Wrapping up its first month of spring competition, the Harvard sailing team competed in three regattas over the weekend–two local races, the NEISA/MAISA Team Race at Boston College and the BU Team Race Invitational, as well as the Friis Trophy Team Race in Connecticut.
In different locations, Crimson boats faced different challenges, but the team finished in the top six at all three regattas.
FRIIS TROPHY TEAM RACE
It was a veteran affair this weekend as Harvard sent three experienced pairs down to Coast Guard to sail in the competitive Jan T. Friis Trophy Team Race.
Three older skippers, senior Andrew Mollerus, senior Marek Zaleski and sophomore Nick Sertl, joined three older crews, senior Sydney Karnovsky, junior Julia Lord, and junior Nomin-Erdene Jagdagdorj, to race in Connecticut.
The old hands proved steady, as the Crimson placed in sixth, or the middle of the pack, with an overall record of 5-6. Harvard competed against nine other teams, namely Fordham, Dartmouth, Coast Guard, Brown, George Washington, MIT, and Roger Williams.
“We sailed fast and beat some good teams but we were hampered by a couple close losses to average teams,” Sertl said.
The weather conditions were close to ideal with light wind throughout Saturday. Only the first 10 races were sailed in a dying northerly, while the rest of the competition enjoyed a perfect southerly.
The prevalence of veterans was unusual for a team that boasts more freshmen than any other class level.
“It’s really cool to be on a young team,” freshman skipper Taylor Gavula said. “I feel lucky to have this experience, and we’re going to try really hard to qualify for nationals.”
NEISA/MAISA TEAM RACE
The Boston College Team Race is normally a two-day race, stretched over Saturday and Sunday. But this past weekend, ideal weather conditions enabled the regatta to finish in one day.
“Usually we get there on Saturday around nine or ten and sail until four or five,” sophomore skipper Taylor Ladd said. “[This Saturday] we just stayed a little longer and sailed until six.”
That was exactly as much time as Harvard needed to overcome a rough morning and rebound in the afternoon to finish in fourth place.
Throughout the event, the Crimson--which raced in FJ vessels--fielded a young group of sailors.
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