Cal Maritime to defend title at Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup Regatta

2017 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup © Los Angeles Yacht Club

Can California Maritime Academy defend its title against a league of rivals from across the nation – and across the ocean?

We'll find out this weekend, when the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup regatta returns to San Pedro; March 9, 10 and 11, 2018.

Cal Maritime's Keelhaulers will face nemeses University of South Florida Bulls and College of Charleston Cougars, who tied for second, a mere three points astern, in last year's foggy but fierce regatta.

The Cougars are one of few teams who have toppled the Keelhaulers – ending Cal Maritime's five-year winning streak in 2016. Two-time winner (2008, 2009) Maine Maritime Academy also will compete, along with 2010 champion University of Southern California. Along with contenders from the University of Hawaii, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, US Naval Academy, University of California Santa Barbara, University of South Florida, and Ireland's Cork Institute of Technology; the event promises three days of rock-em sock-em on-the-water excitement.

The Harbor Cup was founded in 2008 by the Port of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Yacht Club (LAYC) and is hosted by California Maritime Academy. Invitations to the event are highly coveted, attracting top-level college sailors vying for a chance to win the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup perpetual trophy; deeded to encourage young men and women to enjoy the benefits of big boat, offshore competitive sailing.

The co-ed teams will race aboard a fleet of matched Catalina 37 foot sailboats, maintained to identical standards by the Long Beach Sailing Foundation, to promote the fairest possible racing. Race orgainzers plan to run 10 windward-leeward races over the course of three days, in the open waters outside Los Angeles Harbor. Racing begins Friday March 9 at 1:30pm; on Saturday and Sunday March 10 and 11 - racing will commence at 11:30am.

Students are hosted by LAYC, which also provides all meals and hospitality for the teams. In addition to nightly dinners and the Sunday evening prizegiving ceremony, competitors will be treated to a presentation by two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Terry Hutchinson on Saturday.

Spectator boats are available, to watch the races. Or follow the action on Facebook at @LAYCHarborCup - Twitter @layc1901 - Instagram @layachtclub.

For more information please visit www.layc.org.