Photo by Jorden Pompey | The Crow’s Nest.
By Jorden Pompey
The University of South Florida women’s sailing team opened its season in its backyard at Bayboro Harbor to host the Cross Regional Regatta from Feb. 24 to 25. Taking fourth place winning 11 races and losing seven behind College of Charleston, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Old Dominion winning the third-place tiebreaker.
The teams had a change of scenery after the lunch break as the course was moved out to the Tampa Bay due to shifty wind conditions.
Despite the course change, through the first two rounds, the Bulls ended the first day in second place behind College of Charleston.
Head coach Allison Jolly expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance; highlighting the regatta was a steppingstone to their bigger goals for the season. She also used it as an opportunity to gauge their opponents’ strengths this season.
“Everything is in preparation for conference championships,” Jolly said.
USF won the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Conference Championship last fall at the St. Petersburg Campus in October.
The team welcomed freshman skipper Kailey Warrior from Houston, Texas, who has expectations to contribute her experience to the team. Freshman Marina Dreyfuss out of St. John Neumann High School in Naples, who has experience in laser sailing also known as solo sailing, also joined the team, eager to work with her new teammates and hone her skills.
Junior crew member Kalea Woodard and sophomore Cate Brennan, transfers from College of Charleston and University of Massachusetts, respectively, fill out the roster with their expertise.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during the regatta, Jolly still has her sights on the conference championship and beating her rivals.
“I think we were probably where we deserved to be. At least I was surprised [at] being better than one of our nemeses, which is Jacksonville University,” Jolly said.
After losing to College of Charleston, the Bulls will look for redemption as they travel to Charleston for the Phebe Corcoran King Women’s Team Race from March 2 to 3.
