Baker Nationals (May 24-25, 2014)

Nine Loyola sailors traveled to Seabrook, Texas for the team racing nationals.  Again the team competed in Flying Juniors (FJ).  Saturday’s weather was perfect for sailing.  The racecourse was set, boundaries for motorboats placed, and a police boat to patrol the area.  Racing conditions were so perfect, the course was not adjusted all day.  Loyola raced in 11 races, winning 3 losing 8, qualifying for bronze round at the end of the day.  Every race was impressive with the team being in the fight until the finish.  The race committee managed to get in an impressive 66 races on Saturday and again 36 races on Sunday.  Sunday was another perfect day for racing, and the course was set in almost the exact same orientation.  Loyola was involved in a battle for 9^th through 12^th in the bronze round.  They sailed an impressive day winning 5 races and losing only 1.  Their place in the regatta came down to the last race in a battle during the final leg.  The team was losing around the leeward mark, managing to fight back and win the race.  In the end they won the bronze round finishing 9^th at nationals.

 

Illinois Satate Champs (May 17-18, 2014)

Loyola sailed two teams.  The regatta went seamlessly with perfect wind.  They managed to sail 9 races in each division and 18 races in total on Saturday.  That was enough to conclude the regatta, and no races were sailed Sunday.  Loyola sailed a great regatta that came down to the last race.  The team managed to place 2^nd overall and a great last regatta to end the season.

May Madness Regatta (May 10-11, 2014)

Loyola took three full teams to Pewaukee, WI.  It is a great regatta to bring many club and JV sailors because the spring season is filled with so many varsity regattas.  Saturday the wind was light and shifty.  The race committee manages to pull off three full rotations after having to abandon many races because of severe changes in the wind. By the end of Saturday LA was seated in 8th. Sunday the breeze was still shifty but a little heavier. Three rotations were sailed sending Loyola into 9^th overall.  It was a great regatta, and a big thank you to the Griffin Family for housing so many sailors.

Mallory Nationals (May 10-11, 2014)

The Loyola sailing team sent 8 sailors to San Diego, California for the fleet racing nationals.  For this regatta, the team needed to learn a new boat called a Flying Junior (FJ).  The FJs look similar to the 420, but are tippier and can point closer to the wind. The team left Thursday night to arrive in California around midnight.  Friday was a practice day where Loyola learned the waters.  The yacht club was about a three mile tow line out to the race course which was located in the heart of the city.  There you would find battleships coming and going every so often.  The regatta was stationed off of a loading dock for a cruise ship.  Saturday came, and the wind was perfect.  Starting lines were packed and crucial with everybody being just as good a sailor as the next.  Sunday was just as good, and by the end all the Loyola teammates were able to sail in a rotation.  Loyola sailed a great regatta and in the end placed 16^th in the nation.

 

Baker Qualifiers (May 3-4, 2014)

The Loyola Varsity Sailing Teamed traveled to Wayzata, Minnesota.  Saturday, the wind was building throughout the entire day.  Loyola put up a great fight and managed to finish the day winning a tie breaker for 4^th.  This allowed them to advance into the gold round competing for one spot to the Baker Nationals.  Sunday the wind was extremely light and shifty.  The race committee managed to sail all races required to end the double round robin.  At the end of the day, the team tied for first due to a protest, losing the tie breaker and finishing 2^nd.  That week the protest hearing was reopened and the decision was reversed.  This granted Loyola the victory and a birth to the Baker Nationals in Seabrook, TX.  They team learned the fantastic news Thursday night at the airport, on their way to Mallory Nationals.  This was the first time in Loyola Sailing history the team has qualified for both national regattas in the same year.

If you are friends with coach Zac on Facebook, you can watch the victory celebration HERE!