The USF Women’s Sailing team, wins the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship with 42 points at the St. Petersburg on Oct. 28. Photo courtesy of USF
By Jorden Pompey
The University of South Florida came out victorious in their St. Petersburg backyard on Oct. 28 ending the season on top of the conference. The women’s sailing team qualified for the finals after placing eighth in the ACC semifinals earlier in October.
With the SAISA Women’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championship at stake, USF had one more chance to make things work in their favor to clinch the championship.
Leads for the championship were exchanged throughout the series between USF, College of Charleston and Jacksonville University.
Tied with College of Charleston at 40 points, and Jacksonville University right behind with 41 points. USF made it count in the final race of the regatta.
Scores are similar to golf, the team with the least number of points wins the regatta. USF finished with 42, Charleston finished with 44 and Jacksonville with 46.
Head coach Allison Jolly highlighted the team’s mental fortitude heading into the final race and keeping their head in the race.
“Part of the practice is having a routine and having it be habitual to the point it doesn’t faze them being in a resetting, coming into the last race of a conference championship,” Assistant Coach Rachel Silverstein said.
The sailing team gets support from everyone on the roster. The team puts in the effort and dedication to be on the team and manage their daily lives outside of academics.
“Being able to have the whole team here, when we travel, we can only have so many people with us and I think having the whole team here and the support really helps as well,” senior Emma Shakespeare said.
Schools such as Jacksonville University and College of Charleston practice on a lake and the waves are different from the waves in Tampa Bay. Visiting teams also don’t get a chance to prepare or practice with the host’s boats.
“We’ve sailed at many of the other sites before but sometimes you’ll go somewhere and there’s a different wind pattern than there was the last time you were there. So, it usually takes the first couple races to figure it out,” Shakespeare said.
Having practice on the St. Petersburg waters throughout the year, finding the wind pattern was not difficult for the Bulls to get started fast. USF finished in the top three of each race.
“I think with the conference championship we definitely had the advantage because of the easterly breeze direction we get a unique chop on the bay which a lot of other schools don’t have so they don’t practice in it,” senior Heidi Hicks said.
Sailing practice resumes in January and the season begins in February. The first race will be held at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus.
