Oct. 16, 2008
Hobart and William Smith Fall Intersectional: 1st of 18
The coed intersectional of the week went well for the team. The conditions on Saturday yielded a light southerly breeze, which was quite steady and lasted long enough to sail two races in both divisions. Sunday brought a much better breeze that lasted all day and the team was able to sail six races per division. Skippering in A division was Andrew Vann and crew Christina Chance, who compiled 44 points in eight races and we able to finish fifth in their division. Their division was challenging and the racing was tight as they were only a few points out of the top three. In the B division, Navy had skippering Tim Murphy and crew Caroline Lockett. The pair clearly dominated the competition, finishing six of the eight races in the top two. The pair ended the regatta with 21 points, which were 12 points ahead of second and 32 points ahead of third. The team-combined scores gave Navy a first-place finish, 22 points ahead of the second-place squad, Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Navy Fall Women's Intersectional: 13th of 18
At the Navy Fall Women's Intersectional over the weekend, the breeze was quite challenging. Light winds all weekend in Annapolis allowed for only five races to be run in each division. Sailing in A division was team captain Trisha Kutkeiwicz with crew Emily Taynor. The pair sailed well considering the competition that was present as well as the tough sailing conditions. Finishing 11th in their division for the weekend, they could only hope for more breeze and more races which never came. Sailing in the B division was skipper Tina Pryne and crew Theresa James. The pair also finished 11th in a tight B division for the weekend. The stubborn B division starting line was tough but the sailors hung in there in the trying conditions to compile some good finishes. In the C laser radial division Navy had skipper Mary Hesler competing. The recurring theme of the weekend proved true as the conditions did not yield what she would have hoped for. It was extremely difficult to sail in the tough conditions this weekend as Mary finished 15th in her division. The team combined scores to finish 13th in the most difficult women's intersectional of the weekend and the year thus far.
Carl Van Duyne Laser Nationals Qualifier: 6th and 15th
The Carl Van Duyne is the MAISA singlehanded qualifying event for laser nationals. Having to qualify for this event was quite difficult as it contained the top 18 lasers sailors from the district. Navy sailors included skipper Martin Sterling and Mac Fletcher. Martin was able to come within just a few points of qualifying for lasers nationals held in a couple weeks in Ithaca N.Y., hosted by Cornell. For most of the weekend Martin was right there in line for qualifying but the competition was great and the task was just too much as he just missed his opportunity. He wound up finishing sixth place in the event. Mac had his moments of brilliance during the event but couldn't really find his sweet spot as he finished 15th in the event. Both of these laser sailors will compete this coming weekend in another tough laser event, the four-division Navy Fall Intersectional. They will get a chance at redemption as the sail once again against the top laser sailors in the country.
# GO NAVY #
