The Tufts sailors wrapped up this past weekend with a victory at the Hood Trophy race, their largest and most important race of the weekend. Coach Ken Legler was optimistic that his team would prevail in the intersectional competition and was impressed with the final margin of victory, a 43-point win over Harvard that will likely assure Tufts of maintaining its national co-ed rank of third overall.
The Jumbos amassed 94 points at the co-ed race, compared to the Crimson's 137.
Entering into the race, Legler claimed that he would be disappointed should his team not win the Hood Trophy, but he was aware that they were facing tough competition. The large point differential came as something of a shock to the coach.
"I was pleasantly surprised that we did so well considering the competition we were up against," Legler said.
Legler credits Tufts' depth over other teams as an advantage. The multiple other events taking place over the weekend prevented many teams from racing their most talented sailors at the Hood Trophy, but had little effect on the Jumbos.
The sailors were naturally excited by their teammates' victory at the race. "It was awesome that they won by so much at such a big intersectional," freshman A.J. Crane said.
Crane also noted that the weather and location of the race provided a large advantage for the Jumbos, as Tufts sailing holds its practices on the Mystic Lake in Medford.
"It helps that we sail on the lake because it prepares us for the winds of the Charles," Crane said.
Team members were as excited as Legler about the victory and were aware that the weekend intersectional would have an impact on the national rankings, which are revealed today.
"It was important for the rankings and a good sign that the co-ed team is coming up," sophomore Claire Dooley said.
Unsure about whether the victory could help Tufts rise in the standings, Legler said, "We're certainly not going to be knocked down now."
While the Hood Trophy race headlined the weekend for the Jumbos, the sailors participated in several other races. Entering a total of 13 regattas throughout the weekend, Tufts took first place in four and fared decently in many others. The women's single handed elimination races in Connecticut were among the more important of the regattas.
The race was the women's lone chance to qualify sailors for Nationals in Seattle. In the end, entering four women into the contest, Tufts was able to qualify senior Jen Provan for Nationals, while senior Lee Icyda failed to qualify by only one point. Although she did not qualify for Nationals, Dooley also put in an impressive performance.
While the team and Icyda were disappointed that she was unable to qualify, Legler was pleased with the overall outcome of the races.
"With five of the seven All-Americans participating in this regatta, we were facing an incredibly strong field that is basically equally competitive with Nationals. Virtually all of the sailing talent this year is in New England," Legler said of the single hand elimination competition.
Provan's qualification and Dooley's performance were both high points of the weekend.
"I was impressed by her performance," Dooley said of Provan. "Training with her, she dedicated an entire weekend to practicing for the race and it showed in her boat handling."
Legler was also pleased with Dooley's performance at the regatta. Racing for the first time in the single handed elimination races, the coach was impressed at her ability to qualify in the top ten.
Legler also felt the race was short and stressful especially due to the weather conditions.
"Because of the wind, the standings shifted after every race. If we had another race, Lee [Icyda] would have probably been able to qualify," Legler said.
Looking forward to the upcoming weekend, the Jumbos will enter the Danmark Trophy race at Coast Guard. Coach Legler understands that this race will be one of the team's most important because of the strong competition.
"With no conflicts next weekend, the best competition in the country will be there," said the coach.
