June 2, 2008

Newport, R.I. - The Georgetown University sailing team finished second overall at the 2008 ICSA/APS Team Race National Championship at New York Yacht Club in Newport, R.I. The Hoyas posted an 11-6 record, second only to Boston College's 14-3 mark. College of Charleston (9-8) and Brown University (8-9) rounded out the final four. (Reports courtesy of www.collegesailing.org)

Passing thunderstorms briefly delayed the start of the double round robin for the "elite eight" on day two of the event. In the first of two Championship Rounds, the elite eight took their first shot at each other with St. Mary's, Harvard and Boston College working to distance themselves from the rest of the field as Brown and Navy fought to stay in the tournament. By late morning fog began to filter onto the race course, eventually engulfing it and compounding the intensity of the competition. Racing was called for the day at 4:30 p.m. due to the thickening fog, leaving the second Championship Round leading to the "final four" to be completed on the final day of racing.

Setting the stage for the finale, the morning haze dissipated and the breeze piped up. The end of the second Championship Round saw Harvard University, Stanford University, St. Mary's College, and Navy eliminated as Boston College (11-3), Georgetown (9-5), Brown (8-6) and College of Charleston (8-6) advanced to the final four.

Complete Team Race results can be seen http://www.collegesailing.org/nas/spring08/teamraceresults.asp