NStar Articles

It rises up out of the Santee Basin, more than just a building. The USNA Robert Crown Sailing Center is a tribute to modern architecture, having been praised for its structural and symbolic beauty, as well as the successful Navy sailing programs it fosters. Yet looking at it now, it’s hard to imagine just how far it's come since its humble beginnings.

Throughout their time at the Academy, midshipmen must regularly prove their strength. It starts as soon as they arrive; Plebe Summer is the first test of physical, mental, and emotional endurance, lasting approximately seven weeks. At the end of their Plebe Year, midshipmen must also conquer a “capstone event,” the extremely difficult Navy Sea Trials, which take place in May and are not open to the public. Sea Trials represent the culmination of an incredibly challenging and fulfilling year.