ANNAPOLIS, Md. - For the third year in a row, the Navy intercollegiate sailing team has finished third at the MAISA Team Race Championship for the Captain Prosser Trophy and earned a berth for the ISCA College Sailing Team Race National Championship.

This year's Prosser was contested at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. and the top eight teams in the conference were on hand to vie for four berths to the national championship.

The conditions proved to be as challenging for the fleet with 15-25 knot winds, three-foot waves and strong currents throughout day one.

Navy got off to a rough start, but came on strong through the end of round one and the beginning of round two to move into a qualifying position. Racing ended on the first day with round two almost complete and Navy in third place.

When the teams arrived on Sunday, there wasn't any wind on Long Island Sound and the fleet was forced to delay on shore. As the day went on, the situation became very stressful for the Midshipmen. If the few remaining races in round two couldn't be held, the entire round would be thrown out and Navy would drop to fifth in the standings and miss out on a berth to the national championship.

With a 4:00 PM deadline looming and prospects looking bleak, a little wind began to fill to the south of Kings Point and the fleet headed out to get racing right away. The last start of round two went off just seven minutes before the deadline. Navy finished in a four-way tie for third place with Fordham, Old Dominion and Hobart/William and Smith, but came out on top in the first tiebreak by virtue of its record in races between the tied teams.

Navy's skippers were Mary Hall, Michael Popp and Patrick Snow. Crewing were Alex Asuncion, Emma Ferris, Connor Hendi, Charlie Peck, Aaron Hull, Michael Madigan and Peter Hogan. Molly Robertson was also on and ready to go in more moderate conditions.

Georgetown took the top place and was followed by St. Mary's, Navy and Fordham as the national championship qualifiers.

"After a challenging and stressful weekend, the team is thrilled to be moving on to nationals for a third year in a row," said head coach Ian Burman.

The ISCA Team Race Nationals will be in Newport, R.I. from May 29 to May 31.

The program will host the Navy Spring Regatta this weekend and will sail for the Owen Trophy in New Haven, Conn.