INAUGURAL HARBOR CUP SEES TIGHT COMPETITION

Eight teams from around the country came to Southern California to compete in the inaugural Cal Maritime Invitational for the Port of LA Harbor Cup. The Catalina 37 fleet used in the Congressional Cup was chartered by title sponsor, the Port of Los Angles.  Los Angeles Yacht Club commodore Jim Morgan, a CMA alumni, put together a top notch race management team headed by staff commodore Al Garnier.  Teams were housed in the homes (and on boats) of yacht club member and enjoyed meals at the LAYC including a team BBQ on Saturday night with alumni, friends and family from many of the schools.

After a practice day on Friday, the teams headed out on to the Pacific Ocean for the first day of racing. The RC postponed for about an hour while the breeze settled. Five races were sailed in 12-19 knots of breeze and 70 degrees with bright sunshine. There were several lead changes in the first few races. USC leads with 8 points (3 bullets) CMA was in second with NAVY right behind in 3rd.  Navy suffered a steering failure at the start of the 4th race and was awarded average points for the day. They came back strong to win the 5th race.

After a brief postponement on Sunday, racing in the Harbor Cup got off in a light 6 to 8 knots of breeze for the first race. Maine Maritime came on strong with a bullet in race 6 followed by regatta leader, USC in second and Chapman University finding their legs in the light air in 3rd. Race 7 saw the best wind of the day with 12 knots, a second bullet for Maine and the Coast Guard Academy getting it together for a second. USC finished 6th making the last race the decider for the top four. The last race started in a solid 8 knots. Navy led wire to wire with Maine comfortably in second. USC trailed in 7th, enough to give Maine the win, but still won the tie breaker with Navy to hold on for second.

 CMA junior Paige Johnston drove the boat while Senior Piet van Os, who took a year off school to be part of Roy Disney's Morning Light Project, trimmed main and called tactics. Veteran Nathan Prather closed out his college sailing career trimming with sophomore Cole Davis on offside trim.  Freshman Evan Wannamaker kept things going in the Pit while sophomore Robert "Thor" Proulx and freshman Tyler Wolk worked the mast and bow.  The team was coached by Jesse Cartee leading up to the regatta and at the regatta by Charlie Arms-Cartee, offshore coach and director of sailing at Cal Maritime.

It was great to see college offshore racing on the west coast thanks to the support of the Port of Los Angles and the Los Angeles Yacht Club.