AJ Crane looks to make the most of spring campaign

After a spectacular 2003 season, expectations are high for senior AJ Crane, the women's captain of the Tufts sailing team. But despite the pressure to repeat last year's success, Crane has set other goals for her last spring of collegiate sailing.

"I really want to have a good time," Crane said. "This is my last semester sailing in college; I want to enjoy it."

Senior Kristin Tysell, Crane's crewmate, echoed her feelings.

"We want to have fun," Tysell said. "This is our last season sailing together and we want to make the most of it."

But despite the added fun, don't expect Crane to lose any of her competitiveness. After finishing first last spring in the A Division of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association National Championships and helping Tufts to its eighth women's national title, the duo wants nothing more than to duplicate their accomplishments.

"I want to practice as much as possible," Crane said. "I think we're going to be stronger than last year, and I definitely want to repeat last year's success. We had success in the fall, but the spring is what really matters."

Practice will be important for Crane, as conditions at this year's finals may be less favorable to her than they were last year. At the 2003 Championships, competitors raced in 420s, the kind of boat that Crane grew up sailing. The wind was also light at the regatta, which plays into Crane's strengths.

"We don't weigh as much as most other teams," Crane explained. "We also get a lot of practice on Mystic Lake, where there isn't much wind. It's given us a lot of experience finding puffs [of wind] that other teams don't have because they practice on the open ocean."

This year's Nationals will most likely have much stronger winds, and competitors will be sailing in Flying Juniors (FJs), another type of boat used in collegiate racing.

Whatever her secret may be, Crane has achieved a great deal as a sailor. In addition to the National Championship, she was named to the All American team last year. This was after being named an honorable mention All American in 2002.

Tysell has her own opinion of where Crane's success comes from.

"She's really dedicated, she just loves to do it," Tysell said. "She has such a competitive drive. She sets goals for herself. It's made her very successful. And of course there's natural talent."