Nine cadets will represent the Massachusetts Maritime offshore sailing team this weekend at the Kennedy Cup Regatta hosted by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., as the event is emblematic of the Intercollegiate Off Shore National Championship.

Head Coach Chuck Fontaine’s Buccaneers qualified for the prestigious event with a third place finish at the Navy MacMillan Cup Regatta two weeks ago in Annapolis.  The Kennedy Cup commences on Friday morning with a 5-10 race series against squads that include host Navy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, SUNY-Maritime College, Maine Maritime, St. Mary’s College and California Maritime.

Representing Massachusetts Maritime will be seniors Graham Philpot (Laconia, N.H. – helm), Jeffrey Gawrys (Marblehead, Mass. – cockpit/tactics), Eric Pattison (Woodbury, Conn. – pit), Jason Pollock (Cataumet, Mass. – trim) and Bradley Shepherd (Winter Park, Fla. – trim); juniors Michael Reney (Duxbury, Mass. – main) and Nathaniel Olsen (East Dennis, Mass. – mast/alt); sophomore Travis Thonus (East Dennis, Mass. – alt/mast) and freshman Sean McLaughlin (Fairhaven, Mass. – bow).

The Buccaneers last won the Kennedy Cup in 2001, and a victory in this year’s event would qualify Massachusetts Maritime to sail in the Student Yachting World Cup next fall in France.