Day 1 of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Team Race NAs resulted in a tie between defending champion the Georgetown University Hoyas and the Harvard University Crimson. Although they have yet to face each other, both teams finished with a five win and no loss record. The Tufts University Jumbos are in third with a 4-1 record.
Despite loosing one of their starting members, returning All-American and senior skipper Curtis Flood of Richmond, Ky., to a recent foot injury, the Hoyas are again proving their prowess with sophomore Tyler Haskell of Newport Beach, Calif., in his place.
Its been going pretty well, said Haskell. We sailed some of our toughest races in that first round robin. Everything went our way. Also skippering for the Hoyas are seniors and returning All-Americans Brian Bissell, of Newport Beach, Calif., and Ken Ward, of Tampa, Fla. Crews have been seniors Kat Penberthy, of Rowayton, Conn., Melanie Wood, of Seattle, Wash., and returning All-American Leah Williams, of South Dartmouth, Mass.
In an interview with Derrick Webster, Hoyas coach Michael Callahan, of Teaticket, Mass., said, We sailed really well today. We had a tough draw against some tough teams, but we handled that well. We missed Curtis Flood, but Tyler [Haskell] has done a great job filling in.
Harvard University placed second overall in last years ICSA Team Race NAs, and are again in a good position to repeat or surmount last years success. Returning All-American skippers are senior Sean Doyle, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and junior Clay Bischoff, of Miami, Fla. With sophomore Cardwell Potts, of New Orleans, Doyle and Bischoff won the Charles River Team Race, thereby not only getting in their practice for NAs, but also qualifying for the US Team Racing Association (USTRA) Championships. Crewing is junior Lema Kikuchi, of Bethesda, Md. Returning All-American crews are junior Michelle Yu, of Mountain View, Calif., and Susan Bonney, of Westford, Mass.
Still with a good chance at winning are the Tufts University Jumbos, who have won the ICSA Team Race NAs five times in their history, the most recent in 1996. Sailing for the Jumbos are senior John Birkett, of Boston, Mass., J.R. Maxwell, of Stonington, Conn., and returning All-American Pete Levesque, of Falmouth, Maine. Crews are returning All-American Caroline Hall, of Tiverton, R.I., Dean Madsen, of Manchester, Mass., and sophomore Kate Shuman, of Seattle, Wash.
Shifty tradewinds ranged from 5 to 8 knots and made for tricky conditions. Air and water temperatures surpassed 80 degrees for the fourth racing day at the ICSA NAs. The Team Racing North Americans is the second of three ICSA Spring Championships.
For complete results, visit www.collegesailing.org
