Brown University Dominates Fall College Sailing Start
Brown University won four of its first five regattas, while Georgetown seized control of the Mid-Atlantic circuit in the 2026 season opener.
Key points
- Brown University won four of its first five regattas, including the Pine Trophy and the Anderson Trophy.
- Harvard’s women’s team won the Toni Deutsch '58 Trophy at MIT, scoring 67 points.
- The University of Michigan took first and second place at the Gavin D. Memorial Regatta.
The wind dies down on the Thames River, and the J-70s settle into a tense standoff. Brown University’s crew, skipping the usual chaos, locks in a 30-32 victory over Yale. It is a quiet dominance, but it signals a new hierarchy.
Three weekends into the fall 2026 season, the power dynamics have shifted, with traditional giants holding their ground while fresh talent surges upward.
The season opened under the long shadow of graduation. Harvard lost the Callahan twins, whose five national championships defined a recent era. Stanford said goodbye to Vanessa Lahrkamp, a three-time Women's Sailor of the Year. Brown began its title defense without key skippers Guthrie Braun and Caroline Keeffe-Jones. Yet, as reported by sail-world.com, the early returns show these programs reloading with surprising speed, with Brown and Harvard already carving out their lead.
Brown secures early conference victories
Brown’s performance in Week 2 was a statement of intent. The Bears swept the Pine Trophy, the Bears Invite, the Harry H. Anderson Jr. Trophy, and the Harvard Invitational. At the Anderson Trophy, Blake Behrens, a returning Open All-American skipper, won the A-Division. His crew, Vera Allen and Phoebe Fogarty, executed flawless maneuvers, helping Brown secure an 83-point win. Their A-boat scored 23, a decisive margin over the next-best boat at 47.
The victory at the Pine Trophy was tighter. Brown edged out Yale in a ten-race series on the Thames River. The breeze died on Sunday, forcing the abandonment of the final attempt, but the Bears had already locked in the win. At the Bears Invite, first-years Nathan Pine and Madison Mansour delivered a crucial performance. They edged the University of Rhode Island by a single point, 50 to 51, showcasing the depth of the program.
Harvard reloads without its stars
Harvard’s women’s team proved that life after the Callahans remains competitive. The Crimson claimed the Toni Deutsch '58 Trophy at MIT with 67 points. Zoey Ziskind and Christina Chen, a member of last spring’s national champion team race squad, won the A-Division. Their performance was clear, finishing well ahead of runner-up Brown, who placed second with 110 points.
The men’s side faces a different challenge. Harvard will be without Open Singlehanded national champion Robby Meek this fall, as he is taking the season off from collegiate competition. Despite this absence, the program remains a strong contender. They finished second at both the Charles Invite and the Anderson Trophy, maintaining their presence in the top tier of the Ivy League circuit.
Georgetown and Michigan lead their regions
Georgetown has taken control of the Mid-Atlantic region. The Hoyas have established a firm grip on the local circuit, setting the table for the upcoming nationals. Meanwhile, in the Midwest, the University of Michigan set the pace during the season opener. At Michigan Tech’s Gavin D. Memorial Regatta, Michigan took first and second place with its Blue and Maize squads.
The Michigan event started with shifty light air before settling into a steady 5-9 knot northerly. With no wind on Sunday, the regatta concluded after one day. Michigan’s top team scored 28 points, followed closely by their second squad at 45. This consistent performance signals that Michigan remains the team to beat in the Mid-Coastal Sailing Association, providing a strong counter-narrative to the East Coast dominance.
