This weekend Jack Swikart, Patty Andrade, Meaghan Harding, Christina Johns, Jose-Maria Barrero, and I traveled to the U.S. Naval Academy to sail the 2013 MAISA America Trophy. With a forecast for big breeze, FJ expert, Foster Collins, also joined us in our quest to finish in the top 8 and qualify for the national semi finals to be held in Hampton, VA in two weeks. Unfortunately, the tricky mid-April conditions proved challenging for our team; both Jack and I struggled with the strong MAISA fleet resulting in an 11th place finish ending our hopes at post-season competition.

On Saturday, after short on-shore delay, we began sailing in the Severn River in a shifty 5-10 knots. I started in the FJ sailing with Christina in A division and Jack sailed B with Meg and Patty splitting time in the front of the 420. 6 races were run before we broke for lunch. The highlight of the morning was Jack’s 2nd in race 4B. In the afternoon, the breeze shifted far left forcing PRO Gavin O’Hare to move the course out to Annapolis Harbor just off of Triton Point. As a team, we finished consistently around 12th as the breeze built in the afternoon. After race 9 we switched fleets. I sailed races 10, 11, and 12 in a 420 with Jose and Jack finished the day with Patty in an FJ. In total, 12 races were completed on Saturday.

With 6 races scheduled for Sunday we returned to the Robert Crown Jr. Sailing Center without any intention to let up. Jack and Patty sailed extremely well in B division with 5 top 10 finishes. In A division, Christina and I worked hard to improve on Saturday’s results. In race 15A we got off the line clean and sailed to a 4th place finish. Jose jumped in the boat as the breeze built in race 16. By noon we were sailing back to the dock with 18 races completed. We finished 11th overall falling slightly short of our goal.

Full results can be found at:
http://scores.collegesailing.org/s13/america/full-scores/

All in all it was a wonderful weekend spent at Navy. A huge thank you goes out to the Harding family who hosted us for the second time this season. Also, Foster was extremely helpful on land ensuring that our sailors had a hand on the dock. As always, our coach, Jack Kerr, provided grounded advice and helped us work through the tricky conditions.

As seniors, Jose, Christina and I tried to keep the mood light and enjoy our final regatta as much as possible. While it would have been nice to make it to Hampton, VA for semis, I speak for Jose and Christina when I say we have nothing to regret. While we originally joined to develop and compete, the level of friendship and camaraderie gained over the past 4 years is something to reflect on fondly.

Stay tuned as our younger sailors travel to Georgetown and Delaware University next weekend to round out the Spring Season.

See you on the water,

Mike Russom C’13