Commodore Barbour Memorial Regatta Recap

On Sunday September 8, the Michigan Sailing Team hosted the inaugural Commodore John S. Barbour Memorial Regatta at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, MI. The team has been working for over a year to develop and host a keelboat regatta for local sailors. The team was incredibly happy with the success of the event:

We had 21 boats on the start with 20 junior sailors from the local area participating. 

Weather conditions could not be better the day of the race: wind out of the North, 15 knots. Both fleets had great starts to their distance races and continued with great sailing for the next two hours. From the start in the Detroit River the fleet continued on into Lake St. Clair and back where 2-4 ft seas were encountered by the racers. The distance race had two PHRF classes with one sailing a 15 mile point-to-point race, and the other racing a 9 mile course.

Racing wrapped around 1 pm and the team, junior sailors, racers and their families enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at the club. The team organized a variety of social activities including a taco bar, face painting, a tin can auction and live music by Little Davy & the Diplomats.

Winner of PHRF A was Wick Smith on, Mostly Harmless, a Beneteau 42. PHRF B was won by the C&C 35, Siochail, skippered by Brian Geraghty.

The Michigan Sailing Team would like to extend a big thank you to Bayview Yacht Club, all the events sponsors and the Barbour family for all their help, input and support of this amazing event. We look forward to growing the regatta with more junior sailors next year!

-Ansley Semack '14