HARVARD UNIVERSITY WINS 2003 ICSA/GILL NORTH AMERICAN COED DINGHY CHAMPIONSHIP

DETROIT, MICHIGAN (June 10, 2003) - After placing second for the past two years by a combined 9 points, today Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.) won the 2003 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) / Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship at Bayview Yacht Club by 69 points. Following Harvard's 165 point tally was University of Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii) with 234 points. With 238 points, St. Mary's College (St. Mary's
City, Md.) finished third.

Strong currents and a wide range of wind conditions made for good racing over the past three days on the Detroit River. ICSA President Mitch Brindley (Smithfield, Va.) was pleased with "the range of conditions which made for close competition." Each division sailed 18 races in new Vanguard 420s provided by Vanguard Sailboats (Portsmouth, R.I.), a partner in the ICSA Growth and Development Project. The University of Michigan and the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association hosted the regatta.

This is Harvard's first coed dinghy championship since 1974 and fifth in school history. The Crimson also the ICSA North American Team Racing Championship completed Saturday. By virtue of outstanding performance in the six ICSA North American Championships, Harvard wins the Fowle Trophy for the third straight year.

Coach Mike O'Connor (Foxboro, Mass.) cited "having the right crews for the job" in the variable conditions and "consistent starts" as the key for his team's success, winning both divisions. In A-division, Senior Clay Bischoff (Miami, Fla.) sailed with senior Lema Kikuchi (Bethesda, Md.) and sophomore David Darst (Greenwich, Ct.). Junior Cardwell Potts (New Orleans, La.) sailed with senior Michelle Yu (Mountain View, Calif.) and juniors Diana Rodin (West Roxbury, Mass.) and Gabe Dorfman (Port Angeles, Wash.) in the B-division. Bischoff, Potts and Yu are returning All-Americans.

The University of Hawaii saved their best for last, taking possession of second place during the final B-division race. Sophomores Bryan Lake (San Diego, Calif.) and Jennifer Warnock (San Diego, Calif.) were fourth in A-division with 128 points. The Rainbows were second in B-division with 106 points. Sophomore Joey Pasquali (Santa Cruz, Calif.) and junior Steve Brown (San Diego, Calif.) shared skipper duties, while senior Sarah Hitchcock (South Dartmouth, Mass.) and freshman Adam DuMouchelle (Honolulu, Hawaii) crewed.

The St. Mary's Seahawks led after the first day, but slowly slipped back as the regatta wore on. Junior Danny Pletsch (Sarasota, Fla.) sailed with senior Galen Largay (Osterville, Mass.) and junior Melissa Deveney (Frederick, Md.) to second place in the A-division with 117 points. Senior Caleb Silsby (Boulder, Co.), sailing with sophomore Paige Hannon (Ellicott City, Md.) and senior Ali Sharp (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) was sixth in B-division with 121 points.

Overall Results (A + B = Total Points)
1. Harvard University 75 + 90 = 165
2. Univ. of Hawaii 128 + 106 = 234
3. St. Mary's Coll. MD 117 + 121 = 238
4. U. Southern Calif. 120 + 144 = 264
5. Tufts University 130 + 140 = 270
6. U.S. MMA - KP 155 + 120 = 275
7. Hobart/Wm Smith Coll 165 + 114 = 279
8. Stanford University 178 + 112 = 290
9. Brown University 153 + 160 = 313
10. Coll. of Charleston 153 + 169 = 322
11. Mass. Inst. Tech 189 + 151 = 340
12. Boston College 199 + 147 = 346
13. Univ. of Washington 171 + 213 = 384
14. Texas A&M Galveston 210 + 247 = 457
15. Eckerd College 211 + 248 = 459
16. Univ. of Minnesota 243 + 236 = 479
17. Tulane University 223 + 262 = 485
18. Univ. of Wisconsin 271 + 284 = 555

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 were: 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 was the last of three ICSA Spring Championships. ICSA had a web site team on location throughout the regatta to provide updated coverage of the events as they happened. The site features complete results, daily wrap-ups, and pictures of the festivities and racing. You can visit the ICSA web site at http://www.collegesailing.org/

Full day two results are available at the ICSA Web Site.

For information about Gill North America Ltd., go to http://www.gillna.com For information about Vanguard Sailboats, go to http://www.teamvanguard.com