September 15-16 Weekend Regatta Report

Mrs. Hurst: The Women's team traveled to Dartmouth, NH for the Mrs. Hurst Regatta and were treated to the best 2 days of wind there in the last decade. NW winds gusting to 20+ knots on Saturday, and around 10 knots on Sunday. 22 teams participated, with twelve races in each division, plenty of capsizes! Abby Featherstone and Dominique Wright teamed up in A division, ending tied for 3rd, but losing the tie-breaker. Colleen Hartman and freshman Ali Yarbrough shared helming / crewing duties, ending up 17th. Overall the Bulls were 14th, not quite at their goal of top-10, but a strong showing considering the "B" team had rarely practiced together prior to the event. "It was a great opportunity to see what strengths and weaknesses we have early in the season, and how best to play to our strengths in upcoming events", from Coach Allison Jolly.

Nevins Trophy: At the Nevin's Regatta hosted by the US Merchant Marine Academy in King's Point, NY, the coed team also had good wind on Saturday, but a dying breeze on Sunday. "A" division sailors Will Stocke and Emily Johnson were leading at the halfway point, but stumbled the latter half, ending up 6th. In "B" division, the sophomore/freshman duo of Ben Mohney and AJ Degen finished 12th in their first-ever major Intersectional. In "C" division, Chris Stocke finished 8th among the highly competitive single-handed sailors. Combining the scores, the Bulls were 8th overall in the 20 boat competition. "The team showed good boat speed and the ability to compete with top teams. Although finishing a few points away from our goal is a bummer, we take away important insight on areas to improve", from Coach Tim King.

South Points 2: At Rollins College, in Winter Park, FL, USF sailors competed in the SAISA SP-2 regatta. Freshman Megan Hostetter, sailing with veteran team member Sydney Jones, won "A" division. Tom Hamby and newbie Patricia Calvo Jaschke finished 7th in "B" division, in very difficult, shifty conditions. Overall, the team was 4th, just one point out of 3rd at the 8-team event.
"South Points 2 at Rollins A long modified W/L with a downwind finish course was set up for the first rotation in anticipation of the predicated 10 to 13 NE winds. However, the winds didn’t pick up until the last two races of the day. After the first rotation and some rain moving across Lake Virginia the course was changed to a shortened modified W/L with an upwind finished course. Typical shifts indicative to lake sailing prevailed. The day finished with 5 races sailed in each division." --VIA TECHSCORE
This depiction pretty much sums up the day. The conditions were light and variable throughout. There were no postponements. Starts were good, and for the most part as the breeze that we did have, came out of the northeast so we had to immediately tack off onto port and head up wind. It was very shifty and there were giant rogue lulls staggered out throughout the course that apprehended everyone at least once. Either way ending with a 4th over all, works! GO BULLS! - Thomas Hamby

Looking Ahead:

Coming up next weekend, USF's singlehanded sailors will travel to Charleston, SC for the SAISA Men's Championships, a qualifier for the Singlehanded Nationals in Long Beach, CA, while other members of the Coed team will travel to St. Mary's College.

In addition, USF will be hosting the SAISA SP-3 Regatta on Saturday, September 22. Come down to the seawall by the College of Marine Science buildings from 10am to 5pm (wind permitting) to view the racing.