Sailor Pass License and Ring the Bell!!

The "Dualies" of the Class of 2008- 3 A/E and Master Limited!!

In a long-standing Kings Point tradition, the newest Third Mates and Third Engineer gave the Kings Point Bell a resounding ringing today after the posting of the Coast Guard License Exam Grades. Congrats to our new Merchant Marine Officers!!

Peregrine Finishes 2nd in Around Block Island Race

The Annual 183 mile Around Block Island race was a success for M/N Brian Giorgio and crew aboard Peregrine. Peregrine sailed a great race in great wind to hold off all but one of their class of identical boats. One of the competitors in particular held their interest- the one crewed by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. There was a lot of back and forth between the boats including one close pass in the treacherous Plum Gut with the Coast Guard Cadets verbally taunting the KP'ers in the night. Good tactics by our team the next day kept them in the wind along the Connecticut shore ensuring their victory over the CG rivals. They will meet up again in the race to Bermuda starting on June 20th.

Kings Pointer USCG Inspection

The crew of the T/V Kings Pointer, working with the Department of Marine Transportation, and NOAA's newest class of Officers worked today showing their fire response skills to the U.S. Coast Guard Inspectors. All went well, and the vessel passed its annual inspection.

Practice for Dinghy Nationals and the Bermuda Race

The waters off Kings Point have been active this week with practice for two upcoming events, the ICSA Dinghy National Championships and the Newport to Bermuda Race. Her Defiance passes through the practicing dinghy team fleet.

Kings Point Rowing- Dad Vail Regatta

Dad Vail Regatta- May 9-10, 2008
Largest World Collegiate Rowing Regatta
Competing Teams: 130
Athletes: 3300

The crew of Meagan Fahey ’08 and Erin Mitchell ’08 did what no other women’s crew has done in Kings Point history. At this years Dad Vail Regatta; considered to be the national championships for small colleges and universities, they finished in the top ten and made it through to the semi-finals. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, the Dad Vail Regatta attracted one-hundred and thirty schools and thirty-three hundred athletes to this year’s competition.

“It is a bit nerve-racking in the heat when they waited until the last 200 meters to pull into qualifying position” said Coach Derek Hartwick of Fahey and Mitchell. Rowing in the fourth position until near the end of the race, the crew was able to row through Nova Southeastern; a nationally ranked team and perennial favorites at the NCAA Championships, and qualify for the semi-final.

The Kings Point pair drew a fast semi which included the eventual gold and silver medalist crews of University of Toronto and Brock University from Canada. With only two crews qualifying from each semi to move to the final, Fahey and a Mitchell were left with a tough decision to go out fast in the first part of the race and hope for the best. While their time of 8:00.05 was their best for the season and a record for Kings Point, it was not enough to get the hard-fighting duo into the final.

It was fast enough to place them in 9th place for the regatta and narrowly miss the Grand Final.
The season highlights included a victory at the Manhattan Invitational, 2nd at the New York State Championships and a record performance at the Dad Vail Regatta. This crew has set the bar high for future women’s crews at Kings Point.

The Varsity Men’s four posted their fastest time for the season and was only nine seconds behind the qualifying position of 2nd place, narrowly missing a bid for the second round. With more than twenty teams all finishing within 15 seconds of each other, it was very tough competition to get past the first round in the regatta.

Rain, wind and fast waters marked the first day of racing. The Crew of Coxswain- Sarah Jones ’08, Stroke – Kyle O’Connor, 3 – Steven Jones, 2 – Sam Diedrick ’10, Bow – Jeremy Tunstall ’10 were able to handle the conditions but despite having gained speed as the season progressed, the crew found itself lacking the speed it takes to make the finals. Each rower was pressed at the beginning of the season to return to racing form after returning from for months at sea. “The crew is encouraged by the prospect of the returning seniors for the fall season and the progress that we made through this spring. Next year should be a good one” commented Hartwick.

The Novice crew of Coxswain – Jonathon Gardner '11, Stroke- Andrew Pfarner '10, 3- Scott Norris, '11, 2- Russell Marihugh ‘10, Bow- Romulus Cirone ’10 raced well but was unable to overcome the speed and experience of the competing crews in their heat. The crew struggled through the first half of the season because of inexperience. The crew gained plenty of speed through the last half of the season but found itself challenged because of a crew member change in mid-season. “Some of our competitors in the regatta had rowers with four years on our guys. Three of our rowers and the coxswain started just this spring, they rowed with courage and tenacity” said Coach Hartwick encouragingly.

Graduating senior Ricky Lagdon ’08 teamed up with returning Midshipman Brad Webster who had just returned from sea last week. With just one practice, the pair showed commitment and confidence in taking to the water for Kings Point. They were unable to qualify for the second round of the regatta but rowed well considering the lack of preparation. “Ricky has been committed to the team during his four years at Kings Point and I’m glad he got to row one last time as a Mariner.” commented Hartwick.

USMMA ENTRIES AND RESULTS

Women’s Pair
4th Place in Semi-Final
9th Place overall in regatta
Time: 8:00
Stroke – Meagan Fahey ’08, Bow Erin Mitchell ’08.

Freshman/Novice Men's Four
6th Place in Heat (Did not qualify for Final)
Time: 7:42
Coxswain – Jonathon Gardner '11, Stroke- Andrew Pfarner '10, 3- Scott Norris, '11, 2- Russell Marihugh ‘10, Bow- Romulus Cirone ‘10.

Varsity Men's Four:
5th Place in Heat (Did not qualify for final)
Placed 5th in Heat
Time: 7:10
Coxswain- Sarah Jones ’08, Stroke – Kyle O’Connor, 3 – Steven Jones, 2 – Sam Diedrick ’10, Bow – Jeremy Tunstall ‘10

Varsity Men's Pair:
5th Place in Heat (Did not qualify for final)
Time: 8:22
Stroke- Ricky Lagdon ‘08, Bow – Brad Webster ’10.

Defiance Cleans up in the Edlu Race

Link to Pics and Results
Defiance found pockets of breeze in Saturdays light winds to win the 32 nm Edlu race on Saturday and to take home 5 trophies. Awards include:

First To Finish

First Overall Corrected

First to Finish in Class

First Corrected in Class

Fastest Corrected time in Fleet.

EDLU2008

Jiff Miller KP'04 Changes the sheet after a spinnaker change.

First Sail on Defiance

More Pics
With a beautiful 18 knot southerly the Offshore team took its first sail aboard Defiance. With some rig tuning everything looked good, and ready for the EDLU Race this weekend.

Defiance arrives at KP

After an amazing 3 day assembly by Jeff Miller KP '04, lots of hard work loading all the sails and gear, and great sail from Newport, Defiance has arrived in the Basin. The 66' boat was donated by Mr. Hap Fauth, and will be a great addition to the Offshore Sailing Team. The first race will be the EDLU race next Saturday, followed by the Around Block Island Race, Newport to Bermuda, and Chicago to Mackinac.

Peregrine 2nd in Tiebreaker at American YC Spring Series

The second weekend of the American YC Spring series had two days of sailing that were as different as possible. After 25 kts of breeze caused carnage in the fleet on Saturday- at least one broken mast, and lots of wipe-outs, Sunday had no wind. Peregrine, skippered by Brian Giorgio '08 was in first place going into the last light air race. A second place in the last race left them tied for first, but they lost the tiebreaker and were 2nd for the regatta. Great job on a new boat!

Fahey and Mitchell 2nd at New York State Rowing Championships

Results – New York State Rowing Championships
Location: Whitney Point, NY
Date: May 2-3, 2008
Thirty- one teams competed.


Women’s Varsity Pair Final
Winner New York University
Time: 9:26
USMMA 2nd place
Time: 9:40
Crew: Meagan Fahey ’08, Erin Mitchell ‘08
Best performance for a women’s crew at the New York State Championships

Men’s Varsity Four with Coxswain Heat
Winner: Marist College
Time: 7:46
USMMA 5TH
Time: 8:19
Qualified to compete in the Petite Final but did not due to the minor sickness of a crew member.
Crew: Coxswain-Sarah Jones ’08, Kyle O’Connor ’10, Steven Jones ’10, Sam Diedrick ’10, Jeremy Tunstall ’10.

Men’s Novice Four with Coxswain Heat
Winner: Iona
Time: 7:24
USMMA 4TH
Time: 8:14
Crew: Coxswain – Jonathon Gardner ’11, Andrew Pfarner ’11, Scott Norris ’11, Russell Marihugh ’10, Romulus Cirone ’10.
Qualified and favored to win the Petite Final but withdrew from that race due to the mild injury of a crew member.

Offshore Sailing Team Looks for Victory with Peregrine, Welcome to Defiance

Defiance Sailing in Key West

Peregrine, a new vessel to the team is currently in First Place in its class after the first weekend of the American Yacht Club Spring Series. Peregrine, skippered by first classman Brian Giorgio is leading the series by one point, and this weekend promises close racing. The rest of the team will travel to Newport, RI to take delivery of the teams newest vessel- Defiance. Defiance is a 66 ft racing boat donated to Kings Point by Mr. Hap Fauth. Under her previous name of Bella Mente the boat was first to finish in the 2006 Newport to Bermuda Race. On the schedule for Defiance this year is the 2008 Newport to Bermuda Race, and the Centennial Chicago to Mackinac Race.