April 26, 2009
#17 Washington Wins Delaware Spring Open
WC Also 11th at Thompson Trophy

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The 17th-ranked Washington College sailing team won the five-team Delaware Spring Open in dominating fashion this weekend, winning six of the 10 A Division races and seven of the 10 B Division races. Washington was also 11th of 18 teams at the Thompson Trophy, hosted by Coast Guard, this weekend.

At the Delaware Spring Open, freshman skipper Michael Whitford (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker School) and freshman crew Hannah Beekman (Wakefield, RI/South Kingstown) won the first six A Division races and finished second, second, fifth, and fourth in the final four to win the division by six points over Maryland. In B Division, freshman skipper John Hartz (Orlean, VA/Highland School) and sophomore crew Rhiana Wells (Wyomissing, PA/The Hill School) won the first three races, were fourth in the next one, won the fifth race, were second in the sixth, won the next two, were second in the ninth race, and won the tenth race. Hartz and Wells won B Division by 14 points over Maryland.

Washington won the regatta by a total of 20 points over second-place Maryland. St. John's was third, UMBC fourth, and Delaware fifth. Winds were from the west-southwest at three-to-five knots.

At the Thompson Trophy, junior skipper Conner Blouin (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) and sophomore crew Caroline Hill (Tiverton, RI/Bishop Stang) were 11th in A Division. Senior skipper Derek Packard (Excelsior, MN/Breck) and junior crew John MacLellan (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) finished 13th in B Division.

Top-ranked Boston College won the Thompson Trophy, followed by eighth-ranked Harvard in second and sixth-ranked St. Mary's in third. Saturday's races were sailed in a south-southwest breeze of 6-12 knots. Sunday's races were sailed in tough conditions with winds from the north, west-northwest, west, and southwest.

The Washington College sailing team returns to action next weekend at the ICSA National Semifinals in Boston, MA.