Preview of Harbor Cup Trophy

Published on February 26th, 2015

Ten of the best collegiate sailing teams from across the country will descend on Los Angeles Yacht Club March 13 – 15 to test their sailing prowess as they battle it out for the prestigious Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup Trophy. The Port of Los Angeles deeded this perpetual trophy to LAYC in 2008, to encourage “young men and women to enjoy the benefits of competitive sailing.”

This eighth annual event will be raced outside of the breakwater, just past the Angel’s Gate Lighthouse. The windward mark is usually set near Point Fermin west of the harbor entrance. What sets this regatta apart from typical collegiate sailing is the open ocean conditions and larger keel boats, which provide a new and exciting challenges for these young sailors.

The Harbor Cup is hosted by California Maritime Academy as their annual Invitational Intercollegiate Regatta, and attracts top-level college sailors. It is raced aboard a fleet of matched Catalina 37 foot sailboats. Long Beach Sailing Foundation maintains each yacht to identical standards. Every aspect of the boats, from weight, to equipment, to rig tuning, is kept exactly the same, so as to promote the fairest possible racing.

Cal Maritime skipper Christopher Vilicich is excited to defend their four-year winning streak, “Harbor Cup has always been the most important regatta to me because it is in my home waters and there is always a great deal of pressure to do well. Hopefully, with sufficient practice and smart sailing, we will be fortunate enough to bring the trophy home yet again.”

This year the keynote dinner speakers are world-class sailor, journalist and commentator Gary Jobson, and professional sailor Dawn Riley. Riley, Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing, finds it gratifying to speak with young sailors, “I’m looking forward to talking to a new crop of young, talented athletes from across the country. Some of these sailors will come to Oakcliff but all represent, in one way or another, the future of our sport and our country.”

Event Website