Tuesday, April 22 – As the spring season comes to a close, the focus turns to the national championships and the 4 national titles up for grabs. First up, Open Team Racing on April 24-26 followed by Women’s Team Racing on April 27-28.
The last time Brown University hosted The Open Team Race National Championship was in 2019 when they moved their fleet to Fort Adams in Newport Rhode Island. The 2019 Broadcast recently uploaded to College Sailing Youtube.
Harvard sails into the 2025 preliminary round on Thursday as the top ranked team in the country–having won back-to-back weekends at the Marchiando and Thompson Trophy and placing second at the NEISA qualifier. The Crimson sailors are expected to be especially motivated to take home the championship after a close second place finish to Roger Williams last year. After winning the final race against Harvard to take the Fowle Trophy and win the NEISA conference championship, Yale is ranked second in the Sail1Design Coaches Rankings. Charles Higgins, Head Coach at Tulane University and Sail1Design contributor said in the final ranking before nationals that “if [Yale’s] Fowle Trophy lineup is here to stay, then this is now a championship contending team.”
Defending champions Roger Williams, currently ranked third, are looking to repeat their win.The Hawks bested top-ranked Harvard at the Friis Team Race earlier in the season. “Only because they won so much early in the season does it feel like second and third place finishes are a sign of slipping,” said Higgins “Make no mistake, these are the defending national champions and they very much have the pieces to repeat.”
All three of the top teams are returning to the championship with the core of their starting sailors–setting the stage for even matchups and exciting racing.
Open Team Race Field:
1. Harvard University
2. Yale University
3. Roger Williams University
4. Stanford University
5. U.S. Naval Academy
6. Boston College
7. Georgetown University
8. Dartmouth College
9. Brown University
10. St. Mary’s College of Maryland
11. College of Charleston
12. Tulane University
13. Tufts University
14. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
15. Bowdoin College
16. University of Michigan
Women’s Team Racing National Championship Preview
The Yale women’s team has had a dominant season winning the Dellenbaugh Women’s Team Race, The Duplin Trophy, Jen Harris Women’s Team Race, and the Women’s Team Race at Harvard. Returning much of the same starting lineup as the past three years, this seasoned group of sailors likely have the most experience in college team racing as any team on the water. The Bulldogs have won every women’s event their A Team has entered, making them a favorite for the national title as they seek redemption after a second place finish in 2024.
Stanford handily won their conference qualifier and their women’s team has a strong history after winning both the women’s spring national championships, fleet race and team race, in 2024. The Stanford Cardinal placed second at the Dellenbaugh Women’s Team Race and at the McIntyre Team Race but have otherwise been absent for much of the high-level events on the East Coast. The Stanford women are bringing an almost entirely new set of starters to Edgewood Yacht Club.
The Third-ranked Brown Bears took second at the NEISA conference championship—trailing Yale, but in a secure second. The team has spent a majority of the season second to Yale, but with returning champions and eager competitors joining the mix Brown may find the momentum they need to clinch the championship title.
Women’s Team Race Field:
1. Yale University
2. Stanford University
3. Brown University
4. Harvard University
5. Cornell University
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
7. Georgetown University
8. College of Charleston
9. Dartmouth College
10. Tulane University
11. Tufts University
12. University of Pennsylvania
Want to Follow Along?
Live scoring and daily reports are available on Techscore. College Sailing social media pages will be updated throughout the event. Chris Love Productions is putting together a great show with experienced commentators that will be live-streamed on ESPN+.
Broadcast Schedule
Thursday, April 24 – No broadcast
Friday, April 25 – Live Stream on ESPN+, start time TBA
Saturday, April 26 – Live Stream on ESPN+, start time TBA
Monday, April 28 – Live Stream on ESPN+, start time TBA
Clay Johnson
Clay Johnson is a 2007 graduate from Harvard University where he was a 3x All-American and 1x Honorable Mention All-American. He is an ILCA National Champion, ILCA North American Champion who has represented the US at the Pan American Games, and raced in 5 Olympic Trials. Currently, Clay owns Colie Sails in New Jersey, where he races Melges 15s and ILCAs.
Janel Z Martin
Janel is a 2009 graduate from Boston University (Rah BUDS) and works as the Youth Programs Manager at US Sailing. As an assistant coach at Georgetown University since 2012, Janel is an accomplished coach and infamous rules nerd, a skill she began honing during her match racing career. Janel has competed in the Women’s World Match Racing Tour and US Match Racing Circuit since 2008 and is a long-standing member of US Sailing’s Match Racing Committee and the US Match Racing Championships Committee, helping support the events and mentoring young sailors new to the discipline. Janel is passionate about college sailing and carries magnetic boats and a rule book with her everywhere she goes and yearns to discuss complex team and match racing situations at all times – the ideal candidate for a team race broadcast.
Charlie Enright
Charlie Enright is an accomplished sailor and an advocate of the sport known for his leadership in the offshore racing community. Charlie’s sailing accomplishments include leading the 11th Hour Racing Team to victory in the 2022-23 Ocean Race, becoming the first American team to win the prestigious event. He has also competed in multiple editions of The Ocean Race, previously serving as skipper for Team Alvimedica (2014-15) and Vestas 11th Hour Racing (2017-18).
In 2023, Charlie was named the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, one of the highest honors in the sport, for having demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events, earning his place in the history of sailing. He was also inducted into the Brown University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 for his outstanding achievements in both sailing and leadership. He served as captain of the university’s sailing team, and was named four-time Honorable Mention All-American Coed Skipper. Most recently Charlie was named CEO of US Sailing.
On Site
Spectating
Watch the racing from the second floor of the Edgewood Yacht Club. EYC will be open for parents and spectators which will include a bar and some food.
Parking
Spectator and additional vehicles should park on the main road at the top of the hill (Narragansett Blvd).
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