Most young people dream of growing up and achieving great things on the world stage and some actually do it. Three people who made childhood dreams come true spoke Sunday at the St. Thomas Yacht Club, telling the story of how they became part of the biggest come-from-behind victory in sports history.
Three members of winning Oracle Team USA, winners of the America’s Cup, were guests of the yacht club Sunday night. About 80 to 100 people attended the event, which was made possible through club member Andy Morrell of Tortola, according to the yacht club’s news release.
Skipper Jimmy Spithill, grinder Shannon Falcone and St. Tomas native Kirst Feddersen, designer of Team USA, which defended the cup in September in a most improbable fashion, falling behind challenger New Zealand eight races to one, then coming back and winning eight races in a row to win by a final score of 9-8.
Feddersen, born and raised in St. Thomas, sailed small dinghies during his public and private school years on the island, then embarked on a nautical design career after graduation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.
Falcone, from Antigua, got his start as an 8-year-old hanging on the backstay of his father’s boat while sailing in such events as the St. Thomas International Regatta, BVI Spring Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week. 
Skipper Spithill, a native of Australia, made a name for himself on the junior match racing circuit and was tapped for his first America’s Cup back in 1999 as a 19-year-old.
Spithill and Falcone had been invited by Morrell compete in the Soggy Dollar Painkiller Cup. With Feddersen, they appeared at the yacht club as part of a fundraiser. Tickets and auction proceeds went to the St. Thomas Yacht Club Youth 420 sailing program.
The trio talked about what led Oracle Team USA back from the brink of defeat to take home the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in sports.
“It wasn’t so much one thing as lots of little things,” Spithill said. “The boats were very technical. It was akin to driving a Formula 1 racecar. It was good this wasn’t a weekend race but spanned a couple of weeks so we could have that learning curve … In the end we just kept chipping away until we won. After all, it’s not about how you start but how you finish.”
Falcone’s advice to young people who want to follow in these footsteps is this: “Be willing to put your head down and work hard, be a team player and be able to learn from your mistakes. Your reputation is everything in the sailing world.”
Even those who aren’t actively sailing can be part of an America’s Cup team via other skill sets, says Feddersen. “There’s a need, for example, for electrical engineers, boat builders and riggers.”
Spithill, Falcone and Feddersen all agreed that the Caribbean was the ideal place to learn to sail given the year-round warm weather and constant tradewinds.
Youth interested in learning to sail can take lessons at the St. Thomas Yacht Club. Prospective sailors must be at least 5 years old and know how to swim to participate.
“Stopping by the club on a Saturday morning is a great way for young, interested sailors to see what goes on and talk about signing up for the spring session that starts in April,” said Margo Lynch, the club’s head of junior sailing. “Currently, all learn-to-sail classes are scheduled for Saturdays. Financial aid is available.”
More information about the club’s sailing program can be obtained and donations to the program can be made by calling 1-340-775-6320 or sending email to stycsailing@gmail.com.
