LONG BEACH, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i coed sailing team's 2007-08 campaign came to a close with a 10th-place finish at the Intercollegiate Sailing Association National Championship Western Semifinals, hosted by the University of Southern California, April 26-27. The top nine teams advanced to the ICSA National Championship, with the Rainbows barely missing the cut.

A total of 28 races, including 14 each in the A and B divisions, were completed during the two-day regatta. Georgetown finished first with a low score of 112. With a total of 258 points, the Rainbows finished just 18 points behind NY Maritime for the ninth and final spot to the nationals. Sailing for UH were Mike Scott, Mark Spector, Jackie McLoughlin and Becky Mabardy, and Andrew Meade and Pam Magasinn in the B division.

UH qualified for the semifinals two weeks ago at the exact same venue with a top-four finish in the Pacific Coast Sailing Conference Championship. This is the first year that the ICSA has employed a semifinal format. The eastern semifinal regatta was also completed this weekend with the top nine teams from each bracket advancing to the 18-team ICSA/Gill Dinghy National Championship, June 2-4, 2008, in Newport, R.I.

The Rainbows, ranked 16th in the latest collegiate poll, fell short of qualifying for the nationals for the third straight year. Prior to that, Hawai`i finished in the top-three at the nationals four straight years, including its first-ever national championship in 2004.

UH, though, will have a presence at the nationals with the Rainbow Wahine participating in the ICSA Women's National Championship, May 25-27, also in Rhode Island. It is the ninth trip to the nationals in the last 11 years for the UH women.

ICSA National Championship Western Semifinals
April 26-27
Long Beach Calif.

Final Standings (A-B=Total)
1. Georgetown (51 -61=112)
2. Yale (72-60 =132)
3. Brown (101-77=178)
4. College of Charleston (86-98=184)
5. MIT (120-80=200)
6. Roger Williams (95-107=202)
7. USMMA - Kings Point (99 -127=226)
8. South Florida (116-121=237)
9. NY Maritime (148-92=240)
10. Hawai`i (130-128=258)
11. USC (107-160=267)
12. Old Dominion (139-147=286)
13. Western Washington (168-168=336)
14. Texas (148-222=370)
15. Minnesota (194-180=374)
16. Northwestern (215-164=379)
17. Notre Dame (216-185=401)
18. Texas A&M Galveston (195-221=416)

-UH-