New Trier sailors had two opportunities to compete in warmer temperatures over the winter break from school. Six sailors raced in the Miami-based Orange Bowl (Dec. 26-30) as part of the Chicago Yacht Club team. In the Club 420 fleet were Sarah Trunsky ’21, Dylan Hardt ’20, Ted Lutton ’20, Cal Lutton ’22 and Garrett Cook ’20. Aidan Lane ’20 competed in the Laser fleet. This four-day club regatta featured big winds and warm water in Biscayne Bay, and it included top skippers and crew from the US and Caribbean. We had a few setbacks related to boat mechanics and injury, and none of the CYC sailors made it in Club 420 Gold fleet, but there were many chances to learn and grow over four full days on the water. It also was fun to hang out with CYC friends and families in the days following Christmas.
A few days later on the left coast, 10 New Trier sailors competed in the Rose Bowl Regatta in Long Beach, California (Jan. 4-6). This 35-year-old rotational regatta is sponsored by USC and features a fleet of FJs, which are commonly used on the college circuit. New Trier fielded a team each in the Silver and Bronze divisions and took third place in both. Noah Barton ’19 and Dylan Hardt skippered in the Silver fleet, with Anna McBride ’20 and Sarah Trunsky as crew, and in Bronze, Ted Lutton and Henry Merrilees ’20 were at the helm with Quin Doughty ’21 and Cal Lutton ’22 in the bow. Skipper Casey Bertocchi ’22 and crew George Barton ’22 were alternates in the Bronze fleet. The sailors faced a range of weather and wind conditions, from sun and light breeze to big wind and a downpour. They also got some exposure to the college teams and coaches who were present at the annual regatta dinner at Long Beach’s US Sailing Center.
Many thanks to the coaches and parents for supporting these off-season opportunities. As Coach Matt Peter has stressed, the best way to prepare for stiffer national competition is to show up and compete, and it was great to see New Trier in the mix.