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2022 SailPack Regatta April 23-24
April 21, 2022

Dana Magliola, coach of North Carolina State’s SailPack sailing team, writes in to TownDock.net about the upcoming SailPack Regatta.

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he SailPack Oriental Intercollegiate Regatta returns to Oriental bringing competition and community celebration. This weekend welcomes back a North Carolina spring tradition as the NC State University Wolfpack sailing team returns to Oriental, NC to host the 2022 SailPack Oriental Intercollegiate Regatta, April 23 & 24.

Coach Dana Magliola

This year’s competition will feature 20 college teams competing over the span of a two-day event held on the historic Oriental waterfront. With teams from as far away as Texas traveling to Oriental, including several varsity or cross-regional, competition in the 6th edition of the annual spring regatta will be fiercer than ever this year.

“We are thrilled to come back after two years away with the pandemic. So many people across college sailing have had this weekend circled on their calendar and are very excited to return to their favorite college regatta,” said NC State Wolfpack team captain Isa du Plessis (So., Ft. Lauderdale, FL). “It’s a great time, great competition, and we’re excited to come home to Oriental and defend our 2019 title against some of the best teams in college sailing.”

Sailing conditions in Oriental are among the best in the nation for collegiate sailing, while on-shore a big part of the SailPack Oriental Intercollegiate Regatta tradition is warm hospitality. Even before the sailors arrive in Oriental, so many people in the community volunteer to host sailors or donate their homes for visiting teams. This year we were able to secure housing for every one of our visiting competitors in community homes or with the help of community partners like Camp Don Lee over a month in advance of the event. This is the only event in college sailing where the town embraces the sailors and it really makes the experience of coming to Oriental special for so many.

The other way that the community helps us make this event happen is by buying tickets and attending the Saturday night barbeque – this year, an authentic North Carolina Pig Pickin’. Each year we’ve hosted this regatta, we’ve made breaking bread with our sailors and the community a priority, and it’s one of the best parts of the weekend, not to mention a great time on Saturday night in Oriental. This year’s evening festivities will begin at the Red Rooster at 6:30pm Saturday with authentic NC pulled pork, veggies, and fixin’s to delight served shortly thereafter. Live music and entertainment will be provided by The Big Jim Kohler Band. It’s a great chance to eat great food, enjoy live music, meet some talented college sailors, and probably even meet your new neighbors.

On the water at the 2019 SailPack Regatta.

“This regatta event is such a blend of community, celebration, and college sailing. Hospitality has become the hallmark of this regatta and is one of the biggest draws for the event for these colleges and universities,” said Dana Magliola, NC State head coach. “With a competitive regatta on the water in world-class conditions, generous hosts, and the great Saturday night community barbeque, so many people and businesses in the community are a part of making this event happen.”

We will sell community tickets to the barbeque to defray costs for visiting student-athletes. Tickets cost $20 for one meal, or $30 for two and they are available for purchase in Oriental at Inland Waterway Provision Co, The Silos Restaurant, and Bow to Stern Boating Center during normal business hours. 100% of every single dollar we raise through ticket sales or donations helps us cover the cost of the event and goes right back into Oriental and Pamlico County.

As for sailing, the regatta competition begins at Bow to Stern Boating Center on Saturday morning at 9:30am with the opening ceremony, the traditional Skipper’s Meeting. Breakfast is provided for the competitors through the generosity of the Neuse Sailing Association, Oriental Dinghy Club, and Sailing Club of Oriental, a sure hit with college student-athletes. At the opening, we’ll gather for a warm welcome and kick off the event with racing starting just after 10am on the Oriental waterfront.

The public is invited to join the opening ceremony, or to view the regatta all day during the competition at Lou Mac Park, along South Avenue, or at the headquarters for the regatta, the historic Stallings House on South Avenue. Teams will be on site at the Stallings House for rotating boats, breaks in between races, and this is a great spot to view the regatta and get to know our visitors, too. Racing will continue Saturday until around 4:30pm if conditions allow. Sunday morning the regatta begins with just a bit less fanfare at Bow to Stern Boating Center, then racing once again on the Neuse River near Lou Mac Park around 10am. Races will continue until early afternoon Sunday and live scores are available throughout the event online. Winners will be announced following completion of the event.

Teams competing:
• NC State Univ. (NC)
• Christopher Newport Univ. (VA)
• Clemson Univ. (SC)
• Duke Univ.(NC)
• Eckerd College (FL)
• Embry Riddle Univ. (FL)
• Florida Institute of Tech (FL)
• Georgia Tech (GA)
• Jacksonville Univ. (FL)
• The Citadel (SC)
• Univ. of Georgia (GA)
• Univ. of Maryland (MD)
• Univ. of Maryland-Baltimore County (MD)
• Univ. of North Carolina – Wilmington (NC)
• Univ. of North Texas (TX)
• Univ. of South Carolina (SC)
• Univ. of South Florida (FL)
• Univ. of Texas (TX)
• Univ. of Virginia (VA)
• William & Mary (VA)

Related Links

• SailPack Returns to Oriental in April
• 2019 Sailpack Regatta
• SailPack Regatta 2018
• StormPack Hurricane Relief Regatta