ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy intercollegiate sailing team was spread out over four different events this past weekend, hosting the first round of the Women's Atlantic Coast Championship in Annapolis while also sending squads to the Hinman Trophy, the Carl Van Duyne MAISA Open Singlehanded Championship and the Danmark Trophy.
 
Held at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., the MAISA Open Singlehanded Championship for the Carl Van Duyne Trophy pitted the top 18 singlehanded sailors in the conference that had advanced from the first-round events two weeks prior, producing a very deep and competitive field. Navy had four sailors competing, as light winds and strong currents made it a very challenging weekend. Sophomore Sean Trudell and freshman Robbie Richards both showed flashes of brilliance but had hard times putting full races together, as the pair wound up 14th and 16th, respectively. Junior Spencer Dominguez got off to a strong start but had a hard time getting off the starting line cleanly in later races, placing ninth, while fellow junior Teddy Martin used very good upwind boat speed to produce consistent results and finish up fourth overall to give him good hopes of obtaining an at-large berth to the ICSA Singlehanded National Championship.  
 
The only collegiate team selected to compete in the U.S. Team Racing Championship for the Hinman Trophy, Navy was among a 14-team field at the Larchmont Yacht Club in New York that was littered with former All-Americans and national champions. Another light-air event found the Midshipmen having to adjust to slightly different kinetics rules outside of college sailing and, despite a few penalty turns, the team was able to finish the round-robin stage with a 6-7 record, earning the eighth seed and a spot in the knockout round. Unfortunately, the Mids' run in the knockouts ended quickly, falling 2-0 to top-seed and eventual champion Los Huevos in the quarterfinals. Navy's team of seniors Nathan Smith and Jack Welburn, junior Henry Allgeier, seniors Ellie Alex and Darby Graham and junior Fiona Cullen made the most of the opportunity to sail against the best team racers in the country and will have an extra edge when the college team racing season begins in the spring.
 
The Danmark Trophy at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., marked the first interconference regatta of the season and proved to be one of the most competitive events of the fall. With many of the Mids' top-tier sailors competing elsewhere, Navy's team at the Danmark was composed entirely of freshmen and sophomores getting an early shot at a big-time regatta. Another event with light wind and strong current, Navy's young guns were able to handle the tricky conditions and a deep 20-team field admirably, taking sixth overall with sophomore Kyle Reinecke and freshman Ana Lynch Smith finishing third in the "A" division while sophomores Owen MacWilliams and Molly Jethwa were placed 11th in the "B" division.  
 
Hosting the first round of the Women's Atlantic Coast Championship Series on the Severn River, 18 teams from across the country came to the Crown Center for yet another light wind event. To make racing happen, the course was set near the mouth of the Severn River, but Navy never found a rhythm in the challenging conditions and closed in 13th place. Seniors Ava Farley and Ella Niehoff and junior Mary Dwyer finished 12th in the "A" division while juniors Josie Sherry and Kate Zuriskas, Dwyer and sophomore Sarah McNelly took 11th in the "B" division.
 
Navy continues the fall slate on Oct. 4-5 with the Oyster Bowl and the first round of the Open Atlantic Coast Championship.