STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford sailing competed in its first two regattas on the road this spring, topping the field at the Bob Bavier Open Team Race along with a fourth-place finish at the SMC Open Team Race. The win in the Charleston Harbor gives Stanford its fourth win of the spring season.
The Bob Bavier Open Team Race saw Stanford win 18 of 21 races to earn the weekend victory, finishing two wins ahead of runner-up Charleston and four wins ahead of Roger Williams. The Cardinal went undefeated in the final round with a 3-0 record, and earned four 1-2-3 sweeps among its 18 race wins.
Stanford was led by skippers Chapman Petersen, Thomas Whidden, Ellie Harned, and Sophie Fisher, while Abby Baird, Kit Harned, and Ava Cornell handled crew duties.
"To get the win at the Bob Bavier Trophy in Charleston is a big confidence boost for those sailing," said head coach Chris Klevan. "They earned the top spot with great team racing, translating the work we’ve put in at practice to the event on unfamiliar waters. That is no small thing. It is important for them to continue that progression in the weeks to follow."
Meanwhile in Maryland, Stanford earned a 12-7 record to finish fourth in the SMC Open Team Race, finishing behind Roger Williams (16-3), Yale (13-6), and Boston College (12.5-6).
Led by skippers Dylan Sih, Reade Decker, and Thomas Sitzmann, and crew Shay Wood, Piper Blackband, and Alice Schmid, the Cardinal earned five 1-2-3 finishes and earned a 4-1 recap in Sunday's Championship 6 to ultimately finish fourth.
"Despite a finish somewhat below the expectation of some, I am quite encouraged with our sailing," Klevan added about his Cardinal contingent at the SMC Open Team Race. "We had the opportunity to showcase the progress made by some of our youngsters, and despite fielding the youngest and smallest squad in a big breeze, we came away with winning records over Yale and Boston College’s top teams. With that said. We were a good bit off the pace set by the defending champs, Roger Williams University, who showed what the bar looks like. We’ll have to take that knowledge and the reps earned by those with many years yet to sail and build upon it"
Stanford returns to the water on March 22-23, returning to the water for three regattas: the Friis Trophy Open Team Race, the PCCSC South Designate, and the Szambecki Open Team Race.