Saunderstown Opti Regatta 2026

AUTHOR: Maeve Bradley, Saunderstown Yacht Club

As part of the NBYA summer regatta series, Saunderstown Yacht Club was proud to welcome the Opti fleet for a weekend that showcased competitive sailing, outstanding sportsmanship, and the strength of the Narragansett Bay sailing community.

A special thank you goes to the many volunteers, race officials, coaches, and families whose efforts made the event possible. From the moment the first trailers arrived a dedicated team of volunteers kept operations running smoothly, ensuring sailors and families felt welcomed throughout the weekend.

SYC was particularly proud of Johanna Kincaid, who served as Principal Race Officer for the Championship Fleet. The event offered a little bit of everything Narragansett Bay can throw at sailors. PRO Johanna Kincaid and her race committee navigated the changing conditions expertly, delivering an outstanding racing experience for the competitors and completing 8 races in Green Fleet and 9 races in Champ Fleet.

The sailors themselves were equally impressive. Whether battling strong winds, waiting patiently for a breeze, or helping one another ashore, the sailors represented their clubs with maturity, resilience, and enthusiasm.

SYC sailors gave the club plenty to celebrate. This year's regatta featured a particularly strong Green Fleet presence from Saunderstown. Sailors including Arthur Waters embraced challenging conditions, demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, and represented the club with pride throughout the weekend. Henry Mohr also represented SYC admirably, earning third place in Red Fleet against a talented field of competitors from across Narragansett Bay.

Most importantly, the weekend reminded us that junior sailing is about far more than results. From friendships renewed ashore to races completed on the water, the regatta reflected the perseverance, camaraderie, and love of sailing that continue to make youth sailing such a rewarding experience.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a memorable and successful regatta weekend.