HAMPTON, Va. – As one of the few HBCUs to offer sailing, Hampton University is proud to announce its schedule for the spring 2009 season.

The Pirates and Lady Pirates will open the slate on March 7-8 at the Old Dominion University Spring Open in Norfolk, Va. at the Old Dominion Sailing Center.

Hampton will spend back-to-back weekends competing at nearby Christopher Newport University in Newport News; on March 14-15 Hampton will sail in the Ice Free Invitational, and then March 21-22, the Pirates and Lady Pirates will compete in the 2-on-2 Team Race.

Hampton will host their annual MAISA/SAISA Intersectional on March 28-29. The Pirates and Lady Pirates might also host the April 4-5 South Spring Qualifier. The top three from this event will qualify for America Trophy. The next six will grab the Leroy Grant.

The South Spring Qualifier finish will determine the fate of the team: will they go to America Trophy at N.Y. Maritime or Leroy Grant? This will all take place the weekend of April 18-19.

They will end their regatta in Williamsburg, Va. with the William & Mary Colony Cup in the last weekend of April.

The sailing team has a lot of competitions in the Virginia area, so please try to come out and support the Pirates and Lady Pirates.

For more information on Hampton sailing, please call the office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.