ICSA News


SAISA Sailors of the Week, Weekend 6


Weekend 6 was a busy one for SAISA teams competing in seven different regattas across the spectrum from co-ed and women's fleet racing in the mid-Atlantic and southeast to team racing in New England to keelboat racing in southern California. With so many teams and sailors on the water, there were numerous Sailors of the Week nominations making this week's selection challenging. In co-ed fleet racing, the annual Charleston Spring Intersectional was especially competitive this year with teams from all over the nation descending on the South Carolina Lowcountry for sailing in excellent conditions. With current ripping as usual, smart sailing paid off for teams adapting early and Jacksonville University sailors Alfonso Garcia Bringas and Ana Carrasco set the pace for A-Division from the very beginning. Earning a win in nearly half the races on the day, Garcia Bringas and Carrasco dialed in seven bullets and numerous other podium finishes throughout the regatta. Their performance secured the SAISA Co-Ed Sailors of the Week nod, and together with a Fins' win in B-Division, earned Jacksonville University the regatta win.

At the high-profile Navy Spring Women's Regatta, some of the best female sailors in the country hit the water in Annapolis. Early in the regatta neck in neck with squads from MIT and Yale, the College of Charleston Cougars A-Division boat of Alie Toppa and Annabelle Carrington soon pulled ahead, secured the division lead by the sixth race of the regatta and never let go. With only two races outside of the top 4, Toppa and Carrington keep pace with their outstanding performances in the fall fleet racing season earning the Week 6 SAISA Women's Sailors of the Week. Overall, the College of Charleston finished the regatta in second overall on the strength of their A-Division win and a competitive finish in B-Division. Toppa and Carrington have proven to be one of the Cougars' most successful parings this season and this week's award builds on four SOTW awards earned in the fall semester.
 
Although outside the norm for the SAISA Sailors of the Week, this week SAISA recognizes the performance of the College of Charleston Offshore Team and awards the big boat Cougar squad SAISA Sailors of the Week honors for their win at the 2019 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup Regatta. Led by skipper Jordan Wiggins, the Cougar team of Willy Comerford, Burke Anvari, Emily Essi, Emily Potter, Graham Post, Sam Tobio, and William Hundahl grabbed the regatta lead by the 4th race of the weekend and held fast for the remainder of the weekend fending off a late charge by the Cal Maritime Keelhaulers. With the win, the Cougars bring the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup back to SAISA for the first time since their 2016 regatta win.
 
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Each week of the season, we’ll recognize outstanding performances by sailors across SAISA, as well as by SAISA sailors in competition out of conference. The selection process includes a nomination period each week ending on Sunday. A committee of SAISA coaches from both divisions selects sailors from the nominations received and will announce the SAISA Sailors of the Week early each week following the close of the nomination period. If you’d like to submit a nomination, email the sailor’s name, school, position, and what events or circumstances they demonstrated outstanding performance to SAISAsotw@gmail.com. Nominations close on Sunday at midnight EST and selections will be based on performances for the preceding week and that weekend. Selection categories may include co-ed skipper, co-ed crew, women’s skipper, women’s crew. Pairings or individual sailors may be nominated or selected.
 
For more information, visit the SAISA website at www.saisasailing.com/sotw