March 6, 2005
WAC Wins ODU Spring Open
Sailors Also Compete in Team Race

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The Washington College sailing team finished first of 17 teams overall at the ODU Spring Open, hosted by Old Dominion University yesterday and today. Washington also finished seventh of 10 teams at Georgetown's John Jackson Memorial Team Race this weekend.

Washington finished two points ahead of second-place Kings Point at the ODU Spring Open. Freshman skipper Parker Mitchell (Malibu, CA/Malibu) and freshman crew Hanna Lee (Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) finished second in A Division at the event and won the final three A Division races to put Washington over the top. Freshman skipper Alex Hood (Newport, RI/Portsmouth Abbey) and freshman crew Meredith Bluefeld (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion) were sixth in B Division.

Saturday's races at the ODU Spring Open were held in northeast winds of 5-8 knots in morning and northwest winds of 10-15 knots in the afternoon. Eight races were sailed in each division Saturday. The final six races in each division were held Sunday with a south-southeast wind of 4-8 knots in the morning building and lifting in from the southwest at 12-15 knots in the afternoon.

At the John Jackson Memorial Team Race, WAC went 3-6 in the opening round robin Saturday to move into the consolation round Sunday. Washington posted a 4-1 record in the consolation double round robin Sunday to finish in seventh place with a 7-7 overall record. Saturday's races were held in northeast winds of 8-12 miles per hour. Sunday saw west-southwest winds of 10-18 miles per hour. Host Georgetown won the event with a 17-2 record.

The Washington College sailing team returns to competition March 19th and 20th at three regattas - the Truxtun Umsted (hosted by Navy), the UMBC Spring Open, and the St. Mary's Women's Intersectional.