Defending two-time champs seek historic accomplishment at this year’s Kennedy Cup
Kennedy Cup
Nov. 4-5
Robert Crown Sailing Center
Annapolis, Md.
Hosted by U.S. Naval Academy
VALLEJO, Calif. – Entering this weekend, there is only one school on this historic list: U.S. Naval Academy.
When Cal Maritime returns to Vallejo on Sunday, it hopes to double the number of schools to enjoy the unique feat of winning the Kennedy Cup three straight years when the Keelhaulers head to Annapolis, Maryland, for one of offshore sailing's biggest events of the year.
By winning the John F. Kennedy Memorial Trophy in 2021 and 2022, CSUM became the sixth school in event history to capture back-to-back titles. This year, it knows everyone is waiting to dethrone a team that already won an offshore championship earlier this season at the Robert Crown Sailing Center when the Keelhaulers won this year's Shields Cup, another regatta hosted by Navy.
All participating teams will sail Navy 44 MK2 Sloops with a crew of eight members and two alternates; representing Cal Maritime this year are Charlie Bedford, Sam Jennings, Cyrus Khaleeli, Django Knafo-Tomlinson, Ben Louttit, Clay Myers, Etienne Quille, Max Roth and Conner Skewes.
Open practice is scheduled for Friday between 2-6 p.m., first warning is set for 12 p.m. the following day. Sunday's first warning will take place at 10:30 with no races beginning after 2 p.m.
This year's awards ceremony will commence at 4 p.m.
If successful, Cal Maritime will become the first school to three-peat since Navy accomplished this feat in 1990. In addition to winning titles in '88 and '89, it also won three straight Kennedy Cups from '80-'82.