HAMPTON, Va. – When the Hampton University sailing team hosts the MAISA/SAISA Intersectional Regatta on Saturday and Sunday, the squad will also be running a clinic for local high school and middle school students.

The clinic, which will coincide with the meet at Strawberry Banks on Saturday, will teach students about the sport of sailing, while simultaneously spreading the word on the Pirates' squad – a team that has won two races this season and recorded four other top-three finishes.

The Pirates won the Christopher Newport 2-on-2 Invitational last weekend, as well as The Webb Regatta at CNU on Oct. 24-25. Hampton also recorded second-place finishes at the Ice-Free Invitational on March 14, the CNU 2-on-2 Classic on Feb. 27-28 and the Henry Luce Regatta on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, as well as a third-place finish at the Hampton Bay Days on Oct. 10-11.

A DJ will be present during the weekend providing entertainment during the regatta, and a commentator will be stationed shoreside to provide an explanation of events.

“We want to develop the program,” first-year coach Alessandro Ambrosi said. “I have found a very good place (at Hampton), and a great program here at Hampton, but I want to develop it more, and this regatta is part of the larger plan.”

The regatta will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with the opening ceremonies. Among the other schools competing will be MAISA members George Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Old Dominion, the U.S. Naval Academy and Christopher Newport, along with SAISA schools UNC-Wilmington, Clemson, Eckerd, South Florida and the College of Charleston.

Hampton is a member of MAISA.

Four nationally-ranked teams will be among the field; Charleston was ranked fifth in the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association's co-ed national rankings as of March 2, while Navy was ranked 11th, South Florida was No. 13 and Old Dominion was ranked 18th.

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