April 10, 2005
Washington Wins WAC Women's Open
Third Women's Regatta Victory in School History

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- Washington College won a women's sailing regatta for the third time in program history and the first time since the fall of 2000 as the Shorewomen won the WAC Women's Open Saturday on the Chester River. The Washington sailing team also finished sixth at the Captain Prosser Trophy, hosted by Hobart/William Smith, and finished ninth of 16 teams at the Maryland Spring Open this weekend.

At the WAC Women's Open, sophomore skipper Vanessa Anderson (Narragansett, RI/The Prout School) and freshman crew Tonie Domino (Crownsville, MD/Old Mill) finished first in A Division, while freshman skipper Meredith Dodd (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) and freshman crew Meredith Bluefeld (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion) were first in B Division. Anderson and Domino finished first in five of the seven races in A Divisions, while Dodd and Bluefeld were first in four of the seven B Division races. Assistant coach Charles Shade guided the Shorewomen to victory.

Shade also coached Washington to a first place finish in the MAISA Team Race in February. That win was Washington's first-ever home victory.

A full rotation of races was completed on Saturday at the WAC Women's Open. With the forecast for Sunday poor for sailing, the decision was made to limit the regatta to one day. The races were held in a 10-15 knot wind oscillating down the Chester River, temperatures in the 70s, and blue skies. According to Coach Shade, "The conditions gave racers challenging long courses, a pleasant disposition, and a nice tan."

Washington's previous victories in women's regattas came in March of 1999 at the Princeton Women's Spring Open and in October of 2000 at the Princeton Women's Fall Open. This weekend was the first time the Shorewomen have won the WAC Women's Open.

At the Captain Prosser Trophy, the MAISA Team Race Championships, Washington finished sixth of seven teams. Senior skipper Colin Robertson (Annapolis, MD/St. Mary's) and freshman crew Nicole Luckett (Centreville, MD/Chestertown Christian Academy), junior skipper Carl Horrocks (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) and freshman crew Alexandria Starks (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan), and senior skipper Chad Hillyer (Summit, NJ/Morristown-Beard) and freshman crew Hanna Lee (Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) represented Washington at the Captain Prosser Trophy.

Fourth-ranked Hobart/William Smith won the Captain Prosser Trophy, followed by third-ranked Georgetown in second and eighth-ranked St. Mary's (MD) in third. Twenty two races were sailed in very light conditions over the two day regatta on Seneca Lake. The races were sailed in a wind of 3-6 knots from the south on Saturday and from the south, west, and north on Sunday.

At the Maryland Spring Open, freshman skipper Chase Hillyer (Summit, NJ/Morristown-Beard) and freshman crew Rory Carlin finished sixth in A Division, while sophomore skipper Matt Lyman (Salem, OR/South Salem) and freshman crew Jackie Olt (Oyster Bay, NY/Kent School, CT) were 11th in B Division.

Navy won the Maryland Spring Open. Saturday's races were held in an oscillating breeze of 0-5 knots from the north to the northwest. Sunday's races were postponed for a lack of breeze until 10:00 a.m. Races were then sailed in a breeze of 4-8 knots from the west.

Next weekend, the Washington College sailing team will compete at the Admiral's Cup, hosted by Kings Point, and the Arrigan Memorial, hosted by Georgetown.