Dinghy racing with his daughters

John Haig enjoys the perks of dinghy racing with his daughters. It’s not just keeping him young. It’s keeping him connected. Story by Carol Cronin for Sailing World:

Over the past three years, one father and his two 20-something daughters have consistently finished at the top of big fleets—on a ­doublehanded boat. You read that right: If two plus one is three, how is it possible for a trio of Haig family members to fit on board a two-person Melges 15? This was indeed a problem, until they solved it by buying a second boat.

Now daughters Emily and Dana take turns racing, with their father, John, as permanent forward crew. Whenever one daughter creates the familial pairing, the other races with a friend. And obviously this interfamily rivalry has upped everyone’s game. Emily, for example, won the 2025 Melges 15 Winter Series overall, and Dana was third.

Dad, the lowly crew, rarely gets mentioned in the press. – Full report