ITHACA, N.Y. -- The nationally ranked Cornell sailing team enjoyed its return to competition with a pair of trophies on opening weekend of the 2021-22 campaign. The Big Red claimed victories at its own Jack Boehringer '52 Memorial Regatta as well as the Kings Point Women's Regatta.  

The Big Red crushed the field in Ithaca, placing first and third out of nine entries on Cayuga Lake. Cornell secured 42 points over 10 races in A and B division, easily outpacing Hobart and William Smith who placed second (112 points). A division, comprised of skipper Meredith Moran and Gabbi DelBello as crew, won five of the 10 races and never finished lower than third. J.J. Smith and Sophia Fogarty sailed B division and won four races, taking top three in nine of 10 total races on the afternoon.

Cornell 2 was in second after six races, but ended up with a solid third to finish on the podium. Ben Rizika and Aidan Lane served as skipper, with Sophia Duff and Lilly Bjerke making up the crew. Rizika and Duff had four top-five race finishes in A division, while Lane and Bjerke had four in the top five, all coming in the final six races of the afternoon.

At the KP Women's Regatta, the Big Red overcame a 13-point deficit after five rounds, breaking a tie with Hobart and William Smith with two remaining and holding off their local rival 72-75. B division took first thanks to the sailing of Bridget Green and Jana Laurendau who closed the day with three consecutive race wins. A division skipper Brooke Shachoy and crew Emily O'Connell and Amelia Neumann also contributed to the victory with a pair of race wins in nine starts and five total top five efforts.

The Big Red women were placed at No. 8 nationally in the first rankings, while the coed team is receiving votes.

Cornell returns to action next weekend for the Faye Bennett Laser Radial as well as the Cayuga Invite out of the Merrill Family Sailing Center.