Since its founding in 1943, the undergraduate program at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has been preparing young men and women to be leaders in America's maritime industry. As its mission has expanded to address the growing needs of the global transportation industry so has the need for additional financial support. The Academy is one of the five federal service academies and is operated by the Department of Transportation with an annual appropriation of $39 million. It has an enrollment of over 900 midshipmen who come from all fifty states. The Academy's vast property plant and equipment needs are supported through a combination of federal funding and donor contributions.
Sailing and Boating Programs
The mission of the USMMA Department of Waterfront Activities: To promote midshipmen leadership training and professional development through the use of waterfront resources.
For hundreds of years the use of sailing craft has been recognized as an effective means of imparting fundamental concepts of seamanship and leadership to young people. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has long subscribed to this philosophy and provides a broad array of waterfront training programs to meet this goal. From nationally ranked varsity sports to professionally oriented club activities, these programs are dedicated to turning out graduates who are better prepared so serve as naval officers and merchant mariners.
Much of our focus is on developing the teamwork and decision making skills that are found in competitive sports. The ability to think both tactically and strategically, the need for thinking on one's feet, and the ability to assess a dynamic environment are all taught and refined aboard USMMA sail and power boats. Similarly, the ability to measure up the environment - the winds, currents, weather patterns, and traffic - and analyze its influence can be developed tremendously through the use of small craft. To meet these objectives we have programs that allow midshipmen to participate at all levels.
With its expansive 83-acre waterside campus the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has some of the finest waterfront facilities in the nation for competitive and recreational sailing. It provides a unique setting for a variety of sailing and power boat activities. Our 224 foot training ship, the Kings Pointer, is operated from the boat basin on our campus located on the North Shore of Long Island, about twenty miles from Manhattan.
Much of our focus is on developing the teamwork and decision making skills that are found in competitive sports. The ability to think both tactically and strategically, the need for thinking on one's feet, and the ability to assess a dynamic environment are all taught and refined aboard USMMA sail and power boats. Similarly, the ability to measure up the environment,the winds, currents, weather patterns, and traffic, and analyze its influence can be developed tremendously through the use of small craft. To meet these objectives we have programs that allow midshipmen to participate at all levels.
The Varsity Intercollegiate Sailing Team competes in one and two person boats and is the most decorated varsity team on campus with ten National Championships to its credit. They regularly compete against other colleges and universities throughout the Northeast including the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.
The Varsity Offshore Sailing Team provides sail training and competitive racing for midshipmen interested in larger boats and takes part in such prestigious events a Block Island Race Week and the Newport to Bermuda race.
The varsity Crew Team is a physically demanding sport that requires the highest levels of teamwork and synchronicity. Midshipmen compete in lightweight fours and eights in both men's and women's disciplines.
The Windsurfing Club provides midshipmen with a recreational sailing outlet. Competition is available for those seeking to develop their skills to a higher level.
The Power Squadron provides midshipmen with real-world ship handling and seamanship training on a small scale. They participate in training cruises throughout Long Island Sound and provide event support for the Offshore and Intercollegiate Sailing Teams.
In addition to the competitive aspects of each of these teams, the Academy's waterfront programs emphasize hands on leadership training and professional development. Each of the larger vessels in the fleet is under the command of a midshipmen skipper and manned by a midshipmen crew from all classes. Some sailors have previous experience but most do not. As a result, the USMMA Waterfront provides and opportunity for students from all walks of life to develop their skills on an equal basis.
There is no higher form of personal responsibility than being in command of an Academy vessel. While we provide experienced supervision aboard each vessel, the midshipmen are the ones who are effectively in charge. Not only are they accountable for the safe operation of their vessel, but also more important, they are responsible for the well being of their crew. Their every decision, whether major or minor, has a direct and immediate effect upon the safety of their shipmates. When they leave Hague Basin, they, as skippers, become accountable for the lives of their crew.
The opportunity to command an Academy small craft is only possible through the generosity of concerned and interested benefactors. We have been fortunate over the years to receive gifts of dozens of renowned vessels for our fleet: WEATHERLY, ONDINE, NINA, DEFIANCE, MARINER, DIOGENES, and LEVERAGE, to name a few. More importantly, a hallmark of the USMMA Yacht Donation Program is that we use the boats. While the midshipmen crews perform routine chores, our professional staff of boatwrights and craftsmen oversee their work to ensure that the vessels are maintained in Bristol fashion. Our vessels can be seen training throughout Long Island Sound. We take pride in showing off our donated boats.
The Academy is always seeking vessels to bring in to the program that will help support our mission. Racing vessels ranging from 30-50' which are competitive in today's handicap, one-design sailing/offshore yachts to be used in long distance and training sessions, and power vessels that can be anything from rigid hull inflatables to 70-80' luxury yachts are all suitable for our programs.
The USMMA Sailing Foundation, Inc. initiated the current yacht donation program as a natural addition to our fund raising efforts and actively solicits the donation of sail and power vessels for use in the various waterfront programs, maritime instruction, intercollegiate sailing competitions, and intramural sports. These tax-deductible donations provide needed support to the Academy for activities not funded by Congressional appropriations. Property acquisitions, new facilities construction, and the technologies of the emerging global transportation industry will certainly increase the need for such donor support.
Through its fund raising efforts and the assistance of yacht brokers throughout the country, the Sailing Foundation has received numerous valuable gifts to date.
For more information about our program please contact Larry Larsen at (516) 204-7832.
