It was a weekend of light air, tactical finesse, and family milestones as Chip Schaffner and team from Edgewater Yacht Club in Cleveland, Ohio claimed victory at the 2025 U.S. Offshore Sailing Championship, hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD October 3-5.
For Schaffner, the win marked a successful title defense after his 2023 victory. But for his son Chad, a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, the weekend marked his first time racing alongside his father in this national event, adding a special element to the team’s win.
Over three days of competition, the Schaffner team displayed steady composure and strong communication across six races: three buoy courses, and three distance races carrying a scoring multiplier that tested every aspect of seamanship, navigation, and endurance. Light and shifty southerly winds defined the weekend, demanding tactical patience and precision from every crew. In a tight race to the podium, College of Charleston finished second overall, followed by Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association in third.
“With the light forecast conditions, it was necessary to have race committee members who were local and know how to deal with the shifty, light breeze Annapolis is known for,” said PRO Taran Teague. “The Offshore Championship is a mix of buoy and distance races so that we can use every ounce of wind to our favor to get good racing in.”
The winning crew from Edgewater Yacht Club included: Chip Schaffner (skipper), Rick Rothenbuehler, Michael Palmer, Jeff Hagman, Mike Sell, Kristen Berry, Chip Bodie, and U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Mike Fernandez (Friday’s midshipmen) and Chad Schaffner (Saturday and Sunday midshipmen). Their combined experience, adaptability, and calm under pressure proved to be the right strategy.
“It’s been wonderful,” said Chip Schaffner. “The icing on the cake is sailing with my boy. Defending this title is hard; there’s a lot of great competition. Sailing clean and staying out of the protest room while focusing on the grind was the winning combination.”
As the family celebrated on the docks Kellie Schaffner, Chad’s mother, reflected on what the moment represented beyond the Championship title. She shared that Chad has wanted to be an officer in the Navy since the fourth grade, and that watching him sail with his father in his final year before commissioning was deeply meaningful. “At the end of the day,” she said, “it’s all about the young people — keeping them moving forward and keeping the sport alive.”
For Chad Schaffner, representing both his family and the U.S. Naval Academy made the experience unforgettable.
“Getting to sail with my dad at this event was very special,” said Schaffner. “We get to sail all the time, but sailing out of the U.S. Naval Academy on our Offshore Varsity Navy 44 boats with him means so much. I’m thankful to the Academy for allowing me this experience; and thankful for my dad for having me on the team.”
Beyond the competition, the 2025 U.S. Offshore Sailing Championship was uniquely situated to build collaboration between civilian sailors and U.S. Naval Academy
midshipmen, fostering teamwork, leadership, and respect both on and off the water. This partnership offers a rare opportunity for top sailors from across the country to race alongside future Navy officers, blending seamanship with service and mentorship.
Commander Rob Aho of the U.S. Naval Academy emphasized how deeply offshore sailing mirrors naval leadership in action.
“Offshore sailing as an activity is the best representation of naval service that we have here at the Academy,” said Aho. “Being out on the water, assessing conditions, and working together as a small team; the leadership, communication, and decision-making all contribute to naval service in a way that doesn’t compare to much else. I’d like to give a big shoutout to our midshipmen and everything Navy Sailing does for the future leaders of our Navy.”
Established in 1967, the U.S. Offshore Sailing Championship brings together top sailors from across the nation to test seamanship, navigation, and endurance through a blend of buoy and distance races.
US Sailing extends its sincere gratitude to the U.S. Naval Academy for hosting this year’s championship, to the dedicated race committee team led by Event Chair Nelson Pemberton and Championship Chair Bruce Bingman, and to our partner Goslings Rum for their continued support. Together, they helped deliver an unforgettable edition of the U.S. Offshore Sailing Championship.
Full results and event coverage are available on the event website.