Offshore Sailing Posts Runner-Up Finish at Kennedy Cup

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team competed in their final event of the fall season this weekend by hosting the Kennedy Cup, the big boat championship of collegiate sailing.

Ten teams from across the United States came to compete in Annapolis, as shifty winds and a strong ebb tide made sailing conditions on the Chesapeake Bay extremely tricky. Saturday saw sunny skies, temperatures in the high 50's and a 12-14 knot northwest breeze, as the College of Charleston ended the first day ahead of the Midshipmen after five races.

The final three races on Sunday featured cool temperatures, sunny skies and a northeasterly breeze of 10 knots. At the end of the two-day, eight-race series, the Mids found themselves just one point shy of winning the national championship, narrowly being edged out by the College of Charleston.

Representing Navy were seniors Nick Gibbons, Chris Cordner, Elliott Brandicourt and Nate Broomfield along with juniors Chad Schaffner, Matt Irving, Sammy Mentel, Connor McKee and Chloe Cowan.

Offshore Sailing Gets Three Victories in Banner Weekend

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team was dominant this past weekend by picking up three victories over four events, as the Midshipmen hosted the McMillan Cup and Colgate Invitational in Annapolis while also having athletes compete in the J/105 Chesapeake Bay Championship in Annapolis and combining with the Navy intercollege sailing team to send a five-man squad to an international regatta at the Chilean Naval Academy.

Competing for the oldest trophy in college sailing, the McMillan Cup featured nine schools representing the eastern seaboard, racing both Saturday and Sunday in challengingly light conditions. The Mids remained consistent throughout the two-day event to come out in first place, two points ahead of runner-up Charleston. Representing Navy were junior skipper Chad Schaffner along with seniors Nicholas Gibbons, Nathan Broomfield and Christopher Cordner and juniors Samuel Mentel, Chloe Cowan, Connor McKee and Matthew Irving. Sunday's result marks Navy's first win at the McMillan Cup since 2021.

In the Colgate Small Keelboat Invitational, 11 teams competed on the Severn River in Colgates as light wind prevailed throughout the event. The Mids started out strong to go ahead in the standings at the end of Saturday, while Sunday only allowed for one more race to be completed, where Navy sealed its victory. Skippering the winning boat was freshman Lawton Harper, joined by sophomore Brent Anderson and freshmen Olivia Green and Brendan Hawko.

Due to the light winds, the J/105 Chesapeake Bay Championships only completed two races, with Navy's senior skipper Augustus Reed leading his crew to 18th in the fleet.

Internationally, the Navy sailing teams also competed at the Chilean Naval Academy, where a combined crew of three offshore sailors and two intercollegiate sailors raced in a three-day event. Winds were brisk for the multi-race series, but the Mids were unstoppable, besting the 22-boat fleet with first-place results in all races. Representing Navy were seniors Elliot Brandicourt and Ulysses Buzan, junior Colin Caraher and sophomores George Carty and Spencer Dominguez.

Offshore Sailing Wins at the Storm Trysail Club Intercollegiate Regatta

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team was one of 43 teams competing at the Storm Trysail Club Intercollegiate Regatta this past weekend in Larchmont, N.Y., using an impressive finish to propel itself into a busy upcoming week.

Blustery conditions greeted sailors on Saturday with gusts over 20 knots. The Mids, sailing on a J/44, came out strong with scores of 1-1-1-2 over four races. On Sunday, one more race was sailed, as Navy won the race by several minutes over their next competitor, sealing the overall victory in its class.

Competing for Navy was an all-junior crew consisting of skipper Chad Schaffner along with Sawyer Barnard, Eddie Konjoyan, Matthew Irving, Connor McKee, Andrew Alvey, Jordan Hall and Madelyn Nienow.

Navy Places Second at Great Lakes Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team competed in a trio of regattas this past week, sending Midshipmen to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta in Chicago, Ill., the IC37 North American Championship in Newport, R.I., and the AYC Fall Race to Solomons in Annapolis.

Over 18 collegiate teams competed in two divisions over a two-day, six-race series at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, as the Mids came out strong on the first day to lead the competition in light, shifty winds on Lake Michigan. The second day brought steady rain and increased breeze, where the Mids continued to hold the lead until letting it slip in the final race, giving the podium spot to Wisconsin. The second-place Mids were skippered by junior Colin Caraher and crewed by juniors Sawyer Barnard, Samuel Mentel, Olivia Schuchard, Josh Fisher and senior Isabelle Navolio.

In the IC37 North American Championship at the New York Yacht Club, the Mids took 18th in the fleet, as Navy was skippered by senior Nicholas Gibbons across the four-race series.

Back home, senior Elliot Brandicourt skippered the Mids to a fourth-place finish in the PHRF-A division of the Annapolis Yacht Club's Fall Race To Solomons.

Offshore Sailing Takes First in Hammond Memorial Race

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team had a strong second weekend as it continued its fall slate, taking third in class in the Navy Fall Race to Cambridge as well as first place in the 2024 Hammond Memorial Race on the return to Annapolis.

Integrity took third place in the PHRF A2 class for the Race to Cambridge, as senior Augustus Reed skippered a crew that included seniors Elliott Brandicourt and Inaki Romero-Garza, juniors Colin Caraher and Maddy Nienow and sophomores Samantha Farley, Nico Martinez and Dylan Pace. Reed's crew was followed by Gallant in fourth, Tenacious in fifth and Defiance in sixth in the class, while Avenger took seventh in the J/105 class.

Gallant, skippered by senior Nick Gibbons, then took first in the return trip, the 2024 Hammond Memorial Race, as Gibbons' boat was crewed by juniors Sawyer Barnard, Chloe Cowan, Jordan Hall, Matt Irving, Sammy Mentel and Olivia Schuchard and sophomore Ford Buckley. Gallant was followed by Tenacious, Integrity, Defiance, and Avenger, who took second, third, fifth and seventh, respectively.

Next up for Navy's Avenger is the Hospice Cup on Sept. 14, while a fleet of Navy 44s will compete in the Shields Trophy Regatta on Sept. 14-15.

Offshore Sailing Takes First at Ecole Navale International Sailing Week Navy Skipper Gus Reed Leads Crew to Win in Brest, France

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team concluded a successful summer sailing campaign last weekend with a win at the Ecole Navale International Sailing Week in Brest, France.

Competing in an 11-boat fleet, the Midshipmen won five of the eight races to finish first overall aboard TITAN.

On the crew were senior skipper Augustus Reed, senior Brandon Prouse, juniors Sawyer Barnard and Samuel Mentel and sophomore Isaac Katz.

Offshore Sailing Finishes Third in Class for Newport-Bermuda Race

Navy’s POSEIDON Takes Third in Class with Nick Gibbons Skippering Seven-Person Crew

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team rounded out a strong June by competing in the Newport Bermuda Race this past weekend, as the Midshipmen took third in their class in the 636-mile race.

Starting Friday and finishing the trek down on Monday, POSEIDON was skippered by senior Nicholas Gibbons, while senior Ulysses Byzantine, juniors Colin Caraher, Eddie Konjoyan, Connor McKee and Josh Fisher and sophomores Lauren Abby and Ellie Savoie crewed the Swan 45 boat.

Offshore Sailing Posts Pair of First-Place Finishes at New York Yacht Club's 170th Annual Regatta

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In the NYYC's Around the Island Race, DEFIANCE was the first in a 17-boat class to finish and the Mids aboard TENACIOUS took third in the class. DEFIANCE was led by Brandicourt and crewed by rising juniors Chad Schaffner, Matthew Irving, Lilly Robinson and Jordan Hall and rising sophomores Laura Gilfert, Frank Bradshaw, Dylan Pace and Nico Martinez.

In the NYYC two-day race series, Navy's GALLANT put up scores of 5-1-2 to pull ahead of the second-place boat by two points, while Defiance barely missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in the 17-boat fleet. Skippered by Broomfield, the GALLANT's crew consisted of rising senior Brandon Prouse, rising juniors Sawyer Barnard, Olivia Schuchard, Andrew Alvey and Chloe Cowan, and rising sophomores Ford Buckley, Jackson Lubalin and Rachel Tagen.

Offshore Sailing Wins the Southern Collegiate Offshore Regatta

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Returning to the water for the first time since November, the Navy offshore sailing team started the spring season strong and took first place in its class at the Southern Collegiate Offshore Regatta this weekend in Charleston, S.C.

Posting scores of 1,2,3,1,2,4 over two days, Navy finished three points ahead of hosts College of Charleston in the Midshipmen's six-boat class.

Leading the Navy crew was skipper junior Nick Gibbons, while his crew included senior Renee Bonner, juniors Nate Broomfield, I.V. Romero-Garza and Elliott Brandicourt and sophomores Chad Schaffner, Chloe Cowan and Eddie Konjoyan.

Next up for Navy is the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup on March 8-10 in San Pedro, Calif.

Source: Navysports.com

NASF Trustees get the band back together again...

NASF Trustees Alec Cutler and Brad Rodi along with former Naval Academy Sailing alumni Charlie Pucciariello and Ryan Cox and back on the water together with a J/70 Worlds campaign. Good luck to this all corinthian team - GoNADS!

Here is an article from Bermuda's Royal Gazette: https://www.royalgazette.com/sailing/sport/article/20240208/corinthian-alec-cutler-out-to-make-sailing-history/

First Overall at the Storm Trysail Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta →

Senior skipper Renee Bonner led her crew to first in the PHRF Medium class and first overall out of 36 schools entered in the Storm Trysail Club's Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta. Bonner and crew posted a perfect score, winning all four of their races in challenging conditions on the Long Island Sound to earn themselves the coveted Paul Hoffman Trophy for the most outstanding performance by a team in the event. Bonner's crew included seniors Jessie Sedlock, Rick Irving, Sydney Richardson, Cam Coffelt and Ian Mason and juniors Inaki Romero-Garza and Alec Malone.

Senior skipper Javier Jimenez Kane was also in Larchmont, as he led his crew to second place in the PHRF Large class, one point out of first place.

Intercollegiate Sailing Fall Schedule →

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Navy wins the 77th Regatta Escola Naval in Rio!

A huge congratulations to Colin MacGillivray ‘23 and Tanner Kelly ‘25 for winning the 77th Regatta Escola Naval, hosted by the Brazilian Naval Academy!

Offshore Sailing Summer Block 1 Report

This report just in from Captain Cecily Walsh, Faculty Advisor and volunteer coach of the Offshore Team:

“The mids had a great experience from racing to Bermuda (thank you Cutler family for hosting) followed by Newport and on to Martha’s Vineyard.

They are currently underway to Annapolis with 1660nm of sailing and boat handling under their belt and another 378nm left to go.

They faced sailing fast with 15ft+ seas, upwards of 30 knots of wind, sea sickness, fatigue, engine issues, storms at sea, loads of boat work, Gulf Stream navigation, and many other challenges.

I am proud of how far they have come this summer. It was not an easy block of sailing and we pushed many of them past what they thought they could handle. They took on the challenges and they are all looking forward to pulling into Annapolis on Wednesday just a little more weathered than when we left June 3rd.”

— Capt. Cecily Walsh, USN | Assoc Chair, Aerospace Engineering

Navy 44s nearly sweep top 4 positions in Annapolis to Bermuda Race, winning class (PHRF 1)

de Olazarra, Leonard and Lobon Named to ICSA All-America Teams →

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy intercollegiate sailing team placed three individuals on the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) All-America teams, the national organization announced over the weekend. Olivia de Olazarra was named an All-American Women's Skipper for the second-consecutive season, while Fiona Lobon was recognized as an All-American Crew honoree and Kimmie Leonard earned an Honorable Mention All-American Crew selection.

Full story available from Navysports.com by clicking the story title.

JC Hermus wins the Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA) Sword for Men →

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—The Naval Academy Athletic Association announced its major athletic award winners this afternoon with JC Hermus of the intercollegiate sailing team winning the NAAA Sword for Men, Katie Halbert from the track & field team winning the Vice Admiral Lawrence Sword for Women and Diego Fagot from the football team winning the Thompson Trophy Cup. Jacob Allen from the wrestling team and Megan LaMendola of the soccer team won the Coaches' Calvert Awards.

Full story available from Navysports.com by clicking the story title.

Hermus and Benson Garner ICSA All-America Recognition →

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Following the Navy intercollegiate sailing team's participation in two Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) National Championships last week, the senior duo of Gray Benson and JC Hermus were recognized as ICSA All-American skippers in an awards ceremony held Sunday.

Full story available from Navysports.com by clicking the story title.

Intercollegiate Sailing Wins MAISA Fleet Racing Championship for the America Trophy →

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy intercollegiate sailing team closed out its 2021-22 regular season over the weekend by winning the MAISA Fleet Racing Championship for the America Trophy. The victory marked the Mids third MAISA Championship of the Year, having won the match racing championship in the fall and the team race championship earlier this spring. With their victory, the Midshipmen earned an automatic bid to the College Sailing Fleet Racing National Championship that is set to be held May 19-21 in New Orleans.

Full story available from Navysports.com by clicking the story title.