Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories

Piper Blackband at the 2023 CJ Buckley Team Race

Results

Thank you so much for your funding which allowed me to compete in Warwick, Rhode Island for the 2023 CJ Buckley. This regatta was one of the highlights of the summer. The camaraderie of our team working together against other teams really shows how great of a sport sailing is. Team racing is quite intense and heated in the moment but racing against your teammates and friends makes it so enjoyable.

This was my team's first time team racing with each other, so we learned our rolls the days prior during the practices. The wind was short of perfect for the ideal team racing conditions. On the first day of the regatta our team learned from our wins and even more from our losses, and most importantly we kept our heads high going into the upcoming race no matter what just happened the race before. After the first day, we were tied for second and ready for more racing the following day. After the majority of the racing on second day, the race committee raced the final four which after three light, challenging races, we won and made it to the finals. Our team had two wins, and our competing team also had two wins…It came down to the final race.

After a very competitive two days of racing, our team placed 2nd out of 28 teams. I expanded my knowledge of team racing and was able to learn from very respected coaches and umpires. Thank you again for letting me have this opportunity.

2023 CJ Buckley Team Race
Piper Blackband

2023 CJ Buckley Team Race
Piper Blackband