18-year-old Big Island sailor makes waves in high-level, competitive sailing

Gavin Vasilescu says sailing is both strategic and physical: “It’s like holding a plank while playing chess.”

He began sailing at age 11 during summer camps in California, but only fully committed to the sport after moving to the Big Island and joining Nā Hoa Holomoku, a nonprofit sailing club in Hilo, in 2024.

Now, at 18, he is striving to compete at the highest level in Olympic-class sailing.

Rhonda Reep, president of Nā Hoa Holomoku, was his first coach and introduced him to sailing on a Laser, which is the most popular, one-design, single-handed racing sailboat. In about a year, she saw him improve rapidly, going from beginner skills to competing in high level racing.

“His talent was apparent to all of us and I love that we got to introduce him to Lasers,” said Reep, who is known as Coach Rhonda. “I’ve put about 1,000 kids through our youth program, so it is always fun to watch the kids that go far with their skills.

“But it is really not normal for someone to advance so quickly, especially because most youth began sailing on lasers much earlier in life compared to Gavin.”

Over the summer, Vasilescu won the overall title at the Nā Hoa Holomoku club championship in Hilo against experienced adult sailors. He also placed third for sailors under 18 at the Hawaiʻi International Laser Class Association State Championships in Oʻahu.

Laser Class is also known as the Olympic Class since all boats are identical, meaning the skill of the sailor — rather than the cost of the equipment — determines the winner. Strict rules also ensure fair competition.

Lasers are raced at club to Olympic levels, and are known for their simplicity, durability and physical, athletic handling. It requires high physical fitness, with sailors needing to “hike” hard to keep the boat flat in high winds.

“One thing I love about competitive sailing is that the community is genuinely so nice and pleasant to be around whether you’re winning or losing,” Vasilescu said. “Fellow competitors congratulated me on my huge improvement and encouraged me to keep going.”

This month, Vasilescu was accepted to participate in the California International Sailing Association Advanced Racing Clinic, which is for elite youth sailors from across the United States. They are coached by Olympians at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club — the future 2028 Olympic venue — from March 14 to 18 in Long Beach.

Vasilescu also was invited to compete in the International Laser Class Association Midwinters West Regatta in Southern California. He will race against more than 100 of the best sailors in the country at the Balboa Yacht Club in Corona Del Mar, California, from March 20 to 22. The race impacts national rankings and Youth World qualifications.

Vasilescu said the 10 days of training and competition at a national level is a critical step toward his long-term goal of competing at the world championship level.

“The level of competition between island-level and national-level is immensely different,” he said. “Although it is a long shot, my goal is to make it to the Olympics, and this is the biggest step toward that goal for me.

“This opportunity also gives me the chance to meet people who have the same skill sets and aspirations I do, and I’m excited to see who is competing at this next level.”

Vasilescu is fundraising to help cover travel costs, boat charters and essential equipment. According to his GoFundMe, $7,200 will cover flights from Hawaiʻi, local transportation, food and essential equipment purchases.

If donations exceed the goal or arrive after the regatta, additional funds will go toward purchasing permanent equipment that he will use for years to come.

“I want to represent Hawaiʻi and show that sailors from small island communities can compete nationally,” Vasilescu said. “Right now, I have to rent key equipment for every regatta, and owning my own gear will allow me to train consistently and compete for the long-term, including in college sailing.”

Vasilescu said his love for sailing was rekindled on the Big Island.

“The same freedom I felt as a kid came rushing back,” he said. “Being able to glide on the water fully guided by the wind is hard to describe. It wasn’t long until I decided that I wanted to become an instructor, so I could spend more time on the water while teaching kids this challenging, yet rewarding sport.”

Vasilescu went to Oʻahu for a small dinghy sailing instructor course and was amazed at how much more advanced the sailing skill level was there.

While instructing with Nā Hoa Holomoku in Hilo, Vasilescu decided to gain more experience in competitive sailing. He began traveling to Oʻahu to compete in weekend regattas and to attend high-performance clinics with Olympic-level coaches.

“I was able to build a very strong base of skill in Hilo,” he said. “It is the perfect place to learn how to sail due to Mauna Kea (which blocks trade winds) affecting the conditions. Oʻahu provides more variable, stronger winds, which create more difficult and competitive regatta conditions.”

In his first major regatta, the Hawaiʻi International Laser Class Association State Championship, in 2024, Vasilescu finished in 17th place.

“For me, it took consistency to really see improvement over the year,” Vasilescu said. “Not only is it strenuous on your core and quads, but the decision-making can make it grueling depending on the conditions. But, when you succeed in a challenging situation, that is the most satisfying part and why I love competing.”

Due to his frequent travels and training, Vasilescu decided to complete his senior year through online high school with George Washington University. He is set to graduate this year.

“I fly to Oʻahu at least once a month for opportunities, if not more,” he said. “I spend any free time I have with rented equipment practicing alone in Hilo Bay, and coaching has also become a learning opportunity.

“If I didn’t attend online school, I probably couldn’t balance it all, especially now with college applications. I’m grateful it was an option for me.”

Vasilescu’s top choices for college are Columbia University and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa for finance and business administration. Regardless of where he attends, he plans to continue sailing competitively at the collegiate level.

“I find it enjoyable to use the lessons I’ve learned from sailing out of the water,” Vasilescu said. “You have to be disciplined and patient. You must act fast, deal with the cards you’ve been dealt, because the quicker you overcome challenges and mistakes, the faster you can reach your goal.

“Sailing will always be part of my life, regardless of the outcome from future competitions.”

Reep is excited to see how her former student fares in a national-level competition and is glad that he is going to represent Hawaiʻi Island and hopefully inspire more Hawaiʻi sailors to compete nationally.

“Gavin’s family and all of us involved in the club are rooting for him. Hopefully his experience will inspire more Big Island kids who love sailing to improve and compete at higher levels,” Reep said. “It’s easier to dream big when someone has achievements you can aspire to.”