After three days of racing on Long Island Sound, the Harvard Crimson took first place in The Open Team Race National Championship out of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The final day of the Championship delivered more challenging conditions with shifting breeze and large swells and winds starting out of the north from 10-15 knots.
“Winning feels amazing, especially coming in freshman year and having an amazing support system, coaches, and senior role models,” said Mitchell Callahan ‘26, skipper for Harvard University. “I think that really helped us peak at the right time. Our strategy was to take one race at a time, keep our heads down, and block out all the noise. We had to focus, do our jobs, and communicate.”
Stanford University currently holds first place at the 2023 Open Team Race Nationals after two days of racing and with one remaining at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Due to the low-pressure system in the southern U.S., winds have been quite trying in the Long Island Sound.
Day one of the Open Team Race National Championship started with north winds from 4 to 6 knots. After logging about eighteen races, the wind shut down and sent all teams in for a long wind delay. Schools joined in for other forms of team activities – cornhole competitions and croquet games. Sailors were sent back out to the racecourse at 3:30 PM and raced until after sunset. With all women skippers and crew, Stanford University took first place with an 8/0 record. Yale finished day one in second place with Harvard following in third.
