This past weekend, the co-ed sailing team competed at the Southern New England Team Race at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., while the women's team competed at the Dellenbaugh Trophy at Brown University. Both the co-ed team and the women finished seventh overall in their respective competitions.
For the co-eds, the racing style was unusual, as team racing is not the standard for the Dartmouth team. The Big Green usually competes with A and B divisions, entering a boat in each. Team racing is three boats against three boats, with the team with the lowest combined score winning the competition.
The first boat was manned by Matthew Habig '13 and Sam Williams '12. Ed Jude Glackin '11 and Carissa Crawford '14 sailed together, and Matt Wefer '14 raced with captain Ali Hiller '11 and John Renehan '13.There was a light breeze on the first day and a heavier breeze on the second day.
On the women's side, Chandler Salisbury '13 and Madilyn Gamble '13 represented the Big Green in the A division while Kelsey Wheeler '14, Sarah Peck '14 and Margaret Wilson '13 sailed in the B division.
Dartmouth's long winter is a disadvantage because the team does not have open water to sail on, according to Habig. The team worked around this by taking a training trip over spring break to Norfolk, Va., and sailing at Old Dominion University. By all accounts, the trip was very successful and beneficial to the team.
"It was a really great time as well," Habig said. "In addition to getting to sail all day every day and shake the rust off, we were really able to spend quality time together as a team, which is always fun."
"We've got a busy spring season ahead of us, but we're really excited," captain Peter Hughes '11 said. "The trip did a lot for us, and I think that we're in a very good position to make a serious run this spring. The co-ed team hasn't been to Nationals recently, but we're looking to not only compete but also perform at our potential, which is very high."
Hiller said this season will provide many opportunities for the team to reach its full potential and be a competitive force on the national scale.
"The feeling of placing eighth at Nationals in 2009 was definitely one of my proudest moments at Dartmouth so far," she said.
Sam Andrew '11 said the team prepares for its important spring competitions with physically taxing training that it undergoes during the winter. Sometimes the training seems like "it never ends," Andrew said.
Last year, Williams, who also sailed with Hughes, was selected along with teammate Bernard Roesler '12 to participate on the United States National Development Team, located in Miami, Fla.
For Williams and Roesler, transitioning back to the water will be nearly seamless because of their time in Miami.
"It was really a great experience being able to come right out of our fall season, sail all winter and be ready to go for the spring. I'm expecting big things from the team this season," Williams said.
The Big Green will travel to Boston next weekend, with the co-ed and women's teams competing at the Marchiando/Friis Team Race held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tufts University. The women will also compete in the President's Trophy at Boston University.
