BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams Sailing team's performance this past weekend was highlighted by a berth to the ICSA Coed Dinghy National Championship after a third-place finish at the ICSA Coed Dinghy Western Semifinals in Long Beach, California.
At the ICSA Coed Dinghy Western Semifinals, 36 teams came out from across the country to race in Long Beach, Calif. At the end of the first day, the Hawks led by 13 points over second place Yale University. The Hawks were poised
In the A Division boat for the Hawks were Cy Thompson (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) and Kelly Stannard (Salem, Conn.), who finished with a total of 55 points, knotted with Yale for the top spot but taking first via a tiebreaker. The duo finished first twice and placed seventh or better in every race but two. At “B” Division, Alec Anderson (Tortola, BVI) and Sophie Bellacosa (Winchester, Mass.) finished in third trailing behind Boston College and Yale University. The two finished eighth or better in every race, but a controversial disqualification proved to keep the Hawks from winning the overall title at the regatta. Despite the setback, the team will still represent Roger Williams at Nationals at the end of the month.
In the Southern Series Seven, hosted by Salve Regina University, the Hawks placed eighth with a total of 157 points. At A Division were Alexander Rudkin (Middleton, R.I.) and Samantha Pilz (Madison, Conn.), who came in 11th place with a total of 90 points, tallying four finishes in the top seven. In B Division, skipper Ian Hollerbach (Grosse Point Park, Mich.) and crews Richard Jordan (Port Washington, N.Y.) and Megan Carlson (New Providence, N.J.), earned the eighth place spot with 67 points. The three Hawks finished in the top five four times during the races.
The Hawks' final regatta of the weekend came at the 8th George Morris Trophy, hosted by Boston University on the Charles River. After a delayed start to the event due to a bomb threat, eight races were pulled off on the weekend, with the Hawks taking fifth overall. Connor Needham (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Megan Place (Wilton Manors, Fla.) took the water in A Division for RWU, finishing fourth in the division on the strength of six finishes in the top seven. At B Division for RWU were Matthew Paige (Mystic, Conn.) and Joshua Gershuny (Newburyport, Mass.), who took eighth at the division. The two sailors earned a pair of third-place finishes to highlight their weekend.
Next weekend the team will be sailing in Hanover, N.H. for the 62nd NE Team Racing Fowle Trophy, hosted by Dartmouth.
