United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Offshore Sailing

Annapolis, MD--(4/18/10)--After arriving mid afternoon in Annapolis, MA at the Naval Academy on Friday, the Coast Guard crew set out for practice. With wind gusts upwards of 30 knots, the weekend was gearing up to be a good one with beautiful skies and steady breeze. Once the crew settled in with the heavy breeze and fine-tuned the gear, everyone headed in to rest up for the weekend’s event to include teams from Cornell, Navy, University of Virginia, Michigan, Saint Mary's, Hobart & William Smith, UConn, Trinity, and the Brazilian Naval Academy.

Day one of racing the winds were blowing in the 20’s and gusts reached 36 knots forcing the race committee to fly the kilo flag indicating no spinnakers, as well as mandating a double reef. Once the breeze lightened up later in the day, the race committee took down the kilo flag, and it was evident that Coast Guard’s spinnaker handling practices had paid off securing them a first place finish in the 7th and final race of the day, earning them a 4th of 13 in the initial standings. Unfortunately, CGA found themselves in the protest room deliberating three separate incidents that evening. Coast Guard dropped down to 7th in the standings after all protests were heard on Saturday evening.

The CGA team set out on Sunday knowing that they had to sail flawlessly to make up for the disappointing outcome in the protest room the previous day. Three races were held in shifty, oscillating breezes in the teens with Coast Guard edging out the well-sailed Hobart & William Smith team in a first place photo finish. Skipper, Jon Hammond '13, commanded the race course with expert seamanship during all three races on Sunday with crew Peter Harrington '12, Chris Varrichio '13 and Kevin Knaup '13. Alexandria Fell '13 sailed during the kilo flag restrictions the day before.

When the final results were announced at the awards ceremony, Coast Guard took 4th overall, beating out UCONN by only a half point. Much thanks goes to Coach York Bergin-Pugh and the Navy Off-Shore race committee for making it a successful regatta for the Coast Guard crew.