NORFOLK, Va. - The Navy intercollegiate sailing team placed fourth out of eight teams at the MAISA Team Race Championship for the Captain Prosser Trophy this weekend in Norfolk, Virginia. Navy's top-four finish has qualified the team for the College Sailing Team Race Nationals in San Diego later this spring.

Forecasts called for cold and windy conditions on Saturday and Navy came prepared and confident with heavy air specialists Aaron Hull, Peter Hogan and Jimmy Madigan ready to show the competition what the Midshipmen were made of. Just as the team was about to leave the dock, however, the wind increased to over 40 knots in the puffs, outside of the sailable range. Racing was postponed and the field waited around all day, but the wind never subsided enough for racing to take place, leaving a long day ahead on Sunday.

Sunday was chilly as well, but the wind was significantly lighter, hovering between 3 and 15 knots all day. Racing began at 9 AM and continued until 7 PM, when the field finished the second full round robin.

Navy's record of 8-6 was good enough for fourth overall and a trip to the Nationals for a fourth year in a row. Georgetown was crowned the MAISA conference champion.

Michael Popp, Michael Madigan, Patrick Snow, Gary Prieto, Megan Hough, Molly Hanson, Molly Robertson and Michelle Katz raced for Navy on Sunday.

The Nationals will be hosted by San Diego Yacht Club from May 28-30.