EDHEC Sailing Cup Tufts
The Tufts University Jumbos are officially the first U.S. team signed up for the EDHEC Sailing Cup, an annual intercollegiate regatta in its 46th year that draws upwards of 1500 sailors from 20 countries.
In a January 5 press release from EDHEC Sailing Cup organizers, Tufts coach Ken Legler said, “There are not many keelboat regattas, and I have the feeling that once we go, we are going to be addicted to this event […] I have the feeling that the only reason why we don’t know how fun it is is because we haven’t been yet.”
Tufts plans to send 15 of their 16 seniors on the team. They’ll compete in the largest one-design class on Grand Surprise against 50 other boats in the Vendee Globe’s harbor: Les Sables d’Olonne, from April 25 to May 3.
The team includes: Victor Ansart, Maggie Bacon, Cameron Barclift, Paula Grasberger, Will Haeger, Elizabeth Keys, Solomon Krevans, Kathleen Kwasniak, David Liebenberg, Sara Makaretz, Tori Porter, Julie Pringle, Charlie Proctor, Willem Sandberg and Eliza White.
Will Haeger is the brother of Annie Haeger, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider 470 skipper, who recently showed her support for the event by becoming its patron, alongside Anna Tunnicliffe. “I appreciate the competitive nature of the event, especially the team spirit sailing big boat requires. Compared to my own sailing in a two-person 470, the team work and chemistry is amplified by the shear number of crew,” says Annie Haeger in the press release.
For more information on this unique student-run regatta, check out the event website.
