With conference championship season in full swing, teams from SAISA gathered at Carolina Yacht Club on Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, this past Saturday to compete in the SAISA Women's Fall Championships. Warm breeze moving from the east to the northeast, and an active current greeted sailors on Banks Channel, conditions that would hold or build as the event continued. From the first race, the Cougars of the College of Charleston grabbed the lead with a 1-2 first set from Alie Toppa and Laura Masterson, dueling finishes with the Jacksonville Fins. As B-division took the water, the Cougars would put distance on their lead in what develop into an outstanding showing for Marian Williams and Natasha Morton. Overall, Charleston's success continued in very close and competitive races throughout the full rotation. With four bullets in A-Division and no score worse than a 4th, Williams and Morton just sent it all day earning 6 bullets on the day and no finish off the podium en route to a dominant B-Division and low total of 11 points in 8 races for the regatta. In their successful effort to win the SAISA Women's Fall Championship, Toppa, Masterson, Williams and Morton have earned SAISA Sailors of the Week honors for week eight.
About the SAISA Sailors of the Week
Each week of the season, we’ll recognize outstanding performances by sailors across SAISA, as well as by SAISA sailors in competition out of conference. The selection process includes a nomination period each week ending on Sunday. A committee of SAISA coaches from both divisions selects sailors from the nominations received and will announce the SAISA Sailors of the Week early each week following the close of the nomination period. If you’d like to submit a nomination, email the sailor’s name, school, position, and what events or circumstances they demonstrated outstanding performance to SAISAsotw@gmail.com. Nominations close on Sunday at midnight EST and selections will be based on performances for the preceding week and that weekend. Selection categories may include co-ed skipper, co-ed crew, women’s skipper, women’s crew. Pairings or individual sailors may be nominated or selected.
For more information, visit the SAISA website at www.saisasailing.com/sotw