CdM, Newport Harbor place fifth, sixth in regatta

Corona del Mar High School’s sailing team and Newport Harbor High School’s sailing team placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the National Championship Regatta, the Mallory, held May 7 and 8 in Austin, Texas.

Both teams represented the Pacific Coast Region in the national championship, along with three teams from San Diego. All five teams from Southern California placed in the top seven. A team from the U.S. Virgin Islands won the regatta.

The sailors chosen to represent CdM at the national championship were: Michael Dahl, Tyler MacDonald, Brett Potter, Madison Vitarelli, Hannah Callas, Chloe Dapp, Brooke Donahue and Michael Madigan.

The sailors on the NHHS sailing team were: Kieran Chung, Nicole Grice, Cooper Scott, Francesca Cappellini, Ryan Davidson, Erin Kincaid, Daniel Segerblom and Greer Wattson.

The teams sailed on Lake Travis in some difficult lake conditions with gusty winds and high temperatures in the 90s. They raced 38 races over two days against the best high schools in the nation.

Going into the last race of the regatta, there was only a one point difference between the two powerhouse sailing teams, Newport Harbor and CdM. This time CdM pulled it out and placed ahead of NHHS. These top two Newport-Mesa teams will meet again at the Baker Regatta as they vie for the title of National Team Racing Champion among the other best teams in the nation.

Both teams flew home Sunday evening after a long day of racing. The Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation helped sponsor their flights to the national championship in Texas, and will also help sponsor their trip to the team racing championships in Norfolk, Va., on May 21 and 22.

For more information about high school sailing and to see more details of the results of the Mallory, and the Baker coming up, go to https://www.highschoolsailingusa.org/.

MARY CAPPELLINI is a Newport Harbor High School sailing team parent.