.

Check back soon to meet the other teams that will compete in the America’s Cup Endeavour Junior Hobie Wave Regatta.