Beverly Yacht Club makes waves at junior regatta

MARION — Over 250 sailors battled wind and waves across two days for the Beverly Yacht Club’s annual junior regatta. 

With barely any wind on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and choppy water Thursday, Aug. 13, the young boaters faced two challenging days of sailing in Sippican Harbor.

Addie Crete, a 17-year-old Marion resident, said the second day of the regatta was unexpectedly windy, but she still enjoyed racing. 

She and her teammate sailed a C420, and finished in the top five of most of their races. 

She’s been sailing at the club since she was 5, and said she’ll miss it next year when she ages out of the competition. 

“I really love it here,” Addie said. “I'm really going to miss sailing here. It's been the best 13 summers of my life.”

Bobby Meehan, 9, said the Beverly Junior Regatta is one of his favorite competitions. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island most of the year but spends summers in Marion. 

He said racing close to his summer home is a big benefit, along with knowing many of the other regatta participants. 

“I like it here because we didn't have to wake up at 6 a.m. and drive an hour. It's right down the street.”

Bobby said he was happy with how he did in this year’s regatta, especially because he got first place for the first time on Wednesday. 

Adrienne Greenwalt, chair of the junior regatta, said it was a successful two days made possible by over 50 volunteers. 

Now in its 62nd year, she said the event has been special to generations of Marion sailors. 

“People remember racing (the Beverly Junior Regatta) when they were kids, and now their kids are racing it,” she said. “Everyone loves BJR,  it's our pride and joy at the club. That's why I love it.”