2022 USODA TEAM TRIALS.

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SEAWANHAKA CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB Oyster Bay, New York.

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May 3-8, 2022.

In May 2022 one of the oldest yacht clubs in North America took on the challenge of hosting the premier youth sailing event in the United States for 10-15 year-olds. While hosting Team Trials for the Optimist Class (USODA) was originally conceived as a sailing centerpiece for Seawanhaka’s Sesquicentennial celebrations in 2021 the COVID 19 cancelation of the 2020 regatta allowed the 2022 event to become a reaffirmation of our Seawanhaka’s long commitment to youth sailing regardless of the occasion.

Over the two years leading up to the event organizers worked diligently to create an event worthy of the best 200 optimist racers in the Country. In the end nearly a third of the resident members of Seawanhaka volunteered to assist with the regatta.

Like all major sailing championships, Team Trials started well before the racing with the majority of the 200 registered sailors opting to base their pre-regatta training out of Seawanhaka for 5 days before the event. This combined with mostly warm sunny days and almost 300 extra coaches, volunteers and parents provided an almost festival air as competitors inter-spread tetherball games, beach-combing and socializing with the measurement and registration process.

Race Day #1 featured continued mild, sunny weather but unfortunately no wind for racing. Despite this setback the sailors enjoyed a boisterous Cinco de Mayo regatta dinner featuring an inspiring speech by Americas Cup/Ocean Race veteran and Oakcliff Sailing Director Dawn Riley. The evening wrapped up with traditional age-out awards and a raucous raffle for sailors.

Race Day #2 saw air temperatures plunge into the mid 50’s and bone-chilling light rain move in. The tendrils of the coming Northeasterly blow gave PRO Bill Stump the breeze he needed to complete three quality races for each of the three divisions. The light conditions also gave Chief Judge Eric Johnson and his fellow judges plenty of opportunities to police Rule 42.

Race Day #3 featured the arrival of a winter Northeasterly with temperatures in the 40’s and gale warnings on Long Island Sound. In order to ensure the safety of the sailors and obey stated wind limits, the fleet moved to West Harbor in the innermost part of Oyster Bay. Despite the misery of driving rain and plenty of killer puffs, the Race Committee ran three spectacular heavy air races.

Race Day #4 featured less wind and no rain but organizers wisely chose to sail the in West Harbor again where they were treated to a moderately Northeaster that allowed 4 races for all divisions to cap the regatta.

In the end, the hard-fought championship in frostbite sailing-like conditions was won by Gil Hackel from Lauderdale YC/Pensacola YC in a commanding performance under all conditions. Gil’s victory in his final Team Trials at was made even sweeter by the fact that he qualified for his first Team Trials at Seawanhaka in the 2016 Atlantic Coast Championships.

Past Commodore Willets S. Meyer Co - Event Chair

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SEAWANHAKA CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB Oyster Bay, New York.

Since 1871.

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The name ‘Seawanhaka’ is derived from a tribe of Indians who made their home on Centre Island. Seawanhaka was founded in September 1871 aboard William L. Swan’s sloop GLANCE anchored off Soper’s Point, Centre Island.

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