2013 Sailing Season: Edward Teach Memorial Regatta

The sailing team only had one home regatta this year, which was the Edward Teach Memorial that we have every year. This regatta is hosted by Hampton University at Strawberry Banks. The event doesn't get a lot of Hampton publicity, and since Strawberry Banks stopped being a boys dorm, most students don't even know where it is. During the school year, most students aren't allowed to go there, even though it has a very convenient beach. But once every school year, all of the college sailing programs in the Hampton area congregate there and take advantage of the great winds and sailing the location has to offer. This is also usually our first regatta of the season, so it is usually the first time that our new sailors get to participate in a real regatta. 

First person in the Marine Science Center is always a great achievement. Don't be fooled by the sunny looking weather outside, it was freezing cold in September. From what I can tell I have on 4 top layers in that photo, and I'm not even in the water yet. 

Mrs. Schuker providing us with our regatta breakfast. Always super healthy, and I get to choose which brand of orange juice I want before anyone else. 

Coach Ambrosi giving us a briefing before the regatta starts.  

Coach discussing race committee things with Dr. Schuker the head of the Marine Science department. 

Who knows what they're talking about....all these boys are from the islands, so when they get together, they turn off their American accents, so they could be talking about sailing or football. 

The lovely Veronica Maccari, our "A" Divvision skipper eating her strawberry yogurt. This is her first year at Hampton University as Coach also recruited her from Italy. 

Josh is also new to the team, and is one of our "A" division crew

This regatta was a great start for the Hampton University sailing program, and was the only regatta we won the whole fall season. We somehow didn't have enough cups for the prize giving ceremony, so we had to have a singing competition to see who would get the full set. 

My regatta trophy!

Edward Teach Memorial Regatta

Hampton University only hosts one sailing the regatta the entire school year. This regatta is known as the Edward Teach Memorial. It is held every year at Strawberry Banks in Hampton, Virginia, right down the road from the veteran's hospital.

The date is September 15-16th 2012, a two-day event. I attended last year, and it was a great time with music, and since it was early in the fall, still great weather. I always think it's a shame that we don't get better student attendance at Hampton Sailing events, so I wanted to share this one. Here is a description of last year's event!

Surprisingly, it will be our third regatta of the season, so we get going pretty early. Check out the sailing team's schedule, to see if they have any events close to your home town, and invite your family and friends to come watch and support. The Pirates have regattas up and down the mid-Atlantic, in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

P.S. For all of you who didn't know, Edward Teach is the real name of Blackbeard the Pirate. So apparently the regatta is in his honor. You know, the guy who used to light his beard on fire to intimidate his enemies?

I'm intimidated.

Go Pirates!