ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Headlined by a perfect “B” division score and team title at the Old South regatta in Gainesville, the Eckerd College coed sailing program also traveled to another team racing event to cap the weekend.
The Tritons went head-to-head as part of a 10-team field at the Bob Bavier Team Race in Charleston, S.C., tying for eighth with the University of Miami and the University of Michigan.
Eckerd held on for a wire-to-wire victory at the Old South among seven schools in competition, including the host Gators.
“We have a week of solid forecasts showing and a huge weekend coming up with four events,” said EC Head Coach
Kevin Reali. “Our aspirations for improving in the team race were centered on the start of the race. We put a lot a lot of focus in it this week and didn't see a whole lot of change, but we'll be doubling our efforts.”
The Bob Bavier Team Race featured a total of nine races as the Tritons finished 1-8 with matchups focused around a strong group of projected national contenders.
Eckerd defeated Miami as Georgetown University and Yale University each finished with a 10-2 overall record.
At the Old South, the Tritons “B” division sailed strongly to account for the best possible outcome of eight points in the team standings with the proverbial “picket fence” score.
Sophomore College of Charleston transfer
Melany Johnson and freshman skipper
Ben Chafee combined to win all eight races for the line of “1's” across the score sheet.
The EC “A” division tallied 30 points as the squad had a final margin of five points from runner-up Jacksonville University.
“(The University of) Florida sails on a small lake known for tricky, shifty and inconsistent conditions,” said Reali. “The wind was more consistent than normal and we had a good day of sailing. I had sent a team that I thought could (and were expected to) win.”
The Tritons' coed unit is triple booked again this upcoming weekend, hosting the Eckerd Intersectional in Boca Ciega Bay. A separate fleet will also set sail at the Graham Hall Team Race in Annapolis, Md., and South Points #2 regatta in Winter Park.
Eckerd opened the spring season by finishing third of 20 in the first SAISA series event in its home waters.
The EC women will also sail in their second event of the spring in Charleston, S.C., to compete in the Charleston Women's Open.
