Bellingham, Wash.— Only 11 total races could be completed at the men's and women's singlehanded nationals this weekend at Western Washington, but it was only the last race that hurt. Freshman Luke Muller continued to impress in his first season of collegiate sailing by finishing a close second, coming oh-so-close to first place at his first national championship.
Overall, it was a very good weekend for Stanford. In addition to Muller, fifth-year senior Sally Mace earned a sixth-place finish in the women's event, and co-captain Kieran Chung snagged 11th-place in the men's championship for the Cardinal.
Muller had the lead through five races, but Stefano Peschiera of the College of Charleston passed him in the sixth and final race of the event to claim the title. Muller had one win, three runner-up finishes and one third-place result through five races, but he finished 12th in tough conditions in the sixth races as Peschiera finished fourth to move ahead.
Chung had some bad luck of his own, finishing 11th or better in five of six races, but picking up 19 points for an on course side (OCS) in the fourth race pushed him just outside the top 10.
Mace was solid from start to finish in the five-race women's event, finishing between third and ninth in all five races to earn her sixth-place result. Mace and Muller won the women's and men's singlehanded conference championships, respectively, at Stanford last month to earn their spots in the field at nationals.
Next weekend, the Cardinal is scheduled to compete at the College Sailing Match Race National Championship in Centre Island, N.Y., and at the Dinghy Pacific Coast Championship in Santa Barbara, Calif. Live results will be available at scores.collegesailing.org.
