Former Sailor Beigel Wins World Championship
7/29/2015 10:01:00 PM | Sailing
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Building upon the College of Charleston's reputation of developing and producing successful alumni, former sailor Laura Beigel (Severna Park, Md.) recently became a world champion as her team won the 2015 International Lightning Class World Championship hosted by the Buffalo Canoe Club on July 18-25 in Ontario, Canada.
Beigel, as crew, along with skipper Geoff Becker and crew Jimmy Barnash bested the 67-boat fleet by sailing to a low score of 54 points over nine races. In total, 14 countries were represented and the team's score was enough to give them a 17-point margin of victory over Jody Starck, a three-time Rolex Yachstwoman of the Year, and her crew of Ian Jones and Skip Dieball. The team sailed consistently in both heavy and light winds and credited their teamwork as a key factor in being successful.
A 2013 graduate of The College with a bachelor's degree in communication, Beigel also described her experience as, “special” due to her longstanding ties to the class.
“To win a Lightning World Championship in my opinion is one of the greatest achievements a sailor can earn,” she said. “But more importantly, it holds a special place in my heart, because I have relatives who won this same championship in the early 1960s. Being able to represent and connect with my family on this level is something of which I am incredibly humbled and grateful.”
Also among the competing fleet were a number of other CofC Sailing alumni including Jeff Aschieris (Class of '13), Laura Doupnik (Class of '03), Marcus Eagan (Class of '02) and Zeke Horowitz (Class of '12) as well as CofC Director of Sailing Greg Fisher and his wife, Jo Ann. Fisher said his experience was one that was fun and exciting in many ways.
“It was really a thrill to be able to compete in the 2015 Lightning World Championships,” he said. “The sailing conditions were exceptionally challenging and the talent was truly the best in the world. It was also a thrill to see so many CofC sailing team alumni competing and finishing so well.
“One of my hopes has always been that when a sailor graduates from The College, they will still hold the passion to stick with the sport they enjoyed for four years when they sailed for the College of Charleston. To win a world championship, as Laura Beigel did, is a huge accomplishment and I am so happy for her and proud of Zeke Horowitz, Marcus Eagan, Laura Doupnik and Jeff Aschieris and their super finishes as well.”
Beigel will continue to compete in the Lightning Class, but also has her eyes set on a possible Olympic campaign in the coming years.
