The Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is thrilled to announce the commencement of its highly anticipated Spring National Championships, set to unfold starting April 25th 2024. The prestigious event will kick off with the College Sailing Open Team Race National Championships, showcasing the finest talents in collegiate sailing. Hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, this year's championship promises an exhilarating display of skill and competition.
The schedule for the 2024 Spring College Sailing Nationals is as follows:
- Open Team Race National Championship – April 25-27 at MIT
- Women’s Team Race National Championship – April 28-29 at Harvard
- Women’s Fleet Race National Championship – May 20-23
- Women’s Semi-Finals at MIT and Harvard - May 20-21
- Women’s Finals at MIT - May 22-23
- Open Fleet Race National Championship – May 24-27
- Open Semi-Finals at MIT and Harvard - May 24-25
- Open Finals at Harvard - May 26-27
Nestled along the iconic Charles River, the MIT Sailing Pavilion and Harvard Boathouse will serve as the backdrop for this thrilling spectacle. The Charles River, steeped with sailing history, was the venue for the 2001 Women’s and Open Fleet Racing National Championship. This collaborative effort between MIT and Harvard ensures an optimal viewing experience, with spectators invited to set up tents and witness the action unfold against the picturesque scenery of the Charles River lower basin, just west of the Walker Memorial.
Expressing enthusiasm for the partnership with Harvard, Matt Lindblad, Cucchiaro Family Director of Sailing at MIT, remarked, “We are excited to host these championships on the Charles River, where college sailing officially began in 1936. Since then, the Collegiate Sailing National Championships and, particularly, the team racing events have become the highest level of short-course dinghy racing anywhere in the world. This is the first year of a new format, holding both Women’s and Open Team Racing Championships back-to-back in April, and we are doing everything we can to ensure this format is as successful as possible. We have a tremendous team of over 50 people: umpires, race officials, and event staff supporting these championships. We can’t thank them enough for dedicating their time, energy, and expertise to facilitate an amazing championship experience for the competitors.”
Teams from across the United States will converge to vie for the coveted championship titles. Can Yale University maintain their stronghold on the Women’s Team Race Champion title, having maintained an impressive record of 18 to 1 in 2023? Meanwhile, Harvard University aims to defend their hometown and their 2023 Open Team Race National Champion title, following a triumphant performance amidst challenging wind conditions in Kings Point, NY last year.
Teams Competing in the Open Team Race National Championship:
1. Yale University
2. Harvard University
3. Stanford University
4. Brown University
5. Roger Williams University
6. Georgetown University
7. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
8. Dartmouth College
9. U.S. Naval Academy
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
11. St. Mary's College of Maryland
12. College of Charleston
13. Boston College
14. Tulane University
15. Tufts University
16. University of Wisconsin
Teams Competing in the Women’s Team Race National Championship:
1. Yale University
2. Stanford University
3. Boston College
4. Cornell University
5. Dartmouth College
6. College of Charleston
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. Harvard University
9. Brown University
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
11. Tulane University
12. University of Wisconsin
Tune in to the live-streamed events, College Sailing Instagram, and College Sailing Facebook page! Streaming starts on ESPN+ on April 26 at 1:00 PM Eastern.
To learn more about the teams competing in all championship events and to follow race results, visit the College Nationals webpage here!