The Mail

To the Sports Editor of the Crimson:

Over the past dozen years, with only two exceptions, the Crimson has consistently ignored the achievements of the sailing teams.

Despite the loss of two top skippers and a number of other excellent sailors through graduation, the Harvard team has already established itself this fall as one of the best in New England.

Under the leadership of co-captains John Bowers and Rud Istvan and All-New England Charlie Koch, the team won the Big Three Championship, the Wood Trophy, the Land Trophy, and has qualified for the finals of the New England Sloop Championship.

Radcliffe has an even more outstanding record. After finishing third in the Nationals last spring, the women this fall have won all the trophies for which they have competed.

The achievements of these teams deserve some recognition. The work that the team members contribute are even worthy of notice. Harvard sailors have always had to pay their own transportation, lodging and meals when sailing throughout the country.

They practice three days a week and compete on both days of every weekend from mid-September until Thanksgiving and from mid-March until mid-June. On some occasions the team will drive a thousand miles and compete during a weekend.

Radcliffe, has, in the past, been more fortunate, for the Radcliffe Gym has contributed greatly to the support of the women sailors. The men and women on both teams also have assumed responsibility for the general operations of the Harvard Yacht Club, which offers recreational sailing and free instruction to over 400 members of the Harvard-Radcliffe community annually.

A new boathouse is under construction at this moment which will make it possible for the Club to service even more students and faculty, but that is a separate story of some length.

I realize that football and soccer command most of the sports page space during the fall. But I would hope that a competent and interested reporter might be found to cover the activities of the sailing teams. Sincerely,   Michael S. Horn   Coach, Harvard-Radcliffe Sailing

(We too anxiously seek a competent observer of sailing.)   --Editor