Co-ed Sailing Vies For First-Ever Match Racing National Title in San Francisco This Weekend

MEDFORD - The nationally renowned Tufts University sailing program has won 24 Intercollegiate Sailing Association titles since 1975 at the women's championship (nine), the dinghy championship (five), the team racing championship (five) and the single-handed championship (five).

Tufts has never won the national match racing (sloop) championship over the years. However, the 2011-12 Jumbos are in San Francisco this weekend with a realistic shot at bringing home the program's first-ever national championship in the event. Sophomore Will Haeger (Lake Forest, IL) will skipper the Jumbo boat with classmates David Liebenberg (Livermore, CA) and Maggie Bacon (Mount Desert, ME) as crews.

"The fact that Tufts has never won the sloop nationals is definitely a source of extra motivation for the team," Haeger said. "It would be an honor to be part of the team that finally broke through."

The national competition begins today and runs through Sunday. The California Maritime Academy is hosting the national championship at the St. Francis Yacht Club on the Marina in San Francisco.

The Jumbos won the New England Sloop Championship back on September 25. They took their quarterfinal 2-0 over Mass Maritime to quickly advance to the semi-finals. The Jumbos cruised through their semi-final match, beating Maine Maritime 2-0. The finals between Tufts and Roger Williams could not be sailed within the time limit, so #1 seed Tufts won the regatta. Roger Williams will join the Jumbos at the Sloop Nationals.

Tufts was impressive at New England's, losing just one race of the eleven they sailed. Competing for the Jumbos was Haeger as skipper, junior Albert Nichols (Portland, ME), Bacon, and Liebenberg. The New England Sloop Championship was the first for the Jumbos since 2004.

Only three sailors are allowed in the boat at Nationals, which Haeger thinks the Jumbos can win if they keep their composure and execute properly.

"Our keys for success will be sticking to our jobs and trusting each other, even if the going gets rough," he said. "We've been practicing together for a while now and, as long as we stick to our game plan, we should be tough to beat."

Match race sailing is different than the other events for many reasons, according to Haeger. The boats are bigger, the sails are bigger, and there are more people on each boat.  In addition, the jobs that each person performs on the boat are much more specialized. Teamwork is even more important. Match racing is one boat against another, so mistakes are magnified.

Unable to win the sloop title in their history, perhaps the Jumbo program has found its niche with its current young line-up.

"Our goal is to perform at a level that would make our teammates proud and represent all of the work that we've put into it," Haeger said. "I think that if we accomplish both of those things, we have a good shot at the championship."

ICSA National Match Race Championship website

#