ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 8 Navy lightweight rowing team heads into the second half of its regular season schedule this weekend with a Saturday morning showdown versus No. 5 Georgetown. The Mids (1-2) will have hosting duties on Saturday for the three-race contest against the Hoyas (2-1) on their home course of the Severn River. The entire event is scheduled to begin at 7:40 a.m. and run through approximately 8:30 a.m. as Navy will have four crews entered in action.

The full slate of racing will go in reverse order with the third varsity eight contest leading off the action at 7:40 a.m.; Navy's fourth varsity eight crew will be competing as guests in this race. 20 minutes later at 8:00 a.m. the respective second varsity eight crews will battle before the first varsities will race down a 2,000-meter stretch of the Severn River for the right to take home the Forster Cup at 8:20 a.m.

Spectator Information: USNA Access and Fan Shuttles (LINK)
As a result of current world events, Naval Support Activity Annapolis (NSAA) and the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) are increasing Force Protection measures. The following restrictions to USNA access are effective immediately, unless otherwise noted, and will remain in effect until further notice:

The Visitor Control Center (VCC) is currently closed. You can only walk through the turnstiles if you are a DoW or DBIDS card holder.

General public visitation is suspended.

There will be 100% ID checks. Only those with DoW- or DBIDS-issued ID cards will be permitted to walk or drive through Gate 8.

Visitation related to Naval Academy–sponsored events is on a case by case basis. Those with DoW or DBIDS ID cards will be allowed to walk or drive onto the Naval Academy. 

In alignment with NORTHCOM direction, the following additional access restrictions to NSAA / USNA are in effect immediately, and will remain in effect until further notice:

• Trusted Traveler (the ability of a credentialed individual with base access to escort a non-credentialed individual) is immediately suspended.  Example: Lou (CAC holder) wants to drive onboard USNA with his brother Bruce. Bruce has a Real ID drivers license, but does not have a CAC card/DBIDS/Military ID; therefore, Lou cannot drive onto the Yard with Bruce in his car. Bruce cannot come onboard, even though he's a grad.

Currently there are shuttle busses for fans for select events, including this Saturday's Navy-Georgetown crew meet. All shuttles will depart from the bus stop at the Blue Angel at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (550 Taylor Ave, Annapolis, MD). Crew will drop off/pick up at Hubbard Hall. There is a nominal fee for parking at the stadium before boarding the shuttle.

A 100% ID check will be in effect and you must have a REAL ID or a passport to get on the bus.  You must be an U.S. citizen to take advantage of the shuttle.

The schedule for Saturday's crew shuttle ... the shuttle will run from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM; in-bound only from 6:30-8:30 a.m.

Most Recent Navy-Georgetown Matchup: April 12, 2025 
One year after its run of eight straight Forster Cup wins came to an end, the Navy lightweight rowing team regained control of the trophy with a strong outing on Saturday versus Georgetown. Across the three-race slate of action on a 2,000-meter stretch of the Potomac River, the Mids collected victories over the Hoyas in the first and third varsity eight contests.

Looking to win back the Forster Cup, the Mids' first varsity was locked in from the start and had an aggressive opening sprint. Matching Georgetown's stroke rate over the middle portion of the piece, Navy withstood a final push and crossed in first place with a time of 5:42.2, 2.8 seconds ahead of the hosts' 5:45.0.

What's at Stake
Forster Cup
Named after John J. Forster, the Forster Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the Georgetown/Navy first varsity eight race. A 1970 graduate of Georgetown, Forster represented the United States at the 1972 Munich Olympics, as well as the 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977 World Championships. Forster is a United States Marine Corps veteran, who was awarded two Purple Hearts, while serving in Vietnam.

The inaugural cup race was rowed in 2013 and won by Georgetown. Since that first competition, Navy won eight straight meetings between 2014 and 2023 before Georgetown got back in the win column in 2024. The Mids made it nine of 10 victories with a 2.8-second win over the Hoyas last April in D.C.

Last Time Out - March 28 at the National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational
The Navy lightweight rowing team had an action-packed day of racing on Saturday at the 2026 National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational. The majority of the Mids' reps at Overpeck Park came versus Yale in the morning and Columbia in the afternoon. At the conclusion of eight individual contests, Navy came away with five victories, as well as the VanAmrige Points Trophy over Yale and WIT Cup courtesy of its V8 win.

The Mids' first varsity eight was also in action twice on Saturday with a pair of trophies on the line, the Eads Johnson Cup versus the Bulldogs in the morning and WIT Cup against the Lions in the afternoon. Navy put forth a valiant effort in its morning piece versus Yale though the Bulldogs held on to retain the Johnson Cup, 6:28.70 to 6:33.96. The Mids looked for redemption in the afternoon and found it as they shaved a second off their initial time versus Yale and used that faster result to push ahead of Columbia 6:32.96 to 6:34.95 and take the WIT Cup back to Annapolis.

Race Schedule
7:40 AM - Third Varsity Eight (w/Navy 4V)
8:00 AM - Second Varsity Eight
8:20 AM - First Varsity Eight