BRANFORD, Conn. – This weekend, the Yale coed sailing team placed fifth at the Harry Anderson Trophy, which took place in home waters at the McNay Family Sailing Center, and third at the Pine Trophy, qualifying for the New England Match Racing Championship.

Good weather greeted the sailors on Saturday morning at the Harry Anderson Trophy. Clear skies and a light 6-7 knot breeze in the morning turned into a 10-15 knot southeasterly in the afternoon. The southeast direction allowed for large waves in a good direction for downwind surfing.

Sunday's winds were a little less strong. A 10-12 knot southeast breeze in the morning decreased in velocity throughout the day, reaching 5 knots by the end of the day.

In A division, junior skipper Mitchell Kiss sailed with crews juniors Natalya Doris and Clara Robertson. Sailing in B division were skipper Casey Klingler and crews senior Emily Johnson and junior Isabelle Rossi de Leon.

Sailing for the Bulldogs at the Pine Trophy were junior Ian Barrows, who skippered the boat, senior Marly Isler, sophomore Malcolm Lamphere and freshmen Nic Baird and Nick Hernandez, who all crewed. Baird sailed on Saturday and Hernandez sailed on Sunday.

Commenting on his college sailing debut, Baird said, "it was exciting to meet and sail against a lot of the people I have been hearing about over the last couple of years. It was humbling and exciting."

Though this was his first regatta as a Yale Bulldog, it was a sloop event – next week, Baird and Hernandez will have their first shot at a college fleet race, the type of event that dominates the fall season.

Next weekend, the Bulldogs will travel to MIT and Kings Point for the Hatchbrown and Nevins Trophies.

See full results from this weekend at http://scores.collegesailing.org/f15/harry-anderson/.

Report filed by Natalya Doris '17, Yale Sports Publicity