The MAISA Team Race Challenge last weekend was Penn’s third and final team race of the spring season, marking a significant improvement in performance over the previous two team race regattas. As the qualifier to the Prosser Trophy, the qualifier for Team Race Nationals, the stakes this weekend were higher, but we were ready to take the challenge. Senior Jack Swikart, freshmen Drew Gallagher and Joe Egan skippered, while senior Pati Andrade, junior Foster Collins, sophomores Catie Hopkins and Cary Kane, and freshman Max Joyce crewed.

Saturday was uneventful as 25-35 knot winds with gusts up to 40kts necessitated an immediate AP, which was eventually followed by the abandonment of racing for the day.

The start time for Sunday was moved up, and racing started at 0915. Wind was light and variable from the West/Northwest, but built as the day progressed to cap off at 15-25 knots. The first round robin was completed with an hour to spare before the 1500 deadline, the results of which saw Penn in second place. Despite the time constraint, the Race Committee attempted to sail an additional round robin for the final four, but was unable to complete even four races before the deadline. After a day of great racing, we were very pleased with our performance over the last few weeks.

Final results were taken from the original round robin, but unfortunately Penn and GWU met in the unfinished final four with GWU winning. This race counted for a sail-off and resulted in Penn falling to third place, and not qualifying for the Prosser berths. However, we all felt very accomplished with how well we’d sailed and how much we’d improved in the past few weeks.

We had another great weekend at my house, and thanks to Catie for driving her car all weekend so we could fit a full squad!

Drew Gallagher ’18