Navy Varsity Offshore Sailing Team Wins The McMillan Cup

	The Navy offshore sailing team claimed the McMillan Cup for the first time since 1999.

Oct. 23, 2005

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy offshore sailing team captain and senior skipper Greg Storer and his crew finished ahead of their closest rival in the final race to claim the 2005 McMillan Cup, intercollegiate sailing's oldest trophy.

Hosted by the Naval Academy's Robert Crown Sailing Center, and raced aboard the Academy's fleet of Navy 44 Sloops, The McMillan Cup Regatta featured nine teams representing schools from Maryland to Maine including the Merchant Marine Academy, US Coast Guard Academy, NY Maritime College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, St. Mary's College, Washington College and University of Rhode Island.

After four races in light to moderate conditions on Saturday, Navy held a scant two-point lead over Mass Maritime with Coast Guard and Washington College two points further back.

Sunday dawned clear with shifty west/northwest winds providing for dramatic nail-biting racing conditions. The race committee was able to complete three races for a total of seven for the series. Navy posted a 3,1,3 to wrap up the regatta with a five-point margin over second place Washington College.

In addition to Storer, Navy's team included Jeff Parker trimming main, Colin Chandler trimming jib and spinnaker, John Casilio on the bow, Leigh Loesel calling tactics, Jared Webster in the pit, Nick Goddard trimming jib and spinnaker and Mark Picinich at the mast.

The last time Navy won this trophy was in 1999.

Storer's team will compete again this coming weekend in US Sailing's Offshore National Championship for the Lloyd Phoenix Trophy which will again be hosted by the Naval Academy aboard the Navy 44s.

For more information, contact VOST head coach Jahn Tihansky at tihansky@usna.edu(.)

# GO NAVY #