Results
CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Maritime College dinghy sailing team began its Spring schedule on March 1-2 by taking part in the Tom Noble Team Race, held at Washington College. The Privateers finished second in the overall standings after going 5-2 at the event.
Eight teams were entered in the competition, and each sailed head-to-head against the other seven. Maritime earned victories over Delaware, Drexel, Merchant Marine, Virginia Tech and Washington College, while falling to Hampton and Penn State. The Privateers posted the same record as Virginia Tech, but were awarded second place by virtue of their head-to-head win, which came in Maritime's second race.
After dropping their opener against Penn State, the Privateers rallied to beat the Hokies 10-11.
Isabelle Gautier (Pascagoula, MS) and
Benjamin Bettinger (Macedon, NY) crossed the line first, while Maritime's other two duos—
Jeremy Lunati (Stony Brook, NY) and
Andrew McCarthy (Hamden, CT),
Luke Barker (Rocky River, OH) and
John Donnelly (New City, NY)—took fourth and fifth to secure the one-point triumph. That was followed by a loss to Hampton before the Privateers wrapped up Day 1 with a 1-2-3 finish against Delaware.
Maritime received a forfeit against Drexel, so its first race of Day 2 wasn't until the afternoon, when the Privateers faced Merchant Marine. Two Maritime pairs got out in front, while Barker and McCarthy held back to allow them to separate from the field. The strategy worked, as Gautier and Donnelly ended up first, with Lunati and
Juliana Sarich grabbing second. Barker and McCarthy then came in fourth to clinch the win and move the Privateers to 4-2 entering their matchup with Washington College.
Knowing a victory would likely mean second place overall, Maritime overcame an early stumble by Gautier and Donnelly to go 2-3-4. Lunati and Sarich finished just ahead of the Shoremen's second boat, giving the Privateers an exciting 9-12 victory. That result, combined with Hampton's win against Penn State, secured second place overall for Maritime.
While the coed squad is off until March 15-16, when it returns to Washington College for another weekend of team racing, the Privateer women will be in action this weekend. Maritime travels to the Christopher Newport Women's Fleet Race on March 8-9.
