CLEMSON, SC (September 20, 2014): In their second conference regatta of the Fall 2014 season, NC State sailors finished 5th of 12 teams at SAISA North Points #2 regatta hosted by Clemson University. With morning breeze of 5-7 knots, race organizers were able to complete five races in both divisions before the wind died down in the early afternoon.
NC State sailors heading downwind covering host Clemson at SAISA North Points #2
Photos (c) Jared Chrysostom
Sailing in his first college regatta, NC State freshman skipper Mark Thompson (Cary, NC) and veteran senior crew Annalisa Kristoffersen (Raleigh, NC) made a strong showing finishing the day 3rd in A-fleet behind the College of Charleston and a dominating performance by Georgia Tech senior skipper J.D. Reddaway who took the lead in the second race and held on to close out the day.
Light conditions and some ground to make up during B-fleet races. Photos (c) Jared Chrysostom
"This was another consistently competitive performance and I was really pleased to see one of our freshman skippers come charging out of the gate in his first college regatta," said NC State team captain David Rogers. "The fall season is shaping up nicely and I'm looking forward to our whole team's continued improvement."
NC State's Aaron Sherman and Kristin Neill leading the pack during Saturday's races.
Photos (c) Jared Chrysostom
Representing the SailPack in B-fleet was senior skipper Aaron Sherman (Bozeman, MT) and junior crew Kristin Neill (Greensboro, NC) who finished 5th in their fleet fending off a late challenge from host Clemson towards the end of the regatta. The B-fleet also filed and won a protest hearing on one race where they had not been given room at the mark, a great learning experience to successfully file a protest. Thanks to Ned Foster for his service in hearing the protest. Combined, the NC State sailing team finished the regatta with 51 points tied for 4th with our friends from UNC-Wilmington, but "The Dub" secured 4th position on a head-to-head tiebreak. The Cougars of the College of Charleston won the regatta. NC State is now in 5th overall in SAISA North season standings with three more conference regattas to go. Full scores and results are available online HERE.
