ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A new season for college sailing kicked off this weekend with Navy hosting two regattas while competing in one away event. This year's captain, Mary Hall showed she is prepared to continue showing her All-American form, opening the year with her third win at the Radial Open in four tries.

This year's event was a light air affair, with massive shifts and wind changes, that tested the skills of all competitors. Mary remained consistent and fast throughout, winning by 20 points in the eight race series and advancing on to the Faye Bennet MAISA Women's Single-handed Championship, which will also be at Navy on September 26-28. Emma Ferris and Hannah Hughes also qualified, finishing 6th and 7th overall in the 20 boat fleet. Megan Hough came in 17th overall while Jillian Foley was 20th.

On the same course 20 men competed in the Laser South Regatta, competing to advance to the Carl Van Duyne MAISA Men's Single-handed Championship. Plebes Addison Hackstaff, who finished third overall, and Gary Prieto, who was sixth, showed why they were sought after recruits and advanced to the next round. Phil Youngberg just missed out, finishing eighth, but he will have another shot at the MAISA Laser Elimination, where he will be joined by Peter Hogan, who finished 18th.

In the only away regatta, four other plebes traveled to Norfolk to compete in the Riley Cup at Old Dominion University. Navy finished seventh overall out of 17 teams, with Jimmy Madigan and Amelia Winn finishing seventh in A while Hamrick Morgan and Brittany Webb-Martin were sixth in B.

Many of the team members were busy this weekend supporting the Wounded Warrior Regatta, where they helped get our disabled veterans out on the water. It was great for our players to get out and remember that sailing can often be about a lot more than winning and losing. Alex Asuncion, Charlie Peck, Connor Hendi, Mike Popp, Molly Hanson, Molly Robertson, Michael Madigan, Patrick Snow, Spencer Nora and Will Hawley all had a very rewarding day with the Wounded Warriors.

Next week, most of the team will be hitting the road to compete in four different events up and down the East Coast.