On Friday, July 20, over 150 sailors, both junior and senior from several Southern California clubs, celebrated the 49th annual Dutch Shoe Marathon with a long, fun race from San Diego Yacht Club to Coronado Yacht Club in sabots. The DSM started with an ideal 0.5 knot current and steady breeze around 8 knots from the south, creating an even course for late starting fleets. As the sabots sailed out of Shelter Island, the clouds broke and the wind shifted to the west, making for a fairly quick race. Sailors of all experience levels participated in the Dutch Shoe Marathon after a summer of preparation. Coaches advised them to stay hydrated, stay relaxed and stay focused during their trek down Coronado Roads and through Glorietta Bay. As per tradition, juniors filled their boats with the best snacks, candy, sandwiches and Gatorade.

The Dutch Shoe Marathon, summer’s iconic San Diego Yacht Club and Coronado Yacht Club tradition, calls locals and tourists to watch a day of Sabot sailing on July 20, 2018 and celebrate its 49th year. Over 150 of both junior and senior sailors from Southern California yacht clubs race from SDYC to Coronado Yacht Club, a distance longer than many juniors will sail throughout the summer. Junior Sailing Head Coach Beka Schiff expresses her excitement on the regatta. “The Dutch Shoe is a race like no other. The vibe of the entire event is so positive and sailing the event, no matter what place you come in, is extremely rewarding. One of the coolest things I have seen is some of the best sailors in the world coming back to sail the event against some of the top current sabot sailors. The Dutch Shoe is 100% competitive for some, and others take the fun approach, sailing with their kids in their boats, or even against their kids!”

SAN DIEGO (July 21, 2017) Over 150 junior and senior sailors took San Diego Bay on July 21, 2017 for the 48th Annual Dutch Shoe Marathon. A summer time favorite, these competitors completed the annual dinghy distance race from San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) to Coronado Yacht Club all in a sabot sailboat. The sky was perfectly sunny and temperatures were in the high 70s with lighter winds mostly around 6 knots when the fleets began, starting in La Playa at noon. From there, they traveled down San Diego Bay, traveling over 7 miles on the race course, ultimately finishing in Glorietta Bay. Most participants were between the ages of 8 and 15 with many adult sailors also participating in the senior division. Marleigh Henehan from Mission Bay Yacht Club was leading most of the race in her yellow striped sabot. At 14 years old, this was only Marleigh’s second Dutch Shoe Marathon. “I raced it two years ago and I capsized during that race. Since then, I’ve moved up two fleets. The first time I did it I was in C1 and now I’m in C3. I’ve been going to sailing camp in Mission Bay every afternoon to practice.” Marleigh triumphantly crossed the finish line first, sailing into the horns and cheers of the spectator boats. After crossing she pumped her first in the air and exclaimed, “Girls Rule!”

Sabot sailing is an essential activity for Junior Sailors at San Diego Yacht Club, especially during the summer season. In observance of this tradition, on July 21, 2017, San Diego Yacht Club will host the 48th Dutch Shoe Marathon, a distance dinghy race for both Junior and Senior Sailors from SDYC to Coronado Yacht Club completed in a sabot sailboat.

On Friday, July 22, 2016, the San Diego Yacht Club hosted the 47th Dutch Shoe Marathon, a Sabot race for sailors of all ages, from San Diego Yacht Club to Coronado Yacht Club. This year the Dutch Shoe Marathon partnered with Race for Rady as a fundraiser for The Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego.

We are all very lucky in the Junior Sailing community! This year we are going to show our appreciation for all that we have by giving back. This years Dutch Shoe Marathon will host the RACE FOR RADY, a benefit for the Peckham Center at Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego. Sign up for the Dutch Shoe Marathon, then create your own Race for Rady fundraising page. Ask friends and neighbors to sponsor you in the race. If we all work together we can sail in the Dutch Shoe Marathon, and do a great thing for our community! Sign up today!

On July 17, Kelly Holthus led a parade of small white sails across the channel for the 46th installation of SDYC’s iconic Dutch Shoe Marathon. Nearly 150 sabots competed in the seven-mile race from Point Loma to Coronado. The Dutch Shoe Marathon is open to sabot sailors of all ages, but for many Junior Sailing participants, it’s the first time that they sail across the channel or outside of the La Playa practice area.

San Diego Yacht Club will be broadcasting this year's Dutch Shoe live online with the help of Hildreth Media Group, and on-air host Dan Bell. We plan on including sailor interviews, on-water video, and more! Families of sailors will be able to experience this classic San Diego summertime event in a whole new way. www.sdyc.org/dutchshoe/live