CJ Buckley Regatta Sails On Through 9th Year With Good Winds

Calm waters and almost non-existent winds delayed the final day of sailing in the 9th Annual CJ Buckley Regatta, but the 36 teams competing were fired up and ready to go early Wednesday morning. Good winds had made for an exciting race Tuesday, and the sailors were eager to face off again.

The regatta, hosted by the East Greenwich Yacht Club and the Greenwich Bay Sailing Association, has become a significant race, attracting teams from around the state and even as far as Bermuda.

It is held in memory of CJ Buckley, who passed away in December 2002 at the age of 17. CJ was an avid sailor and particularly fond of the strategy involved in team racing.

After a brief skipper's meeting in the Goddard Memorial State Park Carousel, where Regatta Director Justin Assad took care of last minute announcements, the youth sailors headed back to the beach to make final adjustments to their boats and await the wind.

Once the wind began to pick up, there was a mad dash to get umpires, competitors, coaches and spectators out onto the water. The courses, which are outlined with floating buoys (marks), are set up in an "N" shape.

The two teams sailing against each other start on the course and are soon followed by another pairing two minutes later. Once they finish one race, they sail back to the start line to be matched up with another team.

Despite the light wind, the sailors all performed at their best, with some surprising upsets and amazing come-from-behind performances.

The CJ Buckley Regatta is a team-sailing race, using International 420 Class Dinghies, which are popular boats for youth sailing programs. Teams are made up of three boats, with two sailors under the age of 19 in each boat.

The team racing format requires not only swift sailing but strategy to defeat your opponent. Much like a game of chess, you must consider your opponent's future moves and plan accordingly.

The final results are listed below:

Place

GBSA 1