The 2025 edition of the Glen S. Foster Trophy — the Open Singlehanded College National Championship organized by the Inter‑Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) — took place November 8–9, 2025, hosted by Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia on the waters of the Elizabeth River.
This regatta brings together top collegiate single-handed sailors in the ILCA7 (formerly Laser) class, each representing their institution.
Conditions & Race Format
Held over two days, the Open Singlehanded College National Championship demanded consistency and adaptability from the sailors. Saturday began with a steady westerly-northwesterly breeze of about 8-13 knots that veered earlier than forecast, eventually fading and swinging 90° mid-race.
In the afternoon, the wind dropped to ~4-5 knots from the ENE, testing the sailors’ light-air tactics and Rule 42 compliance. Sunday’s forecast promised stronger conditions, setting up for a challenging finish.
Results & Highlights
Here are the top performers from the Open (ILCA7) fleet:
Champion: Robby Meek (Harvard University, class ’27) posted outstanding scores of 1-1-1-2-1-1-3 for a total of 10.
2nd Place: Hamilton Barclay (Tulane University) finished with 34 points and a race win in Race 4.
3rd Place: Thomas Sitzmann (Stanford University) collected 40 points.
Other notable efforts:
Guthrie Braun (Brown University) placed 6th with 53 pts.
Connor McHugh (Roger Williams University) made his national championship debut and competed strongly.
According to Tulane’s release: “Hamilton posted the best performance for Tulane in his second trip to the championship regatta…finished second … including a race victory in the fourth race.”
What Made the Difference
Consistency: Meek’s string of top-3 finishes across seven races stands out.
Adaptability: With Saturday’s wind shifts and light-air afternoon, those who could transition tactics swiftly gained advantage.
Boat handling under fatigue: With multiple races in quick succession and tricky conditions, stamina and boat-set became key.
In what proved a dynamic and challenging two-day battle for the Glen S. Foster Trophy, it was the blend of tactical savvy, boat-handling finesse, and mental resilience that separated the winners from the field. Meek’s dominance, Barclay’s breakthrough, and strong showings from other competitors mark 2025 as a standout year in collegiate singlehanded sailing.
