(New London, CT)- This
past weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy hosted their first
intercollegiate keelboat regatta with their J/70 fleet. Jack Neades, the USCGA Sailing
Team Offshore Director, commented on the weekend’s sailing, “The
regatta went well this past weekend. Saturday was cold and snowing.
Sunday was just cold, but it did get sunny. The boats worked out as well
as we could have hoped for. The breeze stayed out of the north all
weekend, which was a big help, as it gave us the most race track to work
with.
The
kids all did well and handled the boats just fine. Everyone who
competed definitely enjoyed themselves. I think these boats are going to
work out well for us over the long haul.”
The college teams sailed
one-design J/70s with four person crews on the Thames River. The format
was short course, college-style sailing with double windward-leewards. On Saturday, competitors arrived eager to rig Coast Guard’s new fleet of eight J/70’s. Conditions were cold with scattered snow and rain throughout the day. A morning practice session was followed by four races in a steady NNW at 10-15 kts. Courses were 35 minute W4’s.
On Sunday, the overnight wintry mix left the boats covered in a crunchy sheet of ice. Skies were clear and temps quickly rose into the 40’s. Courses were 30 minute W4’s. Four races were sailed in a diminishing northerly wind and strong ebb current.
After a slow start in the first race, the Tufts University Jumo Sailing Team collected five 1sts and two 2nds to win by comfortable margin of 16 pts in 8 races- an average of a 2nd! Taking second for the regatta was Boston University Terriers and third was University of Rhode Island Rams.
Special Thanks to all of CGA 4/c cadets that toughed out the cold while keeping the courses set and races moving and keeping scores.
The USCGA’s facility at Jacob’s Rock is one of the nicest sailing facilities anywhere in college sailing. Built over Jacob’s Rock and accessed by a 300-yard long pier, it offers the sailors, coaches and spectators an extraordinary venue to watch and enjoy the sport of sailing. If you have any questions about USCGA Sailing or their J/70 cadet offshore sailing program, please contact Jack Neades at email- jack.l.neades@uscga.edu. For more USCGA Sailing team information
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