Coach Pizzo's Report - October 14

The Polar Bears pulled off a stunning victory at the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, and placed at the other two events they competed in this weekend.

Bowdoin won the J/105 division at the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, hosted by the Storm Trysail Club at Larchmont Yacht Club in New York. The event, with about 300 college sailors from 32 schools competing on 40 borrowed keelboats across 5 divisions, is the largest intercollegiate event in the country. Bowdoin sailed on alumnus Dr. Carl Olsson’s Morning Glory in the largest division of the regattas. Unlike most of the top teams at the event, Bowdoin has no dedicated “offshore team.” Bowdoin’s top sailors enjoy and recognize the value of time in dinghies so events like these are usually staffed by experienced dinghy skippers and crews with limited keelboat experience. This year’s team consisted of DJ Hatch on helm, Billy Rohman trimming main, Jimmy Rohman trimming headsails, Joe Henderson in the pit, Zac Fox at mast, and Tom Charpentier on bow. The six only managed an hour of practice together the night before the regatta. Charpentier, Henderson, and Billy Rohman are also veterans of Bowdoin’s 2nd place finish at the event two years ago.

In what would ordinarily be the top story of the weekend, Bowdoin placed third at its home event, the Nicholas Barnett Trophy. Sophomore Alex Takata and senior Laura Heyl dominated A division, winning by 24 points in 14 races. Senior Charlotte Williams and Junior Coco Sprague finished 4th in a very competitive B division. Bowdoin scored convincing wins over their top opponents in the NEISA co-ed rankings, boosting them to 16th following the weekend.

The Lady Polar Bears also got some keelboat action this weekend, sailing triplehanded Ynglings at the Women’s Olympians Regatta hosted by SailMaine. Skipper Jane Koopman, mid crew Clare Henry, and forward crew Katie Doble finished 3rd at the 4 boat regatta, winning their last race. The women retain a 9th place ranking in NEISA. This coming weekend they face a tough challenge at the Yale Women’s Intersectional.

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