The South Atlantic District encompasses Florida (except the panhandle), Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Northern Alabama and islands in the Caribbean. Note this and other districts in ISSA are very similar to the collegiate districts in both sailing format and geographic area. SAISA is one of 7 districts in ISSA (refer to "What is ISSA") and sponsors 20 or more regional regatta
s and three district championship* events (Cressy, Mallory, Baker Regattas) plus a unique regatta available for teams that have not competed in a doublehanded ISSA National championship for the past four (4) years, the Great Oaks Invitational Regatta. National Championships are held in one single handed class (Cressy Trophy), and two double handed class, the fleet racing Mallory Trophy requiring a minimum of 4 sailors, and the team racing Baker Trophy requiring a minimum of 6 sailors. SAISA high school teams can also qualify, with exceptions, to sail in the ISSA Great Oaks Invitational Championship. The format for sailing includes single handed Lasers and Laser Radials and double handed 420s, and CFJs (plus some JY15s). Eligibility is open to both boys and girls in grades 9 through 12 for both District and National Championships, and grades 8 through 12 for the Great Oaks Regattas & various district events. Chronologically, during the school year, we meet in four distinct events to determine the SAISA District Champion in each specialty, e.g., singlehanded (Cressy), doublehanded single division fleet racing (Great Oaks), followed by doublehanded (A & B division) fleet racing (Mallory), and then doublehanded team racing (Baker). District championship events also serve as qualifiers for school teams to continue on to participate in ISSA U.S. National High School Sailing Championships, the Cressy, Mallory and Baker. In addition, the Great Oaks Regatta has been designed to follow the Cressy singlehanded event both at the district and ISSA national level, as only one more sailor is required since the regatta is a one division event (requiring only 2 sailors). Thus the Great Oaks event assists in the formation of new teams in that only one more sailor, following the Cressy singlehanded championship, is needed to compete at both the district and ISSA level. Geographically, SAISA has migrated from the past North-South configuration by adding a regional focus emphasizing development and realignment into four northern district areas: Upper Coastal, Lower Coastal, Inland East and Inland West areas. In a more efficient manner, the district will accommodate teams new to high school sailing, and in turn offer the "teams" upward mobility via opening new participation channels & allowing the team to qualify at "home" before participation in intermediate level competition & subsequently moving into more complex regattas without the necessity to endure lengthy travel. To stimulate new school teams and membership growth, in addition to the Cressy - Great Oaks format, sailing centers & contacts have been established in the Inland area of the Carolinas, Tennessee and Alabama, the Upper Coastal Areas in the Carolinas and the Lower Coastal Area encompassing Coastal Georgia/North Florida, the Florida peninsula and the Caribbean region.
