TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Plant High Sailing Team Among Nation's Best

Tampa Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Taylor Vann, 17, left, and Trey Lehan, 18, center, both seniors at H. B. Plant High School along with other members of the H.B. Plant High School Sailing Club practice on the water just off shore from the Davis Island Yacht Club Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008 in Tampa. The group competes in the Interscholastic Sailing Association and is part of the South Atlantic District.

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: November 20, 2008

Updated:

DAVIS ISLANDS - Ian Heausler, Taylor Vann and Trey Lehan are one with the water.

That much was evident on a chilled November afternoon as the three teenagers navigated through the Davis Island Yacht Club basin as if they built it themselves.

They uncoiled the ropes tied to their boats, hoisted sail and eased into the water.

With the wind in their faces, they cruised into the open bay.

"I love being on the water," Lehan said. "You have to know where the wind is, the shifts in direction."

Third-generation sailors, they are the sons and grandsons of Navy veterans.

As seniors at Plant High, the South Tampa teens are members of the school's nationally ranked club sail team.

The club, which includes sailors from Jesuit, Tampa Prep and other local high schools, competes under the direction of the Interscholastic Sailing Association.

Heausler has qualified to sail in the Singlehanded Nationals for the past two years, placing second at the regatta in Ithaca, N.Y., in October and third at last year's event in Seattle. The competition features the country's top laser, or single boat, high school sailors.

In 2006, Heausler and Vann placed fifth in the fleet division at the high school nationals in California. Plant was 11th overall.

Plant has qualified repeatedly for the High School Doublehanded Championships. In April, the team will attempt to qualify for the 2009 championships in St. Petersburg in May.

Lehan learned to sail when he was 7. By eighth grade, he had sailed in Belgium during a vacation. His younger sister, Courtney, also is a club team member and Plant student.

"I like the competition," he said. "It's a mental sport. It required a lot of thinking."

Heausler's family moved to Tampa from New Orleans before he was born. His father and grandfather sailed in Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain. His older sister, Shannon, sails for the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

"My dad has been sailing his whole life," Heausler said. "My dad did regattas all around the country."

Vann's father is a Navy lieutenant. His older brothers sail in college.

"I started from an early age," he said. "I got attached. I took it up because of my older brothers. My dad was my first coach, and that's how I learned to sail."

For Heausler, Vann and Lehan, family vacations and conversations mostly are about sailing. Lehan and Heausler have applied to the University of Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Vermont. Vann has applied to the Navy.

Wherever they go, they want to continue sailing and possibly enter larger regattas.

"Those ocean races, I wouldn't mind trying it," Lehan said.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT