The Baggett Family Joe Baggett traveled more than 900 miles to enter his most recent race. The 56-year-old Harbor Island resident owns a 24-foot J70 sail boat and recently trailered it to Key West to race. ab His father bought a Sunfish sailboat for him when he was 10 years old. He taught himself and his older brother also sailed. In Fayetteville, where he grew up, water was minimal. Still he sailed at White Lake and spent summers in Wrightsville Beach. As Baggett excelled, he moved to bigger boats and competed in regattas along the East Coast. Joe believes sailing is good for kids. “It has a lot to offer. It’s physical, the kids are outside and it’s a good relationship builder for kids,” Joe says. Boys and girls of various ages interact with each other. “In sailing you see a 10-year-old hanging out with a 14- or 17-year-old. You wouldn’t find this in a school setting. That’s what is so unique about youth sailing.” His son Polk, 11, has been sailing in the Optimist dinghy class for two years and is already learning good sportsmanship, discipline and how to settle differences on the water. Joe is passionate about starting a high school sailing team in the Cape Fear region. “I hope we can take this energy and create a team beyond the Opti class.” 34 WBM july 2014
2014-7
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