Clay Johnson and Sloan Devlin finished as runners-up in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association/Vanguard Singlehanded National Championships, held this weekend in Minnetonka, Minn., and freshman Kyle Kovacs and senior Genny Tulloch both placed fifth.
Competitors contended with a cold front pusing through Lake Minnetonka on Saturday, driving 20-knot winds and heavy chop.
“It was very challenging because of the conditions,” Devlin said. “Sailing on a lake in Minnesota in late October is not a good time.
“[Sailing] almost until the Charles River ices over helps us to be able to deal with those less-than-ideal conditions.”
Johnson posted 68 points over 16 races to finish behind Georgetown’s Andrew Campbell, who won the national championship with 32 points.
The Crimson sophomore endured a slightly shaky start on Friday, slipping in the standings to a tie for third place. As breezes picked up, though, the large sailor found his stride and posted four consecutive wins.
Campbell sailed consistently at the front of the fleet, winning six races and never finishing below fifth.
“When he was back in the fleet and in a bad situation, he was always able to come back and salvage a top-five race,” Johnson said. “Every point counts in one of these regattas.
“I was glad that I got second, because I was in a bad situation, but I was able to capitalize. I was happy with my performance, despite the fact that I didn’t win.”
Devlin sailed consistently throughout the regatta, finishing between second and fourth in all but two races and accumulating 54 points overall.
“I knew if I had a good three days I’d be very competitive,” Devlin said. “I was very pleased. I sailed a very consistent regatta, and I didn’t really have any bad races.”
Old Dominion’s Anna Tunnicliffe won seven straight races and 11 overall, earning her third consecutive national championship with 37 points.
“She definitely sailed the boat very well in breezy conditions and has excellent boat-handling in all conditions,” Devlin said.
Kovacs and Tulloch rounded out Harvard’s fleet with two more top finishes.
“We both did not sail particularly well on Friday,” said Kovacs, who endured a start much like Johnson’s. “We did a lot more consistently on Sunday.”
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