The annual Joseph Anthony Manganello Sailing Regatta, held this past Saturday, November 1st, tested the skill and resilience of every participant as conditions deteriorated sharply throughout the day. The fleet faced a significant challenge, with the wind rapidly climbing from 12 knots (gusting to 15) at the start to a demanding 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots, forcing the conclusion of the event after only four races.
This difficult environment became the true measure of the sailors' dedication. In the building wind, where capsizes occurred, the team demonstrated outstanding perseverance by successfully executing every self-rescue. This immediate recovery under pressure showcased a high degree of focus and aptitude, especially considering most of the skippers—including Elle Soto, Elias Jeuland, and Lily Doniere—along with their crews, are relatively new to competitive sailing.
Sound School’s top boat, captained by Willow Oliveira, delivered an exceptional performance, finishing 4th overall and even managing to win one of the four races despite the choppy waters. Following closely were the other Sound School entries, placing 6th, 7th, and 8th. Coach John confirmed the severity of the conditions, noting, “In the end we only got four races done before we had to come in when it did get too windy.”
This event honors the memory of Joseph Anthony Manganello, a dedicated presence at the Sound School as both a tech aide and Sailing Coach. Joe, a former Blue Angel lead mechanic who fiercely supported local sailing development, would undoubtedly have been proud of the incredible spirit displayed by all competitors facing that gale.
Thanks go out to '24 alum, Ethan Reynolds, and parent, Alissa Ann, for snapping and sharing all the pictures from this challenging yet successful day!