Thus, the Crimson was a favored team at the ACCs. It was expected to live up to its billing as the fourth-ranked team in the nation.

Unfortunately Harvard was thrown by unfamiliar racing conditions. The course was a wide, open-water layout: the emphasis was thus on straight-line speed.

Again the Crimson, accustomed to a style of veering and cutting through the Charles River shifts, was faced with the unfamiliar, open-eater style of racing and struggled to adapt.

"The reality was that we didn't adjust very quickly to the conditions' we are used to sailing on small lakes and narrow rivers, and not on the wide Old Dominion setup," Fox said.

On Sunday, the team did make up some ground on the field, improving in overall race points, but unable to climb above its 12th-place standing from the day before. Georgetown won the event and Harvard was also eclipsed by beatable rivals Old Dominion, Tufts and St. Mary's.

"This regatta was disappointing with in itself, but it is only a progress report for the spring regattas," Strothman said.

The team did not intend to peak at the ACCs, as this regatta is only a prelude to the national championships, which will occur in the spring portion of the racing season.

"We know that as a team, we need versatility and adaptability to adverse conditions. This will be an important goal for the spring races," Fox said.

As the fall sailing season comes to a close, a few of Harvard's sailors will compete in individual events.

Next week, Strothman will travel to the University of Southern California for the single-handed nationals. Over Thanksgiving weekend, he will represent his country in the U.S.-Japan Goodwill Regatta, held in Newport Beach, R.I.

Margaret Gill and Brian Fox will both be available as his crew for this esteemed event.