Williams, Arrindell Finish Second at Singlehanded Nationals

Friday, November 4

Annapolis, MD

All Day

College of Charleston

Kennedy Offshore Cup

Williams, Arrindell Finish Second at Singlehanded Nationals

11/6/2016 6:09:00 PM | Sailing

GALVESTON, Texas – Sophomore Gerald Williams (Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China) and freshman Kelly-Ann Arrindell (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad) each took second at the Men's and Women's Singlehanded National Championship to pace the fourth-ranked College of Charleston sailing team to an exceptional weekend, as the Cougars also finished third at the Kennedy Cup in Annapolis, Md.

Williams put together an impressive second day on Sunday in Galveston, Texas, as the sophomore finished first in races 12 and 13 after winning race nine on Saturday. He made a significant charge in the final nine races, vaulting from sixth after race six to second when the 14^th and final race finished on Sunday. Williams finished the championships with 84 points – just three points shy of national champion Scott Rasmussen of Boston College.

"The competition was extremely close and the Cougars ended just short of a victory," said assistant coach Mitch Hall. "We're proud of our squad for all their hard work and are looking forward to next year's event."

Enrique Arathoon (Guatemala City, Guatemala) finished the championships in a tie for fourth alongside teammate Stefano Peschiera (Lima, Peru). Both sailors recorded 89 points over the course of 14 races, as Arathoon won race three and finished second in races one, 11 and 14. Peschiera won races two, five and eight, and finished third in races six and 14.

Arrindell finished the weekend with a flourish, as the freshman won races nine and 13 to take second in her first singlehanded national championship appearance. She finished with 70 points, as teammate Kelly Cole ended the weekend in seventh with 100 points. Erika Reineke claimed the singlehanded national championship with a total of 31 points.

The Cougars' offshore team finished the weekend strong at the Kennedy Cup in Annapolis, Md., as freshman Jordan Wiggins (York, S.C.) skippered the Cougars to a third-place finish with 21 points – five points shy of first. Wiggins was joined by sophomore main trim/tactician Will Hundahl (Marblehead, Mass.), senior primary trim Noah Blacker (St. Petersburg, Fla.), freshman secondary trim Sam Tobio (Sarasota, Fla.), sophomore pit Corinne Durocher (Monroe, Mich.), junior mast Scott Nord (Knoxville, Tenn.), junior squirrel Julia Lines (Southhampton, Bermuda), senior bow Howie Meyers (Bellport, N.Y.), and alternate Sean Hannigan.

"This was a weekend of learning and improving moving towards domination and excelling," said assistant coach Ned Goss. "Practice day was in 15-23 knots so marking crew work and good seamanship a priority. Saturday was light and all about learning the navy 44 and what they can and can't do. Sunday was 16-21 knots and with the combination of improved starts and knowledge of the boats and the confidence that was gained on the practice day the team excelled and dominated. All in all, I couldn't be more proud of their performance."

The Cougars will travel to the Atlantic Coast Coed in Cambridge, Mass. on Nov. 12 and 13, and will host the Atlantic Coast Women's on Nov. 12 and 13 at the J. Stewart Walker Sailing Complex next weekend.