SAILING U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS : Sailor Starts Series With Birth

John Shadden of Long Beach, a bronze medalist at the 1988 Olympics at Pusan, South Korea, missed the first day of the U.S. Sailing Trials at Newport Beach on Saturday while his wife Patricia gave birth to their first child, a boy.

Officials refused Shadden’s request to have a substitute skipper sail with crew Charlie McKee. The missed race will become their “throwout” in scoring the 10-race series through April 15.

The baby weighed 8 pounds 8 1/2 ounces, was 22 inches long and was named Thomas Allen Shadden.

In Shadden’s absence, his strongest rival, Morgan Reeser of Miami, with crew Kevin Burnham, won the opening race over the Sih brothers, Brady and Bryant, of Novato, Calif.

In other classes, world champions J.J. Isler of San Diego and crew Pam Healy of Point Richmond won the women’s 470 race.

Brian Ledbetter of San Diego, a 1988 Olympian, was second in Finns to David Himmel of Coral Gables, Fla. Pete Melvin of Long Beach was second to 1984 silver medalist Randy Smyth of Mary Esther, Fla., in Tornado catamarans.

Nancy Haberland of Satellite Beach, Fla., won the Europe dinghy class race.