Foul weather gear was the uniform of the day for the Eastern Connecticut Women’s Regatta sailed in Ideal 18s hosted by the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club in Essex, Connecticut on a foggy and rainy May 18.
Sailors from the North Cove, Pettipaug, Essex, Essex Corinthian, Hamburg Cove, and Noroton Yacht Clubs braved the weather proving the adage: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
In addition to the Connecticut clubs, honors to the most distant traveled competitors went to the crew from the Kingston Sailing Club on the Hudson River.
Outstanding sailing tactics trumped local knowledge of Connecticut River conditions with the team of Katie Morgan & Nichole Casey representing the Noroton YC scoring five bullets out of six races to win the day. When briefed at the skippers meeting about river currents and local obstructions, they calmly said, “OK, we’ll figure it out.” Indeed they did!
Upholding the pride of the local Essex Ideal 18 fleet, the crew of Cindy Gibbs and Laura Nunno of the Essex Corinthian YC came in a close second, engaging the Noroton crew in tacking duels throughout the day.
Perhaps showing sailing the Hudson has parallels to the Connecticut River, MJ Reiss & Sally Hammel from the Kingston Sailing Club came in third.
The regatta demonstrated outstanding sailing skills, tactics, and camaraderie among teams from across the region. ECYC looks forward to hosting the regatta again next year.
