{"id":61697,"date":"2026-01-02T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=61697"},"modified":"2026-01-02T14:26:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T19:26:51","slug":"seaworthy-passing-the-tiller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/people\/seaworthy-passing-the-tiller\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Inspire Young Sailors: Pass the Tiller"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Geronimo-553-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image disable-lazyload\" alt=\"Regatta racing\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Geronimo-553-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Geronimo-553-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Geronimo-553-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Geronimo-553-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Geronimo-553.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Truman\u2019s first regatta underway, confidently steering <i>Geronimo<\/i> amid a fleet of competitive Victory 21s.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Marissa Neely<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<iframe id=\"gkstfcayky\" src=\"https:\/\/cruisingworld.dragonforms.com\/gkstfcayky\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to tack,\u201d Chris said, nodding to our nephew Truman, who sat cross-legged in front of me, his eyes wide with anticipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At just 10 years old, Truman was now the same age Chris had been when he started racing in the High Sierra Regatta with his father. I was witnessing the proverbial tiller pass from one generation to the next as Truman scrambled into the cabin of our Victory 21, <em>Geronimo<\/em>. Moments later, with the maneuver complete, he popped back up like a seasoned crewman and found his place on the rail, just as Chris had instructed him. The transition was almost second nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s good blood ballast,\u201d I quipped, chuckling as our sensitive little boat responded favorably to the added 80 or so pounds. Every bit of weight and inch of adjustment makes a noticeable difference, as the elders of our fleet have been telling us for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This race was special for many reasons. Chris and I have been sailing together for 10 years, but this was our first regatta with a third crewmember. Let\u2019s just say that in years past, the way we conducted ourselves was not exactly conducive to having little ears aboard. This year, though, something had changed. Maybe we were still riding the high of our second-place finish aboard Avocet in the Banderas Bay Regatta in Mexico, or maybe we were ready for a new chapter. Either way, we were thrilled to have Tru on the water with us\u2014and after two solid fourth-place finishes, we were certain it wouldn\u2019t be our last regatta as a crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Chris-teaching-Tru-how-to-hank-on-sails-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Hands-on instruction\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Chris-teaching-Tru-how-to-hank-on-sails-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Chris-teaching-Tru-how-to-hank-on-sails-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Chris-teaching-Tru-how-to-hank-on-sails-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Chris-teaching-Tru-how-to-hank-on-sails.jpg 1500w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Hands-on instruction as Truman learns sail trim and rigging under Chris\u2019s careful guidance.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Marissa Neely<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>After our final race (which ended in a photo finish), Chris handed over skipper responsibilities to Truman, who navigated us back to the marina. Watching him, you could see the subtle shifts in his focus\u2014the way his small hands guided the tiller with growing confidence, his eyes locked on the telltales as he read the wind\u2019s subtle shifts. His voice, though young, rang out with the command we\u2019d taught him\u2014\u201cready about\u201d\u2014both timid and confident in equal measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chris and I were in awe of his raw talent, but there was no real surprise that he was a natural. After all, he has Neely blood in him. It\u2019s about 80 percent salt water and 20 percent&nbsp; wanderlust. Chris spent his formative years sailing with his family on Sea Castle, a Mason 43, navigating San Francisco Bay. His older brother Jon later bought his own bluewater cruiser, the Hans Christian 33 Prism. Sailing was more than a pastime\u2014it was a family tradition, a bond forged through wind and waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in 2021, when Chris and I cast off for cruising adventures on Avocet, our Cheoy Lee 41, we promised ourselves that summers would always be spent back home, anchored in family. Part of that promise meant making lasting memories with our nephews before they grew up. During those sun-soaked summers, we noticed Truman\u2019s natural affinity for sailing. His comfort with the elements came so easily that Chris and I offered to foster that talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After securing approval from Truman\u2019s parents, we set out to find a boat that he and his brothers could call their own. Something small but capable where the boys could learn and grow as sailors. Our search led us to an International 14\u2014a classic choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/on-the-course-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Crew of Marissa, Chris and Truman\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/on-the-course-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/on-the-course-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/on-the-course-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/on-the-course.jpg 1500w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">The crew of Marissa, Chris and Truman enjoy a sunny day sailing together on California\u2019s Huntington Lake, as the Neely crew passes skills and tradition to the next generation.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Marissa Neely<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll never forget the sheer excitement in Truman\u2019s eyes on Christmas morning when we unveiled it. The boys christened it with a splash of soda on the bow and the name Bluey on the stern. Since then, the whole family has enjoyed countless sails on California\u2019s Huntington Lake. Truman\u2019s love for sailing has only grown, fueled in part by his time at Gold Arrow Camp, which holds its own legacy of sailing on those same waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I often look at old photos of Chris at that same camp, stretched out on a Sunfish with the unmistakable Neely grin and zest for spending time on the water. I see the same sparkle in Truman\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd in fifth place, the crew of <em>Geronimo<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sound of applause brought me back to the present. Chris was off helping friends load their boat onto a trailer, so Truman and I made our way to the front of the crowd. The trophy wasn\u2019t for first place, but the sense of accomplishment glimmered all the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I held the microphone and thanked the fleet for nurturing our love of sailing as well as the budding passion of our new crew. I said that I hoped to see Truman on the water again next year, continuing the family tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This regatta marked the beginning of something new. Our journey now had a third crewmember to share in the adventure\u2014someone to help carry the legacy forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who knows? Maybe someday Truman will help our future kids, his cousins, learn to sail, passing on the same knowledge and love for the water that we\u2019ve shared with him. Sometimes, you just have to pass the tiller.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We decided to add a 10-year-old to our crew. He was quickly comfortable giving us orders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":61700,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Marissa Neely","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","sponsored_image":false,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[2008,2169,2000,197,2126,539],"class_list":["post-61697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-education","tag-february-2026","tag-lifestyle","tag-people","tag-seaworthy","tag-youth-sailing"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61697\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}