Pirates strong in Newport Regatta
NEWPORT BEACH -- The 48th Annual Newport Regatta took place over calm, overcast conditions inside the Newport Harbor on Sunday, with UC Santa Barbara Gauchos edging out the host Pirates for the overall regatta title.
The Pirates and Gauchos each finished with 25 overall points in the eight-race regatta. But, it was UCSB which won the Varsity 8 race which determined the overall winner and Palmer Cup champion.
The Pirates did more than hold their own against some of the best four-year rowing schools in California, winning four of the eight events.
The OCC 3rd Novice 8 topped the Gauchos in a two-boat matchup, finishing the 2,000-meter race with a time of 7 minutes, 15.4 seconds, over nine seconds ahead of UCSB.
It was more of the same in the Novice 4, as Coast picked up a 17-second victory over the Gauchos with a time of 7:28.5. UCSB (7:45.7) was second, while Chapman (7:49.8) and UCLA (8:00.3) rounded out the rest of the field.
The Pirates also took home the prize in both the 2nd Novice 8 (6:33.4) as well as the top Novice 8 (6:16.6), giving Coast four wins in the first four races of the morning.
In the Lightweight 8, San Diego State claimed the top spot with a time of 6:33.9, while the Pirates (6:34.5) finished second and UCSB (6:51.8) took third.
The Pirates claimed third place in the Varsity 4 race with a time of 7:32.8, behind UCSB (7:198.2) and SDSU (7:26.6).
In the final race of the morning -- the Varsity 8 -- the Gauchos and Pirates set the early pace with UC Irvine close behind. At the halfway point, UCLA slipped ahead of the Anteaters for third, but the Gauchos and Pirates still maintained their spots in the race.
In the final 500 meters, the Pirates crept to within a boat length of the lead, but the Gauchos fought off OCC's push and claimed the victory, winning the race with a time of 6:10.4. OCC finished second at 6:11.8 with UCLA (6:15.6), UCI (6:15.7), the University of San Diego (6:22.2) and USC (6:34.1) rounding things out.
The Pirates will return to the waters and compte at the Crew Classic in San Diego on April 6-7.
