Stanford University took a historic win at the 2023 Open National Championship out of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy after four days of racing on the Long Island Sound. The Open National Championship was the last of three high-caliber spring College Sailing National Championships that took place over a marathon 11 days back to back. The Cardinal won with a 13-point lead above Yale University, and Harvard University rounded out the podium in third place behind Harvard by six points.
“We’re super overwhelmed,” said Stanford A Division Skipper, Michelle Lahrkamp. “We are a predominantly female team, and we did a great job these last few days getting everything out of every day; we never gave up, we had our heads in the game the whole time. We really wanted it, and I am wearing my pink shirt for all the girls out there – you can win a National Championship!”
Yale won the Eastern Division and Georgetown won the Western Division in the Open National Semifinals out of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy after two days of semifinal racing. 32 of the best collegiate teams in the nation came into the championship on Tuesday and the top 18 will take to the water today for Finals and a chance at the 2023 national title.