For someone who’s been sailing since he was 6 years old, winning a regatta — a series of boat races — is not a surprise.
Sweeping an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grand Slam qualifier, winning 10 of 10 races, is another story.
Chemical engineering senior Michael Levert and his sailing team, Rigamaroo Racing, swept the field at the June Oakcliff Invitational in Oyster Bay, N.Y., during the weekend of June 25.
“We expected to win that one … but we didn’t expect to win every single race, even if that’s the goal sometimes,” Levert said.
With wins like that, Rigamaroo is making waves in the international match racing scene. The team is ranked No. 126 in the world and No. 13 in America by the International Sailing Federation.
Levert contributes part of his success to years of experience — years that extend past his own.
“My dad has been racing for many years, since the ’60s,” Levert said. “He’s really pushed me to be a better too.”
Levert, Meric, and fellow New Orleans natives Patrick Ryan, Norman Vallette, Jr. and Andrew Eyring comprise the team.
Levert’s position on the boat is foredeck, which is responsible for timing the start and changing the sails while going around marks. Levert said the sport may look like a breeze, but the job is exhausting.
“It’s very physical,” Levert said. “You have to be in really good shape because you can lose your breath really fast. I’m doing a lot of pulling sails up and down, and there’s a lot of pressure on it. It’s a lot of upper body funding.”
Levert said his team has a harder time funding their endeavors. They were invited to all four Grand Slam events but could only attend the first two because of lack of funds.
Rigamaroo has been creative with their fundraising efforts. Levert said they recently put themselves on an auction block, letting less-seasoned sailors bid on the opportunity to use the team’s talents in a Halloween weekend race in New Orleans.
“Basically they bought us,” Levert joked.
The team held the auction at the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, where most of them learned to sail. Meric said the sailing community in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast is close knit.
“They want to see the young talent grow,” Levert said.
The growth is on hold for now. Levert and his teammates are spread out around the country, from Baton Rouge and New Orleans to Lexington, Va., and Baltimore, Maryland , and finding time to sail together during the school year is difficult. Levert said he is looking forward to the winter break so Rigamaroo can get together again.
The team plans to attend all four Grand Slam events next year, along with the Sicker Cup and Congressional Cup, which is one of the biggest regattas in North America.
 
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Contact Alex Cassara at [email protected]