Joseph R. Duplin Women's Team Race

Duplin Trophy Day 1

We started with a crisp but sunny day with wind from the NNW at 5 to 10 knots. There were medium shifts throughout the day, but the wind spun 180 degrees around 3:00pm. The direction continued to change until about 3:30 when it settled from the East. Race Committee started races 25-27 but was forced to abandon the entire set when the wind shifted 90 degrees to the North. After the set, the wind completely died and we called racing for the day around 4:15. We will start Day 2 with a re-sail of races 25-27.

No breakdowns to report. Two protests were filed and are being decided this evening.

Sunday morning greeted sailors with a gray sky and snow showers. As always, the women brought fierce competition coming into day 2 of the Duplin Women's Team Race. The Mystic provided puffy conditions for the morning session, with wind ranging from 8-12 knots from N to the NW. We started the morning with a resail of races 25-27, and finished the first round robin by 11:30am.

The boats came in for a quick lunch break while the race organizers broke up the fleet for final 6 and bottom 3 round robins. The afternoon conditions made for exciting racing, with winds from 10-18 knots and shifts from NNW to E. Some of the big puffs coming down the lake caused epic capsizes and even more epic comebacks. Dartmouth sailed an incredible final round, winning all races in the top 6 round. In the end, the women of Yale persevered with key wins to crown them the champions of this year's Duplin Women's Team Race.

This regatta began in 1980 to honor Joe Duplin, Tufts Sailing Master from 1967-1980. He was an impactful coach, incredible mentor, and former Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. The event started as a fleet race, and eventually transitioned to team racing in 2009. The Jumbos still uphold the legend he left behind, carrying on his teachings through their racing during and after college.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Reid Van Gorder for running races on Saturday, and to Zach Orlov for running races on Sunday. Another thank you goes out to Bill Healy, Yale's sailing coach, and Allison Jolly, coach of USF, for hearing protests on Saturday and Sunday. Four protests were filed throughout the weekend, with three being disallowed and one resulting in a DSQ on Saturday.

Thanks to all the frozen Jumbos who helped with race committee, and the thawed Jumbos helping on shore as the pit crew.

A final thank you goes out to all the competitors for sticking through to end for exciting racing in challenging conditions.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE!