It’s been clear sailing lately for club’s young mariners

Young sailors from the Hawaii Kai Boat Club are making waves around the world.

Sailing their one-person dinghies, the kids dominated the 2015 O’pen BIC North American Championship in Miami last month. Marcos Baez, 12, and Lars von Sydow, 15, took first and second in the open division with just one point separating them. Pearl Lattanzi, 14, took home the girls’ top overall spot, while Kanoa Pick, 12, won the under-13 division.

And last year the four keiki along with Pearl’s brother, J.P. Lattanzi, 10, were part of a larger group that represented the nonprofit club at a regatta in Bermuda, where club members swept the top three spots, said Karen Lattanzi, mother of J.P. and Pearl.

"There were 47 racers and I got eighth place (overall)," Pearl said.

J.P., one of the youngest sailors in the club, ranked 10th overall. "I was really excited because I never knew I did that well. I didn’t do that well on the last day."

Karen Lattanzi said she has seen J.P. mature through sailing. "He’s a natural sailor, but when you race you have to have focus and endurance and you have to keep your concentration up. I’ve seen him develop the responsibility and focus.

"For Pearl, she’s always been very focused and determined," she said. "(Sailing has) taught her to think on her feet and how to react to conditions instead of being by the book. … It has taught her independence, (how to) take care of yourself, confidence, self-reliance."

The kids learn to handle 9-foot O’pen BIC sailboats, provided by the boating club, that are made for children and teens.

The club is planning to send a team of kids to the 2015 O’pen BIC World Cup in Australia in December, but the top six kids who will represent the club won’t be determined until August.

"Everyone can go, but the club helps the top six, three in each division, get there," Karen Lattanzi said. The Hawaii Youth Sailing Association also helps defray travel expenses.

J.P. started his adventure on the water when he was just 6 years old, when he saw a class on the water in Hawaii Kai while the family was dining out. Karen Lattanzi signed the kids up, and four years later the pair sailed away with second place in the freestyle division at the Miami championship in March.

Although the Lattanzi family are members of the boat club, nonmembers can also sign their children up for the club’s classes, targeted at kids age 8-14 (younger children may be considered). The club also has sailing classes for teens and adults. The Summer Sailing Session begins June 15 and runs through Aug. 7. Sessions cost $315 per week ($275, members; and $225, members with boats).

To see the kids in action, check out the club’s regatta 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 on the water fronting The Shack restaurant in Hawaii Kai Marina. There will be summer session sign-up forms available, and members will answer questions.

Keiki will be sailing and doing tricks, including some that may be taught during the summer session.

For information, go to hawaiikaiboatclub.com or call 951-1111.