The latest NEISA Sailors of the Week awards spotlight outstanding performances from Brown University and MIT, with both programs delivering impressive results in challenging conditions across key regattas.
On the women’s side, the Brown Bears A division team claimed the honor following a commanding showing at the Stu Nelson Trophy. Laura Hamilton ’27 and Katherine Majette ’27 set the tone early with 1st and 2nd place finishes and never relinquished their lead despite light and tricky conditions on the Thames River. Battling variable winds and strong current, every race demanded precision and composure, and the duo delivered both in abundance. Hamilton and Majette’s low-point A division score anchored the Bears’ overall regatta victory, which was further bolstered by a 1st place finish in B division and a 6th place result in C division.
The open award went to the MIT Engineers A division team for their performance at the Open Atlantic Coast Championships Round 1B. Robert Ulmer ’27 and Ellie Pinto ’27 faced a slow start on Saturday but turned their fortunes around with a four-point set to close out the day. Sunday brought rainy, light, and unpredictable conditions, but Ulmer and Pinto rose to the challenge, posting two 1st place finishes across four races sailed. They seized the A division lead in the penultimate race and never looked back. Their relentless consistency and sharp focus earned them the A division title, and paired with a 6th place B division finish, the Engineers secured an impressive 3rd place overall result.
Both squads demonstrated the resilience and tactical intelligence that define top-level collegiate sailing, making them deserving recipients of this week’s NEISA recognition.
