For the second day in a row, the sailors representing the ICSA defeated the visiting British sailors, this time 3-1, in the Laser 3v3 team race for the 2019 Performance Sailcraft Trophy.
The BUSA sailors showed up early to practice in Navy's rustic fleet of lasers and get used to ICSA's version of rule 42. The format for the Laser team race was a first to three point series, with teams switching boats after the first two races. Team ICSA was represented by Ford McCann (Georgetown University), Connor Bayless (US Naval Academy) and Gavin McJones (US Naval Academy). Since all three sailors from ICSA will be competing at the MAISA Men's Singlehanded Championship for the Van Duyne Trophy this weekend, spirits and confidence levels were high for this round of competition against the visiting competitors from BUSA.
In order to get the best possible conditions for racing, the course was set just East of Greenbury Point, out in the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The first race was sailed in an eight knot Northerly that slowly built as the racing continued. In the first start, BUSA drew a foul on McJones with 20 seconds before the starting gun, allowing a double team on McCann who was forced head to wind and late off the line. Team BUSA was immediately in a 1-2-5 and easily balanced their combination, while putting in a sizable 4-5 gap, all the way around the course for a casual win to put them up 1-0. The ICSA sailors were stunned, but determined to bounce back.
The start of race two was even more chaotic, with one boat from each team over early, and a T-bone collision after a blown duck by a BUSA sailor. Luckily for ICSA, the breeze had picked up to around 10 knots and the practiced Laser sailors were able to stretch their legs and rounded mark one with a 1-2-3 combination that they maintained around the course. Standings tied up 1-1.
Race three was an even start and a drag race upwind with ICSA rounding mark one in a 1-2-6 with team BUSA tight on their heels. A dispute over proper course on the downwind ended with Bayless getting passed by a Brit, giving BUSA control over two pairs entering mark three. After successfully converting into a play two at the mark, BUSA set up a nice three boat weave on the last beat. This race was looking grim for ICSA, but a right shift came in, putting the pair on that side up a ladder rung. Right before the finish, Bayless pulled off a clean, last second dial down, forcing a port tack British boat to have a bad duck. This allowed Bayless to flat-tack to windward, pinning the British boat below layline and allowing team ICSA to cross the finish in a 1-4-5. As former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach would surely tell you, sometimes Hail Marys work. Standings 2-1, advantage ICSA.
In race four, all six boats got off the line clean once again, and ICSA rounded the top marks in a 1-3-deep 6 after McJones fouled at mark two. The advantage changed several times on the downwind leg, but McJones managed to sail around the outside of the fleet into third place, putting team ICSA into a 1-3-5 around mark four. Bayless, in the lead, quickly converted this into a 1-2, while McCann locked down an ace into the left corner. Team ICSA crossed the finish line in a 1-2-3, earning their third point and winning the 2019 Performance Sailcraft Trophy!
The current overall standings have ICSA and BUSA tied with 2 event wins a piece. The last event, winner take all, will be a 3v3 team race in FJs to take place at Georgetown University on Thursday September 19th.
Good luck ICSA!