The Comeback of MMA Sailing

NOBODY WILL CALL the Maine Maritime Academy Sailing Team an underdog for much longer.

Over the past two years, the Mariner’s sailing team has begun its resurgence in the world of college sailing. New England is home to the most competitive district of college sailing, where schools like Yale, Harvard, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy consistently win national championships in one or more of the six college sailing disciplines every year. Within this stacked district, MMA is carving its path toward national titles and a dominant presence within the district and the sport at large.

Maine Maritime Academy is uniquely positioned in that, alongside a full fleet of collegiate dinghies, it maintains a fleet of Colgate 26’s, as well as two offshore-equipped race boats. Many colleges hope to be great in one sailing discipline. MMA’s sailors and coaches are working toward excellence in all.

The commitment to growth was evident to everyone in attendance at the 2024 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup, as the Mariner team built on two days of consistent improvement to clinch the win in the tenth and final race of the event. Under Head Coach Patrick DiLalla, the Mariners broke a 15-year hiatus.

They returned to the winner’s circle beating out the most elite keelboat teams in the country including rivals Cal Maritime, Navy, Kings Point, and the Coast Guard Academy.