Spring Break
URI sailing team captures 11th Kennedy Cup
Brandon Gearing
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports
URI last won the World Cup in 1990. It also finished second in 1992, 1993 and 2004, while taking third in 1988 and 1998.
The crew that competed in the Kennedy Cup consisted of seniors Russell Miller and Robbie Kane, juniors Alex Baittinger, Jessie Fielding, Carl Merrill, Scott Millard and Nat Tingley and sophomores Weston Barlow and Jeremy Henry.
However, this crew might not be the one that competes in the World Cup next year.
A committee will be set up within the URI sailing community that includes head coach and former URI sailor Joey Mello to determine which sailors will compete.
This committee will also reach out to selected alumni to help review applications for only seven positions.
In addition to the applications, the committee will consider academic standing, passport information, ability to take off time from classes and sailing experience.
"[Making the team has] been a goal of mine since I first set foot on the URI sailing team," Fielding said. "The chance to represent URI, the chance to sail under the Rhody Rams flag, the chance to sail for the United States in a world event would be an honor."
The Rams face many hurdles before they get to France, the biggest being the $40,000 to $50,000 needed to cover the costs of making the trip.
The team will look to the university to provide some of the money to cover the trip, but Fielding said he expects that the team will be forced to come up with about 90 percent of the necessary funds.
"I'm incredibly proud of our guys," Fielding said. "We put any ego that we had and we left it on the dock and worked hard to win this one."
The date and exact location of the World Cup are still to be determined.
The crew that competed in the Kennedy Cup consisted of seniors Russell Miller and Robbie Kane, juniors Alex Baittinger, Jessie Fielding, Carl Merrill, Scott Millard and Nat Tingley and sophomores Weston Barlow and Jeremy Henry.
However, this crew might not be the one that competes in the World Cup next year.
A committee will be set up within the URI sailing community that includes head coach and former URI sailor Joey Mello to determine which sailors will compete.
This committee will also reach out to selected alumni to help review applications for only seven positions.
In addition to the applications, the committee will consider academic standing, passport information, ability to take off time from classes and sailing experience.
"[Making the team has] been a goal of mine since I first set foot on the URI sailing team," Fielding said. "The chance to represent URI, the chance to sail under the Rhody Rams flag, the chance to sail for the United States in a world event would be an honor."
The Rams face many hurdles before they get to France, the biggest being the $40,000 to $50,000 needed to cover the costs of making the trip.
The team will look to the university to provide some of the money to cover the trip, but Fielding said he expects that the team will be forced to come up with about 90 percent of the necessary funds.
"I'm incredibly proud of our guys," Fielding said. "We put any ego that we had and we left it on the dock and worked hard to win this one."
The date and exact location of the World Cup are still to be determined.
