The URI Women won the Sperry Top-Sider/Gill Women’s Naitonal Championship held in Cascade Locks, OR May 23rd-26th. The Rams won by convincing 10 points despit eating a DSQ in race 3B from a starting line foul. Conditions on “The Gorge” were tricky all week with unseasonably cold weather causing very light winds on the normally very windy Hood River Gorge. 3-4 knot upwind current caused fleet inversions on many downwinds but the Rams handled it better then the rest. B-Division Sailors Chanel Miller ’14 and Danielle Fougere ’12 turned in two first place finishes to close the regatta and seal victory for the Rams. They were also aided by Katie Coupland ’11 in the Semi Finals. Amy Hawkins ’12 and Caroline Hall ’12 finished 2nd in A-Division, only one point out of first. Amy Hawkins was also named Honorable Mention All-American for her excellent sailing throughout the Fall 2010-Spring 2011 seasons.
This is URI’s first ever Women’s National Championship and first Dinghy National’s win since 1976.
