Sailor Boasts Of Family Ties -- Ledbetter Is Son-In-Law To Seattle Sailing Clan

The Buchan clan, the biggest name in Northwest sailing, will have a son-in-law in the Goodwill Games.

Brian Ledbetter, 26, of San Diego is the U.S. representative in the Finn class. He is married to Jennifer Buchan, daughter of Bill and Karen Buchan and sister of Carl and Mara.

Bill Buchan's sailing accomplishments are highlighted by a gold medal in the Star class at the 1984 Olympics where his crew was Steve Erickson of Edmonds. Carl earned a gold medal as crew in the Flying Dutchman class with Jonathan McKee of Seattle.

Ledbetter, a 1985 Annapolis graduate who recently resigned

from the Navy after fulfilling his five years of mandatory duty, finished 10th in the Finns in the 1988 Olympics in Pusan, Korea.

He recently has been campaigning in Europe in preparation for the Goodwill Games. His two-year goal is to make the 1992 Olympic team where it's possible a teammate might be his brother, Alan, 24, the crew for Vince Brun who is one of the nation's top Star class skippers.

Brian is a four-time national Finn champion and has finished as high as second in world championships. He earned the Goodwill berth by winning the qualifying regatta in Seattle in April. It was his second regatta after a 15-month layoff forced by his duties as a lieutenant and deck officer on the USS Cleveland, a 570-foot amphibious troop carrier.

The Finn is a one-man, high-performance boat. It weighs 319 pounds, is 14 feet, 9 inches long and has a beam of 4-10. It demands the athletic skill Ledbetter at 6 feet 2, 205 pounds can provide.

``Being tall and heavy allows us to get more weight out from the centerline,'' he has explained. ``We spend a lot of time hiked out upwind with only our feet under a strap in the boat. You see Finn sailors go by the boards with back and knee problems. You can imagine what it's like hanging out there for hours with only your `quads' and and stomach muscles holding you up, every other wave hitting you or coming across the deck.''

Because of the boat's demands, Ledbetter's training includes exercises, weightlifting and lots of bicycling.

Ledbetter, who grew up in a recreational sailing family in San Diego, was introduced to the Finn at the Naval Academy where he was a three-year All-American. He was married to Jennifer in 1988.

AT A GLANCE

Yachting

Venue: North of Shilshole Bay.

Dates: Aug. 1-4.

The format: Competition for both men and women is in 470 class and sailboards. Finn class is open but only men are entered. . . . Format calls for seven races in four days, with first race beginning at 1 p.m. daily. . . . After five races, sailors may throw out their worst race.

Sailors to watch: Morgan Reeser-Kevin Burnham, U.S., winners in 470 class at 1986 Goodwill Games in Soviet Union; Tynu Tyniste-Toomas Tyniste, silver medalists, Seoul Olympics; Susanne Meyer-Katrim Oldhofer, West Germany, 1989 world champions and fifth in 470s in 1988 Olympics; Jorunn Horgen, Norway, 1989 world women's sailboarding champion; Scott Steele, U.S., silver medalist in sailboarding, 1984 Olympics, winner of 1990 SPA regatta in Europe; Peter Holmberg, Virgin Islands, silver medalist in Finn Class, 1988 Olympics; Eric Mergenthaler, Mexico, second in 1989 world Finn championships.

Noteworthy: Sailing events are free . . . One concern is whether there will be sufficient wind for the competition.