ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy intercollegiate sailing team travelled to Boston, Mass., this week to compete in the 2024 ICSA Team Race National Championship hosted at MIT on the Charles River.
 
Marking the first year that open team racing was moved up from the late May-early June championship block to the end of the regular season, sixteen teams were chosen to attend through automatic qualifiers and at-large selections to form a very deep and competitive field. Racing began on Thursday, but light and variable winds caused a lengthy postponement to begin the day. A light but steadier breeze filled late in the day and allowed a few hours of racing before dark. 
 
Navy won its first race on the opening day but had a tough time on the starting line the rest of the day, ending Thursday with a 1-3 record. The starting struggles continued early on Friday but the team was able to adjust and close the round-of-16 on a three-race winning streak. Unfortunately, the team's 6-9 overall record left it just one win away from a sail-off to get into the round-of-8 as the regatta ended early for the Midshipmen. 
 
Navy's skippers were sophomores Nathan Smith and Jack Welburn and freshman Henry Allgeier with crews of senior Maddy Smith, junior Ryan Wahba and sophomores Ellie Alex and Darby Graham, while senior Hunter Anderson and juniors Evie Blauvelt and Tanner Kelly were in reserve.
 
Navy's next competition will be the ICSA Fleet Race Championships at the end of May.