A month in and the UBC Sailing Sport Club has hit the ground running! Since the start of the term the team has competed in two major regattas and shown considerable success in both. With regattas happening nearly every weekend in the coming weeks the team is excited to keep this momentum going throughout the fall season. Read on to learn more about the team’s recent activities.
NWICSA Singlehanded Qualifiers
For the weekend of September 28-29 two of our sailors headed down to Cascade Locks, Oregon to compete in the conference championship. The regatta, co-hosted by Lewis and Clark College and the Willamette Sailing Club, served as the qualifier for ICSA Nationals. Strong winds and high stakes made for an exciting weekend of racing.
Gabrielle Savage (‘19) represented UBC incredibly well at the regatta. Though winds were consistently above 20 knots for the weekend, Gabby was able to avoid avoided capsizing. After some tight races she finished the weekend undefeated and clinched her spot as NWICSA’s singlehanded female champion. Gabby will be going on to ICSA Nationals in Michigan from November 3-4, where she will undoubtedly continue to show her strengths as a sailor and make UBC TSC Sailing proud!
Thank you to teammates Patrick Croft (‘19) for driving and Eric Lyall (‘21) for providing a car, allowing for Gabby to participate in this event.
NWICSA Match Race Championships
UBC TSC Sailing co-hosted Match Race Championships alongside West Vancouver Yacht Club for the second year in a row October 6-7. Thank you to Ashley-Belle Burns (UBC ’17), Tim O’Connell, Jared Hickman, and Andrew Liebman for volunteering their time and making the regatta a success. Western Washington University, Washington University, and the University of Victoria all sent teams to compete in this regatta in the hopes of securing a spot at ICSA Match Race Nationals in California this November.
One of the many beautiful shots taken by alum Ashley-Belle Burns (’17)
Zelda Ladefoged (‘22) subbed in for Gabby on Sunday to complete the regatta. Conditions were overcast and chilly on Sunday, however the wind was consistent allowing for 9 more races in the round robin, for a total of 12 races over the course of two days. After once again sweeping the round robin, UBC faced off against UW in the final where UW took first place.
Up Next…
In the coming weeks, our sailors will be travelling throughout the North West to compete in NWICSA’s fall season regattas as well as to Kingston, ON to participate in CICSA Nationals. Based on the first two regattas this year, the team is excited for what looks to an excellent season.
Article by Jennifer Vincent