OYSTER BAY, N.Y. – The Navy intercollegiate sailing team closed out the fall season this weekend with the ICSA Match Race National Championship, held at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Oyster Bay, N.Y.
 
After earning an automatic bid into the 10-team national field with their win at the MAISA Match Race Championship in October, the Midshipmen and the rest of the competition saw three days of puffy and shifty winds to create some very close racing. With scores resetting each round, all but two teams had a chance to win going into the last day.
 
Navy had its ups and downs in the opening round and a 4-5 record left the Mids in a five-way tie for fifth, with the top six advancing to the seeding round and the others headed to the repechage. After all tiebreakers were applied, Navy stood sixth overall with a spot in the quarterfinal round.
 
The team then sailed well in the seeding round and its 3-2 record was good enough to be in a three-way tie for second, but the Mids didn't fare as well in this tiebreak, however, and ended up as the No. 4 seed against fifth-seeded Coast Guard in the quarterfinals.
 
The services academies split the first two races of the series, leaving one final race to decide which team would move on.  Navy found itself in the lead in the decisive race, but a late pass allowed the Bears to claim the victory and advance to the semifinals, while Navy's team of senior Tanner Kelly, junior Nathan Smith, sophomore Darby Dryden and freshman Kyle Reinecke wound up sixth overall in the final standings.
 
"Even though they were hoping for a stronger finish, the team should be very proud of the improvements they made recently and the strong showing they put forth," said head coach Ian Burman. "I know we'll be very hungry to get back at it next season and advance further."