Stephen Long of Santa Barbara competes at the National High School Single-handed Championships on Lake Michigan. (Courtesy photo)
Santa Barbara prep sailor Stephen Long battled extreme weather conditions and placed eighth at the ISSA High School Single-Handed National Championships on Lake Michigan recently.
Long was among 18 of the nation’s top Laser sailors who advanced to the event in Chicago by placing at the top of their regional qualifiers.
Long competed in 11 races on the final day of competition in near-freezing temperatures and strong winds. Some competitors retired due to exhaustion, and nearly half of the sailors were unable to finish the final race due to the extreme weather, reported Long’s father
Long posted a couple of his best finishes in the last two races and was able to secure eighth place overall
