NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 18, 2022) – Racing concluded at the College Sailing Team Race National Championship on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans hosted by Tulane University with support from Southern Yacht Club and Community Sailing New Orleans. Sixteen of the best college teams across the nation qualified to compete in this event for the Walter C. Wood Trophy, awarded to the winning team.

The Yale Bulldogs walked away with the title and an impressive record of 22-3.When asked what this means to the team, Yale Senior Sonia Lingos-Utley ‘22 said, “After three years of not being able to complete a full season, every weekend has been an incredible opportunity. The breeze held up when it needed to and we put our boat handling to the test in order to pull it all together for an amazing team win.” 


The format for this event was a series of round robins beginning with a full Stage 1 – 16 team round robin with 120 races. The next round robin planned was Stage 2 – Top “Gold” 8, drawing the top 8 teams from the first series. The final round, Stage 3 – Final 4 determined the championship. When racing concluded on Day 1 of the Championship, teams had completed 47 races.

On Day 2, competitors were able to finish Stage 1 with enough time to do sail offs and the Top 8 and Final 4 were completed on the final day.For this championship the competitors sail on a digital N course, which has a windward mark, a windward offset mark rounded to starboard and then down to a leeward mark with another leeward offset rounded to port and finish upwind. The digital N course allows for long upwind and downwind legs with short reach legs and four mark rounding opportunities – prime for team racing. Fleets raced in both collegiate FJs and Z420s.​​
On Monday, the first start was around 10 a.m. in about 5 knots of wind from the north. Temperatures were in the 80s and the sun was out all day. The upwind legs were a boatspeed battle and every boat handling maneuver was critical. Breeze stayed around 3-6knts through mid afternoon. At the end of day 1, the Georgetown Hoyas were sitting in first place with an undefeated 6-0 record followed by Roger Williams with 5-0. Yale rounded out the top 3 with 6-1 and a loss to Roger Williams who was able to convert into a 2-3-4 combo to win the race. Day 1 racing concluded early due to lack of wind. 

The third and final day was kicked off with a sail off to solidify the teams in the top 8. Conditions were about 5 knots coming over the breakwater which provided a few more shifts and smaller chop. Harvard and Penn headed into a sail off for the top 8. Several spins kept Harvard’s third boat in 6 while their first two boats stayed in 1-2 until the final beat. Harvard won with a 1-3-6. This was Penn’s first time at The College Sailing Open Team Race National Championship, and the team finished the event in 9th place. Racing continued with the Top 8. Roger Williams had a very strong showing and finished the first round robin with a 14-1 record but slid away from Yale during the Top 8 with a 3-4 record in that round. Yale lost to Stanford and Georgetown for a record of 5-2. Georgetown ended the Top 8 round with a 16-6 overall record, seeding themselves third. Stanford went 3-4 in the Top 8 to enter the Final 4 with a 15-7 record.

A short break was taken between the top 8 and the top 4. Coaches went on the water to watch the final races and rotations occurred on the water.Yale dominated the Final 4 bracket with all 1-2-x combinations which earned them the Championship title. Zach Leonard, Yale Head Coach, said “After a year off COVID we were really just trying to get back into our normal team racing routine. Our practices all semester were great.” He added, “Shawn and Sonia really set a great example for everyone. I was really happy that the team had the chance to get back to doing what we love. Our team really gets excited about team racing. There is so much to learn that it’s a fun process.” 

In the Final 4, Roger Williams defeated Georgetown and Stanford but lost to Yale. Their overall record was enough to finish 2nd overall in the Championship. Spencer Cartwright, a senior on the Roger Williams team, reflected on the team’s performance. “I’m super proud of how our team really put the hammer down under the pressure. It felt amazing to be surrounded by people so passionate about putting it all out there race after race.”Georgetown lost the 3 races in the Final 4, and finished the event in 3rd overall. Stanford went 1-2 in the Final 4 to tie with Georgetown and finish 4th overall.

The College Team Race Nationals was a very well run event, and it achieved a full regatta of 154 races. There was camaraderie and onshore competitive spirit, too. Athletes kept themselves in the game through various lawn games alongside their competitors. The Big Easy did not disappoint! Stay tuned for the remainder of the 2022 College Sailing Nationals Championship Series.

Yale’s winning team:Jack Egan ‘25Catherine Webb ‘23Sonia Lingos-Utley ‘22Teddy Nicolosi ‘24Anisha Arcot ‘23Nathan Sih ‘25Ben Markert ‘23Sam Tobin ‘23
Results:Yale University, Bulldogs – 22/3Roger Williams University, Hawks – 19/6Georgetown University, Hoyas – 16/9Stanford University, Cardinal – 16/9Boston College, Eagles – 14/8U.S. Naval Academy, Midshipmen – 14/8Harvard University, Crimson – 12/10Tulane University, Green Wave – 9/13University of Pennsylvania, Quakers – 8/7Dartmouth College, Big Green – 7/8University of California at Santa Barbara, Gauchos – 4/11College of Charleston, Cougars – 4/11Tufts University, Jumbos – 3/12Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Statesmen – 3/12St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Seahawks – 3/12University of Wisconsin, Badgers – 0/15
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For more regatta information visit the event website: http://2022nationals.collegesailing.org/Photo Contact: Allison Chenard | allisonchenard@ussailing.org
https://usst.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000Q8W.d_5aL9A/Team-Race-Nationals
Photo Contact: Allison Chenard | allisonchenard@ussailing.org
https://usst.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000Q8W.d_5aL9A/Team-Race-Nationals

Photo Contact: Parker Waters Photography | ParkerWaters@gmail.com | Parkerwatersphoto.photoshelter.comAuthor: Caroline Young, ICSA Communications CommitteeThe ICSA sponsors and partners for the 2022 season are: Zim, West Coast Sailing and Dwyer, Official Suppliers of College Sailing.
US Sailing, Media SponsorQuantum Sail Design Group, official sponsor of the “Quantum Women’s College Sailor of the Year”.
Marlow Ropes, Official Supplier of College Sailing. US Sailing, Official Media Partner of College Sailing.
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada. Visit www.collegesailing.org to learn more.