PROVIDENCE, R.I.--The Maine Maritime Academy sailing team competed at the 2024 Atlantic Coast Championship, Round 1B, held this weekend, The ACC was hosted by Brown University at the Edgewood Yacht Club and the Ted Turner '60 Sailing Pavilion.

As a result of its performance during the previous week in the women's-only Mrs. Hurst Bowl at Dartmouth College, Maine Maritime made the ACCs as a huge accomplishment since neither a women's or coed squad had qualified for a dinghy championship of this caliber. The Mariners gained valuable experience in a highly competitive field by placing 15th with 242 points. Only 11 points separated MMA from the 12th spot.

Freshmen Jane Marvin and Simone Ford participated for MMA in Division A, while senior Ella Beauregard and freshman Julianna DeMarco handled Division B duties. In Division B, MMA shaved 38 points from its A score that made up part of its overall score. The 102 points in B put the team in 12th in the division.

"Our sailors rose to the occasion and turned in personal-best performances at the team's first national event," stated MMA sailing coach Patrick DiLalla. "The company they are keeping on the scoresheet is elite. It seemed unimaginable to be battling in the middle of this fleet, even one year ago. Intensity at practice and relentless attention to details has put us in this position, where the opposing teams now appear to be weakening. But, of course, it is the other way around.

"It is an exciting time for women's sailing at Maine Maritime. The team is rising to national prominence and will be contending for a berth at Nationals moving forward."

Cornell University won the ACC Round1B event with 97 points to edge the U.S. Naval Academy with 103 and Tulane University, 105. The top nine teams qualify for the Women's ACC's at the U.S. Naval Academy next month.

A total of eight races were completed for the day in each division with A-division in FJs and B-division in 420s and all courses were W4's. A-division sailed 420s and B-division FJs on Sunday.

The regatta saw nice weather but a tough wind direction was present at the start of racing. There was a light, mainly easterly direction at 3-8 knots for the first two races in each division. After race 2B, the wind was too light and unstable so both divisions were postponed ashore for almost two hours. At around 2:30 p.m., the easterly started to settle back in as the low-lying clouds moved out. Sailors enjoyed some competitive racing for the rest of the day in 5-10 knots with a few higher puffy clouds and shifty East conditions.

Next up, the Mariners will head to New London, Conn., for the Stu Nelson Trophy hosted by Connecticut College and Brunswick, Maine, for the Hewitt Trophy hosted by Bowdoin College on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6.