Mid Atlantic sets pace at Coed Nationals

Newport, RI (May 28, 2019) – The final act of the 2018-19 College Sailing Season got underway today as the Gill Coed Championship brought on the top 36 teams that have qualified from the seven districts that comprise the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.

The two stage format begins with the Eastern and Western Semifinals in which the fleet has been divided into two groups of 18 teams for today and tomorrow, of which the top nine will advance to the championship round on May 30-31.

After eight races in winds at 8 to 14 knots, schools from the Mid-Atlantic conference are leading their divisions, with the New England, South Atlantic, and Pacific Coast represented in the top five of the semifinals.

In the Eastern Semis, it was #12 ranked St. Mary’s College that led the way as their A-Division team of Liam McCarthy ’19 with Kate Bjerregaard ’19 and Kaisey McCallion ’19 and their B-Division team of Leo Boucher ’22 and Lydia McPherson-Shambarger ’19 are resting in third.

“Our team was excited to get sailing today,” says Adam Werblow, head coach for St. Mary’s. “The players have been sailing a lot of practice races, but not real races. Our coeds were inspired by the women’s team, who sailed the best they have all year in the Sperry Women’s National Championship. It boosted their confidence.

“I think all of the teams are hoping to jump through this first hoop to make it to the next round.”

With racing held in Club Flying Juniors, leading A-Division is the Jacksonville University team of Alfonso Garcia Bringas ’20 with Jack Gower ’20 and Daniel Ofarril ’22, while on top of B-Division is Joseph Hermus ’22 with Sean Linden ’21 and Ana Mier ’19 of the US Naval Academy.

In the Western Semis, #8 ranked Hobart and William Smith Colleges dominated the day as their A-Division team of Hector Guzman ’20 and Jake Vickers ’22 are tied for first but in second on countback and their B-Division team of Charles Miller ’19 and Aidan Morgan ’21 are leading by 8 points.

“I thought we were fast in the breeze and in the conditions today,” says Scott Ikle, head coach for Hobart and William Smith Colleges. “We were able to get out in front and it’s a lot easier to race when you are in front, it’s really hard to gain from the middle of the fleet.

“We had the right combinations in our boats today and the conditions were to our liking. Tomorrow the forecast is for different conditions and we will also have different crews sailing.”

With racing held in Z420s, leading A-Division is Yale’s Nicholas Baird ’19 with Sonia Lingos-Utley ’21 and Kira Woods ’19.

The Eastern and Western Semis will switch boats tomorrow for the final races to determine the top nine in each group that will move on to vie for the national title.

Eastern Semifinal Results (Top 10 of 18; 8 races)
1. St. Mary’s College, 78
2. Brown University, 91
3. Stanford University, 94
4. Bowdoin College, 103
5. U. S. Naval Academy, 107
6. Dartmouth College, 109
7. Jacksonville University, 116
8. Boston University, 118
9. Tufts University, 124
10. Fordham University, 145

Western Semifinal Results (Top 10 of 18; 8 races)
1. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 56
2. College of Charleston, 74
3. Yale University, 79
4. Boston College, 80
5. Georgetown University, 94
6. U. S. Coast Guard Academy, 102
7. Connecticut College, 116
8. Old Dominion University, 127
9. University of Pennsylvania, 153
10. University of California at Santa Barbara, 169

Event details – Eastern Semifinals – Western Semifinals – Facebook

2019 Spring Nationals
May 21-24 – Women’s Dinghy
May 25-27 – Team Race
May 28-31 – Coed Dinghy

Live coverage will include:
May 23, half day of Women’s coverage.
May 24, full day of Women’s coverage and awards.
May 25, half to 3/4 day of Team Race coverage, release of Women’s recap video.
May 26, full day of Team Race coverage.
May 27, full day of Team Race coverage and awards.
May 28, release of Team Racing recap video.
May 29, full day of Coed coverage.
May 30, full day of Coed coverage.
May 31, full day of Coed coverage and awards.
June 3, release of Coed recap video.

For live coverage… click here.

The 2018-19 season for the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) held the Match Racing Nationals and Singlehanded Nationals during the fall season, with the final three national titles on May 21 to 31 in Newport, RI.

Source: ICSA