Hampton Sailing Team Places Fifth at Hampton Bay Days Regatta Bryan J. Harvey Oct. 12, 2004 Hampton, Va. – The Hampton University Pirates Sailing Team played host to seven other schools on Saturday and Sunday, and in the meantime managed to finish fifth overall in the annual Hampton Bay Days Regatta held at Strawberry Banks on the campus of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. The Pirates used less experienced sailors for the weekend event, which was filled mainly by schools sending skippers/crew to learn and get extra experience on the sometimes troublesome waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Saturday’s action featured just two races due to the severe absence of wind … which is rather strange during the fall season in the Tidewater area. On Sunday, however, winds picked up and chop got heavy enough to capsize over three boats … and a few other tilts coming out of the bay. Modified Gold Cup and Modified Triangle races were held, while HU picked up 56 total points. Just six points separated third place (Virginia) from fifth place (HU). Old Dominion took home first place for the weekend, while Christopher Newport and William & Mary placed second and fourth respectively. Seven races were held in two divisions on the weekend. The Pirates were led by Gabrielle Lyons and Candice Franklin during A Division competition. The Pirates finished fifth in A Division with 33 points, though that was just one (1) point behind Virginia Tech who finished in fourth place. In B Division action, Marcellus Wesley and Blake Matthews skipped along the waters for third place. Tiffany Folkes and Yasmina Beckles added a few races in B Division, keeping the Pirates at third place with 23 points. The Pirates will get back onto the waters again next weekend as they travel to Chestertown, Maryland to compete in the Washington College Open. --HU--