Cougars finish strong in sailing nationals; coach Greg Fisher up for national award

The No. 2-ranked College of Charleston closed out the season with a fourth-place finish at the three-day ICSA/Gill Coed Dinghy National Championship in Austin, Texas.

Several team members were named All American — Mac Mace, Perry Emsiek, Alyssa Aitken and Zeke Horowitz.

Additionally, C of C was honored for the fifth time in program history as the winner of the Leonard M. Fowle Trophy, awarded annually to the best overall collegiate team in the nation based on a compilation of results from the ICSA Women’s Singlehanded, Men’s Singlehanded, Match Racing, Women’s Dinghy, Team Racing and Coed Dinghy National Championships.

“Winning the Fowle Trophy is such a thrill for our tremendous team and coaches,” C of C director of sailing Greg Fisher said. “(Head coach) Ward (Cromwell) and (assistant coach) Mitch (Hall) did a superb jobs. These results are indicative of the depth our program has developed and what we have to look forward to in the future.

“But perhaps one of the most impressive attributes of our program, and how these results were achieved, is how strong our team spirit truly is.”

Last, but not least, Fisher is one of 64 finalists up for U.S. Sailing’s Greatest American Sailor. The winner will be selected through web votes, and the announcement will be made July 16. To vote, go to www.ussailing.org.

JIYC Open Regatta
More than 130 boats are expected to participate this weekend in the James Island Yacht Club Open Regatta, the second open event of the season. All proceeds from the regatta will benefit the club’s youth sailing programs. Registration opens today at 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.jiyc.org

Jessica Koenig is executive director of Charleston Community Sailing. Contact her at jessica@charlestoncommunitysailing.org.