The Bowdoin Orient

November 10, 2000
Volume CXXXII, Number 9

Sailing wraps up very successful season

by Jennifer Laraia, STAFF WRITER

   Although the number of regattas this season seemed enormous only two months ago, the Bowdoin sailors are now putting away their gear until the spring. While the season seemed to pass too quickly, the team pulled off some great performances and gained valuable experience in their sport. This season was one of transition, as Thomas Sitzmann took over the reigns as head coach, and as a talented group of sophomores moved into the forefront. First-years learned the ropes and demonstrated great potential for future contribution to the team. The regattas of the past few weekends mark the culmination of a productive season.
    Bowdoin sailors were in top form Homecoming weekend and did some showing off for visiting alumni when they hosted the True North 5. It proved to be an exciting day, as Bowdoin had some great individual performances.
    First-year skipper Steve Lampert and crew Laura Hutton '04 earned first place; unfortunately for Lampert, a Providence sailor "did not see" his boat and put a large hole in the side. Oren Abeles '01 and crew Shaun Golding '01 took fourth place. Katy Adikes '04 and Max Seaton '04 earned an impressive fifth place (this was also the first time the pair competed together). Also, True North 5 marked Adikes's debut as a skipper.
    Skipper Ben Peterson '04 and Lizzy Jones '04 took seventh place, and although Tufts captured first place in the regatta, Bowdoin sailors had commendable individual performances.
    At the New England Series, hosted by MIT, Bowdoin earned fifth place with 100 points. Ryan Cauley '03 and Melanie Keene '03 sailed in the A division and fought their way to a fifth place finish in their division. Keene was happy with the team's day on the Charles: "Overall, the sailing was very enjoyable, with fun competition and notable improvements on everyone's part."
    In the B division, C.W. Estoff '01 and Amy Titcomb '04 earned a fourth place finish. Heather Honiss '03 went to the regatta as a coach and was pleased with the team's performance. She noted that the winds were inconsistent and that the favored side shifted from race to race. "There were a few exceptions, but generally everyone's starts were solid and tacks were fast," praised Honiss.
    The Bowdoin sailors also performed well at the Oberg Trophy at Harvard. Tyler Dunphy '03 and crew Ashley Anderson '03 sailed in the A division; their 85 race points put them in eighth place in their division. Skipper Allie Binkowski '03 and crew Francesca Whalen '03 sailed to a seventh-place finish in the B division. Combined, the Bowdoin team took eighth place. As this regatta had a very talented field of competitors, Coach Tom Sitzmann said he was very pleased with their finish.
    On October 27and 28, Bowdoin competed in the Schell Trophy at MIT. This proved to be a tough regatta, as Bowdoin took 15th place. Mitch O'Neill '01, Honiss '03, and Matt Peters '04 sailed in the A division, while Dunphy '03, Laura Windecker '03, and Anderson '03 competed in the B division. Bowdoin also sent a group to the Nickerson Trophy at URI. There, two boats of first years took tenth place, and more importantly, had a great learning experience. Lampert '04 and Hutton '04 took ninth in the A division, while Adikes '04 and Max Seaton '04 placed thirteenth in the B division. This past weekend, the sailors took second place in the Invite at UNH. Dunphy and Anderson sailed in the A division, while Kate Mendenhall '01 and Melissa Bailey '01 competed in the B division.
   Bowdoin also competed at MIT, where the team captured second place overall. Bridgid O'Connor '02 and Holly Noble '01 took fifth place in the A division, while Abeles and Golding won the B division. This past Saturday and Sunday, Bowdoin sent eight sailors to the Mike Horn Trophy at Harvard. Bowdoin took sixth place overall and also had some impressive individual performances. Binkowski and Whalen took fourth place in the A division. Cauley and Keene earned sixth place in the B division. Windecker and Titcomb sailed to a seventh place finish in the C division. Lampert and Hutton came in fourth in the D division. Binkowski commented: "Overall it was a fun regatta and a great learning experience."

A scenic regatta on the water. (File Photo/Bowdoin Orient)