DAYTONA BEACH, FL., (October 9-10, 2021) – Week five brought outstanding sailing conditions to the east coast and SAISA sailors were ready to shine. In the final South division event of the fall season, a pair of Eckerd College freshmen, skipper Eden Nykamp and crew Anna O’Reilly stepped up to decisively win B-division at SAISA South Points #5 hosted by Embry Riddle and secure the regatta win for the Tritons. With the regatta win, Eckerd solidified it’s standings at the top of SAISA South, winning the regular season division title, and securing SAISA Coed Sailors of the Week honors with the overall low score on the day.
In SAISA North, women's teams from SAISA and MAISA gathered in Raleigh for the SAISA/MAISA Women’s Regatta hosted by NC State where the home team Wolfpack ladies delivered a nearly perfect picket fence across both divisions over the course of the two-day event. Despite close racing, Sophomore skippers Olivia Sowa and Isa du Plessis found ways to win and carried the no hitter through day one and well into day two. Eventually winning both divisions, and securing the regatta win, Sowa and du Plessis also earned SAISA Women’s Sailors of the Week honors with special acknowledgement of their crews throughout the regatta, senior Josey Buescher, junior Weatherley Tripp, sophomore Abby Scudder, and freshmen Annika Milstien and Magnolia Smith.
A special SOTW nod to USF’s Kay Brunsvold and Luke King who finished 1st and 2nd respectively in the Nacra 15 class, while teammate Humberto Porrata secured 3rd place in Laser full rig at this past weekend’s US Sailing 2021 US Youth Championships held in North Carolina. Congratulations to all of the SAISA Sailors of the Week honorees and SAISA sailors representing our conference outside of college sailing, too.
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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