Sailing Wins Western Semifinal, Claims ICSA Open Fleet Race National Championship

Sailing Wins Western Semifinal, Claims ICSA Open Fleet Race National Championship

5/24/2026 6:00:00 PM | Coed Sailing

**ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -**The Brown open sailing team closed out the 2025-26 campaign with a strong finish after finishing first in the Western Semifinal of the College Sailing Open Fleet Race National Championship, before being crowned National Champions. This feat marks the program's first win at the event since 1948.

The Bears competed in the College Sailing Open Fleet Race National Championship from May 19-22 hosted by USF at SkyBeach Resort in St. Petersburg, Fla. Brown qualified for the National Championship when it won the Western Semifinal. The Bears won their qualifier by 33 points over second place, defending National Champion Stanford.

Guthrie Braunand

Vera Allendominated the A-Division, winning four of their seven races and by a margin of 11 points. The top nine teams advanced from two 18-team semifinals to qualify for the final.

Brown then advanced to the National Championship races along with the 17 other teams that moved on from their respective semifinals. The Bears led after the first day and never looked back, winning by 13 points after 14 races in each division. Brown once again defeated Stanford to win the Open Fleet Race National Championship (Henry A Morss Trophy) for the first time in 78 years.

Blake Behrensand

Caroline Keeffe-Jonesdominated the B-Division, winning by a 24 point margin to earn the Robert M. Allan Jr. Trophy.

Guthrie Braunand

Vera Allenfinished third overall in the A-Division.

Keeffe-Jones was awarded the Mitchell M. Brindley Trophy for the College Sailing Crew of the Year.

Kaitlyn Hamiltonwas named a finalist for Robert H. Hobbs Sportsmanship Trophy for College Sailing.

The group that captured the national title consisted of

Vera Allen,

Blake Behrens,

James Brock,

Dominic Ciccimaro,

Phoebe Fogarty,

Caroline Keeffe-Jones,

Marin Soderberg,

Camren Spriggs, and

Noah Stapleton, along with Barry Family Director of Sailing Chair

John Molliconeand Davis/Emma Family Assistant Coaching Chair for Sailing

Cameron Giblin.

The Bears finished third overall for the Leonard M. Fowle Trophy awarded to the best overall team in college sailing, based on all seven of the national championships. Brown last won the Fowle Trophy in 2024.

2025-2026 National Championship ResultsOpen Fleet Race: 1st

Women's Singlehanded: 2nd

Women's Team Race: 3rd

Open Team Race: 5th

Match Race: 6th

Open Singlehanded: 6th

Women's Fleet Race: 8th

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