April 6, 2003
San Francisco, Calif - The Cardinal sailors finshed a strong yet disappointing 3rd at the annual St Francis Intersectional hosted by the St Francis Yacht Club and Stanford University. After winning the event last year, and dominating many of the early-season regattas this year, the Stanford Team was ready for the challenge of St. Francis, but fell short of besting in-district rivals U Hawaii and USC.
"It was Hawaii's strongest conditions," explained Head Coach Jay Kehoe, "they were unstoppable in the heavy air and big waves." The Rainbow Warriors managed a feat rarely seen in the traditionally close college competition, they actually scored less than half of second place USC's score; 53 to 108 respectively. Stanford was forced to a solid third place finish, with 133 points. "We needed this wake-up call two weeks before PCC's," commented Kehoe about their upcoming qualifier for the National Championships. The PCC's, to be held May 1-3 in Long Beach (USC's home water) will qualify the top two teams for both Fleet Racing Nationals and Team Racing Nationals (to be held in June in Detroit).
Putting in the best performance for the Cardinal was senior Ted Conrads, who with alternating crews Lucy Horton '05, Jessie Duncan '05 and Taylor Clark '04 earned an impressive 2nd in B-Division. Although 20 points behind the seemingly unstoppable duo of Joey Pasqualli/Sarah Hitchcock of Hawaii, Conrads maintained a sizeable lead of at least 10 points on 3rd place Colin Campbell/Krystin Munson of USC. "Through all conditions, Teddy maintained an average finish of 3rd, which was consistent enough to keep him firmly in 2nd in B-Division," explained Kehoe.
Sailing in A-Division for Stanford were Dave Phillips '04 and Sonja Beber '04. As the wind got stronger on Saturday, Chris Ralli '06 was subbed in for Bebber in an effort to adjust to the strengthening wind and better Stanford's inconsistent A-Div scores. "Dave and Sonja have proven themselves in light air, Saturday was a chance for them to experience a competitive fleet in heavy air," explained Kehoe. In the last set of races Saturday, skipper and crew duo Brian Haines '06 and Jessie Duncan subbed in to finish out the day with a 1, 4 set. In Sunday morning's lighter air however, Haines/Clark took the water, unable to score better than a 6, 7, and 5. Phillips and Bebber took the water for the last A set, to earn an 8, 4. The effort managed to keep Stanford's A-Div firmly in 4th, ahead of UC Irvine's Jordan Korss/Dan Arsenault.
This weekend, the Cardinal sailors head back east. The Coeds to the US Marchant Marine Academy at King's Point, New York to compete in Admiral's Cup Regatta. The Women head to Brown University to compete in th Dellenbaugh Regatta.
Photo: Stanford Sailing's Conrads and Horton on the water after winning A-Division at Navy Fall last October. The duo earned 2nd in B-Division at this weekend's St.Francis Regatta.