ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Even though much of the Northeast is still frozen, the Navy intercollegiate sailing team's racing season began in earnest this weekend with Navy scheduled to compete in three separate events.

Unfortunately, before the weekend even began, the Tom Noble Team Race at Washington College was cancelled due to ice in the Chester River.

The one event that was guaranteed to have water to sail on was the Bob Bavier Team Race in Charleston, S.C. This is the first major event of the spring season and many top teams were in attendance. Navy's team of Alex Asuncion, Mary Hall, Connor Hendi, Charlie Peck, Megan Hough, Aaron Hull, Michael Popp, Patrick Snow and Peter Hogan certainly showed some rust due to lack of on the water practice time at home, but also displayed great speed and promise in posting a fifth place finish in the 10-team field.

On the Potomac River, the ice subsided just enough to get some good sailing in at the George Washington Team Race. A young Navy team comprised of Molly Hanson, Michael Madigan, Addison Hackstaff, Michelle Katz, Jimmy Madigan, Gary Prieto and Brittany Webb-Martin, had its ups and downs, but learned a lot and stayed in contention throughout the event. Some tough losses at the end dropped the team to fifth overall in a tight six-team field.

Navy will look to get its first full week of on the water practice at home this week in advance of the team's first home regatta this coming weekend.