The First Hundred Years: Clearwater Yacht Club, 1911-2011

History in the Making: CYC’s Female Sailing Superstar

On November 24, 2006, members of CYC and the community gathered to welcome home CYC’s most famous female sailor to date. The excitement on the patio was palpable. An elegant stage had been created and set with a backdrop of posters celebrating the sailing accomplishments of CYC Youth Sailing graduate Paige Railey—the 2006 ISAF Rolex Female World Sailor of the Year . Barrie Gustard (commodore 2008–2009) rang CYC’s big brass bell and with the words “let the ceremony begin” hanging in the air, a video podcast transported everyone to Helsinki, Finland, where just days before Paige had been selected as the recipient of the Rolex Trophy—making her the first American woman, and the youngest athlete from any country, ever to have been chosen for this prestigious award. His Majesty Constantine, King of Greece, presented the trophy to Paige. In her acceptance speech, Paige humbly acknowledged this kind of stellar athletic success at a young age comes at very high economic, social, emotional, and physical expense:

Top: Paige Railey on stage at the CYC reception held in her honor after she was named Rolex Female World Sailor of the Year in 2006. Photo by Amanda Fleming. Bottom: Youth Sailor Shannon Jones presents flowers to Paige Railey at the reception. Photo by Amanda Fleming.

I devote myself to my sailing because it is what I love to do. I truly believe that I have been given a gift and I feel it is my obligation to take my gift to as high a level as I can. Satisfaction for me is knowing that I am making the most of this opportunity and not just taking it for granted. Sometimes when my body is hurting and I am just tired of training I think to myself, “is this all worth it???”...Looking back on my year of sailing…For the first time in my sailing career, I really needed to search within my inner soul and look to my support team to help me find the strength to continue my quest for excellence…Through this year, I have learned that during the tough times,

true champions are the ones who take the opportunity to make themselves better because of what they have experienced.

60 The First Hundred Years: Clearwater Yacht Club, 1911-2011 With the able assistance of one of the CYC Youth Sailing Program’s smallest new sailors, Shannon Jones, PC David Billing introduced Paige and she stepped to the podium and began a speech in which she eloquently thanked everyone for their support. Someone in the crowd whispered with quiet awe, “This is our finest hour.” While CYC is no stranger to producing and welcoming home excellent sailors, both Paige and this event