June 5, 2006

Charleston, South Carolina (June 4, 2006) - The Stanford Cardinal Coed Sailors earned 11th overall in the ICSA/Gill National Coed Dinghy Championship. The three-day regatta was the culmination of a 6-day event for the Coed Sailors, that included their 8th place finish at the ICSA/Layline Team Race Nationals.

Delays in the rotation, variously caused by weather systems skirting the area, a strong ebb tide with an east wind, and light breeze, saw the completion of 12 races by both A and B Divisions after two days of the regatta. The Cardinal's position volleyed from 10th to 13th during this first phase of the event. "It was a tough regatta," commented Head Coach Jay Kehoe. "Puffy, light air, cross current, not our strong suit" continued Assistant Coach John Pearce, "our inconsistency prevented us from cracking the top 10." A-Division skipper Brian Haines sailed the majority of the regatta with crew Kelly McKenna, until the breeze increased causing him to switch to Becca Levin. Eddie Conrad sailed B for the first 8 races with crew Anna Vu. On day two, Emery Wager and Taylor Grimes subbed into B-Division.

On the final day, the last 6 races of the series were sailed in 22 knots from the southwest and saw Stanford execute thier best sets of the entire regatta. With a number of top-ten finishes, Brian Haines sailing with Becca Levin, were able to climb to 10th place in A-Division. In B-Division, Emery Wager and Taylor Grimes ended the regatta with two 5th-place finishes for 13th in B-Division. "It was fun to watch our scores improve to pass South Alabama, USC and almost pass Hobart [last year's National Champion]," commented Pearce. All but Vu return for next year, and the team is anxious to settle some "unfinished business" after this Nationals, "the Women and Coed teams are very motivated for next year," explained Kehoe.

A one-hour program - the 2006 ICSA/Gill National Championship - with the action documented by Emmy-award winning sailing journalist Gary Jobson (Annapolis, Md.) will air on ESPNU, the network devoted entirely to college sports. The show is set to air June 10, 11, 19, 22 and 29. Visit www.jobsonsailing.com for local airtimes.

 ICSA/Gill Coed Dinghy National Championship
                            A    B  TOT
 1. College of Charleston 116   82  198
 2. Georgetown             83  121  204
 3. Harvard                98  147  245
 4. Tufts                 119  131  250
 5. Dartmouth             100  164  264
 6. St. Mary's of Maryland123  144  267
 7. Boston College        137  159  296
 8. Brown                 171  133  304
 9. U South Florida       145  165  310
10. Hobart/Wm Smith       175  169  344
11. Stanford              174  173  347
12. U Southern California 187  173  360
13. U South Alabama       209  152  361
14. Kings Point           249  204  453
15. NY Maritime           211  242  453
16. Washington            276  195  471
17. Minnesota             253  251  504
18. Wisconsin             254  280  534