By Michael Madigan | CdMHS
Run by the UCI Sailing Team, the Anteater Regatta held over the weekend at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, drew about 30 high schools from the local area and from as far away as Northern California.
The Corona del Mar Team felt it was fun and successful event. With almost 60 teams represented in Gold and Silver Division, the Anteater was the biggest High School event that I have sailed and it made for some tricky starts and tactics.
I was able to sail in the Gold Varsity Division as “A” skipper and my crew was Chloe Dapp. She and I definitely learned a lot about our light-air racing skills. There was no more than 5 to 6 knots of breeze both days, variable form the southwest.
There were only three sets for the Gold and Silver on Saturday and another three on Sunday. It was vital to all skippers to have really good starts if they planned on being in the Top 10. This was challenging for many because there was also a factor of current that added to the chaos with almost 30 boats on the starting line.
Point Loma High School was the overall winner of the Gold Varsity Division. Newport Harbor High School was the overall winner of the Silver Division.
The local teams of Mater Dei and Sage were also well represented. CdM had four teams in Varsity and came in 5th in the Gold Division overall with myself and Chloe Dapp in the “A” boat. Connor Kelter and Cailtlyn Johnson were in the CdM “B” Varsity Gold boat.
NHHS had three teams with Ryan Davidson and Greer Wattson in Varsity Gold “A” boat and Carolyn Smith and Victoria Lewis in the Varsity “B” boat. NHHS Silver Division won first place with Campbell D’Eliscu as skipper and Bayley Davidson as crew and Daniel Segerblom and Franchie Cappellini in the B boat.
The next big event for high school sailors will be the Rosebowl Regatta, to be held in Alamitos Bay on Jan. 8 and 9. The top college teams will also be there, competing against each other. It is always a great event to re-connect with local sailors that have moved on to college sailing. Newport Harbor has been the training ground for many good sailors so this next event is not to be missed.
