The GW regatta team awoke Saturday morning ready for some of the worst weather to strike the DC area in October in over 200 years. With temperatures in the 30s, 100% chance of precipitation, and wind gusts up to 30 knots, the team was ready for War, the War Memorial that is! The War Memorial is the MAISA fall conference championships, where the top eighteen teams in the division battle it out on the water. The War Memorial was hosted by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, one of college sailings most beautiful venues. However, Saturday morning was not a pretty site at the Naval Academy.

            Upon arrival at the Naval Academy, sailors were informed that due to the front passing through racing would be postponed until 1pm, when the storm could be properly evaluated. The regatta team took this opportunity to spend some time exploring Annapolis. The team dropped by the US Sailing Conference, and got the opportunity to meet some sailing celebrities including Gary Jobson, Stan Honey and Dawn Riley! This visit included a lecture on off-shore navigation techniques, reminding the regatta team of the depth of the sailing world and all it has to offer!

            At 1pm, the regatta team was ready to get out into the rain and on the water. With a northerly breeze, the windward-leeward course was set off Triton Point in the mouth of the Severn River. In A-Division, skipper Drew Beckmann (’15) and crew Skye Kussmann (’13) set out in the FJ for their first race. The conditions proved difficult as the cold rain and snow hitting the warm water created a creepy fog (a perfect fit for Halloween weekend), extremely limiting visibility on the course. B-Division skipper Ian Conners (’13) and crew Kaitlin Denney (’14) soon made it out to the course in their 420 for their first set. As the heavy rain turned into a heavy wintery mix, the wind shifted Northwest during the first set. This allowed the race committee to re-set the course further up the river, right off the Robert Crown Center. The wind ranged from 10-20 knots throughout the day, tiring out crews and skippers alike. After the first set, Hussain Patel (’13) jumped into B-Division to fill in for light-air crew Denney (’14). Patel (’13) is a natural skipper and this was his first experience crewing. He did a great job adjusting, and led the B-Division team to the highlight of their weekend with a 6th place finish in race 5B. In A-Division, Sonya Ropek (’14) provided her heavy-air expertise starting in race 4A, helping secure one of the top finishes of the weekend. By the end of the afternoon, crews Kussmann (’13) and Denney (’14) had warmed up enough to get back on the water. Each division sailed 8 races before racing concluded at 6pm. This provided enough time for the team to get dinner in Annapolis then head back to DC for a team viewing of the Disney classic Aladdin before a full night sleep.

           

            Sunday morning delivered much needed sunshine. With 10 knots of breeze out of the NW, a windward-leeward course was set in the Severn River for consistent racing throughout the day. In A-Division, Beckmann (’15) and Kussmann (’13) settled into the 420, starting off the day with three mid-fleet finishes. As the breeze lightened, twin Erin McCormack (’14) switched in to get some time on the water and get adjusted to the 420. B-Division began with Conners (’13) and Denney (’14), then switched to twin, Sarah McCormack (’14) as the morning went on. A total of 10 additional races per division were completed on Sunday to finish the regatta. After a long weekend of challenging competition and conditions, GW qualified for the Atlantic Coast Tournament.

            A special thanks on Saturday to GW’s Athletic Director Patrick Nero for coming out in the rough conditions to see what the sport of sailing is really like! He braved the seas on one of the Naval Academy safety boats, getting as wet and cold as the sailors on the water. Another thanks to volunteer coach Jay Sterne who came out to provide expertise and advice to the sailors. It was also wonderful to have the backing of the team (both current members and alumni) to ensure the sailors were well-fed and warm, so thank you to Will Ricketson (’11), Mike Shea (’11), Meagan Murphy (’15), and Sloan Dickey (’13). It makes all the difference having the support of the team out there in full force!

-          Skye Kussmann (’13)

Full Results Posted Here:

http://scores.collegesailing.info/f11/war-memorial/full-scores

The GW Sailing team journeyed to the concrete jungle where dreams are made this weekend and found that Jay-Z is indeed as wise as he seems. Not only did they have success on land, finding the greatest pizza in all of New York, but they also saw their goals become a reality on the water, finishing 7th out of 19 overall. The team loaded into the car on Friday night amid Hussain Patel’s (’13) cologne and Taylor Swift’s latest album not knowing what to expect. After getting lost in Times Square, the small town folk showed up at alum Meredith Carroll’s apartment looking forward to some cupcakes, a good night’s sleep, and domination the following day.

 

The next morning, the sailors arrived at King’s Point and began sailing in light and shifty breeze. Patel and sophomore Kaitlin Denney (’14) had a rough morning in A division, finishing towards the bottom of the pack each race. They talked it out and decided they needed to make a plan of action and stick to it, which lead to several top 5 finishes. The high point coming in the middle of the day with a 4, 3 set. In B division, freshmen Drew Beckman (’15) and junior Skye Kussmann (’13) had a solid day with consistent top half finishes. Meredith and freshmen Alex Hitchcock (’15) offered much appreciated assistance and delicious treats from the coach boat in between races.

That night, the team decided to let the bright city lights inspire them and headed out on the town for dinner and dessert. They met up with beloved alum Kyle Dattola-Harris (’11) and enjoyed a great meal together. Once they felt that the streets had successfully made them feel brand new, the team headed back to Meredith’s apartment for some much needed rest.

On Sunday, the sailors arrived on the scene in an empire state of mind, ready to continue their strong showing. Unfortunately, the wind was pulling a Yankees circa American League Championship Series 2011 and acting surprisingly weak. After a little bit of floating the races were called and the team headed back to their not-so-big city. They feel confident and ready for the War Memorial next weekend.

Special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Hitchcock for providing snacks, Kyle for the wonderful dinner and Meredith for welcoming us into her great home! The team appreciates everything so much!

-Kaitlin Denney, ’14

 

Full Results Posted Here: http://scores.collegesailing.info/f11/kp-dinghy-open/

War! What Is It Good For?

The GW Sailing team showed up eager and ready to compete in the Tom Curtis Regatta at Georgetown this weekend. Back on their home turf, the young sailors felt confident they could demonstrate their skills and dominate on the Potomac. Unfortunately, the wind disappeared faster than Freshmen Meagan Murphy could get her hand stuck in the gas cap of the van and the morning was spent in a delay. For the next nine or so hours, Freshmen Drew Beckmann shared his feelings and Junior Skye Kussmann made fun of all the others teammates attempting to do homework. Junior Ian Conners and Sophomore Kaitlin Denney were sent out in A-Division to try to get some racing in around 4:30 but spent the majority of their time floating at sea playing twenty questions and making friends from other schools. By the time Kaitlin realized she would rather swim in the Potomac then hear another yes or no question, a racecourse was finally being set. The wind died yet again, however, and the race was cancelled after its third leg.

The next day, the sailing team arrived on the scene with full stomachs and smiling faces only to look out over the lagoon and see nothing but glass. The water was flatter than Justin Bieber singing live. The flags hung motionless and the trees moved only when squirrels climbed them. A-Division was able to squeeze in two races, but the sailors in B were not as lucky. They sailed out only to have their first race abandoned on the third leg. When all was thought to be lost, the team suddenly found a reason to rejoice: they had qualified for the War Memorial!

So even though the wind went AWOL all weekend, the Colonial sailors are ready for War. Their stellar performance at St. Mary’s last weekend (Thanks to Hussain Patel ’13 and Sonya Ropek ’14 in A Division and Drew Beckmann ’15 and Skye Kussmann  ’13 in B Division) helped them secured a spot in the regatta, which will fittingly be held at the Naval Academy. Thanks to everyone who supported us this weekend, particularly Meagan Murphy ‘15, Sarah and Erin McCormick ‘14 and volunteer Coach Jay Sterne. The wind delays were much more exciting because of them! The team hopes the wind comes back to the Potomac so they can continue practicing and preparing this week.

-Kaitlin Denney ’14

With a forecast of 0-5 knots and thunderstorms all day, hopes were not high in the GW Car when the team pulled up to a glassy James River. Nonetheless boats were rigged and A division drifted out promptly at 9:30 to find a light & shifty breeze just strong enough to begin racing. GW started the day strong with a 2-1 in A-division, setting the tone for much of the regatta. A fantastic lunch was provided by the William & Mary team on Saturday: the appreciation was visible on the hungry sailors’ faces as they came in to rotate. The race committee was able to squeeze in 6 races in each division on Saturday and did an excellent job of keeping the course square in the shifty conditions. W&M showed their true hospitality after racing on Saturday with a delicious barbeque and social event, offering a great time for all.

Sunday started with similar conditions to Saturday, & racing commenced on schedule. GW continued their good showing, gaining valuable experience for the qualifier event this coming weekend at St. Mary’s. After completing the scheduled rotation of 20 races, GW ended the regatta tied for 2nd place and only 1 point behind 1st place William & Mary Tribe. Special congratulations to the team of Dickie Sant & Sloan Dickey for placing 3rd in B-division in Dickie’s first regatta skippering ever!

-          Ian Conners ‘13

Getting back into the swing of things, GW Sailing headed to their second regatta of the season at Hampton, VA this weekend. The Edward Teach Memorial, named after the notorious pirate Black Beard, brought out the best in our young group of buccaneers even as they braved squalls and rainy seas. Saturday morning brought delicious bagels, bad weather, and directional challenges, but our young sailors arrived on the scene with determination in their eyes.  

In A Division, Colin McFaul ’15 (KiKi the Deck Monkey by night) made his college sailing debut with strong finishes all morning. His crew, Sarah McCormick ’14, adjusted to the shifty conditions and kept an impressively positive attitude through the wind and rain. In B-Division, Co-Captains Kaitlin Denney ’14 and Sonya Ropek ’14 decided to switch things up. Kaitlin, normally a crew, skippered the boat in a relative state of chaos and shambles. Tillers were flying, feet were flailing, the occasionally need for a roll tack put Kaitlin’s “butt slide boom limbo” style of crossing the boat on display. Things began to come together towards the end of the day, however, and the team demonstrated several mid-fleet finishes in the afternoon.

After the day was called off early due to weather and rotation mix-ups the team headed to the apartment of alumni and self-appointed “Team Spiritual Director” Jack Bell. The bonding commenced over Pixar movies and Mexican, followed by a late evening soirée at the ODU sailing house. When the number of Colins (and KiKis) in the room got to be overwhelming, the team returned home for some much needed rest.

The next morning, Colin sailed A-Division with crew Meagan Murphy ’15 amid rotation difficulties and confusions. Spiritual-Director-turned-On-The-Water-Coach Jack Bell offered his advice from the Hampton coach boat (Special thanks to Jack for all his support and hospitality!). In B-Division, Kaitlin and Sonya continued to improve, placing 2nd in their second race of the day. GW finished 6th overall and is looking forward to continuing practicing on Potomac this season.

-Kaitlin Denney ’14

Full Results Here:

http://scores.collegesailing.info/f11/edward-teach-memorial-hampton/

    The dates had been sitting in the back of our minds for a full year. April 16th and 17th, 2011. The America Trophy. The brightest stage in the biggest and most competitive college sailing conference in the country. Our team felt we belonged there, and in the end, we proved once again that we did. But reaching this plateau, and then being ready to face the best of the best, was a battle that lasted much longer than a few days or weeks. 

    MAISA, the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association, consists of 45 teams hailing from as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, and and as far north as Kingston, Ontario. Some are large, well-funded powerhouses such as the U.S. Naval Academy and St. Mary’s College. Others, such as your GW Colonials, use whatever resources they can find to put up the best fight possible. Despite their diversity, all of the teams are united by one thing: When April arrives, they each want to be one of the 18 teams represented at the America Trophy, the season’s conference championship and nationals qualifier. For the non-varsity teams present, to get in is a rare victory in and of itself. For a student-run team like ours to get in twice in a row, and show marked improvement the second time, is something special. 

    Last year, in our first-ever appearance at the America Trophy, hosted by Cornell, GW had a tough regatta. With wind speeds in the high teens, temperatures in the 40’s, driving rain, a shifty venue, and even some occasional hail, it was sometimes difficult to focus on racing up to our potential. It was a good learning experience, and made us hungry to return. 

    This Fall, we set to work to make that happen. Of the seven teams from the MAISA South Division to qualify last year, including GW, five were varsity, (Georgetown, Navy, Old Dominion, St. Mary’s, Hampton) and the sixth, the club team from UVA, had been consistently finishing ahead of us at each event. To win that seventh spot again, we would have to be very much on our game. For a second year running, our team practiced four days a week, three hours a day, and went to one or two racing events every weekend of the Fall and Spring. We made it our goal to out-work every other club team in MAISA, and it started to show. We qualified for the War Memorial, the Fall Championships, and flashed some speed up at chilly Hobart and William Smith. Our women’s team, the members of which are also integral parts of our co-ed team, made it all the way to the ICSA Women’s Atlantic Coast Championship. Then, at our critical South Division Qualifier for the America Trophy the first weekend in April, the effort paid off. Finishing second behind UVA and ahead of Hampton, GW was headed back to the big show. 

    This year, 2009 National Champion St. Mary’s College hosted the America Trophy. When we pulled up to their impressive sailing center last Saturday, at first it felt like deja-vu, weather-wise. A formidable storm was barreling its way up the Atlantic coast, bringing with it high winds, rain, and even a few tornados! NOAA issued a severe weather warning for all maritime activity in the southern Maryland area. All of the teams present knew that Saturday would be a day to remember, and it did not disappoint. 

    Sailing out for their first set in A-Division, GW A-Division skipper Will Ricketson ’11 and crew Dickie Sant’ 13 were greeted by a beautiful sight. The gorgeous 125’ wooden schooner Spirit of Massachusetts glided into the St. Mary’s River basin to seek a safe anchorage from the coming gale. For Will, a Boston-area native, there could not have been a more encouraging omen. In B-Division, GW sported an all-senior lineup of Meredith Carroll ’11 and Mike Shea ’11, experience being paramount in such difficult weather. 

    Out on the racecourse, the conditions were the most extreme any MAISA team had seen that year. The normally calm and sheltered waters of the wide river basin had been transformed into a snarling and foamy maelstrom. Hats flew off heads, aluminum spars groaned under the strain, and sailors used every ounce of their physical strength to keep their boats from capsizing. Conditioning is paramount in such weather, and this is precisely where hundreds of hours of practice pay off. 

    It was in this environment, against the best boats from each school, and in his last regatta, that Will had probably the best performance of his four-year college sailing career. With Dickie working incredibly hard for hours on end to hold the boat down, they recorded finishes of 7th, 3rd, 8th, 6th, and 6th, with three other races in mid-fleet. Many of these races were just about surviving to the finish, and even boats manned by varsity All-Americans were crashing into the water. However, Will and Dickie stayed upright throughout, and were probably one of the five fastest boats on the upwind legs. At the end of Saturday, GW was in 9th overall in A-Division, the only non-varsity boat in the top half of the fleet. Over the course of the regatta, after 17 races, GW finished in the top ten seven times in A-Division, after doing so only once at last year’s event. Will’s point total from the year before, where only one less race was held, was also 62 points better, a significant improvement. A big part of this was due to the amazing work of his regular crew, Kaitlin Denney ’14, who sailed with him all of Sunday and helped him improve throughout the year. It was a great way to close out his college sailing career.

    On Sunday, it was GW B-division’s turn to shine. This time sailing with Anne Laterra ’11 in lighter winds, Meredith immediately got off on the right track with a 7th place in the first race. However, what happened next stunned the entire assembly of teams. Getting a tremendous start at the pin end of starting line in the second race, Meredith and Anne perfectly anticipated and reacted to the shifting breeze, and crossed the finish line... with nobody in front of them. A first place finish for the Colonials! This would have been a great moment on its own. A bullet in a major championship is something to remember forever. But then they did it AGAIN, in the very next race! With both the GW and Georgetown A-Division boats (and Georgetown coach Mike Callahan) cheering from behind the finish line, GW earned its second consecutive race win. “Did Meredith and Anne just win another one?” was the excited question from All-American skipper Charlie Buckingham (Georgetown) to Will as they both watched it unfold. The only other boats in B-Division to record consecutive bullets at the regatta were Georgetown and Hobart, who finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the division overall. 

Despite the excitement, and despite the pride we all felt at competing at the America Trophy, there was one bittersweet element to the weekend. Seniors Will, Meredith and Anne have been competing at GW’s front-line events together since the Fall of their freshmen year. Rarely in college sailing does a core group of sailors stay together for so long, or improve so dramatically over four years. Together, they supported one another, made tough sacrifices, helped each other improve, and fought their way from the bottom to the top third of the conference. This regatta would be their last competing together. Meredith and Anne will represent GW at MAISA Women’s Championship next week, but for “Padre”, as he is known to the team, it was the end of the road. All in all, they had one hell of a run together. 

At the close of racing on Sunday, GW finished in 12th overall, which represents the highest ranking ever for GW’s co-ed sailing team. Nine of the teams who finished ahead of us are varsity, and another is a club team that enjoys a full-time coach and significant school funding. Only UPenn, a talented club that went to nationals in 2009, finished ahead of us. We also beat UVA, and avenged our 2nd place finish at the South Qualifier. Overall, our result was a great accomplishment for a GW team that essentially started over from scratch four years ago.

Special thanks go out to three people. First to sophomore crew and team president Skye Kussmann ’13, who went to the regatta as a medium-breeze crew option but did not get to sail. Skye provided invaluable support all weekend by keeping the sailors on the water healthy and prepared. Jay Sterne, who volunteers his time to coach us whenever he can, went hundreds of miles and many hours out of his way to coach us on Saturday morning, despite being needed at a wedding later that weekend. Finally, more thanks go to out to Georgetown Coach Mike Callahan, who coached us from Saturday afternoon until the end of the regatta. Mike has been among the biggest supporters of our team since we appeared at his practice site one day in 2007. Seeing us do so well, and come so far, brought him a good deal of satisfaction, and we as a team owe him a huge debt. 

So the 2011 America Trophy is in the books. Hopefully we can all be proud of what the GW Sailing Team has already accomplished this year. Remember though, the season is not over yet! Cheer on our women’s team as they compete at Navy next weekend!

Thanks,

-Will Ricketson ’11


Full America Trophy Scores:
http://scores.collegesailing.info/s11/america/

    GW Sailing set out on its first team race regatta this weekend, trekking to Toms River, New Jersey, home of the MTV hit series Jersey Shore and the Ocean County College Team Race Regatta. Expecting to see Snooki, the young team was more than excited for their adventure. GW Sailing has been working all semester to compete in their first ever team race regatta. Ocean County College was the host for this 2-on-2 racing event. This meant that in every race, each school would have two boats on the start line, working together to get the best finish possible. The weekend proved to be as thrilling as an episode of Jersey Shore, with intense competition on the water, the team was GTL (geared, tan, and left-turning [unlike the rest of NJ]). 

    Saturday proved to be a beautiful day on the shore with temperatures in the low 60s. With bright sunshine and a steady breeze around 8 knots, the day was perfect for racing. The course was set to maximize the number of races sailed, while providing a variety of beats to test sailors’ strengths and weaknesses. GW’s team racing ensemble of Ian Conners ’13 with crew Becca Engel ’13 and Nick Koeniger ’14 with crew Skye Kussmann ’13 set out for the challenge. The quartet started off the morning rusty with a close loss to the host team OCC. After regrouping, the team discussed the errors made and tactics to avoid them in the future. The group communication proved to be one of our strongest advantages over the weekend.

    After a debriefing on communication and formulation of a game plan, the troupe was on a roll. With clean starts, superb roll tacks, and excellent sail trim, GW was in position to use team racing tactics for the win (FTW). The morning rotation ended with GW’s record of 4-2, with both losses to OCC in the final upwind stretch, placing GW in the championship bracket. Over lunch the team discussed strategies and codes to ensure the wins continued. With codes such as “applesauce” and “red-7”, the other teams didn’t know what hit them in the afternoon championship sail-off. The afternoon continued with a steady breeze, allowing GW to quickly take 3 victories in their 3 races, pushing them into first place. The group spent the rest of the day exploring the Shore’s many hidden gems. We discovered fried Oreos, some of New Jersey’s best pizza, and a Snooki doppelganger. 

Sunday morning, the team arrived early to Toms River Yacht Club, ready to seal their first place finish in the remaining 3 races. Unfortunately, a wind-delay dampened our hopes that we would be able to sail. The breeze filled in from the east around 10 am, allowing for the racing to be completed before the Sunday racing series set out. First, GW flew past Monmouth University with clean starts in the light breeze, allowing for a 1-2 finish. In the next race, Drexel put up tough competition with a mark-trap at the windward mark. A “situation” at the leeward mark caused confusion and stress among the teams, as the race was close. However, GW’s roll tacks and speed on the upwind finish secured their victory. The last race of the day came with very little breeze, and clean starts have never been as important as we took on our strongest competitors from Ocean County. The light breeze made our roll tacks and minimal movements the keys to our success. Special thanks to Sarah McCormack ’14 for helping out with race committee and supporting the rest of her team. The GW team won all 3 races on Sunday, resulting in a final record of 10-2, the best at the regatta. In doing so, GW secured 1st place at it’s first-ever team race regatta!

-Skye Kussman ’13 and Becca Engel ’13

Last weekend, seven Colonial sailors competed at the Greater New York Dinghy Regatta, co-hosted by Fordham and Columbia Universities. One of the oldest regattas in college sailing, the GNYDR actually predates the MAISA conference itself. This year, major changes were in store, as both host schools recently purchased new and enlarged fleets of 420s. This effectively doubled the size of the regatta from 10 to 20 schools, and turned it into an intersectional event, where NEISA and MAISA schools go head to head.

    Both Saturday and Sunday were somewhat hazy Spring days, but were missing one key ingredient: Wind! This felt strange to the GW sailors in attendance, who seemingly have been hiking out in strong breezes at almost every regatta and practice all Spring long. Our squad split into two groups: Seniors Meredith Carroll and Will Ricketson would alternate skippering duties in A-division, with Kaitlin Denney ’14 crewing for both. In B-Division, the skippers would be Mike Shea ’11 and Hussain Patel ’13, with Lynnie Strother ’14 and Erin McCormack ’14 crewing. This allowed the maximum number of GW sailors to compete, and ensured we are all tuned up for our crucial late season regattas and practices in the coming weeks. 

The highlights in A-Division were a 2nd place finish for GW in race 3A, and in B-Division, a 7th place finish in race 8B. 

We were fortunate to receive an unprecedented amount of support during this event from parents, friends and alumni. On Sunday, the sailing team, in collaboration with the GW Alumni Office, hosted a brunch in the main dining room of the Morris Yacht and Beach Club, the regatta venue. It drew over 30 regional supporters of our team, and hopefully we succeeded in spreading the word even further about our organization and it’s impressive accomplishments. 

Special thanks go out to the Carroll family for hosting us all weekend. For the past four years, there have been few families who have been as enthusiastic and generous in their support of our team. In addition to housing us, they kept us well fed all weekend, and even collected supplies to support our alumni event. We owe them a big debt of gratitude!

Thanks to everyone who followed along on Twitter. Also, special congratulations go our to our other regatta team, who won GW’s first-ever team race regatta down in New Jersey!

Keep following our progress as we race in two major championships during the next two weeks!

-Will Ricketson ’11


Full scores: 
http://scores.collegesailing.info/s11/greater-new-york-dinghy/

Proving that last year’s success was no fluke, the GW Sailing Team yesterday earned their second consecutive berth at the MAISA Championships, the America Trophy. The Colonials had been training hard since the frigid days of early February (And during the entire Fall season) for this moment, and all of the hard work paid off in convincing fashion. The field of teams at the MAISA South Division Qualifier Regatta was made up of our closest regional rivals, with whom we battle all year long. They included University of Virginia, University of Maryland, Hampton University, William and Mary, Virginia Tech, Salisbury University, and Christopher Newport University. American University and St. John’s College were unfortunately forced to withdraw at the last minute. 

Arriving at William & Mary’s sailing venue on Saturday morning, it was hard to tell that April was actually here. Temperatures hovered in the upper forties, and a Westerly wind howled down the length of the James River at speeds varying from 14 mph to 28 mph. Nevertheless, these conditions were nothing GW hadn't seen before. Indeed, the previous week, we had faced even worse weather up in Boston.

Sailing in A-Division for GW, Will Ricketson ’11 and Kaitlin Denney ’11 reveled in the strong wind. The University of Virginia, George Washington and Maryland quickly found themselves locked in a close battle for each race, and whenever the wind reached its peak, they seemed to be the only three boats that could maintain full control. 

In B-Division, Meredith Carroll ’11, Anne Laterra ’11, and Skye Kussmann ’13, despite being a comparatively light crew/skipper combo, proved to be consistently fast in their division as well (Anne and Skye alternated on the boat all weekend). In big breeze, many schools like to man their boats with big, heavier guys to counterbalance the force the wind exerts on the boat. However, Meredith, Anne and Skye enjoy bucking this trend, and calmly went about posting great finishes. 

In B-division, our moment of greatest triumph also turned out to be our moment of greatest frustration. During race 3B, the breeze reached perhaps its strongest level of the weekend, clocking in at 28 mph. The FJ, the class of boat we race in, is highly unstable in such conditions. On the second leg of the race, to the horror and amazement of everyone on shore, a series of big puffs swooped in and succeeded in flipping over every boat in the fleet- except for Maryland and GW. After valiantly fighting on for three more legs, spray often enveloping the entire boat as it reached top speed, Meredith and Skye won the race, to the cheers of their teammates on shore. However, in an unpopular move, the Race Committee deemed the race invalid due to “safety concerns,” erasing our victory. Nevertheless, we used this injustice as motivation for the rest of the event, and in the end it helped propel us to a qualifying spot. 

Saturday night the team was treated to a wonderful dinner in Colonial (How fitting?) Williamsburg by Coach Jay Sterne, and then got to bed early to prepare for the critical final races on Sunday. 

Sunday was much warmer, and much calmer. In A-Division, GW lost much of the speed advantage it enjoyed the day before in the big breeze, but still managed to stay in the top portion of the fleet. In B-Division, the Colonials seemed even faster than the day before, but were hampered by equipment breakdowns in the somewhat aged W&M fleet. During one race, the jib halyard shackle broke and suddenly GW was racing with one sail instead of two! 

Despite difficult weather conditions, controversial management decisions, and equipment failure, GW never wavered in our goal to qualify for the America Trophy. By the end of racing on Sunday, we had earned our second place spot by a wide margin over third place Hampton University. The top three teams advanced onto the next round. It was a tense weekend to be sure, but one which we can all be proud of. 

We hope you will cheer us on at the America Trophy on April 16-17. We will, as usual, be underdogs against the big varsity powers, but backing down is simply not our style. Wish us luck!

-Will Ricketson ’11


Full Scores:
CLICK HERE