Sailing team takes second at competition

LAND HO — Members of the Hope College Sailing team pose, all smiles, after a good result. The team comes back with good news, as they made the Hope community proud. (Photo: Elizabeth Reeg)

Hope sailors put on strong performance at annual Emma Biaigioni Memorial regatta

On Oct (1-2), the Hope College Sailing Team co-hosted the annual Emma Biagioni Memorial regatta with the Grand Valley State University Club Sailing Team at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club. The regatta is named in honor of a former member of the Hope College Sailing Team who tragically passed in 2010.

Two teams from Hope competed against teams from all over the region. Some of those teams include The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Ohio State University, Northwestern University, Northern Michigan University, Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State University.

The Hope College Flying Dutch finished in 2nd place overall with a total of 60 points, a 2nd in A division. [Libby Reeg (’17) and Nina McAlvey (’20), were 3rd in B division. Carrie Ritter (’18) and Elizabeth Morehead (’19)]. The Dutch finished in 10th place,with a fine showing from sailors that are new to the sport. The Dutchmen team consisted of Justin Edick (’19), Joseph Cinal (’20), Dylan Sabo (’19), David Inman (’18) and Jacob Pledger (’18).

The Sailing Team will be volunteering for the Junior Olympics regatta at MBYC this upcoming weekend. The team will be competing in two regattas the following weekend, Oct 15-16: Single handed National Qualifiers at Northwestern and Cary Price at University of Michigan.

Racing Conditions Summary
Saturday, Oct 1: The Emma Biagioni regatta began. The report time for sailors was 8 a.m. at the Macatawa Bay Junior Center. At 9 a.m. the skippers meeting commenced with Hope College’s Regatta Chair, Libby Reeg (’17), Grand Valley State’s Vice Commodore / Regatta Chair, Gary Micu and PRO Roger Gamache.

The weather conditions for the morning were reported as an easterly wind at 5-10 knots, mist interchanging with rain and temperatures holding in the mid to high 50’s. First warning was scheduled for 10 a.m. and boats were launched from the floating docks on the east end of the Yacht Club in time for the scheduled start. As the morning progressed Grand Valley Lakers took an early lead with the Flying Dutch closely behind. The remainder of both the A and B fleets remained competitive and kept scoring interesting. Racing consisted of one and two lap races determined by the PRO due to wind and weather conditions.

As racing continued on to the afternoon, the wind conditions held steady at 5-10 knots with some sporadic gusts reaching close to 12-13 knots. Wind conditions died off to 3 knots by 4 p.m. when racing was wrapping up for the day. Day one was completed at 4:30 p.m. with Grand Valley Lakers 1 in 1st place, the Hope College Flying Dutch in 2nd, and Michigan Tech Husky One in 3rd.

Sunday, October 2. Day two began on time at 9 a.m. with the skippers meeting, where a 60 minute postponement was announced. Updates were provided on the half hour until 10:30 a.m. when the determination to call off the regatta due to lacking sailable wind was made by the PRO and race organizers. The breeze at that time was 1-3 knots and projected to die as the morning progressed.

Weather was clear and cool in the high 50s. Awards were held at 11 a.m. in the front of the MBYC.

Some further information on the Sailing Team
Hope College Sailing Team sails boats called 420s: mid-sized, two-sailed, two-person crew racing dinghies. They sail 3-5 times a week out of Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland. The team remains open to all experience levels and is professionally coached by Cappy Capper. Capper founded and served as president of the Midwest High School Sailing Association, vice president of the Interscholastic Sailing Association of North America and has coached several high school, college and youth racing teams to National Championship regattas.

Hope Sailing is expected to do very well this season, with a promising beginning the first month and many more exciting regattas on the schedule to come. Keep your ear to the ground, for more good news on the team as they keep go through the rest of the season.