BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Sailing team kicked off the spring portion of the 2008-09 season with a pair of wins in the team's two regattas on the weekend, including a win on the team's home course.
"The goal for the first weekend of the season wasn't to go out and win both events, but it was nice to do so,” said Head Coach Amanda Callahan. “We had only three days on the water before the weekend, and we were really looking to shake of the rust and do the basics well."
The Hawks hosted Team Race Invite on the waters of the Mount Hope Bay, earning the win by amassing a 16-4 record in the round robin format over the course of the weekend. The participants enjoyed a warm and sunny weekend with a fairly consistent breeze on both days. The teams were able to get two round robin sessions in each day.
The group of Sean Bouchard (Bermuda), Sarah Mease (Ocean Gate, N.J.), Tucker Bladgen (Marblehead, Mass.), Michael Costello (Miami, Fla.), Fritz Stunzi (Marblehead, Mass.), Kelly Stannard (Salem, Conn.), Jackie Roche (Scituate, Mass.), Tyler Wilson (Woodville, Mass.), Alex Sachs (Miami, Fla.), and Emerald Epke (Tiverton, R.I.) ran off a 9-1 record in the first two rounds of sailing, including a perfect 5-0 record in the first round.
“After winning all of the races on Saturday, we changed up the line up to get some of the younger sailors more experience,” said Callahan. “I didn't have any expectations going into Sunday, but the team sailed better than I could have imagined given the limited practice time that we've had. There were certainly some close races, and I think everyone who sailed learned a lot."
Further north in Boston, the team competed at the Sharpe Trophy, taking part in 23 races in warm conditions. The regatta consisted of a double round robin among all eight teams at the regatta, followed by a triple round robin for the top and bottom four.
Stannard, Bouchard, Matt Duggan (Sandwich, Mass.), Maria Petrillo (Bristol, R.I.), Cy Thompson (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands), Kaytlin Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.), John Enright (Bristol, R.I.), and Kelly Gorman (Marblehead, Mass.) all combined to give the Hawks a 19-4 record en route to first place.
The Hawks will travel down to Maryland during Spring Break to take part in the Truxtun Umstead Trophy at Navy and the St. Mary's Women's Race.
