Navy Sailing Wins Open Oyster Bowl, Advances to Atlantic Coast Championship Finals
By Brian Hradsky Maryland Sports Blog | October 13, 2026
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy intercollegiate sailing team delivered another successful weekend, winning the Open Oyster Bowl in Washington, D.C., finishing second at the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (MAISA) Match Race Championship and securing a spot in the Open Atlantic Coast Championship Finals. The Midshipmen competed across four locations during a demanding stretch that featured unpredictable winds, heavy rain and several highly competitive fields. Navy also finished second in the women’s Oyster Bowl, highlighting the program’s depth across multiple racing formats.
Midshipmen Dominate Open Oyster Bowl
Navy’s biggest accomplishment came at the Open Oyster Bowl, hosted by Georgetown in Washington, D.C., where the Midshipmen captured first place in the seven-team competition. Navy established an early advantage and maintained its lead throughout the regatta, overcoming difficult weather conditions to finish atop the standings. Four additional races were necessary Sunday despite steady rain, but the Midshipmen remained consistent and secured the overall victory.
Freshmen Cole Fanchi and Scarlet Hanson led Navy’s championship effort, finishing first in the combined division. Junior Umi Noritake and sophomore Ethan Martin added an impressive second-place finish, giving the Midshipmen the top two individual boat positions in the competition. The results demonstrated Navy’s ability to combine talented newcomers with experienced sailors while competing against established collegiate programs. Old Dominion’s official recap also confirmed Navy’s victory with 153 points.
Navy also enjoyed success in the women’s portion of the Oyster Bowl, finishing second among five competing teams. Freshman Kaya Hancock and senior Eva Ottenbreit placed third in the combined division, while sophomores Jessica Green and Haley Kloepfer finished sixth. The women’s competition featured 10 races completed in a single day, providing another opportunity for the Midshipmen to demonstrate their competitiveness. The second-place result complemented Navy’s open championship and helped complete an outstanding weekend in Washington.
Navy Qualifies for Atlantic Coast Championship Finals
While part of the team competed in Washington, another Navy contingent hosted the opening round of the Open Atlantic Coast Championship in Annapolis. The Midshipmen finished fifth among 18 teams, comfortably earning one of the nine qualifying positions for the championship finals scheduled for October 24-25 in Providence, Rhode Island. Difficult sailing conditions challenged the entire field, with Saturday’s racing delayed until 3:30 p.m. because of insufficient wind. Organizers eventually completed six races per division Saturday and another four Sunday despite persistent rain and shifting winds.
Navy experienced some inconsistent results but produced enough strong performances to advance without significant difficulty. Juniors Owen MacWilliams, Kyle Reinecke and Sarah McNelly combined for an impressive second-place finish in the B division. Seniors Henry Allgeier and Fiona Cullen finished ninth in the A division, contributing valuable points toward Navy’s overall standing. The qualification ensures the Midshipmen will compete against some of the nation’s strongest collegiate sailing programs later this month.
Navy Finishes Second at MAISA Match Race Championship
The Midshipmen nearly added another championship at the MAISA Match Race Championship, competing for the Intrepid Trophy at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Originally scheduled for September 26-27, the competition took place Monday after weather forced its postponement. Navy entered the elimination rounds as the second seed following round-robin competition and defeated St. Mary’s College of Maryland 2-0 in the semifinals. That victory set up a championship showdown against Georgetown.
Navy encountered difficulties in the championship series after crossing the starting line prematurely in each of the first two races. Those mistakes forced the Midshipmen to restart and left them chasing Georgetown around the course. MacWilliams, Reinecke, Hancock, senior George Carty and sophomore Noelle Sizemore represented Navy, ultimately finishing second in the five-team championship. Although the Midshipmen fell short of another title, their runner-up performance added to an already productive weekend.
Navy Competes at Stu Nelson Women’s Regatta
Navy also traveled to New London, Connecticut, for the Stu Nelson Women’s Regatta, finishing 12th in a competitive 16-team field. Light winds limited the event to four races per division, creating additional challenges for teams attempting to recover from difficult starts. The regatta featured an unusual three-division format, requiring Navy to distribute its sailors across multiple boats. Despite the overall finish, the Midshipmen received a strong performance from their B-division entry.
Senior Josie Sherry and junior Melania Gonzalez finished fourth in the B division, delivering Navy’s strongest result at the competition. Freshman Madeleine Garrett and senior Mary Dwyer finished 14th in the A division, while freshmen Danielle Lynch-Smith and Ella Seymour placed 12th in the C division. The competition provided valuable experience against a talented field as Navy continued preparing for the remaining fall championship events. The fourth-place divisional finish also demonstrated that the Midshipmen could remain competitive despite the difficult overall result.
What’s Next for Navy Sailing?
Navy returns to competition October 17-18 with another demanding schedule that includes the Nevins Trophy, Washington College Fall Fleet Race, Women’s Atlantic Coast Championship Finals and Women’s Atlantic Coast Tournament. The Open Atlantic Coast Championship Finals will follow October 24-25 in Providence, where Navy will attempt to build on its fifth-place qualifying performance. The Midshipmen enter those events with momentum from their Oyster Bowl championship and runner-up finish at the MAISA Match Race Championship.
MSB Take
Navy sailing continues to demonstrate why it deserves recognition as one of the Naval Academy’s competitive athletic programs. Winning the Open Oyster Bowl while qualifying for the Atlantic Coast Championship Finals represents an impressive accomplishment, particularly considering the challenging weather and demanding competition schedule. The performances of freshmen Cole Fanchi and Scarlet Hanson are especially encouraging because they suggest Navy has promising young talent capable of contributing immediately. With championship opportunities approaching, the Midshipmen have positioned themselves for a strong conclusion to the fall season.
Fanchi’s development is another particularly encouraging storyline for Navy. Just one week earlier, he captured the MAISA Open Singlehanded Championship, becoming Navy’s first winner of that event since 2017, and he followed that achievement with another first-place performance at the Oyster Bowl. The combination of individual success, team championships and strong conference performances suggests the Midshipmen have the depth necessary to remain competitive throughout the postseason. Navy’s next challenge will be translating that momentum into another strong showing against the nation’s best programs.
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Meta description: Navy sailing wins the 2026 Open Oyster Bowl, finishes second at the MAISA Match Race Championship and qualifies for the ACC Finals.
Sources: Navy Athletics official recap; Old Dominion Athletics; Hobart and William Smith Athletics; Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.
