Offshore Sailing Finishes Second At Prestigious Navy MacMillan Cup, Set To Return To Annapolis In Two Weeks

Offshore Sailing Finishes Second At Prestigious Navy MacMillan Cup, Set To Return To Annapolis In Two Weeks

MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME OFFSHORE SAILING

Navy MacMillan Cup Regatta

Saturday-Sunday, October 24-25, 2015

Annapolis, Md.

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. --  The Massachusetts Maritime offshore sailing team recorded a second place finish at the prestigious Navy MacMillan Cup Regatta over the weekend on the waters of Chesapeake Bay, as the Buccaneers were edged out for the top spot by the host United States Naval Academy by just one point in the final team standings during competition in the oldest collegiate sailing event in the nation.

 

Seniors Leah Saunders (Rochester, Mass.), Judson Yerkes (West Barnstable, Mass.) and James Lamb (Taunton, Mass.), along with juniors Kyle Brego (St. John, Virgin Islands), George Luber (North Redington Beach, Fla.) and Christopher Mannka (Uxbridge, Mass.) helped comprise Massachusetts Maritime’s crew that also consisted of sophomore Christopher Dawson (Mashpee, Mass.) and freshman Evan Bowen (North Kingstown, R.I.).

 

Light shifting winds made for tactical challenges throughout the weekend, as the Buccaneers held a two-point edge over Navy’s Midshipmen after the first day of racing, but the hosts led wire-to-wire in the deciding race on Sunday to eke out a 19-20 triumph.  The runner-up performance was Massachusetts Maritime’s highest in the event since a third place performance in 2012.

 

Rhode Island finished in third place with 23 points, while Queen’s University and SUNY-Maritime followed with 30 and 41 points, respectively.  Four points separated the final four teams in the event, as Maine Maritime took the sixth spot with 45 points and was followed in order by the United States Military Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

 

With its performance over the weekend, Massachusetts Maritime will return to Annapolis for the Navy John F. Kennedy Cup in two weeks on November 5th, as the Buccaneers will join Rhode Island, the College of Charleston, California Maritime, Army, Queens, Maine Maritime, Merchant Marine and the host Midshipmen in the event considered the national championship of collegiate offshore sailing.

 

(Photo Credit:  Chuck Fontaine)