ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy's intercollegiate sailing team started its stretch of hosting three national championships in Annapolis with the ICSA Women's National Championship on Tuesday and Wednesday where the Midshipmen placed sixth overall during the event.
The women's national championship consisted of 18 teams from around the country that were selected to attend through conference qualifiers and the competition took place in Navy's fleet of Z420s and Georgetown's fleet of FJs. Each team had one board competing in each fleet as well as a boat provided provide by Navy to take coaches and spares afloat.
Tuesday featured very light winds and racing was held to let the wind fill. At around 10:30 a.m. a light east-southeast breeze filled in and racing began. With the very steady wind, the racing came down mostly to boat speed. Right off the bat, the Midshipmen's A division team of
Olivia de Olazarra and
Sally Johnson was one of the fastest on the water as they finished second in each of the first two races. The first day of racing featured 10 races per division and Navy ended the day in fifth place overall.
Day two started with a long delay to let the wind fill in. Eventually, a light northeast wind filled, which was fairly unstable and shifty. The Midshipmen found themselves on the wrong side of some shifts early on but bounced back to finish strong. In the end, Navy finished sixth overall. In the A division, de Olazarra and Johnson placed second in the division while
Carlyn Blauvelt and
Elizabeth Linsdell finished 11th in the B division
This year's college sailing spring nationals are being held in Annapolis with Navy hosting the event with support from Georgetown, Annapolis Sailing School, Eastport Yacht Club and the Severn Sailing Association. The events are being conducted in accordance with the ICSA's COVID protocols and the teams launching from many different venues to allow social distancing while on land. The championships are also spread out over May and June with fewer teams and rounds of competition in each regatta to comply with testing protocols.
"The Navy sailing team has been working hard to get everything ready and we are excited to be able to provide safe, top-level competition for the top college sailing teams in the country," head coach
Ian Burman commented.
Next up, the Midshipmen will host the ICSA Team Racing National Championship on June 2-3 in Annapolis.
