Results:  Navy Women's  ||  Laser South  ||  Riley Cup

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With uncooperative winds hampering the opening weekend schedule, Christopher Newport sailed in three events to kick off the 2023-24 regatta season. In Maryland, the CNU women's team finished fifth amongst a talented field of MAISA opponents in the Navy Fall Women's while a pair of CNU men's singlehanded competitors appeared in the Laser South event. In the Riley Cup, hosted by Old Dominion, the Captains also raced in a shortened event with only four completed races. 

In the Navy Fall Women's, Grace Watlington and Elle McFall sailed together for a 32-point finish and a top-ten effort in All-Division sailing. The second boat, sailed by Laura Smith and Grace Keene, was right behind with an 11th place showing and 40 points scored. 

Smith and Keene had the best showing for a single race, crossing the line third in the opening rotation. They added two more top ten finishes. Watlington and McFall were consistent, posting an eighth, sixth, and 10th place finish in the first three races. 

Nearby, the singlehanded event was able to complete one more race with five total on the weekend. With a 10th place finish, sophomore Aston Atherton qualified for the Carl Van Duyne MAISA Men's Singlehanded Championship at the United States Merchant Marine Academy on September 30-October 1. Classmate Joshua Bendura finished just three spots back for a 13th place showing and 55 total points.

Atherton's 50-point effort included three top-ten finishes and a team-best seventh-place showing in the fourth race of the event. Bendura finished in the top-ten twice including a personal best eighth place finish. 

Rounding out the opening weekend, CNU finished 16th in Norfolk as they sailed in the Riley Cup. The A division tandem finished 14th with 54 points as Noah Hubbard and Carson Rozell paired up. In B division, Walter Roou and Sebastian Beavers steered for Berend Vandermeer, finishing 16th with 58 total points.