April '26 NASF Inside Navy Sailing

From the Waterfront

This is a busy and exciting stretch for Navy Sailing.

From Annapolis to Livorno, Italy, midshipmen are training, competing, and representing the program across a wide range of venues and conditions. The Intercollegiate team is deep into postseason competition, while the Offshore program is preparing for a demanding summer schedule that will take them from the Chesapeake Bay to New England and Bermuda.

Across all of it, one thing remains constant: the opportunity to learn and lead on the water. Whether competing at nationals, preparing for offshore races, or gaining experience in new environments, Midshipmen continue to build the judgment, resilience, and teamwork that define Navy Sailing.

Navy Sailing Wins in Italy

A joint team of Midshipmen from both the Intercollegiate and Offshore programs traveled to Livorno, Italy to compete in the Naval Academies Regatta, part of the Livorno International Sailing Week.

Sailing in Tridente 16s, the team was made up of 2/C Lauren Aaby and 2/C Jackson Lubalin from the offshore program, along with 4/C Leo Robillard from the Intercollegiate team. The event brought together 41 teams representing more than 30 countries, offering a unique opportunity for international competition and collaboration.

After a strong start to the regatta, the Midshipmen carried that momentum through the week, ultimately finishing first overall, 12 points ahead of the second-place team from China.

Offshore Team Prepares for Summer Racing

As the Offshore team prepares for the summer racing season, training is already underway with a focus on building the skills required for the season ahead.

In late April, the team completed a 12-hour afternoon and night sail, marking the first night sailing of the season. The session emphasized safety procedures, watchstanding, and operating effectively in low-visibility conditions, all critical components of offshore racing.

In early May, the team will take part in its annual Delmarva training sail. Departing from the Naval Academy, the group will head down the Chesapeake Bay, sailing as far as conditions allow over the course of a day and a half before returning north. The full evolution covers roughly 250 nautical miles, offering a meaningful sense of the distance and endurance involved in this kind of offshore training.

For many of the plebes, this will be their first overnight sailing experience, an important milestone and a memorable introduction to the demands and rewards of offshore sailing.

A Full Summer on the Offshore Racing Circuit

The Offshore team is preparing for a demanding and exciting summer, with seven different crews competing across a full schedule of major regattas and offshore races stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to New England and Bermuda.

The season begins locally with Southern Bay Race Week in Hampton, Virginia at the end of May, before quickly shifting to offshore competition with the Annapolis to Bermuda Race in early June.

From there, the team will continue to test itself against top competition at the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta in Newport, followed by another major offshore challenge in the Newport to Bermuda Race later in the month.

July brings an especially busy stretch, with events including the Salty 100 in Buzzards Bay, the Newport Regatta, New York Yacht Club Race Week, and the Around Long Island Race, one of the premier distance races in the region.

The summer concludes in early August with participation in the Governor's Cup Yacht Race, a classic Chesapeake Bay race from Annapolis to St. Mary's City, bringing to a close a season that will challenge the team across a wide range of conditions, formats, and levels of competition.

Together, this schedule represents a true test of seamanship, endurance, and teamwork, and an unparalleled opportunity for Midshipmen to develop as leaders on the water.

The full Offshore sailing schedule is available here for those interested in following along as the team moves through a demanding and exciting season under the leadership of its newly named captains.

Meet the Offshore Team Captains

As the Offshore team looks ahead to the summer racing season, leadership of the program has been entrusted to two outstanding Midshipmen: 2/C Aden Newman of Petoskey, Michigan, and 2/C Nico Martinez of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Stepping into these roles is both an honor and a responsibility. Aden and Nico have begun shaping the culture of the team with a clear focus on individual growth, shared accountability, and building on the standards set by those who came before them.

Offshore sailing demands a unique level of trust, resilience, and teamwork. Long hours at sea, changing conditions, and high-stakes decision making require every member of the crew to be fully committed. Under their leadership, the team is preparing to meet those challenges head-on as they look toward the summer racing season.

As they prepare for the season ahead, both captains shared:

"Taking the helm of this team is an honor that we do not take lightly. As we prepare for the upcoming summer racing season, the team has united around our core pillars: own your development, win together, and earn the legacy. There is no better way to prepare for the world's evolving challenges than to sail with Navy. We're proud to represent Navy Sailing. Go Navy!"

ICSA Team Race Nationals

Over spring break, the full Intercollegiate roster traveled to Tulane University to train at the site of the ICSA Team Race National Championships. The trip provided four full days on the water, with mornings spent scrimmaging against Tulane and afternoons focused on targeted drills.

Just as important as the time on the water was the opportunity to learn the venue itself. In sailing, the "field of play" is constantly shifting, and gaining familiarity with the local breeze patterns, current, and course setup is an important part of preparation. The team was able to sail on the exact race area expected for nationals, gaining valuable experience in conditions that proved to be both variable and demanding.

The Midshipmen returned to Tulane later in the month to compete against the top teams in the country at the ICSA Team Race National Championships. Navy finished eighth overall in a deep and highly competitive field.

While the result fell short of the team's expectations, the experience of competing at the highest level, combined with the preparation leading into the event, will serve as an important foundation as the program continues to build.

Intercollegiate Team: Path to Fleet Race Nationals

The Intercollegiate team enters fleet race nationals with strong momentum following a standout performance to close the regular season.

At the MAISA Open Fleet Race Championship for the America Trophy, hosted by St. Mary's College of Maryland, Navy competed against the top teams in the conference across two very different days of racing.

After finishing Saturday near the top of a tightly contested leaderboard, the team battled through colder temperatures, shifting breeze, and challenging conditions on Sunday. A series of top finishes kept Navy firmly in contention, and the Midshipmen ultimately secured second overall.

The result earned Navy one of MAISA's two automatic berths to the ICSA Open Fleet Race Nationals, part of the Fleet Race National Championships to be held in St. Petersburg, Florida at the University of South Florida in May. The event also includes the ICSA Women's Fleet Race Championship, for which Navy has qualified.

Individually, six Navy sailors earned All-MAISA honors. 1/C Nathan Smith and 2/C Henry Allgeier were named First Team All-MAISA Open Skippers, while 1/C Jack Welburn earned Second Team Open Skipper recognition. On the crew side, 1/C Ellie Alex, 2/C Fiona Cullen, and 1/C Darby Graham were all named First Team All-MAISA Crew.

In addition, Smith was also selected as the MAISA Open Skipper of the Year and Alex was selected as the MAISA Crew of the Year. Both are repeat winners from last year.

With fleet race nationals ahead, the team is well positioned for the next stage of competition.

Program Needs: J/70s and J/105s

As collegiate sailing continues to evolve, access to the right training platforms is critical for preparing Midshipmen to compete at the highest level. Two boat classes have become increasingly important to Navy Sailing's future success: the J/70 and the J/105.

J/70s play a growing role in collegiate match racing, a discipline that culminates in a fall National Championship and contributes to the overall Fowle Trophy standings. A pair of J/70s would expand training opportunities for both the Intercollegiate and Offshore teams, allowing Midshipmen to gain valuable match racing experience, compete against the strong local J/70 fleet, and participate in events such as the spring series hosted by the Coast Guard Academy.

At the same time, J/105s remain essential for keelboat development. Competing locally against one of the strongest J/105 fleets in the country gives Midshipmen invaluable experience in large, competitive starts and challenging race conditions that translate directly to collegiate success. Our long-term goal is to build and maintain three or more fully race-ready J/105s to ensure consistent access for training and competition.

If you are aware of J/70s or J/105s available for donation or sale, or would like to help support these efforts, we welcome your connection. Boats donated to the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation are tax-deductible, as NASF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please contact Executive Director Les Spanheimer at les@navalacademysailingfoundation.org.

Recognizing Leadership and Generosity

Earlier this month, members of the Fales Committee and the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation Board of Trustees gathered at Farragut House for an evening hosted by Superintendent LtGen Michael J. Borgschulte, USMC, and his wife, Dr. Gitte Borgschulte.

The evening provided an opportunity to spend time together, reflect on the strength of the program, and recognize several individuals whose contributions are making a meaningful impact on Navy Sailing.

Laura and Alec Cutler were recognized for their generous donation of a Protector Targa 28 to the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation. A 1988 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Alec was a three-time All-American sailor and Collegiate National Champion and currently serves as a Naval Academy Sailing Foundation trustee and former Chair of the Fales Committee. This versatile and highly capable RHIB significantly strengthens our coaching, safety, and on-water support, and will make a meaningful difference for both midshipmen and staff.

Pat and Ellen Dawson were also recognized for their significant commitment to establish the Rear Admiral Pat and Dr. Ellen Dawson Dinghy Fund, which provides dedicated support for the periodic replacement of the Intercollegiate team's vessels. A 1970 Naval Academy graduate, retired Rear Admiral, and Naval Academy Sailing Foundation trustee, Pat has been involved with Navy Sailing for decades, both as a competitor and as a leader supporting sail training and program development.

Moments like this serve as a reminder that the continued strength of Navy Sailing is built not only on the dedication of midshipmen and coaches, but also on the leadership and generosity of those who believe in the program and invest in its future.

What is the Fales Committee?

You may have heard the name without knowing exactly what it is.

The Fales Committee has been guiding Naval Academy sailing for more than 75 years. It was formed in 1949, when the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy asked Commodore DeCoursey Fales of the New York Yacht Club to bring together a group of accomplished sailors to advise the program. Fales, who served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War I, agreed, and the committee that bears his name has remained actively engaged ever since.

In its early years, the Committee connected the Naval Academy to the broader sailing world, offering expertise, perspective, and access to top-tier talent and resources. As the program grew, so did its needs. In 1973, the Fales Committee took a defining step by establishing the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation, creating the structure needed to accept donated boats and provide sustained support for Navy Sailing.

Today, the Fales Committee continues to play an important role, serving as both advisor and ambassador. Members provide guidance across all areas of the program, from intercollegiate sailing to offshore training, helping ensure that midshipmen are learning and competing at the highest level.

At the same time, they serve as a vital bridge to the sailing community, connecting Navy Sailing to a national network of supporters, advocates, and leaders in the sport.

If you're interested in learning more about the individuals who make up the Fales Committee today, you can view their bios here.

Our Community On the Water, Wherever We Sail

NASF Trustee Margaret Podlich was on the water in St. Thomas in February and St. Petersburg in March, coaching at the North U Performance Race Weeks.

These five-day, on-the-water clinics are held in several locations across the country throughout the year and are designed to accelerate learning through focused, high-intensity training. For the sailors involved, it's an opportunity to sharpen skills quickly while enjoying time on the water in a challenging and supportive environment.

It's always great to see members of the Navy Sailing community sharing their experience and staying engaged in the sport, wherever it takes them.

Have a photo to share? We'd love to feature our extended Navy Sailing community in future editions. To share, please email Christine Krause at christine@navalacademysailingfoundation.org.

Thank You and Looking Ahead

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of Navy Sailing. The progress and momentum across the program, on the water and beyond, are made possible by a community that believes in what these Midshipmen are doing and what they carry forward from the experience.

As the Intercollegiate team prepares for fleet race nationals and the Offshore team heads into a full summer of competition, there's much to look forward to in the months ahead.

We've also recently launched a refreshed website and updated visual identity for the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation. We invite you to explore the new site and learn more about the program and the ways you can stay connected.