Sailing Posts Trio of Top-Six Finishes

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.

Sophomores Ladd, Dylan Farrell (skipper), and Kevin Coakley (crew) partnered with freshmen Nick DiGiovanni (skipper), Christine Gosioco (crew), and Lena Episalla (crew) to race at the Savin Hill Yacht Club and in Dorchester Bay.

Due to the cooperative weather, event organizers fit all 45 races into Saturday despite the race being scheduled for Sunday as well.

“There was a really good breeze the whole day,” Ladd said.

Still, Harvard struggled in the morning, breaking for lunch with a 1-4 record. That mark put the team at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the field, which included Coast Guard, Boston College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Roger Williams, and Yale.

However, Harvard greatly improved its standing in the afternoon and ultimately placed fourth with a record of 9-6. Yale came in first, followed by Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Boston College.

“After lunch we got our stuff together and went 8-1,” Ladd said. “Overall we learned a lot and got better as a team. You could see the progression throughout the day.”

BU TEAM RACE INVITATIONAL

After an onshore delay waiting for wind and a late report time, Harvard began racing at the BU Team Race Invitational shortly after 11:30.

The day hardly improved when the Crimson hit the water, as the team finished fifth with a record of 1-7. Harvard’s lone win came against Roger Williams University in the second round.

Overall the races at the BU Team Race Invitational were close. As a light easterly built over the course of the day, ranging from two to seven knots, Boston University battled Bowdoin College for control of first and second. The Terriers ultimately triumphed because they held tiebreakers.

Despite the disheartening results, Harvard’s focus for the weekend was on gaining experience and learning from the racing process.

A trio of freshmen skippers–Nicholas Karnovsky, Jackson Wagner and Andrew Puopolo–united with senior crew Adam Brodheim and freshman crew members Divya Arya and Catherine Tang to race against six teams in FJ dinghies.

“We’ve been working on everyone learning a lot and getting better for our team next year,” Ladd said.