ST. MARY'S COLLEGE LEADS 2003 ICSA/GILL NORTH AMERICAN COED DINGHY CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER FIRST DAY

DETROIT, MICHIGAN (June 8, 2003) - The St. Mary's Seahawks are in first place after the first day of the 2003 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) / Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship with 46 points. Harvard University and Tufts University are tied for second place with 59 points each.

Today's conditions were extremely variable, with postponements for lack of wind and occasional gusts to 15 knots. Passing storms brought occasional showers, and strong current further challenged sailors. Teams had registration and a practice session this morning before sailing six races in the A-division and four races in the B-division this afternoon. Racing continues Monday and Tuesday, with eighteen races planned in each division.

Racing took place on the Detroit River in new Vanguard 420s provided by Vanguard Sailboats (Portsmouth, R.I.), a partner in the ICSA Growth and Development Project. Spectators were able to watch all the action from the Bayview Yacht Club. The University of Michigan and the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association are the hosts of record.

The Seahawks won last year's event in Hawaii, and have a 13 point lead in their quest to defend the title. Coach Adam Werblow (St. Mary's City, Md.) found today's conditions challenging, saying "we were as confused as anyone," but thought his sailors "did a great job coming back when races got off to bad starts." Junior Danny Pletsch (Sarasota, Fla.) and senior Galen Largay (Osterville, Mass.) are second in A-division with 24 points. In the B-division, senior Caleb Silsby (Boulder, Co.) and sophomore Paige Hannon (Ellicott City, Md.) are in fifth place with 22 points.

Overall Results after 6 races in A-division and 4 races in B-division
(A + B = Total Points)
1. St. Mary's Coll. MD 24 + 22 = 46
2. Harvard University 36 + 23 = 59
3. Tufts University 31 + 28 = 59
4. Univ. of Hawaii 41 + 20 = 61
5. Coll. of Charleston 22 + 43 = 65
6. Stanford University 51 + 21 = 72
7. U. Southern Calif. 34 + 39 = 73
8. Brown University 45 + 40 = 85
9. U.S. MMA - KP 66 + 21 = 87
10. Hobart/Wm Smith Coll 79 + 13 = 92
11. Boston College 59 + 41 = 100
12. Mass. Inst. Tech 71 + 29 = 100
13. Texas A&M Galveston 64 + 57 = 121
14. Tulane University 72 + 56 = 128
15. Eckerd College 72 + 63 = 135
16. Univ. of Minnesota 82 + 56 = 138
17. Univ. of Washington 80 + 60 = 140
18. Univ. of Wisconsin 97 + 52 = 149

Sixteen teams qualified to sail in the regatta through regional eliminations and two received at-large berths. Teams Entered in the ICSA/Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship are: Boston College (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), College of Charleston (Charleston, S.C.), Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.), Hobart/William Smith Colleges (Geneva, N.Y.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Mass.), St. Mary's College (St. Mary's City, Md.), Texas A & M Galveston (Galveston, Texas), Tufts University (Medford, Mass.), Tulane University (New Orleans, La.), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, N.Y.), University of Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii), University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), University of Southern California (Los Angeles, Calif.), University of Washington (Seattle, Wash.), and University of Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.). Brown University (Providence, R.I.) and Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.) were awarded at-large berths.

The 2003 ICSA/Gill North American Dinghy Championship is the last of three ICSA Spring Championships. ICSA has a web site team on location throughout the regatta to provide updated coverage of the events as they happen. In addition to breaking news, the site features complete results, daily wrap-ups, and pictures of the festivities and racing. To catch up on all the latest action, please visit the special 2003 Championships area of the ICSA web site at http://www.collegesailing.org/2003