July 18, 2024 By Lisa MacGillivray
On July 11th and 12th, more than 200 junior sailors, representing 20 sailing programs, clubs, and organizations from Massachusetts, competed in Hingham Bay as part of the annual Hingham Bay Junior Regatta. This signature summer regatta, which is hosted by Hingham Yacht Club, features junior sailors ages 8-18, who race Optimist and 420 sailboats.
The first day of sailing saw challenging weather conditions, with gusting winds and choppy seas. Despite the weather, several races were completed for both the Opti & 420 fleets. The second day of racing brought a slightly calmer breeze, with all fleets participating and finishing multiple races. When the results were tallied, awards were presented to the top five finishers from each fleet. Clubs and programs with sailors receiving awards included Hingham Maritime Center, Hingham Yacht Club, Cohasset Yacht Club, Pleon Yacht Club, Zim Sailing, Sandy Bay Yacht Club, Stone Horse Yacht Club, Duxbury Yacht Club, Squantum Yacht Club, and Scituate Harbor Yacht Club.
As part of the awards ceremony, perpetual trophies are given each year to participating sailors in the name of former Hingham Yacht Club members and sailors. This year featured the first presentation of the Rebecca Binder Award, recognizing outstanding performance in the Opti green fleet. For her determination and perseverance on the race course, Annisquam Yacht Club’s Violet Kontos was recognized as the first recipient of this new award. The Ginny Gray Award is given in recognition of a participant who demonstrates an outstanding act of seamanship or sportsmanship, and this year’s Ginny Gray Award was presented to three recipients. Coach Sam Dunn and Opti sailor Zara Hershiser, of Hingham Maritime Center, were recognized for demonstrating the power of an exceptional sailor-coach relationship, and 420 sailor Grace Newman, of Hull Yacht Club, was recognized for her support of other competitors during racing. Finally, the Thomas E. Curtis Jr. Trophy, which is awarded to the sailor with the best overall performance, was presented this year to Opti sailor Briggs Kossmann, who ended the regatta with seven first-place finishes in his fleet.
