Dear BYC MSSF,
My summer started in a very exciting way. Two days after school got out, Carolyn Smith and I hopped on a plane that took us to Minnetonka, Minnesota to compete in the US Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championships – the Ida Lewis Trophy.
Going into the regatta, our spirits were high and we were determined to place top five of the forty boats racing. After two days of clinics and practicing with outstanding coaches, we felt ready to take on the next three days of racing. Throughout all three days of racing, there was never enough wind to fully trapeze. There were some puffs that allowed me to moderately trap but for the most part I was sitting in the boat.
Coming into the last day of racing, Carolyn and I were in second place, only one point out of first. On the very last day of the regatta, there was absolutely no wind; the lake was completely glassed off. Everyone had arrived to the venue early to try and get some races off before the wind died but we weren’t early enough. We didn’t get a chance to get our boats in the water that day due to the lack of wind.
When Carolyn and I heard we weren’t going out on the water it immediately struck us that we succeeded our goal and had placed second in a US championship regatta. We were bummed we missed first by only one point but we were still ecstatic with our performance.
Without the help of BYC Maritime Sciences & Seamanship Foundation, we would have never been able to attend this regatta and place second. All of the fond memories from being in Minnesota would have never been made if it were not for your helping with funding. Saying thank you is not enough to express my appreciation for the foundation’s support.
Sincerely,
Bayley Davidson