Department of the Waterfront

For over 75 years, the United States Merchant Marine Academy Waterfront has set the highest standard for the training of Merchant Mariners and Military Officers. With varsity, instructional, and recreational programs available, there is something to offer every Midshipman. As a result, nearly 40 percent of the student body participates in curricular elective or extra-curricular waterfront programs, making the Yocum Sailing Center one of the most active sites on campus.

To support our curricular educational programs, there are several modern, specially equipped vessels used for professional training in both core and elective programs. The flagship of the Academy fleet is the 176-foot training ship, T/V KINGS POINTER, a former NASA booster rocket recovery vessel. The vessel gets underway for routine training throughout the week, and takes part in weekend and weeklong training cruises along the East Coast.

In addition to T/V KINGS POINTER, the waterfront operates T/V LIBERATOR, a 108-foot former naval training vessel, T/V ELIZABETH ANN, a 65-foot tugboat. The waterfront also is home to a fleet of Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), and Guardian Whalers to facilitate waterfront athletics coaching and a Fast Rescue Boat course. The Fast Rescue Course is offered as an elective to upperclassmen with interest in obtaining their Fast Rescue Boat Operator Certificate.

In the extracurricular arena, the Intercollegiate Sailing Team is the most decorated team at the Academy, and has secured itself as one of the more decorated programs in the country. With 17 National Championship Titles, 57 All-Americans, 6 College Sailor of Year, 2 Olympians, and 9 USMMA Athletic Hall of Fame Members, Kings Point Sailing is one of the epicenters for greatness in college sailing. The program has also fostered alumni who have gone on to win National and World Championships, along with an Olympic Silver medal. The Academy fields’ teams in seven college sailing disciplines: Open Singlehanded, Women’s Singlehanded, Coed Doublehanded, Women’s Doublehanded, Coed Team Racing, Women’s Team Racing, and Match Racing. The program competes against nearly 300 collegiate programs throughout the United States, in six conferences, and consistently ranks in the Top-25 teams in the country.

The Varsity Offshore Sailing Team races our larger sailing vessels. Midshipmen regularly compete in intercollegiate offshore events, including day and overnight open races, regularly competing up and down the east coast. During summer break, the team competes in high-profile events as Block Island Race Week, Newport to Bermuda Race, Halifax Race, and New York Yacht Club Race Week. The team competes in the top 6 intercollegiate offshore events each year. Three of these events are held in the Naval Academy’s one-design Navy 44’s. The Shields Trophy, McCmillian Cup, and College Sailing Offshore National Championship. The Offshore program claims 2 College Sailing Offshore National Championship Titles, solidifying them as a dominate Offshore Sailing Program in the country.

The Academy also offers Junior Varsity, recreational, and instructional sailing programs throughout the year. The Kings Point fleet is comprised of keelboats ranging from 20 to 44-feet in length. The fleet is primarily used for the U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat instructional course. Once certified, midshipmen can sign out boats for recreational sailing on local waters and look to expand their expertise aboard larger cruising vessels.

For Midshipmen interested in competitive rowing, the Kings Point Varsity Rowing Team offers a challenging program of head style races as well as sprint competition. The King’s Point rowers train throughout the academic year, with separate fall, winter, and spring seasons. The rowing shells are top of the line, and include two new carbon fiber Hudson USP 4+/x and two new carbon fiber Hudson USP 2x/-. The team also has a state-of-the-art indoor training facility, which includes rowing tanks, fully equipped weight room, erg machines, and erg bikes. Competing in novice, heavyweight, and lightweight events for both men and women, the team travels annually to regattas such as the Head of the Charles and the Dad Vail National Championship.

The USMMA Power Squadron provides a direct supplement to the professional training in the educational programs. Ship handling, navigation, and engineering skills are sharpened, as the Power Squadron gets underway for training daily. Several smaller vessels serve as recreational and fishing vessels for the program. Each vessel is manned, maintained and commanded by Midshipmen who get underway each weekend for training, goodwill cruises, VIP cruises, fishing, and program support throughout the region.

Department Head

Administration

Deputy Director
Waterfront Operations and Training
Scott McCormick (2016)
B.S. Marine Transportation; Ship Operations and Technologies
United Stated Merchant Marine Academy – 2010
Master of Unlimited Tonnage Vessels Upon Oceans
Master of Towing Vessels Upon Oceans

Director of Varsity Programs
Rick Dominique (1999)
B.S. Marine Transportation
SUNY Maritime College – 1993

Director of Power Squadron
Robert Asma (1997)
USCG Ret.
100 Ton Limited Masters

Master
Derek Schubert (2019)
B.S. Marine Transportation
SUNY Maritime College – 2005
Master of Unlimited Tonnage Vessels Upon Oceans

Chief Mate
Harris Papson (2022)
B.S. Marine Transportation
SUNY Maritime College – 2011
Master of Unlimited Tonnage Vessels Upon Oceans

Chief Engineer
Robert Gorgy (2019)
B.S. Marine Engineering
SUNY Maritime College – 2009
Chief Engineer of Limited Horsepower

Waterfront Athletics

Intercollegiate Sailing, Head Coach
Michael McBrien (2019)
B.S. Biology; Minors in Mathematics and Philosophy
Roger Williams University – 2018

Intercollegiate Sailing, Assistant Coach
Assistant Director of External Relations
Brendan Feeney (2020)
B.S. Finance
University of South Florida – 2018

Offshore Sailing, Head Coach
Kenneth Luczynski (2012)
B.S. Political Science and Economics
Northeastern University - 1990

Offshore Sailing, Assistant Coach
Elizabeth Shaw O’Toole (2022)
B.S. Business Administration
Acadia University - 2007

Rowing, Head Coach
Derek Hartwick (2004)
B.S. Physical Education
University of Western Ontario – 1984

Maintenance

Head Marine Foreman
John Casey (1994)
B.A. Environment Science
Florida Institute of Technology - 1985

Marine Maintenance
George Link (2018)
B.F.A. Photography
LIU Post - 1997

Marine Maintenance
Chip Lowe (1998)
B.A. Architecture
New York Tech - 1984