Jenny Maybee's progress through Modern Sailing's 3-Tiered Racing Program has been nothing short of remarkable. From her early days in the Racing Clinic to helming the J/88 Fly in the 2024 Spring Performance Series, Jenny's dedication and passion for sailing have accelerated her skills and deepened her love for the sport. In only a few short years, she has progressed from beginner sailor to top-tier yacht racing crew within Modern Sailing's Racing Program - and beyond!
Engaging in weekly Tier 1 Drop-In Races provided Jenny with diverse experiences and roles, while participating in the Tier 2 BYC Midwinter Club Race Team has honed her teamwork and tactical expertise. Racing with the J/105 Chao Pescao performance team and participating in prestigious events like the Rolex Big Boat Series further challenged and enriched her abilities. Through it all, Jenny has embraced every learning opportunity, built lasting friendships, and created unforgettable memories on the water.
Read the story, in Jenny's own words, about the rewarding journey that Modern Sailing's Racing Program has made possible for her.
"Working through the range of options for racing at Modern has really accelerated my skills as a sailor. I took the Racing Clinic just a few months after I started sailing in 2021, and then started doing weekly Drop-In Races. These gave me a wide exposure to conditions and all the roles on the boat, and the supportive coaching from everyone at Modern always made the races fun learning experiences. The year-round racing opportunities have given me experience in all kinds of conditions, from blasting summer winds to the delicate 'where-is-the-wind' of winter racing.
"Progressing to the BYC Midwinters (Tier 2 Club Race Team) added the elements of a consistent crew and roles and more specific tactics practice, where we really learned how to choreograph our movements and work as a team to get even better results.
"Then I spent an entire season racing with the Chao Pescao performance team as pit/tactician, culminating in our participation in the Rolex Big Boat Series.
"We had a fantastic time upping our game, problem-solving on the fly, and sailing with the fantastic sailors of the J/105 fleet. We learned a lot by watching the high-level sailing and committing to regular weekly practice and the whole series of fleet regattas.
"This year I took the helm of the J/88 Fly in the Tier 3 Spring Performance Racing Series — and we had a blast coming together as a team. We competed in the Big Daddy Regatta out of RYC and Spring Fest at St. Francis Yacht Club.
"We all improved our skills and coordination as a team and had a good time meeting other members of the J/88 fleet and getting lots of tips on how to up our game in the future.
"Next, I'll be competing in the 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series on the J/99 Latency, which is owned by Camille Moussette. Camille and I met at Modern Sailing, where we took both ASA 107 and ASA 108 together last year. We've been doing some offshore races this year, including the Spinnaker Cup, Coastal Cup, and the YRA Drake's Bay Race.
"Racing has definitely made me a better sailor, inspired me to continuously up my fitness game, and I’ve made a ton of fantastic new friends. Together we’ve made wonderful memories as we’ve worked to improve our skills and our results on the race course."
Jenny's Update after the 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series
"This was my second year racing in the Rolex Big Boat Series; this time on Camille Moussette’s J/99 Latency, competing in the ORC division. We had a great team and a great time! This year I was the main trimmer, and we had plenty of challenging and varying conditions that gave us a wonderful opportunity to practice our skills.
Latency (black sails) leading the pack in this leg of a race.
We’ve been working to get to know the boat over the past year, and it paid off. As always, the race programming by StFYC was fantastic, which led to an exciting and fun four days of racing, as well as fun social events every evening. The SF sailing community outdid itself again!
