Buccaneers Place Third at National Championship Kennedy Cup

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- This past weekend the Buccaneer sailing team concluded its fall racing schedule when they competed in the Kennedy Cup, the National Championship of collegiate sailing. The event is hosted annualy by the Naval Academy and takes place in the Chesapeake Bay off the coast of Annapolis, Maryland. The Buccaneers finished third, two spots better than their finish in 2018.

Each of the 10 competing teams took part in six races over two days with the teams competing in 44 sloops provided by the Naval Academy. On the first day of competition the teams competed in two races. The Mass Maritime boats took fourth place in the first race with the College of Charlston taking first place. Rhode Island claimed a second place finish and Cal Maritime took third but was penalized four points for improperly reporting their rules infraction.

In the second race of the day, the Buccaneers jumped out in front early, extended their lead throughout the race and went wire to wire finishing the race in first place. Charlston finished in second, Cal Maritime in third. 

Day two provided a perfect day for sailing which consisted of four races. In the multitude of races on day two, the Bucs struggled at times posting finishes of fourth, second, ninth and fifth. These finished caused them to fall from their second place spot. 

At the end of the second day, the Buccaneers had claimed 27 points over the two days, tied with Cal Maritime for third. Because of Cal's infraction on day one the Mass Maritime sailors enjoyed a third place finish in the Kennedy Cup after a fifth place finish in 2019. The team finished behind the College of Charlston and the Coast Guard Academy.

The Buccaneers will begin the Spring portion of their schedule in February 2020.

For more information on the Kennedy Cup click HERE.

Photo: US Naval Academy