With its manpower spread thinly in four separate regattas, Harvard's sailing team still managed to capture one race, and to finish second and third in other major invitationals last weekend.

After disastrous opening meets, in which Harvard finished tenth and twelfth, the team sent six sailors to a three-crew team race at Tufts and withstood challenges from Boston University and Tufts to win the event with seven points. B.U. ended up with five points and Tufts with three.

Harvard relied upon the outstanding individual sailing of Jim Harper and Tony Parker for its showing in the other regattas.

Best Skipper

In a Finn Singlehanded Invitational Meet hosted by Harvard on Sunday, Harper compiled 58 points to become high-point skipper in the race.

In the team totals, Harper combined with junior John Bullard captured third place with 94 points, finishing behind Northeastern's 102 and Providence's 99.

The team's most impressive performance was its second place finish at the two-day Owen Trophy Regatta in New London.

Parker duplicated Harper's feat by nabbing top-point honors in the competitive A-division with 115. He also soundly beat Navy in his last race to preserve Harvard's second position.

The final standing had perennial champion Coast Guard Academy in first place with 244 points, Harvard with 211, M.I.T. with 204, Navy with 202, and the other eight schools trailing.

The team will compete in three invitationals this weekend, including the Geiger Trophy Regatta, the Oberg Trophy Regatta, and the Varsity Regatta at Brown. In the Oberg race the Crimson will be vying for the Greater Boston Championships.