Heightened scrutiny for youth sailing

More than 700 youth sailors are set to arrive in Coconut Grove for the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta — the Western Hemisphere’s largest such event — where they will weave through the increasingly crowded waters of Biscayne Bay in pursuit of a coveted Orange Bowl championship ring.

On December 26–30, six classes of boats will race across four courses in an event hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club since 1946 — a point of pride for Miami’s sailing community and a rite of passage for young sailors from around the world.

This year, however, the regatta unfolds under a shadow. Just months ago, three girls were killed and two others seriously injured in two separate youth sailing-related accidents in Biscayne Bay — tragedies that shook Coconut Grove’s tight-knit sailing world and rattled parents’ confidence in Biscayne Bay as a safe place to send their children. – Full report