NEWPORT, R.I. – The University of Hawai'i coed sailing team concluded its 2018-19 campaign with an 11th-place finish in the Gill Coed Dinghy National Semifinals hosted by Brown University at Sail Newport.
 
The semifinals were divided into two fleets, an Eastern and Western, each with 18 teams. The top nine teams from each fleet advanced to the finals. The Rainbows, competing in the Eastern Semifinal, were in 11th after the first day of sailing on Tuesday, just 25 points out of ninth place. UH, however, couldn't gain ground, coming up 67 points short after six races in each division on Wednesday.
 
A total of 28 races —14 each division — were completed over two days with UH totaling 293 points. Ninth-place Jacksonville University was the last to make the cut for the finals with 226 points. The finals will take place over the next two days with two PCCSC teams advancing, Stanford (157 points, 1st) in the Eastern Semifinal and UC Santa Barbara (259 points, 9th) in the Western Semifinal.

UH got a strong performance from its B team of junior skipper Patrick Wilkinson and out-going senior Annika Garrett, who finished tenth with 129 points. Garrett, who primarily served as women's A skipper this season, had the chance to serve as crew, and excelled. The B team had eight top-ten finishes through 14 races. 

Senior Michael Pacholski, Samuel Patton and Devon Stapleton (164 points, 14th) sailed for UH in the A division. Senior Mathew Butler and Danielle Ahir sailed one set in the A division on Wednesday totaling 29 points through two races.
 
This year is UH's best finish at the semis since 2015, when the 'Bows finished in 11th, a nice send off for seniors Butler, Garrett, and Pacholski who sailed in their final regatta.