October 10-11, 2009

McCurdy Open (Delaware University)
Chesapeake City, Maryland

Drexel arrived at Two Rivers Yacht Basin in Chesapeake City, Maryland around 9:15 Saturday morning. The wind was gusting about 12 to 15. After having to launch the FJs in two feet of mud Steve Ciccariello and Jason Sinclair set out for the first set of the morning. Competitors includes Ocean County College, Salisbury University, Army, University of Maryland, Penn State, and University of Delaware.

Around one minutes left in the first start sequence, the wind begun to gust to minimum 25 knots. Two boats capsized instantly. The wind kept blowing the whole race. Drexel was one of the two who did not capsize if thats any gratification. After two races Sean Orzolek and Erin MacCausland set out just as the wind started to calm down to 15 knots again. All of the competitors completed twelve races. By the time 4 o'clock finally came around all the sailors looked tired so they called it for Saturday.

Sunday morning began with very little wind. Drexel's first few races did not go too well, but more towards the end they finished in the middle of the pack. On the last A division race the wind went from around 7 knots to gusting at 18 knots with a drastic shift in the wind. It caused everyone on a port tact to auto-tack and Drexel ended up finished third.

Overall the regatta turned out to a great time with varied wind. Saturday's gusts and Sunday's guesses to where the wind was kept Drexel on its feet. With OCC finishing first in 95% of the races, it was very competitive. Drexel finished fifth out of seven, only eight points behind University of Maryland.

--Jason Sinclair