Tufts sailing delivered one of the most impressive comebacks of the college season at the Nevins Trophy, climbing from ninth place after Saturday to a podium-finishing third by the end of Sunday’s racing at Kings Point, New York on October 18, 2026.
The Jumbos were also competing at the Captain Hurst Bowl hosted by Dartmouth over the weekend, but a lack of wind canceled all Sunday racing at that event. Saturday’s results stood as final, with Tufts placing seventh out of 18 teams.
At the Nevins Trophy, the Jumbos accumulated 175 total points, finishing behind winner Stanford with 99 points and runner-up Pennsylvania with 156. Tufts recorded 118 points in A division and 57 in B division, powered by a remarkable closing stretch that propelled them up the standings.
The Sunday surge saw Tufts score just 36 points across Races 9 through 12, splitting 19 in A division and 17 in B division. Sitting ninth after Race 8, the Jumbos methodically climbed into podium position over the final four races.
Race 9 kicked off the push with A finishing 10th and B seventh for 17 combined points, enough to move into eighth overall. Race 10 brought even better results as A division won the race outright while B placed seventh, totaling just eight points and lifting Tufts to seventh. Race 11 proved to be the defining moment of the weekend. Tufts swept both divisions, with A and B each winning their races for a combined two points, the best score possible. That performance vaulted the Jumbos from seventh to fifth, bringing Navy and St. Mary’s within striking distance. Race 12 sealed the deal. A finished seventh and B took second for nine points, while Navy dropped 27 points in the same race after finishing 17th and 10th. That allowed Tufts to leapfrog them for third place on the final leaderboard.
Sunday’s A division boat featured sophomore skipper Crue Ziskind with senior crew Redding Kehrli, while B division was helmed by senior skipper Devon Owen with first-year crew Eliana Mopper. The A division pair finished ninth in their division standings while the B division duo placed second in theirs, underscoring the depth of the Jumbos’ roster.
The result caps a strong stretch of fall sailing for Tufts, who earlier qualified for the ACC Finals following a sixth-place finish at the ACC 1A Regatta and posted a ninth-place finish at the Danmark Trophy.
