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As a year-round resident of South Dartmouth, I’ve always appreciated the beauty of Buzzards Bay. The waves, the wind, the fishing, the isolated islands and the stunning sails lining the horizon. It’s the sails I find most intriguing — large, small, white, colors, moving fast, slow, tipping east, west. It’s always different. But once a year I see a sight that warms my heart: the view of hundreds of small boats, in groups, competing in our local youth regatta.
This month the New Bedford Junior Regatta (NBJR) brought 274 sailors to our slice of heaven to compete in an early-season regatta on Buzzards Bay. Teams of sailors from around the country settled in for a two-day event, hoping to finish five or more races before the winners in each category are awarded champion paddles on Sunday evening. A year of preparation, a team of dedicated volunteers and the grace of Mother Nature came together to provide an excellent weekend of competition, camaraderie and celebration.
Elite youth sailors embrace the opposing challenges of windy conditions and slight breezes. Both require different skills and both can be found at different times in our area. Previous years have given us fog, storms and stillness that kept sailors on land for hours. This year the kids took advantage of the near perfect conditions and saw first hand how great sailing can be on Buzzards Bay.
NBJR is a competitive event for top ranked sailors with years of experience, but it’s also the first regatta for kids as young as 7. They are learning the ropes of checking in (no adults allowed), rigging an Opti, understanding the course and crossing the finish line. It might be the reason they fall in love with racing, or just sailing as a hobby. It’s the dream of summers on the coast. It’s the freedom of self reliance against the wind. It’s the beauty of Buzzards Bay.
The bounty of Buzzards Bay is right in front of us and sometimes we don’t see it. Or we don’t appreciate that this beauty can also make a meaningful impact on the lives of future sailors who will traverse these waters for a day or a lifetime.
Cindy Brown is the co-chairperson of the New Bedford Junior Regatta.