home

S

aturday morning, over 130 sailors gathered at Bow to Stern Boating to rig their vessels for the SailPack Intercollegiate Regatta. They came from Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Saturday morning, crews rigged their boats under the watchful eye of Bow To Stern’s most popular staff member: Tug.

Every year, collegiate sailors gather in Oriental for a weekend of racing. This year, there were fourteen universities attending. Host school NC State brought three teams to compete.

Team roll call. Have a listen (unless you have delicate sensibilities):

There are 16 boats provided by Bow to Stern Boating for the competition. Teams take turns sailing the boats, rotating (changing boat crews) on the water.

Saturday morning, in a nutshell.

Saturday brought high winds, with gusts up to 30mph, forcing the Regatta back into the creeks before the first race could be completed.

SailPack Head Coach Dana Magliola decided the Regatta would be just off the Wildlife Ramp on Midyette Street, inside the Oriental Bridge. But winds picked up, reaching them there and capsizing a crew or two before the committee boat made it back under the bridge.

First capsize victim after returning from the Neuse.

Magliola called out again, moving sailors further into the creeks – back to where they began: Bow to Stern Boating.

The conditions at the Wildlife Boat Ramp forced another move into the creek.

A single race was completed before the Regatta was put on hold at noon. Several boats had capsized and at least one waterlogged team was too exhausted from struggling against the wind and water to continue racing that day.

They picked up again at 1p with somewhat lesser winds.

Sunday, sailors were back on the Neuse in much calmer conditions. The biggest challenge that day were shifting light winds that forced a course change or two.

The Wahoos enjoying Sunday’s race.

The final standings were:

• 1 Jacksonville University Fins
• 2* North Carolina State University Wolfpack
• 3* North Carolina State University LadyPack
• 4 North Carolina State University Red Terror
• 5 The Citadel Bulldogs
• 6 University of South Florida Bulls
• 7 University of Virginia Wahoos
• 8 Embry-Riddle University Eagles
• 9 University of Maryland Terps
• 10 University of South Carolina Gamecocks
• 11 Florida Institute of Technology Panthers
• 12 University of Maryland/Baltimore County Retrievers
• 13 William and Mary Tribe
• 14 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Seahawks
• 15 University of North Carolina Tar Heels
• 16 Clemson University Tigers

SailPack’s Wolfpack and LadyPack had a head-to-head tiebreaker for second place.

Three schools placed top five: Jacksonville in 1st, NC State in 2nd, 3rd, & 4th, the Citadel in 5th.

Commissioner Allen Price talks with the sailors before the first race.

One crew waiting for their rotation to the water was recruited to work on a RIB, monitoring the other sailors and helping where needed. They won the best pose award.

Head Coach Dana Magliola explains the course Saturday morning.

The Committee Boat enters the creek, surveying a capsized vessel and the effect of the wind gusts.

After making back to Bow to Stern, one crew capsized near the boating center’s beach.

Parents pressed into service. They were there to watch the races, but ended up helping out. Here, they bring a tiller out for one that was lost during a dunk in the Neuse.

What to do when you’ve capsized: climb aboard, flip it back over, and keep sailing.

Sailors watch from the docks of Bow to Stern.

Sometimes the struggle is too much – the wind took this sailor’s boat and crew away from him.

Being towed back to shore after capsizing.

Some sailors managed to keep above the water.

Scanning for sailors – in the water and on it.

Meet & greet on the docks.

Sunday was very different – sunny with light to moderate winds.

Waiting for the rotation.

Jim Edwards moves a gate marker as the winds change.

Crews head to the mark after rounding the offset marker.

USF moves to the high side.

Relaxing between races.

Citadel sailors bail out their boat while waiting for the next race.

Students and Families watch the race from Lou Mac Park on Sunday.

Spectators making use of the benches along the waterfront.

Sailor’s return Sunday:

Posted Tuesday April 25, 2023 by Allison DeWeese