Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories

Piper Blackband at the International Orange Bowl Regatta

Results

Thank you so much for your funding which allowed me to compete in Miami, Florida at the Coral Reef Yacht Club for the Orange Bowl International Regatta. I arrived in Miami a few days before the regatta to get some solid practice in, so my skipper, Noah Stapleton, and I would feel the most prepared for the regatta. The wind and temperature varied a lot throughout the practice days and the regatta. The practice days had temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s which pushed us out of our comfort zone. Despite the practice days, the temperature increased going into the regatta which made the sailing more enjoyable. The first day of the regatta was light wind which showed how important it was to get a clean lane off the starting line. The second and third day ranged from twelve knots to gusts of seventeen with challenging chop coming from multiple conditions. During the last day of the regatta the race committee barely got two races off because of the light wind. The light wind benefited most of the sailors from Newport Beach because we have spent more time sailing in those conditions compared to some of the East Coast teams. Overall, Noah and I made the best out of each day with a few first places in the varying conditions ultimately finishing sixth out of a fleet of seventy eight boats. I learned so much in Miami and will continue to use these lessons throughout my sailing career. Thank you again for making that happen.

International Orange Bowl Regatta
Piper Blackband