Kelsey Durham was racing in Bermuda when the Commodore of the Manhattan Yacht Club noticed his ability on the water. In other words, Kelsey won a few races and soon Michael Fortenbaugh realized having Kelsey aboard Arabella, the flagship of the Manhattan Yacht Club, was a good idea.
Currently, Kelsey is part of the crew of Arabella as it sails around the British Virgin Islands. He lays out his plans for the immediate future
Durham does plan to return home to try and qualify for the 2020 Gold Cup
He has already participated in the offshore passage making course as Arabella traveled from Bermuda to the British Virgin Islands and he has been a crew member on a few ASA/Manhattan Sailing sponsored events.
Spend any amount of time with Kelsey Durham and you quickly realize that if you are in need of a skipper for an important sailing race, he is your man. Also, if you just need a hard-working, smart sailor nearby, there might not be a better candidate.
It is also clear that introducing young people to sailing early on will promote a lifelong appreciation for the sailing lifestyle.
“When I was six years old I participated in a non-profit program called the Whites Island Summer Day Camp in Bermuda. A typical day consisted of sailing and swimming located on Whites Island. My instructors saw my potential at a young age and furthered my access to the industry by introducing me to more opportunities.” Kelsey smiles the way a confident racer tends to do when he explains his beginning in the sport of sailing.
