An Exciting Win - 4-20-09

Two New Trier squads traveled to Minnesota for the International School of MN Team Race regatta. Nine schools sent squads; there were twelve teams in all. The NT squads were:

Squad 1
Drew/Amy
Steph/Cole
Mike Cornew/ Kim
Scott Bartuska

Squad 2
Justin N./Hannah Wittleder
Lizzy/Grant
Mitchell/John MacAdam
Francis Brown

In a team racing format teams compete in a round robin on Saturday in which each team sails against every other. In this format, a twelve team field means each team races eleven teams and the regatta staff needs to complete 66 races. Saturday the teams checked in at 8:00, started racing at 9:30 AM and finished at 6PM - a very full day. In the first round robin NT 1, which was the club's more experienced racers, sailed very well, getting better each race. They ended the day 11-0. In the Championship flight Sunday NT 1 sailed to a 6-0 record to take the regatta, 17-0. NT2 gained valuable experience in this racing format sailing against several very talented teams and put their Saturday experiences to good use on Sunday.

Lake Forest, Minnetonka HS (MN) and a combined team that sails out of the Milwaukee Yacht Club proved to be very tough competitors. Loyola Academy and the three Michigan teams (Grosse Pointe North and South, and Grosse Ile) were not in Minnesota and their absence was noted. Each is a very strong team and NT needs to be ready for them this weekend and next. They all have varsity sailors who have a good deal of race experience in MISSA.

We posted some photos of the last weekend on Sailgroove.org. I have a few videos we'll post as soon as I figure out that technology!

Looking ahead:

The team is moving into an incredibly important two weeks as it trains for the National Qualifiers. Very few teams can run a practice as competitive as New Trier's; with the ability to put twelve boats out for practice every day, each race replicates true race pressures. The benefit of these practices was evident this past weekend as NT demonstrated terrific boat handling and race tactics. You can only do that when you have quality practices.

The coaches have selected the following sailors to represent New Tier:

Seniors: Steph Hudson, Michael Cornew, Amy Baxter
Juniors: Drew Shea, Kim Johnson, Mark Gargula, Scott Bartuska
Sophomore: Cole Rice

Friday the team will travel to Grosse Pointe Yacht Club for the Mallory Qualifier. This is the MISSA Double Handed Championship regatta and the top two teams will go to the ISSA National Championship in St Petersburg FL. I will try to update this space as often as I can.

Following that event is the Baker Team Race Qualifier which will be held at Belmont Yacht Club. I'll send a memo out later this week.

Congratulations to the sailors who represented their team at the ISM regatta. Last weekend was the result of a true team effort. All Sailors: please make the effort to get to practice and push the team to get ready for the next regatta.

DS