The wait is over! Sail1Design’s ICSA Team Race Rankings Week 1 Rankings are LIVE!
Thanks to ICSA Ranking Panel John Mollicone (Brown), Chris Klevan (Stanford), Charles Higgins (Tulane) and Brendan Feeney (Fordham), complete with coach comments!
RANKINGS HOME PAGE
OPEN RANKINGS, week1 WOMENS RANKINGS, week 1
From the first drop until the Open and Women’s Team Race Nationals in New Orleans this April, the rankings will drop roughly every two weeks, giving teams and fans plenty to track as the road to the championship unfolds.
As always, they’re put together by a panel of coaches representing conferences across the country. They see the starts, the boat speed, the composure under pressure, and of course how it all translates into results.
Ahead of the first release, we’re revisiting the top of last year’s rankings and the results that followed. It’s the benchmark for the fleet we’re about to see this spring.
On the women’s side, last year’s championship ended with the Stanford Cardinals on top. With all three of their skippers returning along with a deep group of crews, the big question is whether anyone will be able to knock them off the throne as they pursue their 3rd straight Women’s TR title. Continuity can be powerful in team racing, and this team has it.
Yale finished second in 2025, but all three of their starting women’s skippers were in the class of 2025. The Bulldogs are never short on talent, yet replacing that level of experience is no small task. We’ll find out quickly whether their pipeline can keep them in the hunt at the very top of the fleet.
The Harvard women took third at the 2025 championship after entering the event ranked sixth in the final S1D poll. The ranking panel highlighted this team’s improvement at a rapid clip, and by the time nationals arrived they had turned potential into a podium finish. This program has shown it can peak at the right moment. Can they build on last year’s run and climb even higher this spring?
Cornell slotted in at fourth in the final S1D ranking last spring and also finished fourth overall at Women’s Nationals. The Big Red women often also race at open events, and those reps and experience typically show when championship season arrives. With some sailors graduating, we’ll find out whether this group can once again put together the consistency needed to stay near the top.
Now to the open division, where another set of contenders is preparing to sort itself out.
The defending champions are Harvard, who put together an impressive run to secure the 2025 title. Their starting and speed were standouts all season, and the ranking panel had them at number one even before nationals began. It looks like the heart of their team is returning this year. We are interested to see if they repeat and add another national title to their 2025/26 season.
Yale was right behind them, ranked second and finishing second. A win at the ultra-competitive NEISA Championship marked a late-season surge that ranking panel members took seriously. There were several seniors in this 2025 team, so we will have to see who they put out on the water. Who steps into those roles, and how fast they settle in, could define the Bulldogs’ spring.
Roger Williams, the 2024 TR National Champions, were third in both the rankings and the final standings a year ago. This team always seems to be vying for a top spot, and there’s little reason to expect anything different this time around.
Stanford rounded out the top four, ranking and finishing fourth. A large portion of that roster returns with a full, fairly successful championship season now under its belt. Experience can be the difference that decides trophies. They could be building toward something even bigger.
Over the next several weeks, teams will test combinations, uncover strengths and start to see how they stack up.
The first rankings release of 2026 is almost here, and it’s only the beginning of the run toward New Orleans!
You can find the rankings tab at the top of the S1D homepage. Remember to click each team name to see ranking panel comments. Make sure to keep checking Sail1Design for event coverage and ranking breakdowns.
Have your own predictions for the 2026 ICSA Team Race season? Leave them in the comments below.
Photos from last year’s championships are courtesy of Rob Migliaccio. We’re grateful to Rob for sharing them with S1D, and you can find these and many more on his website.
