DERBY, Conn. – On a sunny and lightly breezy day, the Yale Lightweights competed on their home course at the Head of the Housatonic Saturday. Four eights were entered into the Men's Open IRA event. The competition was intense among the Brown, Northeastern, Syracuse and Yale heavyweight crews. The lightweights put up a strong performance, with Yale LWT A finishing 8th in 13:21.9, Yale LWT B finishing 13th in 13:33.9, Yale LWT C finishing 15th in 13:41.6, and Yale LWT D finishing 19th in 13:52.3. 

Following the morning of racing, a dedication ceremony was held on the dock for a new Hudson 8+. In honor of the 1979 Yale lightweight team's impressive Sprints victories in all three varsity shells, the new shell was christened the '1979 Y150s.' Nine members of the 1979 squad took part in a ceremonial first row of the shell. The afternoon concluded with the Yale alumni races. In a remarkable turnout, alumni returned in droves to fill every shell in the Pew Bay. 

Now, the Elis will continue their training preparing for the last regatta of the fall season: the 55th Head of the Charles on Sunday, Oct. 20. For the first time, the lightweights have five entries, including three in the lightweight 8+ event and two in the lightweight 4+. 

Full results can be found here.