circled the race course in the Annapolis Harbor on Fandango flying a three-star flag with 11-year old Nathan at the helm. Director of Naval Academy Sailing CDR Les Spanheimer led the charge of Colgate 26s across the line, but then what Midshipmen would pass him? Leading the CRAB 20s was Mark Chapin, who has been instrumental in building a strong relationship with wounded warriors over the course of the past year. The wind conditions started out in the 12 knot range, but died down to single digits in the middle of the first race. The RC called for marks to be pulled and reset to ensure that more races could be held. Of course, after the marks were reset the wind picked back up and the racing became more spirited. After four challenging races and more than two hours of sailing, it was time for Sammy’s Pizza at the dock. Midshipman 3/C Alexandra McIntosh says, “One of the people on my boat was a doctor from Walter Reed who had served overseas and had also grown up sailing. Having not been on the water for many years, he was anxious to get back into a boat. The highlight of my morning was when he took the helm during our final race and commanded the boat around the windward mark and down towards the leeward buoy… nothing could have made that man’s day any better than being on the helm of a boat again.” When asked why he made the decision to participate in the WWSR, Midshipman 4/C Christopher LaFrancois comments, “I participated in the regatta as a way to connect to some of our nation’s heroes. I believe it is rather difficult for midshipmen to get this one on one time and hear the stories that they are willing to tell; the actions of bravery that we only read about in class.” VADM Cullom presented the awards, which were secondary to the personal interaction, camaraderie, and racing. The Spirit Award went to Army Captain Hugh Fisher for participating the second year in a row and for bringing his son and daughter as well as two other families of wounded warriors with him.
##Photo by Dan Phelps.
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