Seahorse Sailor of the Month

Seahorse magazine hosts a monthly poll to recognize recent achievement, and 2024 had gone well for USA with monthly winners Sally Honey, Cole Brauer, Michelle Lahrkamp, and Justin Callahan. The new year has started well too as Travis Odenbach triumphed in the January poll over winning Women’s America’s Cup skipper Giulia Conti (ITA) . Here were the details:

His nomination:
Two months in a row and so we feel obliged to nominate another double-bubble. Following on from the nomination of Jeremy Wilmot* last month for taking the Melges 24 and J/70 Worlds within a single fortnight, so young Travis… having finally achieved a life goal of winning a J/24 World Championship after 15 years of trying, a little more than three weeks later and he had also locked down the J/22 world title.

What the voters said:
“Travis rocks it on the race course yet somehow always finds the time to help others.” – Shelly Strachan; “Great to see a Lake Ontario sailor being nominated!” – Chris Rands; “When not racing, the always smiling Travis will be seen out there coaching young sailors, instilling in them his love of the sport.” – Angie Killips; “Travis is simply an amazing sailor!” – Lee Ann Zaretsky; “Travis is just a treasure to the sailing world!” – Dawn Shumway; “Keep winning, boy!” – Scott Walah.

* Despite Jeremy’s impressive year, the December 2024 poll voters favored 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Champions Maggie Adamson and Calanach Finlayson.