One of the most successful teams at Harvard is unknown by the average Crimson fan. One of the most successful teams at Harvard is also Harvard's only co-ed Varsity team. Half of one of the most successful teams at Harvard is comprised of walk-ons with no sailing experience. One of the most successful teams at Harvard has won two of three National Championship races this year, only they have done their winning so quietly that few have noticed. The Harvard sailing team is a study in just how far hard work, skill, cooperation and camaraderie can take you.

The Crimson generally field three coed boats at an event like the New England Regatta., held April 28-29. Each boat has a skipper and a crew member, and they race in fields, with the first place vote receiving one point and the goal being, like golf, to have the least possible team score.

Harvard's team, while comprised of many walk-ons, is very talented. The Crimson can boast of having three All-Americans on their roster in Junior Captains Sean Doyle and Susan Bonney, and junior Margaret Gill.

In addition to All-American honors, the Crimson sailors have received individual accolades as well. In a vote by their sailing peers throughout New England, Doyle was chosen as the best coed skipper, with Gill taking 4th place and sophomore Clay Bischoff taking 6th place. Among coed crew, Bonney garnered a 6th place finish and sophomore Michelle Yu was selected 7th.

Going into New England Regatta, Doyle and Yu were paired in one boat, Gill and Bonney manning the second boat, and Bischoff and sophomore Lema Kikuchi in the third.

Both captains went out of their way to highlight the important contributions brought by the team of Bischoff and Kikuchi.

"Clay Bischoff and Lema Kikuchi really stepped up this year to fill in the spot on our race team that was vacated by an All-American duo who graduated last spring," Doyle said. "The result was a team with strong individual links and the ability to trust each other to makes the right moves," he said.

The concept of a strong team made of strong individuals trusting each other is something that Doyle has seen in practice all year long. As evidence of the team's character, Doyle cited the New England Team Championships as indicative of the character of the team. On that day, Harvard lost their first race but rebounded, winning every single remaining race that day. Doyle could also cite another example of Harvard's toughness.