Navy Sailing Team shutdown by U.S. budget impasse

(October 2, 2013) – When the U.S. Department of Defense suspended all intercollegiate athletic contests at Air Force, Army and Navy on Tuesday because of the federal government shutdown, the focus of attention was drawn to whether Saturday’s sold-out football game between Navy and Air Force could be played.

Football isn’t the only sport up in the air for Navy. Sailing is too.

“We will decide Thursday whether or not we will be able to host the Intrepid Trophy Match Race here this weekend,” explained Navy Head Sailing team coach Ian Burman. “On Friday we will make a final decision on whether or not we can compete in our scheduled events this weekend. Since our coaches are contractors and not government employees, we are still able to work and conduct practices for our teams. Since we do not know at this time when the government shutdown will end, it is impossible for us to predict when we will be able to compete again.”

Navy’s coed team is currently ranked 9th, with its women’s team ranked 4th.

The focus of the fall college sailing season is to qualify and compete in the Singlehanded National Championship, which will be held November 8-10 in Newport, RI. As for the football game this weekend, a decision would be made by noon ET Thursday whether the Navy-Air Force game in Annapolis, Md., could be played. If the Congressional budget impasse is going to extend through the weekend, the game would likely be postponed.