Aug 29, 2023 @ 15:28:05 EDT
We can't play this sport without the help of amazing volunteers and umpires. HUGE thanks to ChUmp John Pearce, and umpires Scott Booth '6, Jimmy Kennedy '17, Mikey Gemperline '17, and Riley Eger '17. Thanks also to alumni Abby '16 and James Cook P'16 for helping out on the Race Committee alongside underclassmen Beccy Anderson '18, Peter Forsberg '19 and Will Starkey '21. Many thanks to Sail Newport/Kim Hapgood and Brown for lending powerboats.
Racing got going around 11:30 in a pretty funky, light Northwesterly breeze that couldn't decide between West and North all day. Late afternoon the breeze dropped to the point where boats could not long battle the insane ebb tide, and we called racing for the day. 33 races were sailed. One resail between BC and RWU was sailed due to a breakdown. And one resail is scheduled for tomorrow.
This regatta honors former Tufts faculty adviser, Jan Friis, and historically has been sailed in Larks on Upper Mystic Lake in Medford, MA. We last hosted this event in 2015 when the Mystic Lake was still frozen!
The Umpires and RC were total troopers out there today. HUGE thanks again to ChUmp John Pearce HWS '04, and umpires Scott Booth '6, Jimmy Kennedy '17, Mikey Gemperline '17, and Riley Eger '17 and joining us today Ben Greenfield BU and Kelsey Wheeler DART. Thanks also to alumni Abby '16 and James Cook P'16 for helping out on the Race Committee alongside underclassmen Beccy Anderson '18, Peter Forsberg '19, Will Starkey '21, and Ariana Smaldone '20. Our crew who sailed the Central yesterday, Paul de Souza '21, Darcy Lavoie, and Riley Read '21 also were on hand to facilitate on shore operations. Many thanks to Sail Newport/Kim Hapgood and Brown for lending powerboats. Lastly, thanks to Justin Assad for serving as the ICSA rep.
Racing got going promptly at 10:15 in a stiff, cold Northerly breeze. The breeze clocked in the mid to high teens all day. Occasionally it snowed. Pretty classic NE winter sailing conditions. We finished the round robin. After a three-way sail off to lock in the final two spots into the top 6 was sailed, we were able to finish the Top 6/Bottom 4 rounds despite the finish dinghy capsizing and other challenges.
