2026 U.S. Women’s Match Race Championship Results and Recap
Article Contributed by Rachel Bartel
The 2026 U.S. Women’s Match Race Championship came to a dramatic close at Bayview Yacht Club on the Detroit River, where Vanessa Lahrkamp claimed the Allegra Knapp Mertz Perpetual Trophy alongside crew Isa Arrigo, Carly Kiss, and Grace Austin.
Racing on the Detroit River means contending with more than just wind. A steady current consistently topping 1.5 knots each day added another layer of tactical complexity, challenging competitors from the first race to the last.
Day 1 — Patience on the River
Insufficient breeze kept the fleet at the dock under postponement as competitors waited for the wind to fill. When conditions finally met race minimums, moderate pressure arrived alongside a building current, making every maneuver count. By the end of the morning session, the round robin was complete.
Four-time U.S. Women’s Match Race Champion Allie Blecher posted a perfect record, building a picket fence through the fleet. Vanessa Lahrkamp and Hailey Thompson rounded out the top three.
Day 2 — The Long Day
Racing again waited for wind. Postponement held the fleet until noon, piling pressure onto a packed schedule: complete the round robin, then move directly into quarterfinals.
Most quarterfinal matches found decisive winners within three races. The exception was Lahrkamp’s match against Costanzo, which went the distance — all five races — before Lahrkamp sealed a hard-fought win to advance.
Day 3 — Championship Day
Finals day opened with semifinals, moved through the petit finals and consolation round, and closed with the championship match. A northerly breeze set the stage for the title race between Blecher and Lahrkamp. It wasn’t close. Lahrkamp swept Blecher in three straight races to claim the championship title.
The Allegra Knapp Mertz Perpetual Trophy was presented to the first-place team, and the Mrs. C.F. Adams Memorial Perpetual Trophy to the second-place team.
Looking ahead, the fleet will reconvene in the tropics next year! The 2027 U.S. Women’s Match Race Nationals will be held at St. Thomas Yacht Club in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Full results: HERE
Photo gallery by Rachel Bartel: HERE
