ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Sailing coaches
Kevin Reali and
Zack Marks have continued a tradition that has fallen in line with other Eckerd College intercollegiate sports after conducting a successful alumni regatta that welcomed back former student-athletes.
A total of 19 alumni gathered at the Wallace Boathouse for what turned out to be a great day on the waters of Boca Ciega Bay. With the breeze ranging out of the north and northeast, shifty conditions had all participants on their toes.
With a combination of past (alumni) and present (current Triton sailors) competing head-to-head for bragging rights, the top three finishers were tightly-contested.
Arthur Woody Boldgett ('09) with Sheehan Commette ('11) sailed to first-place honors followed by Cara Vavolotis ('10) and Megan Mahoney ('10) in the runner-up spot. Placing third was Michael Wheldon ('11) with current junior
Meredith Weber.
An awards ceremony was later held at the Triton's Pub on campus to celebrate and reminisce.
The EC coaches additionally expressed their thanks to the current undergraduate student-athletes who assisted with making the event a success.
During the same weekend of the alumni regatta, the Tritons finished fourth at the third SAISA South Points series event in Tampa while the women's unit sailed to a near top-half finish at the Navy Women's Open in Maryland.
Most recently, the Tritons improved in the fourth SAISA South Points series regatta with a third-place showing in Sarasota while another trip to Annapolis, Md., resulted in a 15th-place effort out of 20 in another talented field.
In a late addition to the busy spring schedule, the women also set sail nearby at the St. Mary's Women's Open.
The Tritons improved their standing, jumping from 11th of 17 on Saturday to the top half of the field on Sunday with an eighth-place performance.
Eckerd is slated for an upcoming triple-booked weekend with travel planned to the Admiral Moore Team Race in New York, the MAISA/SAISA in Hampton, Va., and the SAISA South Points #5 in Miami.
