tufts (18) college sailing (5) saltcats scratchemup batescollege
After a highly successful regatta in Newport last spring, the team was chomping at the bit to get back out on the water after another long Maine winter. Last year, the team capped off an exciting season at Club Team Nationals. This regatta was co-hosted by Bates, UNH, and Mass Maritime and was motivated by an idea from Bates sailing alum Jack Valentino ‘22.5.
Immediately following last spring, many curious Saltcats could not help but wonder where this year’s regatta would take place. Could one of the many California schools host? Or what about the Midwest, could a college in Illinois or Wisconsin serve as a logical central spot for a race? When it finally was made public that the highly anticipated regatta would be in Texas, the Bates sailing team knew they must do everything in their power to get there.
In mid-April, Bates received an email notifying the team that they received one of three in-conference berths to compete in Texas. This was a huge accomplishment! While the team was somewhat prepared and beyond pumped, with just days to finalize our travel plans, we admittedly scrambled to cobble together the non-refundable hotels, plane tickets, rental cars, and tons, I mean tons of sunscreen. Unlike other regattas, we were no longer afforded the same luxury of travelling by car and were greeted with an ea