The Student Yachting World Cup – the only international world championship for college sailing – concluded on Friday with the twelfth and final race. Memorable it was. “The wind blew the promised 20 knots gusting to 30,” described Team Canada. “The race committee made the decision that no spins were to be flown and all boats must use their jib as opposed to the genoa to minimize boat breakage. It was a blast!”

Southampton Solent University (England) and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) were clearly the class of the field, with the Brits edging the Swiss for the win. Team USA and Team Canada finished 5th and 6th respectively. “A fifth place in this World Cup event on the very first try for a West Coast team is nothing to be sneezed at,” observed Cal Maritime Academy’s Doug Webster. “There is a learning curve involved, not last of it involved with the supplied Grand Surprise 32s.”

For more, visit www.sywoc.org