33rd Lynne Marchiando Regatta

The 33rd Lynne Marchiando Trophy recognizes a former MIT sailor who sailed on the varsity team for all 4 years while enrolled. Sailing was very meaningful to Lynne as she also became the student leader of NEISA. The event has changed in format numerous times but is now attracting top teams from NE and out of conference teams Stanford, Michigan and St Mary's joined the field this year.

Crew races kept the sailors off the Charles River until just before noon. The delay allowed the breeze to get into the east and build nicely to 12-14 knots. As the sun retreated the rain began and the temps started to drop. Only one round robin was completed with 120 races scored. Amazing duty was served by the volunteer umpires Isaac Stoner, Kevin Dooley, John Pratt, Brooks Reed, Jeff Dusek, John Tagliamonte. RC duty was led by David Larson, Hugh Dougherty, Libby , Megan Mckneelly, Matt Lindblad, and Franny Charles. Wally Corwin and Nicholas Schoeder handled dock duty to keep all 36 boats operating well.

There will be a four team sail off round of 6 races in Fireflies to break the tie to decide who gets into the top 8. Tomorrow will eventually see the top 8 race against each other in Fireflies and the bottom 8 will race in FJs. Total races scheduled tomorrow will be 62.

A cold rain was torrential to start the day and the breeze was 5-8 from the NNE. Eventually the rain diminished but never went away and the breeze built to 15 by the end of the double round robins. The Stanford Cardinals prevailed winning the Lynne Marchiando Trophy in convincing fashion after 176 races. Mark Dineen joined the umpire team today. Harvard Crimson won the consolation division. Although it was brisk and bone numbing everyone seemed to enjoy the format with both Fireflies and FJs and the continuous team racing with rolling 2 minute sequences.