NEW LONDON, Conn. —
The United States Coast Guard Academy sailing team competed in five events across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this past weekend. The Bears navigated a wide range of conditions, from light and shifting breezes to strong northerly winds, earning a seventh-place finish at the Women's Atlantic Coast Tournament and a key head-to-head victory over service academy rivals from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and United States Naval Academy.
Women's Atlantic Coast Tournament / Results
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — At the U.S. Naval Academy, the Bears competed in the two-day Women's Atlantic Coast Tournament final against a competitive collegiate fleet. Saturday brought less wind than forecasted, with a north-northeasterly breeze of 8-15 knots and an ebbing current. The fleet completed eight races in each division despite the challenging conditions. Sunday brought a northeasterly breeze of 4-10 knots, allowing sailors to complete six additional races in each division and finish the 14-race series. The Bears battled through the changing conditions to secure seventh place.
Sailors: Caroline Odell (Burke, Va.), Meara Conley (Hingham, Mass.), Ella Demand (Toms River, N.J.), Sydney Zylinski (Lavalette, N.J.), Maddie Murphy (Norfolk, Va.), Grace Boudreau (Tequesta, Fla.), Simone Moss (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Nevins Trophy / Results
KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Competing at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the Bears faced a two-day regatta with a variety of wind conditions and crew combinations. Saturday featured a strong northerly breeze, while Sunday brought moderate northeasterly winds that gradually eased and shifted right throughout the day. The Bears finished in the middle of the fleet while delivering a decisive result against their service academy rivals. Coast Guard finished six places and 40 points ahead of Kings Point, marking a strong performance in a competitive field and another point for CGA in the race for the Superintendents' Trophy.
Sailors: Julian Henderson (Camden, Maine), Tomas Riccio (Rochester, N.Y.), Olivia Spada (Huntington, N.Y.), Gabriella Fields (Juneau, Alas.), Peter Judge (Severna Park, Md.), Liam Marcell (Toms River, N.J.)
Savin Hill Invite / Results
DORCHESTER, Mass. — Hosted by Boston College, the Savin Hill Invite challenged the Bears with cold temperatures, 18-25 knots of northerly wind, and significant swell. Despite the demanding conditions, the team put together a strong performance in a close contest that came down to the final points. The Bears finished just one point behind Kings Point, narrowly missing the top spot after a hard-fought day on the water. The tight finish highlighted the competitive nature of the regatta and the small margins separating the teams.
Sailors: Austin White (Tampa, Fla.), Joey Richardson (San Diego, Calif.), William Bryant (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Ellis Wisehart (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Dave Perry Trophy / Results
BRANFORD, Conn. — The Bears competed in the Dave Perry Trophy at Yale University, a scheduled two-day regatta that was shortened to one day after Saturday's racing was canceled due to weather conditions. Sunday began with a steady northerly breeze, but frequent shifts led to multiple abandoned races as the race committee worked to find suitable conditions. A light southerly sea breeze of 3-5 knots eventually filled in, allowing the fleet to complete six races. Despite the disrupted schedule and variable conditions, the Bears made the most of the available racing opportunities in a challenging day of competition.
Sailors: David Vinogradov (Cocoa Beach, Fla.), Will Clay (Leonardtown, Md.), Gus Fichtenholtz (Branford, Conn.), Gabe Baum-Lopez (Los Angeles, Calif.), Dylan Fleming (Upton, Mass.), Lusia Foster (San Francisco, Calif.), Cielo Prieto (San Diego, Calif.), Brady Noon (Sayville, N.Y.)
McMillan Cup / Results
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The offshore squad traveled to the U.S. Naval Academy to compete in the McMillan Cup aboard Navy 44s. Saturday morning opened with strong winds that initially kept the fleet under postponement. Racing eventually got underway, with two races completed in winds of 15-20 knots and choppy conditions. Sunday offered lighter breeze, allowing the fleet to complete three additional races and finish the series. The Bears battled throughout the weekend to tie for fifth place, finishing five points ahead of Kings Point to secure another important result against their service academy rivals.
Sailors: Mara Maas (Iowa City, Iowa), Ben de Ondarza (Plattsburgh, N.Y.), Ned Jobson (Madison, Conn.), Keith Teague (Austin, Tex.), Sarah Evans (Stowe, Vt.), Anna Buonocore (Naples, Fla.), Liz Hetzler (Carlton, Oreg.), Danny Cecil (Annapolis, Md.), Teddy Friedman (Newton, Mass.), Nate Blake (Louisville, Ky.), Ben Smith (Sykesville, Md.)
Looking Ahead
The Bears return to competition next weekend with another full slate of racing. The offshore ream will head back to the U.S. Naval Academy for the Navy Small Keelboat Invite, while the open dinghy team travels to Brown University for the Atlantic Coast Championship Finals. The Bears will also host the Coast Guard Invite, while the women's team will compete at the Yale Women's Regatta.
