Three Canadian teams led by Nigel Cochrane from Vancouver, Bill Abbot from Sarnia and Terry McLaughlin from Toronto participated in the International Masters Regatta hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club last week. The regatta was extremely hard fought right to the end; best showing was McLaughlin’s second place.

And there you have it! Augie Diaz has officially been named the 2022 International Masters Regatta Champion. It’s only ever so often that a regatta stays this unpredictable down to the last leg of the last race. All four of the top players went into the final race of the day with the chance to come out on top. Diaz, however, was the one of eleven skippers just talented enough to take home the coveted blue blazer. Some say a sprinkle of luck, too, can go a long way.

The 2022 International Masters Regatta saw just as many shifts in the wind today as it did in the leaderboard. After the second day of the regatta, it’s still extremely unclear which of the eleven legendary skippers on the roster has this in the bag. There have been just as many ups and downs in the scores of this race as there have been in the emotions of the fans watching it!

As we wrap up day one of the 2022 International Masters Regatta (IMR), it’s clear this anticipated competition is playing no favorites. Whether a San Diego local, an IMR newcomer, or a veteran to the regatta, there was no way to tell on the South San Diego Bay course today. What really mattered was talent on the boat and going back to the basics.

There comes a point in your sailing career when you are no longer the mentee on board. When you find yourself passing down words of wisdom to those around you. And when you can take a moment to look back on your accomplishments, count your championship titles (and your birthdays), and remember that you’re finally eligible for San Diego Yacht Club’s International Masters Regatta. Each year, San Diego Yacht Club invites sailors from all over the world who have earned their place on the roster, whether it’s National and World Champions, Hall of Famers, or past Olympians.

Who more fitting to earn the championship title at this year’s International Masters Regatta than the 2021 National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee himself, Carl Buchan. Buchan has dedicated a significant amount of his life to the sport and his experience was apparent in this weekend’s regatta. It only makes sense that a sailor with so much success never stops fighting for the win.

The second day of the 2021 International Masters Regatta started slow and ended strong. Kicking off the day with over an hour postponement only gave the competitors more time to strategize and communicate. Carl Buchan and his crew must have curated the secret to success because they simply owned the course today. Winning three of the four races sailed, Buchan moved his way significantly up the scoresheet from the middle of the fleet into first.

It’s no secret that the skippers invited to San Diego Yacht Club’s International Masters Regatta (IMR) come with a decorated sailing resume and outstanding accomplishments on the water. In fact, if you ask most of them, they’ll likely tell you that the moments in their careers leading up to now were all in preparation for the International Masters Regatta…or what it stands for anyway - the right to take the helm for three days of intense competition on the water and enjoy three days of nostalgic camaraderie off the water.