March 31, 2011

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University sailing team competed in three regattas last weekend, winning the Szambecki Team Race in Norfolk, Va., while also taking second place at the Admiral Moore Team Race in Throggs Neck, N.Y., while hosting the Arrigan Memorial Regatta on the Potomac River. The Hoyas have competed in over half of their spring season and are poised to have another successful postseason.

Most recently, the Hoyas competed in three races over March 26-27 with the Arrigan Memorial Regatta right on the Potomac, a third-place performance out of the 15-team field, the Szambecki Team Race in Norfolk, Va., an event where the Hoyas took the top spot and the Admiral Moore Team Race in Throggs Neck, N.Y., where the Hoyas managed second place of 10 teams.

Szambecki was a team race competition, favoring the Hoyas with a trio or twosomes in Charlie Buckingham / Ashley Phillips, Scott Furnary / Kate Canty and Chris Barnard / Hilary Kenyon. Following a slow start, GU was the third seed going into the final four round where they took out second-seeded Roger Williams to earn a spot in the finals against top-seeded College of Charleston. Splitting the first two races, the third and final race decided the championship. The Hoyas had the first two off the line and looked to be in good position before the Cougars managed a 2,3,4 by the windward mark, taking a clear advantage. The Hoyas consolidated to a 1,4,5 by the leeward mark then sailed a good final to win with a 1,3,6 combo.

The same weekend, the Hoyas sent sailors to the Admiral Moore Team Race to sail the unpredictable East River with its strong currents and shifting winds. Despite a slow start, the Hoyas managed 10 in a row with duos Michael Campbell / Annalee Leggett, Peter Johns / Tory Lynch, Andrew Mason / Leslie Cowen, Dan Eichler / Courtney Sherman with Tristan Berne also making an appearance. A few tough losses at the end of the second round gave the Hoyas a 12-5 record for the second seed in the finals. Georgetown defeated No. 3 SUNY Maritime but lost to Hobart in the finals for the second-place finish.

At the Arrigan Regatta, the Hoyas took third of five teams with Michael Shalka / McKenzie Stough and Matt Gowell / Genevieve Burgoyne taking fifth in the A Division while Amanda Taselaar / Kelly Meyering and Lauren Burke / Merritt Moran taking second in the B Division.