Spring Pre-Season Update
Our Spring 2008 season is going to be, at the least, interesting. Afternoon classes that some team members must have to graduate and various special leadership classes have cut deeply into the team. 3/4th of our starting A & B Division pairing from the Fall are out. With the addition of one new member, we now have 12 members and this has made it necessary for us to cut back on the number of events we’ll be doing.
We often will have already sailed a regatta by now and we had hoped to gain entry into the Charleston Spring Intersectional, one of our favorite events and the usual “kick off” for the spring. We were the first alternate and from that spot we usually get in. But that event is becoming more popular. So, few teams drop now and we got left out.
IMAGE: Kate & Becca
Our first event of the Spring will be the Old Dominion Spring Open on March 1st & 2nd. Kate McClintock and Matt Lythgoe will be our skippers with Becca Hornick and Amy Polhemus crewing. Both combinations are new, and we’ll get a good idea of how the spring will go from this event.
We expect some good showings from Taylor Gray and Lynn Ball, a combination who worked together all fall and they should be ready for some good performances. Meanwhile, we’ll be looking to give Maxwell Plarr more sailing time and Patrick McCabe-Marcell, who had scheduling problems in the fall will be a welcome returning addition.
IMAGE: Taylor & Lynn
Next fall should be particularly good for the team. We have more potential recruits than ever before and at the recent Open House, more visitors to the Athletic Department table came to talk about the Sailing Team than any other CNU team.
A sailing team is a changeable thing and this year will bear that out. Right now, we have little idea of what to expect. But, however it goes, we have an enthusiastic group who will give it their best and they’ll have a great time while they are doing it with trips to the U.S. Military Academy and Ohio State on the schedule.
Frankly, I think we will surprise a few people.