Highest bidder wins

David Team gets the ride for the First Team Real Estate Invitational Regatta in Newport Beach, CA

There's a new player in the fleet of big, fast, world-class sailboats scheduled to thrash around the race course in the inaugural First Team Real Estate Invitational Regatta on May 19-22.

Meet David Team, skipper-for-the-week of Scout Spirit, winner of overall honours in the Marina del Rey-to-Puerto Vallarta Race in February. Team, bidding on behalf of his company, LNR Property, won the privilege to sail the Newport Sea Base's Reichel/Pugh 78 with a bid of $30,000.

The event's chief beneficiary, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, will receive a $25,000 share and the Newport Sea Base the other $5,000. Newport Harbor and Balboa Yacht Clubs are managing the event, which will feature a line-up of 20 boats from 48 to 90 feet unique to Southern California.

"I'm a member of Newport Harbor Yacht club, [and] as a sailor it was exciting for the company to get involved in a sailing event as well as to support a couple of great causes," said Team. "We are already a supporter of the Boy Scouts and other charities, so when the opportunity came up to support this regatta for Hoag and Scout Spirit, in particular, that was attractive to us."

Team, 44, is no novice. He has owned an Etchell and sailed as crew on various 70 footers and the Farr 40 Persephone, although this will be a step up in competition.

"Obviously, I've never driven a Reichel/Pugh 78," he continued. "I'm hoping to steer a lot, but I'm pretty realistic on the fact that [when it comes to] trading tacks or a starting sequence with Robbie Haines, I am not a professional sailor. I did helm [the Reichel/Pugh 68] Taxi Dancer in a couple of regattas when [former owner] Mitch Rouse was unable to steer, but I'm just a weekend sailor."

Haines will be aboard Roy Disney's maxZ86 Pyewacket, one of the fastest boats entered along with Randall Pittman's Dubois 90 Genuine Risk from San Diego. Scout Spirit will answer with part of its usual professional crew, complemented by a few of Team's sailing cronies.

"I'm going to rely on the pros who are on Scout Spirit and hope we get a couple of folks from my company and a couple of buddies from the club," Team said. "Jim Moxham in San Diego sails Etchells down there, and Rick Kern from our L.A. office grew up sailing in the Newport area."

First Team Real Estate is the title sponsor, playing a key role in the event preparation and sponsorship support. Silver Sponsors include Bank of America, Daily Pilot, Hewitt, LNR Property Corporation, Mellon, Merrill Lynch and MKA Capital.