By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
The Bulls battled elements and a tough field in Charleston, S.C., this past weekend.
The USF women's sailing team finished sixth among nine teams at the Charleston Women's Intersectional on Sunday after a very long weekend of dealing with weather.
Head coach Allison Jolly described Saturday's situation as "rainy and blustery," with the race being called for the day at 1 p.m. because of approaching thunderstorms from the same cold front that created tornadoes earlier in the week. The Bulls were in fourth place by the time the boats hit the docks and ahead of many top 10 opponents.
Sunday's start of action featured moderate winds of 10-12 knots, but the skies opened up and caused "boats capsizing and havoc" by the final race of the day at 2 p.m.
USF wound up in a tie for fifth place but lost the tiebreaker with Old Dominion. The Bulls finished ahead of notable names like Navy (seventh place) and the Coast Guard in ninth.
Abby Featherstone and Hillary Noble finished eighth in the A Division while searching for the right combination of speed and point. Jolly described seniors Rachael Silverstein and Stephanie Reynolds as "amazing" after they finished second in the B Division.
The Bulls have a short time to regroup before competing in the Navy spring women's event Saturday and Sunday in Annapolis, Md.
