Yale shares safety concerns about College Nationals

New Haven, CT (April 1, 2015) – Yale Sailing Team coach Zack Leonard is voicing his concern that there could be serious problems at the College Nationals this spring in Newport, RI.

With New England battling one of the coldest winters, Leonard’s focus surrounds the new Laser Performance Z420, the revised doublehander that colleges have been required to buy. While its lighter weight is intended to offer the modern youth sailor with the near-skiff like attributes they apparently crave, Leonard has recognized the unintended consequences of the re-designed Club 420.

With most college teams having now purchased a fleet of these lighter dinghies, Leonard has revealed that he is in discussion with Laser Performance to completely redesign the Z420. “It’s imperative that we are prepared for any forecast at Nationals in Newport this late May and June. Our concern is that these boats are simply not strong enough.”

Leonard stated that after careful consideration of the Farmer’s Almanac, he is near certain there will be seeing snow flurries and heavy ice across the course for Women’s and Team Race Nationals, if not Coed Nationals as well.

Zeke Horowitz, assistant coach and team psychic, shares Leonard’s concerns about the weather in Newport. “There will be a lot of kids at Nationals that grew up in warmer climates, and they may not be able to handle the conditions in these twitchy boat.”

Some of the Yale sailors concur that the Z420 boat is simply too wired. “When Graham Landy and I were practicing in one prototype,” explained coed captain Charlotte Belling, “we had a nasty capsize and both of us were thrown into the chilly bay. These boats add a level of danger that shouldn’t be acceptable.”

Leonard said that a meeting on 4/20 should reveal a better understanding of the universe.