June 5, 2006
Charleston, South Carolina (June 4, 2006) - The Stanford Cardinal Coed Sailors earned 11th overall in the ICSA/Gill National Coed Dinghy Championship. The three-day regatta was the culmination of a 6-day event for the Coed Sailors, that included their 8th place finish at the ICSA/Layline Team Race Nationals.
Delays in the rotation, variously caused by weather systems skirting the area, a strong ebb tide with an east wind, and light breeze, saw the completion of 12 races by both A and B Divisions after two days of the regatta. The Cardinal's position volleyed from 10th to 13th during this first phase of the event. "It was a tough regatta," commented Head Coach Jay Kehoe. "Puffy, light air, cross current, not our strong suit" continued Assistant Coach John Pearce, "our inconsistency prevented us from cracking the top 10." A-Division skipper Brian Haines sailed the majority of the regatta with crew Kelly McKenna, until the breeze increased causing him to switch to Becca Levin. Eddie Conrad sailed B for the first 8 races with crew Anna Vu. On day two, Emery Wager and Taylor Grimes subbed into B-Division.
On the final day, the last 6 races of the series were sailed in 22 knots from the southwest and saw Stanford execute thier best sets of the entire regatta. With a number of top-ten finishes, Brian Haines sailing with Becca Levin, were able to climb to 10th place in A-Division. In B-Division, Emery Wager and Taylor Grimes ended the regatta with two 5th-place finishes for 13th in B-Division. "It was fun to watch our scores improve to pass South Alabama, USC and almost pass Hobart [last year's National Champion]," commented Pearce. All but Vu return for next year, and the team is anxious to settle some "unfinished business" after this Nationals, "the Women and Coed teams are very motivated for next year," explained Kehoe.
A one-hour program - the 2006 ICSA/Gill National Championship - with the action documented by Emmy-award winning sailing journalist Gary Jobson (Annapolis, Md.) will air on ESPNU, the network devoted entirely to college sports. The show is set to air June 10, 11, 19, 22 and 29. Visit www.jobsonsailing.com for local airtimes.
ICSA/Gill Coed Dinghy National Championship A B TOT 1. College of Charleston 116 82 198 2. Georgetown 83 121 204 3. Harvard 98 147 245 4. Tufts 119 131 250 5. Dartmouth 100 164 264 6. St. Mary's of Maryland123 144 267 7. Boston College 137 159 296 8. Brown 171 133 304 9. U South Florida 145 165 310 10. Hobart/Wm Smith 175 169 344 11. Stanford 174 173 347 12. U Southern California 187 173 360 13. U South Alabama 209 152 361 14. Kings Point 249 204 453 15. NY Maritime 211 242 453 16. Washington 276 195 471 17. Minnesota 253 251 504 18. Wisconsin 254 280 534