Mariners Capture Kruger Cup

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Maine Maritime Academy won the Second Annual Kruger Cup at The United States Coast Guard Academy. The Mariners were in second place at the end of Saturday's races, but finished the event with first place finishes in the final three races on Sunday to secure the victory.

Three seniors competed on their final weekend for Maine Maritime in collecting the trophy. Skipper John Joseph, Matthew Butcka and Zach Vickers sailed with sophomore Jake Newton in the victory. The Mariners trailed Tufts heading into Sunday's races. The Jumbos finished in second place overall.

Saturday saw a sunny, cold and breezy start to the day with wind blowing northeast at 13 knots and gusting to 23 knots. The course was challenging for both race committee and competitors alike. With 90-degree oscillations observed, course adjustment became a regular occurrence. By noon, the velocity increased to a steady 15 with gusts as high as 27. Race 4 was abandoned do to leeward mark dragging in high winds and strong current.

Sunday brought another brisk morning with partly cloudy skies and a northwest breeze of 13 knots gusting to 17 knots. The breeze increased towards the noon hour to a steady 14 knots with gusts of 18 knots with 80-degree oscillations. Course adjustments once again were a regular occurrence. Race 1 was abandoned, while three were completed, all won by the Mariners.