Sep 12, 2024 @ 09:25:45 EDT
The top eight ranked teams in SAISA competed in the season opening regatta at USF.
Saturday began with racing on Tampa Bay off Lassing Park in 5-8 knots of SSE breeze and a strong outgoing tidal current. Four W4 races were completed before the breeze died and the fleet was sent back to the dock for an early lunch break. Racing was then attempted in Bayboro Harbor in a puffy, shifty, SSW breeze but it was too unstable so the fleet retreated to the dock again.
Racing finally resumed at 4pm in Bayboro Harbor in a shifty but manageable WSW to W breeze, about 5-8 knots. Five additional races were completed; W4s, W5s, and ending with a W3.
Thank you to Eckerd coach Ward Cromwell who was kept busy as mark set, to new Charleston Coach and '24 Olympic medalist Ian Barrows who was appointed ICSA rep, and to Rollins coach Esteban Forrer who served as protest committee with USF coach Rachael Silverstein. One protest was heard resulting in one DSQ.
The top three teams, Charleston, Miami, and Jacksonville have distanced themselves from the pack, with a 62 point gap between 3rd and 4th. There is only a 7 point spread between 4th and 6th, with Eckerd, FSU, and NC State all vying for a coveted berth to ACC's awarded to the top 5 finishers.
Day 2 began as a repeat of Day 1. Winds were 5-8 knots from the SSE with light to moderate chop on Tampa Bay. Races 10 through 13 were all W4's with difficult downwind legs as the fleet again battled the outgoing tide. The final race was begun but abandoned as the breeze dwindled.
No protests filed, one breakdown filed with redress given.
Congratulations to Miami, Charleston, Jacksonville, Eckerd, and Florida State who qualified in that order for the ACC open semi-finals.
| School | Team | A | B | TOT | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | University of Miami | Hurricanes | 43 | 87 | 130 | |||
| 2 |  | College of Charleston | Cougars | 41 | 99 | 140 | |||
| 3 |  | Jacksonville University | Fins | 64 | 101 | 165 | |||
| 4 |  | Eckerd College | Tritons | 100 | 142 | 242 | |||
| 5 |  | Florida State University | Seminoles | 78 | 176 | 254 | |||
| 6 |  | North Carolina State University | Wolfpack | 148 | 113 | 261 | |||
| 7 |  | University of South Florida | Bulls | 140 | 123 | 263 | |||
| 8 |  | Rollins College | Tars | 142 | 164 | 306 |
The following chart shows the relative rank of the teams as of the race indicated. Note that the races are ordered by number, then division, which may not represent the order in which the races were actually sailed.
The first place team as of a given race will always be at the top of the chart. The spacing from one team to the next shows relative gains/losses made from one race to the next. You may hover over the data points to display the total score as of that race.
