Arland Whitesides
Sailor of the Week: July 30 - August 5
Since Arland Whitesides and her husband, Chip, taught th
emselves how
to sail, out of a book, in a Snark Styrofoam boat in the 1970’s, Arland
has gone to work for the sport she and her family loves. Boredom in a
little townhouse with little babies motivated the Whitesides to learn
to sail. Arland didn’t take her first official sailing lesson until the
age of 40. Once she learned how to steer, she became addicted to the
sport.
“Sailing is my life force,” said Arland. “Sailing drives
my life daily.” Arland has an appreciation for the sport for both
physical and mental reasons. “Sailing keeps you young and in good
shape,” she mentioned. “It’s a thinking game. No matter how you finish,
you’ve learned something new.”
Arland does it all, as an avid Laser Radial and C420 sailor, mom, and wife. She is active in so many ways, both on and off the water. She is former District 12 Laser Secretary, former South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) webmaster, and active in race management as a scorer at her home club, the Carolina Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Founded in 1853, the Carolina Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the country. Arland has been instrumental in helping grow Laser Radial sailing in District 12 for both adult and junior women. She works for the sport because her family has benefited so much from others who give their time to sailing.
“I found sailing too late in life to attend junior clinics,” Arland explained. “But these juniors always share with me what they have learned. That’s how I improve as an individual competitor.”Arland helped organize two very successful regattas at the Carolina Yacht Club last week. The SAYRA Youth Challenge last Friday featured 86 junior sailors in Optis, Lasers, C420s and sunfish. On Saturday and Sunday, the adult open regatta included 140 sailors in J/24s, Lasers, Laser Radials, Sunfish, Lightnings, and Optis. Arland remains committed to organizing quality regattas for years to come.