ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy intercollegiate sailing team finished fifth at the MAISA Women's Championship this past weekend to qualify for the national championship while also competing at the Admiral's Cup in its two events in New York.
At the MAISA Women's Championship at SUNY Maritime, nine berths were on the line for the Sperry College Sailing Women's National Championship next month. In the 16-team regatta, the competition began with heavy rain and very windy conditions. As the opening day of the regatta went on, the rain backed off but the wind did not and forced numerous delays for too much wind.
During the first day of racing, only six A races and four B races were completed. Navy sailed well on the first with the tough conditions and was in the hunt heading into the second day of racing. On Sunday, the winds were much lighter but the conditions were still challenging. Big wind shifts and a strong current kept the competitors on their toes.
To round out the event, the Midshipmen placed fifth overall to qualify for nationals.
Olivia de Olazarra,
Brittney Slook,
Emma Remis and
Kelly Milliken finished eighth in the A division and
Jessica McJones, Slook,
Anna Cutler and
Fiona Lobon placed second in the B division. Navy's quartet in the B division dropped a tiebreaker for first place in the division.
"Our strong showing at the MAISA Championship displayed the depth and versatility of our squad and we should be ready to do well at nationals," head coach
Ian Burman said after the weekend.
In Navy's second regatta of the weekend at the Admiral's Cup at the US Merchant Marine Academy, the event had similar conditions as the MAISA Women's Championship. The Admiral's Cup had a deep field of 18 teams and Navy struggled to find consistency and placed 15th overall.
Gray Benson and
Jack Carminati finished 16th in the A division while
Tyler Fleig and
Sean Linden were 13th in the B division.
Next weekend, Navy will host the America Trophy - MAISA Coed Regatta on Saturday and Sunday while also competing at the Arrigan Memorial Trophy in Washington, D.C.
