Coast Guard Sailing Secures Multiple Top Finishes Across New England and Annapolis Regattas
The United States Coast Guard Academy sailing team claimed second and third place overall at its home regatta on the Thames River this past weekend, anchoring a five-event slate spanning New England and Maryland, Coast Guard Athletics reported. Sailors navigated a busy weekend that included appearances at the Open Atlantic Coast Championship in Cranston, Rhode Island, and the Yale Women’s Regatta in Branford, Connecticut.
Racing on home waters in New London, Connecticut, the Bears placed second and third overall behind Yale. An afternoon breeze of approximately five to eight knots created challenging tactical conditions on the Thames River.
National Competition and Fleet Benchmarks in Cranston and Branford
At the Open Atlantic Coast Championship in Cranston, Rhode Island, the Bears finished 13th overall out of 18 collegiate programs. Sophomores Richard Pokorny (Brick Township, N.J.) and Isabella Clark (Newport Beach, Calif.) placed sixth in B Division. The pair secured a win in the final race on Saturday, capitalizing on course awareness during the first beat.
The event served as a late-fall test against national contenders, offering a preview for next spring’s fleet race national championships. Additional sailors representing the Academy in Cranston included Benjamin Reeser (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Grace Austin (Moorpark, Calif.), Tomas Riccio (Rochester, N.Y.), and Gavin VanManen (Grand Rapids, Mich.).
Meanwhile, the women’s team traveled to Branford, Connecticut, placing 12th in a 17-team fleet at the Yale Women’s Regatta. Sailors completed eight races per division in 420s and FJs through light breeze and choppy water on Saturday. The team finished ahead of the U.S. Naval Academy while competing against a cross-regional field that included Charleston, Stanford, and Tulane.
Offshore Keelboat Racing in Annapolis and Newport
The offshore program sent two four-person crews to the Navy Small Keelboat Regatta in Annapolis, Maryland. Bears 2 placed fifth with 29 points, while Bears 1 finished sixth with 33 points after racing through light morning winds that built to roughly nine knots in the afternoon.
Bears 2 competed with Trenton Mitchell (Cleveland, Wis.), Anna Buonocore (Naples, Fla.), Nate Blake (Louisville, Ky.), and Jacob Grohs (Anna, Tex.). Bears 1 raced with John Donnelley, Leila Derieux, Connor Lawlor (Woodstock, Ga.), and Gavin Kravchuck (Pitman, N.J.).
In addition, juniors Danny Cecil (Annapolis, Md.) and Audrey Beckman (West Chester, Pa.) sailed aboard a J/105 at Eastport Yacht Club’s Fall Brawl Invitational. Competing alongside members from fellow service academies and guest skippers from the New York Yacht Club, the cadets gained fleet experience in a competitive keelboat division.
Bears Compete in Four Fall Events Next Weekend
The Bears will compete in four events next weekend, travelling to Burlington, Vermont, for the NEISA Open Conference Championship for the Erwin Schell Trophy; Enfield, New Hampshire, for the NEISA Women’s Conference Championship for the Victorian Urn Trophy; Annapolis, Maryland, for the Kennedy Cup; and Boston, Massachusetts, for the Terrier Invite.
