Renee Hanks is new to sailing, but eager to learn. Although she has some experience with wind sports through the sport of kiteboarding, her experience on sailboats is limited. Learning one step at time every time we go out on the water. She enjoys exploring the islands with Mats on their little powerboat and learning to sail the trimaran.
Mats Elf has a lifetime of sailing experience since childhood growing up sailing in the Swedish archipelago. He made the Swedish Olympic National team and trialed for the 1988 and 1992 Olympics in the 470 double handed dinghy class. After a 10 year hiatus he came back to sailing in the 5o5 class and sailed the worlds in Adelaide, Australia in 2007 and won the Canadian Championships in 2016. Mats also sailed Melgas 24 since 2007 and took 9th place at the Melges 24 world championships in 2018. Mats and his team, Angry Beavers, won R2AK in 2019. He spent the last few yrs on Lopez with Renee Hanks sailing a Multi 23 trimaran and crabbing and cruising the islands on their little power boat “Tits,” a modified Arima 17.
Mats and Renee dream of acquiring a larger sailboat for longer excursions in the PNW and beyond.
To the Membership:
Please say hello to Mats and Renee and welcome them into our club.
In accordance with the club’s By-laws, they have completed all the requirements of sending in their application, initiation fees, photo, etc. Publishing their photo and bio is the last step in the process. After ten days for comments from the membership, the governing board will vote for membership.
Members can send comments to our Commodore, Melissa Rohde.
Lopez Island Yacht Club ● P O Box 22 ● Lopez Island, WA 98261.