SAILORS WIN ONE & DO WELL IN ANOTHER

Tomorrow morning I'm taking the team south to the US Sailing Center in Coconut Grove, FL, for three days of intensive practice under the tutelage of a professional coach, who among other things will videotape and critique their on-the-water sailing performance. We return Friday night.

As a result, following are the unofficial results of this weekend's regattas because I may not receive the official results before I leave.

Graham Gardner '11 & Sarah McKay '12 teamed up with John O'Riordan '12 & Hallie Petersen '12 to represent Fordham at the Icefree Invitational hosted by Christopher Newport University in Hampton VA. This was a Fleet Racing regatta and Fordham emerged on top to capture their first win of the spring season. While those to the north were getting soaked for two days, our Rams experienced nothing but sunshine and 70 degree weather. On Saturday, racing was canceled when no wind had come up by early afternoon. The sailors weren't sorry, however, because chaperone Carolyn Grant, former coach of Hampton University, generously offered the use of her three kayaks for the afternoon and our Rams took advantage to explore the nooks and crannies of Hampton Roads. On Sunday, the wind came up and 14 races were held.

RESULTS (* = varsity team)

1. Fordham - 29 points
2. Hampton - 40 *
3. Virginia - 41
4. Webb - 56
5. Christopher Newport I - 60 *
6. CNU II - 88 *
7. William & Mary - 91
8. Maryland - 100

At Washington College in Chestertown, MD, rain soaked the sailors for two days as Fordham participated in a 2-on-2 Team Race regatta. Forty races were held; 20 each day, as host Washington College scheduled a double round-robin both days. The Fordham team consisted of Carl Shorett '10 & Alex Wiggins '13 in one boat and Joe Turchiano '11 & Emma Pfohman '13 in the other.

On Saturday, Fordham lost two close races each to Hobart and WAC and dominated Cornell & Princeton ending the day with a Won-Lost record of 4-4. On Sunday, our Rams continued to dominate the two Ivies but with added experience split with the two varsity teams, winning one and losing one. With a 6-2 record on Sunday, Fordham finished third overall.

We don't yet know who won since when our team was leaving, both Hobart & WAC were tied at 13-3 and about to have a one-race sail-off.

RESULTS

1. Hobart/William Smith 13-3 *
2. Washington College 13-3 *
3. Fordham 10-6
4. Cornell 4-12
5. Princeton 0-16
6. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) retired from the competition when one of their crews received a nasty gash on her head from being hit by a boom

Fordham wishes to thank host/chaperone Carolyn Grant in Hampton VA and Dennis Wiggins, father of frosh Alex, who spent two days in the rain chaperoning the team at Chestertown MD and who with bride, Kathy, and daughter, Tori, took the team out for dinner on Saturday night.