A weekend defined by patience and light‑air mastery produced standout performances across the fleet as Cornell’s Gilda Dondona ’28 captured the women’s title and Harvard’s Robby Meek ’27 secured the open championship at the College Sailing Singlehanded National Championships.
Athletes arrived and rigged in 8–13 knots from the west-northwest, but the breeze shifted right and faded, leaving the first race to conclude in very light air. Harvard opened strong with wins from Meek and defending champion Sophia Montgomery ’25. Meek earned an automatic berth this year after winning The Monotype Trophy: NEISA Open Singlehanded Championship, taking the title by 27 points over 11 races.
Saturday concluded with a second race at sunset, providing a stunning backdrop. Sunday began with 6–8 knots from the southwest before dropping. “It wasn’t the breeze we would expect this time of year in Norfolk,” said Mitch Brindley, head coach at Old Dominion University. “However, the variable conditions were a great test for the fleet. Having great light-air boat handling was a must.”
With five additional races on Sunday for a seven‑race series in each event, Dondona clinched the women’s championship to deliver the first singlehanded national title in Cornell sailing program history. Meek claimed the open trophy with commanding consistency, posting five race wins and no finish outside the top three.
“I feel so grateful to be a part of sailing with the best athletes in the nation! The team and I have put so much work into this,” said Dondona. “The conditions were challenging but also my favorite and I think that gave me an edge. I’d like to thank my parents, my team and the athletes for making this such a special moment!”
“Robby sailed a fantastic regatta,” said Bern Noack, Harvard University associate head coach. “He showed he is truly world-class in the ILCA in those conditions. He put in a lot of hard work over the summer, and it really paid off. We are super proud of him.”
College Sailing extends its congratulations to all the sailors and teams competing in this weekend’s championship. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to our Official Suppliers, Zim Sailing and West Coast Sailing, for their invaluable support in helping make this event possible. Special thanks are also due to Old Dominion University Sailing for their outstanding hospitality and partnership in hosting this championship.
Looking ahead, the College Sailing Match Race National Championship will be held in St. Petersburg, Florida, November 15–16, 2025.