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.