Author: Joe Cooper
The O’Day trophy is The New England regions High School Sailing premier open Double handed fleet racing trophy.
Named for sailing pioneer George O’Day, the trophy is contested for yearly. Because of the size of the New England Scholastic Sailing association region, comprising the six New England states, and including close to 100 regional High Schools, hosting the regatta in one venue using one fleet is not viable. Accordingly, there are qualifying regattas in half a dozen locations. The winners from each venue move on to the Championships regatta proper.
Bristol Yacht Club was the venue and Portsmouth Abby School were the hosts at the Rhode Island qualifying regatta held Sunday 26th, April 2026. Master of Ceremonies was the tireless Jonathan Harley Head Coach of the Abbey. Unfortunately, even Jonathan’s vast experience had no leverage against the weather.
Sailors from as far afield as Greenwich, Ct. arrived to overcast skies a serious suggestion of rain and very light air. Following a brief but through Competitors meeting, Jonathan put the sailors into a 15-minutes postponement for the breeze to finish it’s Sunday morning coffee. As soon as he heard the tinkle of cup hitting saucer, the Race committee was away setting a W4 course with the start finish line located the proverbial biscuit toss of the docks at Bristol Yacht Club. Such proximity to the docks made the trip in for Rotations less painful that it might otherwise have been given the feint airs from the East.
Greenwich Ct., High School Cardinals put the competitors on notice pulling off two wins in very tricky light air conditions. Following the first rotations into the B fleet, Jonathan got two races away but abandoned each in turn for lack of wind. By about 1430 the clouds started to clear and the day converted into a sunny blue-sky Spring day. Coaches and others dock bound were eyeing the Flagpole to the south of the Club docks and the darker patches on the water off Poppasquash Point suggesting an incoming southerly.
With the race clock counting down, (NO A fleet start after 1600) and three contests needed for the regatta to be official, the decision was made to keep the B boats out for a third race, then rotate to the A boats for a third contest.
Swift work by the mark boat crew switching the course axis 90 degrees allowed Jonathan to peel off a third W4 B race in short order. Done and done. When the dust settled, Newport perennials St. Georges Dragons took the daily win by a point, 13-14 over the Cardinals.
Greenwich Academy Gators rounded out the podium and all three moved onto the O’Day regatta proper at Hyannis over May 9 and 10. The top placed boats at the O’Day Championships move on to the National High School Double handed championships “The Mallory” competing against their opposite numbers from the other six National High School Sailing districts.
Regrettably the other three RI Schools, The Abbey, N.K and Prout were not on their best game on the day and finished out of the money.
Thanks to Bristol Yacht club for hosting us and the Abbey Sailors for the use of the boats.