Sailing Continues to Produce Winners, Women Begin Ranked No. 1

It's funny how Harvard's least-publicized sports often tend to be among its best.

The Harvard sailing team tops even the squash team for low campus profile. Even with three returning All-Americans, it does not rate a spot on the official Harvard Athletics web site, a privilege even the Alpine and Nordic ski teams enjoy.

Yet this fall, the Harvard sailing team has the opportunity to assert itself as one of the top programs in the nation. It looks to build off an impressive 1998-99 campaign, in which Crimson sailors captured the women's single-handed championship and took third place in the men's.

The fall and spring seasons emphasize different aspects of sailing. The autumn season places more of a focus on the individual, as it is highlighted by a series of national championship regattas--men's and women's single-handed and sloops.

Harvard has traditionally specialized in the single-handed competitions to the relative exclusion of sloop racing, and should prove to be a force this season.

Despite graduating two All-Americans--skipper Peter Strothman and crew Brian Fox--the team still has three more All-Americans on the roster and a very promising recruiting class.

"I think we are looking good for this season," co-captain Sarah Levin said. "We lost two of our five All-Americans, but we've had a lot of good recruits the past two years."

The women's team will be lead by perhaps the most talented sailor in the nation, sophomore skipper Margaret Gill. Gill garnered All-American honors as a freshman by capturing the women's single-handed championship.

"Gill had an amazing year," Levin said. "She won the women's single-handed nationals, which is just unbelievable for a freshman."

Gill's crew from last year, senior Lauren Toretta, became the other Crimson All-American. Toretta has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Crimson, sailing co-ed the previous spring and trying her hand at skippering before teaming up with Gill.

Together they were ranked as the No. 1 women's tandem in the nation last year, but Harvard Coach Mike O'Connor has decided to spread the wealth and will give Toretta her own boat to skipper.

"[Toretta and Gill] may team together from time to time," O'Connor said. "But we needed someone else to skipper the second boat, Gill can find another crew."

Leading the lineup of male sailors is co-captain Christian Taubman. The final returning All-American, he earned third place in last year's national championships.

The fall spotlight, though, will focus on the underclassmen, in particular sophomore skipper Sean Doyle and freshman Clay Bischoff. O'Connor said that Taubman does not have the size to contend for the single-handed title.

Doyle is one of the early favorites to bring home that crown. He followed up an impressive rookie campaign by taking third place in the Junior Olympic Nationals this summer.

Bischoff, Harvard's top recruit, finished behind him in the Olympics in fifth. Bischoff comes to the Crimson with the reputation of being a single-handed specialist.

"Olympic competition translates very well to the upcoming season," O'Connor said. "They both were sailing singles and using the same skills."

Despite featuring a few young sailors, the Crimson should have no leadership void. Taubman and Levin complement each other nicely as co-captains with Taubman a career skipper and Levin a crew.

Their task will be to keep an obviously talented roster focused and motivated, as the national circuit does not present any overwhelming competition.

St. Mary's should serve as Harvard's chief national rival this season and is widely recognized as the team to beat in college sailing. The Seahawks return two All-Americans and finished atop the ICYRA rankings last year. Dartmouth and Tufts are the other top New England schools.

"Yes, I think we can move into the elite programs this year," O'Connor said. "Our women's team is ranked first in the nation and our men's team is ranked sixth. There is no reason why that cannot improve."

In its early regattas Harvard has already had success. The co-ed squad finished third in the Harry Anderson Trophy at Yale, while the women captured the Man Labs Trophy at MIT.

If the Crimson sailors keep this up, the Athletic Department might just give them that web page.