CASTINE – The Maine Maritime Academy men's and women's sailing teams opened the 2024 campaign on Sep. 7-8 by hosting the Penobscot Bay Open and Harman Cup. The Mariners sported third-place (126 points) and ninth-place (245) finishes in the former and a seventh-place showing with 49 points in the former.

Eight different schools competed in the Pen Bay Open and seven teams faced off against Maine Maritime in the Harman Cup.

In the Open, a beautiful Northerly held for six races to open the competition on Saturday. However, Sunday was postponed on the water as the wind settled into a brisk southwest 10-15 knots. The schools sailed three races to complete the rotation. Vermont won the event with 113 points, followed by Northeastern with 123. The Mariners' first team was a close third just three points behind the Huskies, starting slow but then having a strong finish.

In Cup action on Saturday, Tufts took control of the regatta with a brilliant first day. Northeastern, Bowdoin, Rhode Island and Mass Maritime engaged in a close battle for second and third. Winds were held steady at 5-8 knots from the north, and four 30-minute races were completed out in the bay.

Then on Sunday, the seabreeze picked up approximately at 11:30 a.m. and peaked at 20 knots around 2 p.m. Four races of 30-35 minutes were completed in champagne conditions. Bowdoin won the day, but it wasn't enough to overtake Tufts which edged the Polar Bears, 19 to 21. Mass Maritime took third overall with a solid performance. Maine Maritime rebounded from a miserable first day. The top three teams qualified for the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association match race championships.

The Harman Cup is named for Phil Harman, longtime MMA Waterfront Director, and a member of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Hall of Fame.

Up next, the Mariners travel to Brunswick, Maine, on Saturday, Sep. 14, for the Barnett Trophy hosted by Bowdoin College.