WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — No. 2 Yale finally ended its three-year spring racing hiatus this Saturday, upsetting No. 1 United States Naval Academy at Mercer County Park. The neutral site brought great racing conditions for the anticipated matchup, with a temperature of 55 degrees and a 6mph wind that varied across the afternoon.
"It is incredible to be back racing over the 2000 meter distance," Y150 Alumni Head Coach of Lightweight Crew Andy Card commented. "There's no finer way to begin our season and test our strength out of preseason training than racing against the Midshipmen. All five crews learned something from the afternoon. There is no more intense opening regatta than this one."
The Yale 1V took home the Eads Johnson Jr. Cup for the 10th consecutive season. In an afternoon of close margins and alternating triumphs, the varsity eights squared off last at 4:00 p.m. Both eights swapped seats back and forth off the start and remained even through the first half. However, the second half belonged to the Bulldogs, who emerged as the victors with a time of 5:40.5 to Navy's 5:44.5.
In both the 2V and 3V events, Yale remained close with Navy off the line, but the Midshipmen emerged as victors. Navy bested Yale with times of 6:05.5 to 6:08.1 in the third varsity event and, following a change in conditions, 5:49.1 to 5:52.2 in the junior varsity event. Both races followed the same profile, with the Midshipmen jumping out to a length lead after a strong middle move and maintaining their margin throughout the race despite a relentless effort by Yale to climb back.
Yale's 4V put on a strong performance from start to finish. The crew took a commanding lead off the start and increased their margin over the course of the race, defeating their opponents by well over a length of open water with a time of 6:09.6 to Navy's 6:19.4.
The first race of the afternoon kicked off at 2:40 p.m. between the fifth varsity boats. For many in Yale's fifth eight, it was not only their first time donning the major-Y unisuit but the first race of their rowing career. The Navy 5V emerged as victors and finished with a time of 6:12.1 over Yale's 6:20.6.
"Today was a great day for those who have not raced for Yale yet," senior captain Geoff Skelly said. "It takes a strong team culture to float five eights across, which our squad has."
With the Midshipmen winning the 2V, 3V and 5V events and the Bulldogs taking the 1V and 4V events, Navy took home the team points trophy, the Jon Van Amringe Cup, by a margin of a mere two points.
The Y150 will now look forward to next Saturday for their only home race of this spring, against the Georgetown Hoyas.
