Eight Bells: Stephen Nelson

Stephen Michael Nelson, 22, a member of Chandlers Landing Yacht Club in Rockwall, Texas, was killed in a car crash on April 5, 2017.

Stephen learned to sail an Opti at 9 years old on Lake Ray Hubbard, winning his first Green Fleet Regatta and quickly qualifying for U.S. Team Trials. Stephen would go on to win the 2006 Sunfish North American Midget Championship, the 2009 U.S. Sailing Faye Bennet Sportsmanship Award, and the 2009 Butterfly Junior National Championship.

Stephen skippered in all the junior national championships: the Bemis, the Smythe, the Sears, the Baker, the Mallory, and the Junior National Multihull Cup. He placed 18th at the 2010 SL16 Catamaran World Championship in Carnac, France, and said that the Baie de Quiberon was the best wind he ever had.

Stephen leaves behind a beautiful 3-month old daughter, Elizabeth, his fiancée, Ashley Lawson, parents Dawn and Michael, and brothers-teammates, Geoffrey and Zachary. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been set up for Elizabeth Ruth Nelson at American National Bank in Rockwall, Texas, Personal Banking | American National Bank of Texas.