Yale sailing delivered strong performances across three regattas over the weekend, highlighted by a commanding A division victory at the Schell Trophy on Lake Champlain. The Bulldogs also competed at the Urn Trophy and Nickerson Trophy, continuing a busy stretch of fall racing.
The coed team traveled to Lake Champlain for the Schell Trophy, where conditions varied across the two days of competition. Saturday’s breeze started from the north at 4-10 knots before shifting east-northeast in the afternoon, ranging from 5-10 knots with gusts exceeding 12 knots. Sunday brought south-southwest winds of 8-12 knots along with some chop on the water. Skipper Morgan Pinckney, with crew Ella Benedetto, won A division by an impressive 12-point margin. In B division, skippers Wyatt Kelly and Dorothy Mendelblatt, sailing with crews Annabel Woodworth and Genevieve Schmidt, placed second.
The women’s team headed to Dartmouth for the Urn Trophy on Lake Mascoma, where light and shifty conditions tested the fleet across both days. Sunday offered slightly more consistency with a westerly breeze reaching 3-8 knots by the afternoon. Skipper Audrey Foley, with crew Margaret Ratzan, finished sixth in A division, while skipper Carly Kieding, with crew Maren Bradley, earned a strong second-place result in B division. The team finished fifth overall.
Another coed squad competed at Tufts for the Nickerson Trophy. Saturday delivered the most challenging conditions of the weekend, with a strong northwest breeze producing puffs into the high 20s and sustained winds of 12-16 knots. The wind eased as the day progressed, and Sunday brought a lighter, shiftier westerly at 6-8 knots with puffs up to 12 knots. Skipper Thomas O’Grady, with crews Evan Wang and Soleil Demetry, placed 10th in A division, while skipper Eli Shainker, with crew Ryan Tonkovich, placed fourth in B division. The team finished sixth overall.
Looking ahead, Audrey Foley will represent the Bulldogs at the 2026 Women’s Singlehanded National Championship. The regatta will be hosted by Fordham at American Yacht Club.
