This past weekend the UCSD Sailing Team hosted and competed in the annual Jeff Simon Memorial Regatta. Jeff Simon used to be on the sailing team, but shortly after his graduation he passed away due to cancer. Each year, we host this regatta to celebrate his memory, his passion for sailing, and to raise money for a cause. This year we have chosen to donate the proceeds from our charity raffle and donations to Scripps MD Anderson, a nationally recognized cancer treatment center here in San Diego. They help thousands of patients each year, and continually do research to improve cancer care.

On Saturday (the original start of our regatta), there were 35 knot winds, gusting 50 knots, with heavy rain. Due to the precarious and rather dangerous conditions of that day, we made the decision to cancel races and instead hold a one-day regatta on Sunday. The conditions that following day were much more suited to sailing our 12-foot FJs, with an alternating pattern of sunny or partly cloudy skies, and winds of about 10-12 knots (though it varied throughout the day and shifted constantly). Racing was underway by about 9 am and finished up by 3:30 or so. In all, a wonderful day of racing, with USC achieving first and third place, and our very own top UCSD boat came in second.

We as a team greatly appreciated all schools who made the long drive down to Mission Bay for one day of sailing, and can’t thank the generosity of Mission Bay Yacht Club enough for continuously opening their doors to our team. If it weren’t for MBYC we couldn’t host such a wonderful regatta (or even have a place to sail on a regular basis). For them, we are eternally grateful. We are also enormously grateful to our wonderful alumni who donated their time and effort to serving as race committee. Thanks to the efforts of so many people, organizations, and the generosity of those companies and people who donated to our charity cause this year, the Jeff Simon Memorial Regatta was a great success.

Pictured is UCSD's top finishing boat, sail number 30. From left to right; skippered by Erika Barth and crewed by Sarah Imai.