ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy offshore sailing team competed in their second major competition of the spring season Friday through Sunday, taking fifth place at the 2026 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup in San Pedro, Calif.
 
Senior skipper Samuel Mentel and junior Logan Hayes on helm led a crew of eight Midshipmen in the three-day Harbor Cup consisting of juniors Ford Buckley, Lauren Aaby, Jackson Lubalin and Nico Martinez and sophomores Mitchell Krueger and Maggie Gordineer. 
 
Friday's racing brought moderate 10-knot winds, as the Mids struggled to find their boat speed and ended the day mid-fleet among the ten teams competing.
 
On Saturday, stiff Santa Ana winds over 40 knots forced racing to be postponed until late in the day, but Navy came back strong by posting two wins in the three races held, leaving the Mids in fourth place.
 
Sunday had light 4-7-knot winds, where the Mids posted a 2-4 record, bringing them into a three-way tie for second with teams from Hawaii, USC, and Cal Poly Maritime while first-place College of Charleston was in range for Navy. Unfortunately, a premature start in the final race sealed the fate of the Mids, as they finished the event fifth overall.
 
Navy is back in action with the J/70 Spring Finals on March 18-19 and the J/70 Spring Qualifier Regatta on March 21-22.