November 15, 2009
#16 WC Finishes 14th at Atlantic Coast Champs
15 of Top 20 College Sailing Teams in Country Compete

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- The 16th-ranked Washington College sailing team finished 14th of 18 schools at the talent-laden Atlantic Coast Co-Ed Dinghy Championships, hosted by Harvard, this weekend. The Atlantic Coast Co-Ed Dinghy Championships brings together the top collegiate sailing teams from the east-coast conferences of MAISA, NEISA, and SAISA. This year's event was limited to 10 races in each division on Saturday due to a lack of wind on Sunday.

Senior skipper Conner Blouin (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) and freshman crew Matt Lawler (Alexandria, VA/Christchurch School) were 11th in A Division, winning the fifth A Division race. Sophomore skipper Mike Whitford (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker School) and junior crew Caroline Hill (Tiverton, RI/Bishop Stang, MA) were 17th in B Division.

Fifteen of the 18 schools competing at the regatta are currently ranked in the Sailing World Co-Ed Top 20. The three schools who are not appeared in the "others receiving votes" category of the poll. The current top 12 ranked schools in the country all competed at the regatta. Fourth-ranked Boston College won the regatta, followed by sixth-ranked Brown in second and third-ranked St. Mary's (MD) in third.

Saturday's races sailed in 4-12 knot breezes from the East and with plenty of rain.

The Atlantic Coast Co-Ed Dinghy Championships represented the end of the fall schedule for the Washington College sailing team.