By james art 
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy Offshore Sailing Team competed in its final event of the fall season this weekend, hosting the Kennedy Cup, college sailing’s major championship.
Ten teams from the United States came to compete in Annapolis as variable winds and high tides made sailing conditions on the Chesapeake Bay extremely difficult. Saturday saw sunny skies, temperatures around 50 degrees and a 12-14 knot northwesterly breeze as the College of Charleston finished the first day ahead of the midshipmen after five races.
The final three races on Sunday were characterized by cool temperatures, sunny skies and a 10-knot northeasterly breeze. At the end of the two-day, eight-contest series, the Mids found themselves just one point shy of winning the national championship, narrowly edged out by the College of Charleston.
Representing Navy were seniors Nick Gibbons, Chris Cordner, Elliott Brandicourt and Nate Broomfield along with junior Chad SchaffnerMatt Irving, Sammy Mentel, Connor McKee and Chloe Cowan.