Saturday, April 12
Conditions: 5-10 kts, shifty and puffy with outgoing tide.
On Saturday, April 12, Columbia Sailing participated in the Grant Trophy after driving into Chestertown, Maryland, late the night before. The Lions started the day off at 10 am with Elizabeth Frost skippering and Alexander Yuen crewing in A fleet and Eva DeCastro skippering and Amelia Thomas crewing in B fleet. The day began with a NNE breeze and shifts coming from shore with consistent big lefties. The current was ripping down the course, causing a slight line sag as well as touchy windward mark roundings. The breeze continued to clock left and died off at the end of the day. A fleet started the day off strong, getting two bullets throughout the day. The trend continued with B fleet also snatching many multiple high-place finishes, helping the Lions close out the day in third overall.
Sunday, April 13
Conditions: 5-15 kts from the NW, shifty and puffy, with outgoing tide.
Racing started at 9:30 am after four protests were resolved, and both A and B fleets sailed two sets before the race committee called off racing at around 1 pm. The wind started out light with righties blowing in from the top right of the course, making for very heated racing with lots of opportunity to gain. During A fleet’s second set, the wind shifted to N, changing the course and wind shifts, and with current, pushing the fleet down the line. A and B fleet both finished their last race in second, securing first in A division with a tiebreaker, and outright third in B division, resulting in an overall third place at the Grant for the Lions!
Off the water, the Lions celebrated the weekend with milkshakes from The Freeze and headed home, courtesy of Coach Loghlen.
Looking Ahead
With third place at the Grant, the Lions will now be heading to Cornell for the America Trophy next weekend, with possible contention for selections for Co-ed Nationals!! Stay tuned for another exciting event!
Check out the scores here: https://scores.collegesailing.org/s25/grant/full-scores/
