April 19, 2009
#20 WC Finishes 4th at America Trophy
Performance Qualifies Washington for ICSA Semifinals

BRONX, NY -- The 20th-ranked Washington College sailing team secured its second consecutive bid to the ICSA Co-Ed Dinghy National Semifinals with a fourth-place finish at this weekend's America Trophy, the MAISA Spring Co-Ed Dinghy Championships, hosted by New York Maritime.

Junior skipper Conner Blouin (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) and sophomore crew Caroline Hill (Tiverton, RI/Bishop Stang) were sixth in A Division, finishing in the top five in seven of the division's 13 races, including a first-place finish in the final race. Senior skipper Derek Packard (Excelsior, MN/Breck) and junior crew John MacLellan (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) were fifth in B Division. Packard and MacLellan were impressively consistent throughout the weekend, finishing in the top five in seven of the division's 13 races and not once finishing lower than ninth.

The top eight finishing teams at the regatta qualified for the ICSA National Semifinals. Second-ranked Georgetown was first, 13th-ranked New York Maritime was second, eighth-ranked Navy was third, fourth-ranked St. Mary's was fifth, ninth-ranked Hobart/William Smith was sixth, 18th-ranked Old Dominion was seventh, and Pennsylvania was eighth. Pennsylvania beat out ninth-place Merchant Marine for the final spot in the ICSA National Semifinals by one point.

Saturday's winds started as a light 5-7 knot westerly and shifted left before eventually coming in around 15 knots from the north for the final two races in each division. Eight races were completed in each division on Saturday. Sunday began with a light northerly that eventually clocked to the east and died. Conditions became marginal as the current built and the breeze died. Racing was postponed after 14 races in A Division in order to wait for the wind to return. A very light northerly only allowed for the completion of the 13th B Division race, so the 14th A Division race did not stand.

The Washington College sailing team is scheduled to compete at the Thompson Trophy, hosted by Coast Guard, and the Delaware Spring Open, next weekend. The ICSA Co-Ed Dinghy National Semifinals will be held May 2nd and 3rd in Boston.