Minnesota Women's Sailing Team
_________________________________________________________
2008 J/22 World Championship Team
_________________________________________________________
2008 J/22 World Championship Team
| This August MWST sent a team to the J/22 World Championship Regatta in Rochester, New York. This was the second time MWST has sent an all-women team to compete in this international competition (the first was 2004). MWST members Leah Willcutt, Caitrin Mullan, Jenny Child, and Joni Berg held their own on a starting line with 105 boats. "I figured I was doing OK on the starting line when I looked below me and saw Greg Fisher and Terry Flynn. If I picked the same spot they did I must be doing something right! That was the last time I saw them during the race, unfortunately," said Leah Willcutt of her first race as skipper at the international level. "I was pretty terrified of the starts at first, but in the end I decided that was the part I liked the most." Spinnaker trimmer Joni Berg joined the team two days before departure after the intended trimmer was unable to attend. She said of the regatta, "We certainly had moments of brilliance and the team work and communication happening on the boat were phenomenal. I feel so lucky that I was able to be part of such a fun experience. I just wish they hadn't sold out of regatta t-shirts before I got there!" "We felt really good after the first day even though the time limit expired before half of the fleet finished, including us," said foredecker and tactician Jenny Child. "On the second day the wind picked up and we were working hard to keep the boat going through Lake Ontario waves. We don't see waves like that at home and we were pretty glad our host family had a hot tub for us to sit in that night! The whole regatta was a really good learning experience." Caitrin Mullan sailed her first world championship as jib trimmer. "I was working the jib to keep the boat going through the waves on the upwind. The first leg of each race was 1.7 nautical miles, so by the end of a windy day that was a lot of trimming," said Mullan. The team missed out on the last day of racing due to obligations back home, but decided that the whole experience was worth the drive and all the practice that had gone into it. MWST looks forward to sending them to future World Championships! Why MWST Competes in the World Championship Participating in the 2008 J/22 World Championship regatta is part of our effort to:
|
 |
If you would like to make a donation to the Minnesota Women's Sailing Team to be specifically used for Rolex regattas, click the button below. Your donation is tax deductible based on the 501(c)3 status of the Minnesota Women's Sailing Team. A tax receipt will be sent to you upon receipt of your payment. Thank you!