KINGS POINT, N.Y., August 24, 2022 – The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point has announced it has been selected to host the 2023 Spring Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) National Sailing Championships. The Academy had been seeking to host the 2024 Championships, but the ICSA asked the academy to host the 2023 event, instead.

“We are very excited to have secured the bid for the 2023 ICSA College Sailing National Championship,” said Rich Cain, the Director of Waterfront Facilities at USMMA. “The entire waterfront staff has worked rigorously to bring the National Championship back the Academy. Coaches Michael McBrien, Brendan Feeney, and Director Rick Dominique have expressed how much this means to our athletes, to compete on the biggest stage, in our home waters. Throughout college sailing, Kings Point is recognized as one of the premier venues in the country. Paired with the great sailing conditions of Western Long Island Sound, our assets, facilities, and staff at the waterfront allow us to run top-tier events without a hitch.”

“The last time we hosted this Championship was in 2000," said Kings Point Waterfront Director of Varsity Programs Rick Dominique, "and we only hosted one discipline, the co-ed double-handed sailing. In 2023, USMMA will be hosting all three major dinghy disciplines. We have an excellent waterfront for hosting major regattas and are honored to have been asked.”

The Academy features a protected harbor on Long Island Sound that offers much room for boats, officials, shore personnel, and competitors to safely prepare for racing in the adjacent waters. The Sound itself features steady breeze and protected conditions that are optimal for small boat sailing. Next to the Harbor is the Yocum Sailing Center, a modern, spacious building that offers repair facilities, locker rooms, meeting space, and post-race socializing space, all with beautiful views of the Sound and the New York City Skyline.

Head Dinghy Coach Michael McBrien commented, “We’re extremely excited for this incredible opportunity to host the pinnacle event of college sailing next year. It is not only an amazing honor to host the event, but our sailors will be able to compete at Nationals having an upper-hand at our venue. Knowing the intricacies of our tricky current and breeze conditions is like having home field advantage in other sports. Needless to say, the team is anxious to get back on the water in the fall to prepare for 2023.”

Along with the 2023 National Championship, Kings Point will be hosting at least eight Division I college sailing events during the 2022-2023 season, more than any school in the country. These include a Conference Championship, Coed Atlantic Coast Championships, Women’s Atlantic Coast Championship, Nevins Trophy, and the Admirals Cup.

The exact dates for the 2023 Spring National Championships are forthcoming, and the regatta will likely be held near the end of May or the beginning of June.

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ABOUT USMMA

The United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, N.Y., educates and graduates leaders of exemplary character who are inspired to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Academy, which was established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1943. It is administered by the Maritime Administration under the auspices of the Department of Transportation.