AN INHERITED LOVE OF SAILS AND SEA

story by KJ NALLY
photos by PAUL NURNBERG

Wind, sails and the salty open ocean is a generational love for the Hoogenboom family. Third generation sailing brothers, Chris and Ian Hoogenboom are carrying on this family tradition. College sophomore, Chris says, “our family has been into sailing for as long as we can remember.”

It’s true. When the brothers’ father was growing up, he recalls his mother asking his father for a little boat they could use on the lake near their house. “Soon after, my grandfather went out and brought home one of the very first laser sailboats ever made – 163rd of 200,000 made today,” adds rising high school senior, Ian Hoogenboom. That laser sailboat was how Chris and Ian’s dad learned to sail. So, if you’re a Jimmy Buffett fan the Hoogenboom boys really are “the son of the son of a sailor.”

When the Hoogenboom family put down roots in South Carolina, Chris Sr., decided to renew the family tradition of sailing. Gifted his father’s laser, Chris Sr. joined the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club (BYSC) and began sailing again. “It wasn’t long before my father encouraged Chris and I to try sailing,” explained Ian. Chris was the first to join his father with a shared love for the windy seas. He began sailing with his dad when he was about eight years old when he attended the Beaufort Community Sailing and Boating, Learn to Sail Program at the Yacht Club. “To tell the truth,” said younger brother, Ian, “I was young and despised sailing when my father first suggested to try it. It wasn’t until my mom convinced me to try it again in middle school that I got into sailing.”

The encouragement from father to sons paid off. Both Hoogenboom boys are actively involved in competitive sailing, as well as, instructing through the Beaufort Learn to Sail Summer Camps.

Chris is a rising sophomore and race team captain on the Vanderbilt sailing team, finishing in the top three out of the last four college sailing events this year. And Ian races with his high school sailing team competing from Florida to North Carolina.

The brothers participated in the BCSB Learn to Sail camps when they were younger. “We both went through the camp and kept sailing when camp ended,” Ian explained. “As part of the sailing community, we knew when we were old enough and worked hard enough, we would earn jobs as counselors at the camp.” And that’s exactly what happened. Ian teaches the beginner and intermediate classes, as well as cares for boat maintenance. This summer, he made a deal with the BCSB to fix up a donated 28-foot boat in exchange for use of it this summer. “I plan on making an attempt to sail it to Florida”, explained Ian. At the summer camps, Chris is the head instructor, in charge of camp organization and administration. He also couches the race team.

According to the Beaufort Community Sailing and Boating website, formally known as Junior Sailing of Beaufort, the Learn to Sail Program (LTS) is a sailing school program offered to children ages eight and up. The goal is to introduce the youth of Beaufort to the joy of sailing and educate local youth and adults in all forms of boating. The summer camp focuses on time in the boat, sailing theory, and introducing the students to the love, and fun, of the sea. The aim is to send students home from camp just as passionate about sailing as the instructors who taught them.

Classes are taught using Sunfish, Optimists, 420s, Lasers, O’Pen BICs, as well as, four coaching and support powerboats and a keelboat. To encourage the Learn to Sail campers to continue sailing, BCSB lends boats to graduates for the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club (BYSC) spring and fall series and BYSC regattas free of charge. The summer camp classes were held throughout the month of June.

Chris explained his love for sailing, saying, “whether instructing a class or enjoying the salty air on the river, sailing is a passion I can pursue until I’m an old man. And, I’ve made most of my best friends through it.” Ian also shared his passion for sailing, “Sailing can be either relaxing or exhilarating depending on the boat and the weather, and it’s a fun activity to do with friends.” Chris and Ian both agreed that when it comes to sailing buddies, they are better off jumping on separate boats.

Ian quipped, “We do not get along on the boat, so we do not sail together.” His older brother was quick to add that their brother dynamic is interesting. “We are very competitive with each other and don’t usually like to sail together. In fact, I can’t remember the last time we competed as a team.”

Chris recalled one of the funniest moments they shared on the boat together before calling it quits as teammates. “I had to coach him for an afternoon,” Chris shared. “Whatever I said Ian purposefully did the exact opposite, even if he knew that what he was doing was wrong. His boat ended up capsized and he went for a swim.”

When it comes to sailing, the brothers agree that it is a lifelong adventure, one that they hope to continue to pursue, sharing their love of the sails and sea with new sailors just beginning their own adventures.