Bermudian sailor Chase Cooper and his team representing the Tabor Academy won the New England School Sailing Association (NESSA) Fleet Racing Championships in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Tabor Academy were one of 16 teams out of a field of 52 to qualify for the Championship. Each qualifying school fielded a pair of sailors which would race in two separate divisions in two man Z420 dinghies. The team with the lowest combined score from each division would be the eventual champions.
Chilly temperatures and steady 10 knot north easterlies met the teams at the beginning of the day. Sailing the “A” Division boat for Tabor were seniors Parker Loftus and Nathalie Cavallo while Cooper helmed the “B” Division boat with Tucker Hersam as crew. Tabor Academy were in the hunt from the onset with strong finishes in both Divisions.
Cooper and Hersam put Tabor slightly ahead of closest rival St. Georges School with decisive wins in the fifth and sixth races in the “B” Division. Further strong performances from Loftus and Cavallo in the “A” Division increased the Tabor Academy lead over St. Georges, completing their races before light winds forced a short delay before the final "B” Division set could commence.
Cooper and Hersam remained cool during the break and once back on the water only had to stay close to the St. Georges boat to claim victory which they accomplished comfortably. Loftus, Cavallo and T.K. Kelly combined for 35 points in 7 races, finishing 3rd in "A” Division. Cooper and Hersam won “B” Division with 30 points. Gianni Cavallo ’16 and Peter Thibodeau ’16 rounded out the squad and did a great job in the “pit crew.”
The victory earns Tabor the George O’Day Trophy New England Fleet Racing Championship, the first time Tabor has won this trophy since 2006.
The win also qualifies Tabor Academy for the National Fleet Racing Championship for the Mallory trophy to be sailed out of the College of Charleston May 13th-15th, 2016.
“Couldn’t be prouder of this team,” stated Coach Rob Hurd in his post regatta press conference. “They faced a lot of adversity handled it well. This is not an easy trophy to win. Today we enjoy it, tomorrow it’s On to Charleston.”
New England School Sailing Association (NESSA) Fleet Racing Championship
1st - Tabor Academy - 65 pts 2nd - St Georges School - 70 pts 3rd - Milton Academy - 80 pts