Seawanhaka Sweeps Douglaston Opti Regatta
By Leader Staff
The Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club's Youth Opti Race Team swept the 2026 Douglaston Junior Yacht Squadron Optimist Regatta - held at the Douglaston Yacht Club on Little Neck Bay - finishing first and second in the White Fleet; and taking nine out of the top 11 finishers in the Blue Fleet.
Out of a racing fleet of about 60 boats, the Seawanhaka team dominated the results in both divisions, taking 1st and 2nd place in the White Fleet and completing a remarkable 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place sweep in the Blue Fleet.
In the Blue Fleet: Anderson Packard finished 1st; James Bell finished 2nd; Mia Fuschetto finished 3rd; Brahm Lally finished 4th; Emilia Syvertsen finished 5th; Mimi Amante finished 6th; Giuseppe D’Anna finished 7th; Tea Witzenburg finished 9th; and Amelia Fenn Siegel finished 11th.
In the White Fleet: Nico Urdea finished 1st; and Rocco Amante finished 2nd.
The results highlighted the depth of training and teamwork of the Seawanhaka Optimist Race Team and the significant progress its sailors have made throughout the 2026 summer season under the coaching team of Carlos Insa Fabregat and Inés Billoch.
Coach Fabregat, who hails from Barcelona, Spain, implemented a structured training approach focused on boat speed, technical development, tactical decision-making, race strategy, and developing sailors' ability to independently analyze changing conditions on the racecourse.
Working alongside Fabregat, Coach Inés Billoch from Argentina contributed to the team's training and development, supporting the preparation of the young sailors both on and off the racecourse.
Coaches Carlos and Inez were each given a special Award for Outstanding Coaching, after their sailors swept the Douglaston regatta.
Rather than simply teaching young sailors to follow instructions, the coaching approach emphasizes understanding the conditions, identifying opportunities on the racecourse, and making effective decisions independently.
The results at Douglaston provided the measurable evidence of the effectiveness of this training approach.
Seawanhaka's sailors demonstrated strong boat handling, speed, consistency, tactical awareness, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions while competing against a strong regional fleet.
The five podium finishes also demonstrated the growing depth of the program. With sailors achieving top results across both the White and Blue Fleets, Seawanhaka showed that its recent progress extends beyond individual performances and reflects the development of a strong and competitive team.
The Douglaston results add to a successful 2026 season for Seawanhaka's Optimist sailors, who have continued to achieve strong finishes at junior sailing events throughout Long Island Sound.
For the coaching staff, the performance at Douglaston provided a strong indication that the team's structured training program is translating into measurable results on the racecourse.
“Our goal is to develop sailors who understand what is happening around them and can make good decisions on their own,” said Coach Fabregat. “Results like these show that the sailors are beginning to put that work together when it matters most.”
With the fall sailing season upon us, Seawanhaka's Optimist Race Team will be competing at the Atlantic finals in New Jersey, and then back in home waters for an October regatta race at the Oyster Bay Waterfront Center.