FROM COACH SISSON--- Regatta report on MAISA Women's Fall Championships hosted by Old Dominion, Norfolk, Virginia, Saturday, November 7, 2009.

For the first time in five years, Drexel Sailing fielded a women's team for the competitive MAISA Women's Fall Championships hosted at ODU. Eight teams competed, and although Drexel finished at the end of the list of competitors, I wanted to report on the inspired sailing I observed and the future strength of our Drexel women sailors.

With A-division sailor Jen Mislinski and freshman crew Joan Boyle, Drexel not only held its own in this extremely competitive fleet (Nationally-ranked Hobart/William Smith team (Women's team ranked 12th nationally); Georgetown Hoyas (ranked 10th); ODU (ranked 6th) and Navy (co-ed team ranked 9th), but worked hard to finish the day's racing on Saturday with improved positioning and much-learned tactics and boat handling strategies. And need I say, they held their own for sure against this fleet!

B-division senior skipper Kelsey Gibbons and crew Annie Mercurio had there work cut out for them, and also had measurable performance improvement as the day progressed. The experience of active participation and positive attitude on the part of our Drexel sailors impressed not only myself, but also the other coaches on the coach boat--- and there was a general supportive and encouraging tenor for our Drexel Dragon women sailors as they perserved against the tough competition. It should be noted, all coaches observed the entire fleet missing, for example, a major wind shift--- proving time and again that prior performance, reputation, and rankings are no guarantee for success. The wind is the ultimate equalizer---- and with our sailors' continued hard work, the team will continue to experience success!!

Assistant Coach Jeanne Walker Sinclair of ODU gave me the name of a great restaurant in Norfolk called "Aw Shucks"-- we had a nice dinner there to conclude our racing day. Also, we found out that there is a 2-story Dunkin Donuts near the ODU Sailing Center-- I snapped a picture of it while leaving town to inspire Drexel's return to Norfolk for sailing (and to this impressive Dunkin Donuts) in the near future!! (yes, 2 stories and a drive thru).

As I conclude my second season of coaching Drexel Sailing, my focus remains on the team's growth, depth and improvement of boat handling skills and regatta participation and performance. We worked in the spring on partnering solid skipper/ crew combinations and a structured approach to practice: skills focus on roll-tacking and upwind/ downwind sailing, followed each practice by some fleet racing. This fall, I focused again on boat-handling skills, moving into starting practices (6 rolling starts, for example, then a quick race)-- in order to work on timing and starting routine for each individual skipper/crew combination.

Our major successes: Drexel Sailing fielded more teams to more regattas this fall than in many years, including one weekend where practically the entire team had the opportunity to compete. While our results are improving, there is more work to be done. Our team has some excellent depth, and although some solid team members will be graduating this spring, following behind are a number of talented and committed Drexel sailors who will lead the team into the 2010-2011 MAISA season.

To our alumni and parents, please consider any fom of donation to the team and its future. We are aspiring to someday have a Sailing Club Van to assist with logistics -- both to practices and regattas. For those of you who attended the alumni regatta, please spread the word about the fun we had and the need for more alumni to come join us in 2010! Enjoy the pictures..... Boat 12 is Senior Kelsey Gibbons and crew Annie Mercurio; Boat 3 is A-divison skipper Jen Mislinski and crew Joan Boyle. And the Dunkin Donuts! Thanks for your support and sail fast.

---Ronalyn "Rona" Sisson
Drexel Sailing Coach
rks@oxfordlegal.com