McMillan Cup

Ten teams showed up on time for racing at the 2017 McMillan Cup. Unfortunately, the wind did not. After patiently waiting for something to build, PRO Taran Teague sent the fleet back to USNA with high hopes for better racing conditions tomorrow.

Note that an amendment to the SIs has been posted. Essentially no warning signal may be made after 1500 (changed from 1300).

Jahn Tihansky Regatta Chair

Today in Annapolis dawned with more promise of wind than yesterday. PRO Taran Teague and her team of NASS RC volunteers proceeded to the race area and stood by as a light easterly filled amid deck-level clouds and fog. Just before the 1030 warning for the first race, the wind direction became very erratic forcing a postponement. Finally it appeared to settle in from the predicted SSE direction at around 6 knots with a building ebb.

Race 1 for the regatta started with Coast Guard, Mass Maritime and Army all OCS. Meanwhile Navy won the pin and KP got away clean near the boat end. 20+ degree shifts at a rapid rate made it difficult to determine who was ahead but KP rounded the weather mark first with Navy a couple of lengths back. Queens rounded third with SUNY 4th. Downwind, Navy was first to jibe while KP was a bit late to cover. This gave Navy the inside at the bottom gate where the teams stacked up sailing slowly against the current. Navy led up the second beat and arrived at the second weather mark with a narrow lead over KP. Coast Guard sailed sharply and had clawed their way to round 3rd tightly packed with SUNY and Mass Maritime.

Down the run, KP jibed first with Coast Guard and Navy following suit. Navy fended off KP to win the race while Mass Maritime sneaked by Coast Guard for 3rd.

As it turned out, this would be the only race of the regatta as the wind shut down completely soon after the final boat finished and did not reappear.

By virtue of their race win, Navy keeps the McMillan Cup (for the fourth year in a row). KP and Mass Maritime earn automatic berths to the Kennedy Cup coming up in two weeks.

Thanks to our many volunteers, both civilian and Midshipmen who helped put on the event!

Jahn Tihansky Regatta Chair