College keelboat racing at Harbor Cup

The Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup returns to Los Angeles waters with ten college keelboat teams racing on March 10-12, 2023. The regatta is hosted by Los Angles Yacht Club (LAYC), the Port of Los Angeles (POLA), and California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime).

The co-ed teams will have 10 races off Pt. Fermin in the Long Beach Sailing Foundation fleet of 37-foot Catalina sailboats. The POLA Harbor Cup is recognized as one of the most prestigious big boat intercollegiate regattas since its inception in 2008.

Leading academies and colleges vie annually for an invitation, with the lineup traditionally including four east coast teams and four west coast teams selected by the organizing committee from a multitude of applicants. Two ‘President’s picks’ round out the roster, this year including a team from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada: the event’s first Canadian entry.

Other contenders are defending champion Cal Maritime, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, College of Charleston, Maine Maritime Academy, University of Hawaii, University of Maryland, University of Rhode Island, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy.

Eight-time victor and defender Cal Maritime recently triumphed at the Kennedy Cup regatta, but the Keelhaulers are not without challengers. Returning to the POLA Harbor Cup are two-time winners College of Charleston and Maine Maritime; plus the US Navy Midshipmen: past champion and perpetual podium finishers.

All accommodations and meals are hosted by LAYC, including a Saturday March 11 evening dinner and program when the fleet will enjoy Keynote Speaker Sally Lindsey Honey.

A lifelong sailor and two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Honey is also a North American and World Championship title holder. But in addition to her International 505 awards, she is an accomplished offshore racer with many trophies to her name: including first overall in the Pacific Cup 1996, which she double-handed with husband Stan Honey, and first in class in the 2003 Transpac.

The POLA Harbor Cup provides a unique opportunity for young men and women to expand their horizons with big boat, offshore racing against a competent field of vetted rivals. For a full schedule of events visit: https://www.layc.org/harbor-cup