ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With the college sailing schedule on hold to start the fall season, Navy's intercollegiate sailing team took part in the Annapolis National Offshore One Design Regatta and the Midshipmen captured first place in the J/22 class this past weekend.
 
Competing against local teams in Annapolis, Navy's four-person team consisted of Jeffrey Petersen at the helm with a crew of JC Hermus, Kimmie Leonard and Jack Carminati.
 
The three-day event featured six boats in the J/22 fleet and eight very competitive races. On the opening day of racing, the wind was very shifty, which made the fleet stay constantly alert. In the first race of the day, Navy started over the line a little early on the start but good management of the wind shifts allowed the Midshipmen to grind out a third-place finish in the race. After a jumpy start, Navy settled down and continued to master the wind shifts to win the final two races of day one and it held a two-point lead over Jeffrey Todd – who happens to also work in the Navy Sail Loft.
 
On the second day of the regatta, the wind was much steadier for the fleet but only two races were completed on the day before storms rolled in forcing the boats off the course. In the two races, the Midshipmen finished second in both races behind rival Todd and both teams were all tied heading into the final day of racing.
 
Sunday featured puffy and shifty winds once again, which played into Navy's favor. The top-two teams split the opening two races on the final day with the higher finisher in the last race between the Mids and Todd determining the class winner. Navy followed Todd down the line at the start and set up to be the first to tack off the line, leading on the long port tack to the mark. Navy's strategy worked and the Midshipmen got ahead and led all three laps of the race to win the J/22 fleet at the Annapolis National Offshore One Design Regatta.
 
Navy is set to be back in action on September 12 and 13 at the Laser Crab Claw Regatta in Annapolis.