NEW LONDON, Conn. —
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy sailing team had a standout weekend, highlighted by a breakthrough performance at Round 1B of the Women's Atlantic Coast Championship (ACC) that earned the Bears a coveted spot at the upcoming ACC Finals, one of the most competitive fall women's regattas in the country. The Bears also clinched an overall regatta victory at the SUNY Maritime Open, one of five events they competed in this past weekend across the Northeast.
Annapolis, Md. – Bears Qualify for Women's ACC Finals at Navy
Sailing out of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Coast Guard women's team rose to the occasion in Round 1B of the Women's ACC, securing ninth place overall and clinching one of the final qualifying spots for the ACC Finals, the premier women's event of the fall college sailing season.
Only the top nine teams from each of two qualifying rounds, 1A and 1B, advance to Finals. This marks a significant achievement for the program, as the Bears did not qualify for the Finals last season, making this year's advancement a clear step forward.
Saturday saw a late start due to light winds, forcing the fleet to relocate two miles off campus to find breeze. Five races per division were completed in 4 to 6 knots. Sunday brought similar conditions with four races sailed in each division.
A Division: Julia Conneely (Tampa, Fla.) and Allie Nystrom (Centerville, Mass.)
B Division: Maddie Murphy (Norfolk, Va.) and Sarah Krajewski (Lewes, Del.)
Alternates: Meara Conley (Hingham, Mass.) and Olivia Spada (Huntington, N.Y.)
RESULTS
Bronx, N.Y. – Bears Take First Place at SUNY Maritime Open
At the SUNY Maritime Open, Coast Guard delivered an exceptional performance to win the overall event. A Division took first while B Division finished third, securing a convincing team victory.
The regatta featured tight racing in shifty river conditions, but the Bears remained consistent across both divisions to top the leaderboard.
A Division: Tomas Riccio (Rochester, N.Y.) and Austin White (Tampa, Fla.)
B Division: Caroline Odell (Burke, Va.) and Grace Boudreau (Tequesta, Fla.)
RESULTS
New London, Conn. – Coast Guard Hosts the Danmark Trophy
The Bears hosted the annual Danmark Trophy, one of college sailing's most prestigious fall dinghy events. Despite a home-course advantage, inconsistent breeze posed a challenge throughout the weekend.
Saturday's racing began at noon with a 4 to 8 knot southerly breeze allowing eight races per division. Sunday brought calm conditions delaying racing until a light southwesterly filled in for three more races per division. The Bears finished 14th overall.
A Division: Bradley Whiteway (Potomac, Md.) and Charlie Pohl (Euclid, Ohio)
B Division: Luke Zylinski (Lavalette, N.J.), Grace Austin, (Moorpark, Calif.) Ben Reeser (Wilton Manors, Fla.), Isabella Clark (Newport Beach, Calif.)
RESULTS
Rye, N.Y. – Offshore Teams Compete at A.Y.C. Fall Series 1
At the American Yacht Club Fall Series 1, the offshore sailing team split into two boats, Stormy Petrel and Cool Breeze, for racing in breezy and tactical Long Island Sound conditions.
Stormy Petrel earned a strong 3rd-place finish while Cool Breeze placed 10th in class.
Cool Breeze Crew: Charlotte Waring (Metuchen, N.J.), Hudson Holden (Harpswell, Maine), Alexis Taylor (Mason, Mich.), Ned Jobson (Madison, Conn.), Keith Teague (Dripping Springs, Tex.), Ronald Lac (Anaheim, Calif.), Jacob Grohs (Anna, Tex.), Audrey Beckman (West Chester, Pa.), Connor Lawlor (Woodstock, Ga.), Nate Blake (Louisville, Ky.), Isabel Sisson (Cocoa, Fla.)
Stormy Petrel Crew: Connor Boudreau (Suffield, Conn.), Jackson Burrows (Westlake VIllage, Calif.), Eve Lanzafame (Hadley, Mass.), Ben de Ondarza (West Chazy, N.Y.), Sarah Evans (Stowe, Vt.), Anna Buonocore (Naples, Fla.), Gavin Kravchuck (Pitman, N.J.), Emma Hein (Spring, Tex.), Adam Schaefer (Iowa City, Iowa), Ben Smith (Sykesville, Md.)
RESULTS
Cambridge, Mass. – Bears Finish 6th at Warren Smith Trophy
Sailing on the Charles River, the Bears battled tight current and unpredictable breeze at MIT's Warren Smith Trophy. The team turned in a balanced effort with Division B placing 4th and Division A finishing 8th, good for 6th overall.
A Division: David Vinogradov (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) and Morgan Batchelder (East Falmouth, Mass.)
B Division: Gus Fitchtenholtz (Branford, Conn.) and Sydney Zylinski (Lavalette, N.J.)
RESULTS
Bears sailing will be back in action this weekend at five regattas: Round 1 of the Open ACC at Coast Guard; AYC Fall Series 2 at American Yacht Club; the Hewitt Trophy at Bowdoin College; the Sister Esther Trophy at Salve Regina University; and the Stu Nelson Trophy at Connecticut College.
