September 17, 2006
#18 WC 2nd at NY Maritime, 3rd at OCC
Washington Also Places 16th at Nevins Trophy

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The 18th-ranked Washington College sailing team competed at three regattas this weekend, the OCC Fall Open, a MAISA regatta hosted by Ocean County, the New York Maritime Open, a MAISA regatta, and the Nevins Trophy, an intersectional regatta hosted by Merchant Marine. Washington finished second of 12 teams at the New York Maritime Open, third of 15 teams at the OCC Fall Open, and 16th of 20 at the Nevins Trophy.

At the New York Maritime Open, sophomore skipper Nick Larmore (Wilmette, IL/New Trier) and sophomore crew Derek Packard (Excelsior, MN/Breck) placed third in A Division, while freshman skipper Patrick Clancy (Scituate, MA/Boston College HS) and sophomore crew Kirsten Harbom (Clarksville, MD/Reservoir) were second in B Division. Larmore and Packard finished first in two A Division races and second in another, while Clancy and Harbom were first in two races, second in another, and fourth in the other B Division race. Only four races were sailed in each division.

Second-ranked Hobart/William Smith won the New York Maritime Open, while 17th-ranked Navy was third. Saturday's racing began with five to 10 knot winds out of the northeast. Two races were sailed per division on Saturday, but then the wind died and did not return. On Sunday, the breeze never completely filled and only two races were sailed in each division before lunch. Racing was officially stopped at 2:00 p.m.

At the OCC Fall Open, freshman skipper Conner Blouin (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) and junior crew Alexandria Starks (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) won A Division for Washington, marking their second consecutive divisional win. Blouin and Starks won B Division at the Riley Cup last weekend in Blouin's collegiate debut. Blouin and Starks finished in the top three in 11 of the 14 A Division races at the OCC Fall Open, winning five of those races. Junior skipper Chase Hillyer (Summit, NJ/Morristown-Beard) and junior crew Meredith Bluefeld (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion) were seventh in B Division.

Twentieth-ranked Pennsylvania won the OCC Fall Open, while 16th-ranked Merchant Marine was second. Saturday's races were sailed in a northeast breeze of 10 knots which died to three knots in the afternoon. Sunday's races were sailed in a light and shifty breeze from the east.

At the Nevins Trophy, junior skipper Alex Hood (Newport, RI/Portsmouth Abbey) and junior crew Shrijana Puri (Bethesda, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) finished 11th in A Division. Junior skipper Parker Mitchell (Malibu, CA/Malibu) and junior crew Tonie Domino (Crownsville, MD/Old Mill) were 14th in B Division, while junior Meredith Dodd (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) sailed lasers in C Division and finished 20th.

Top-ranked Boston College won the Nevins Trophy, followed by 12th-ranked Georgetown in second and Roger Williams in third. Five races in each division were completed on Saturday in a northeasterly breeze starting at eight knots and dying to four knots just before lunch. One race in each division were attempted after lunch, but all were cancelled due to lack of wind. Only two races in each division were completed on Sunday as the wind was once again out of the north at five to six knots, dying to three to four knots before racing was postponed at noon. Racing was cancelled at 2:00 p.m.

The WC sailors will compete at the Laser Qualifier South, hosted by Navy, at the Senator's Cup, hosted by St. Mary's, and at a MAISA Regatta hosted by Navy next weekend.