Sailing has been a part of Beatrice Lazarski’s life since the age of eight when she attended a week-long summer sailing camp on Lake Michigan. That experience sparked a lifelong passion that has grown into both a career and a personal commitment to becoming the best sailor and racer she can be.
Her early exposure to organized racing was limited to a family-owned Sunfish, and Lasers. While she spent a lot of time on the water but was not involved in youth racing programs. As an adult, however, racing has become a central focus and a passion that she is actively pursuing. After graduating college, she sought out every opportunity to race. This past summer, she raced Lightnings with Fleet 79 at South Shore Yacht Club and quickly fell in love with the class. “The Lightning’s combination of athletic dinghy sailing and precise technical tuning makes it an ideal platform for learning, continued growth, and long-term participation—and, most importantly, it is a ton of fun.” She is deeply motivated to improve as a racer and eager to put in the time and effort required to be successful. She is currently the Program Coordinator at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center and runs the youth and adult programs.
“While I love my job, I do not yet have the resources to own a competition-ready boat, which limits my opportunities to skipper or take on a decision-making role in racing. This grant will remove that barrier and allow me to fully commit to racing and skill development in the Lightning class. Improving my own racing skills also directly benefits the sailors I teach and mentor, making me doubly motivated to learn, grow, and succeed. I am also excited for the opportunity to sail with other women my age, and to grow together as a team.”
Her teammates are Penelope Casper, a lifelong sailor and racer from Minnetonka, MN who brings a competitive edge and racing experience, as well as Elena Proos, from St. Joseph, MI, who grew up racing, sailing, and instructing on 420s. Penelope also works at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, as a youth instructor and dockmaster.
They will be based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and will actively sail with Lightning Fleet 79 at South Shore Yacht Club and in the Midwest District.
“We are grateful that opportunities like this exist within the Lightning class, especially since opportunities to race and sail autonomously are limited as young people.”