KINGS POINT, NY (22 May 2023) - The Intercollegiate Sailing Association’s (ICSA) spring national championships kick off May 23rd, 2023, starting with College Sailing Women’s National Semifinal and Final Championships, College Sailing Team Race National Championship, and College Sailing National Semifinal and Final Championship.
- Women’s National Semifinals Championship – May 23-24
- Women’s National Finals Championship – May 25-26
- Open Team Race National Championship – May 27-29
- Open National Semifinals Championship – May 30-31
- Open National Finals Championship – June 1-2
The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) will host these events, sailing out of the Yocum Sailing Center at Kings Point, NY. They hosted the national championships in 2000. This facility has direct access to Long Island Sound with bleacher-style seating off the sea wall and the All-American Room overlooking the Sound and Manhattan’s skyline. Long Island Sound can give very tricky conditions during the spring season, whether the wind is coming from the South, making the breeze super shifty as it comes over the hills and buildings, or if the wind is coming from the East, creating huge waves as they build from Long Island Sound. Will sailors get pushed over the line at the start due to the ripping current surrounding USMMA? Brendan Feeney, Assistant Director of External Relations at USMMA, says, “We are very honored to host the 2023 College Sailing National Championship events at Kings Point. Our staff has worked countless hours to create an unprecedented event that will showcase our sport to viewers nationwide. Kings Point hosts numerous top-tier events throughout the season. The staff and resources here allow us to run events of this caliber efficiently.”
Teams from all over the United States will unite to fight for the championship titles. Will Yale University be able to come from their Women’s Team Race Championship win and go for all three titles these coming weeks? Each championship will have a Competitor’s Meeting at 6:00 PM EDT via Zoom the night before race day. At the beginning of each championship event, there will be a Welcome Briefing for everyone at the Event Tent at 9:00 AM EDT. The first warning for all championship events will be at 10:00 AM EDT. All events will sail on Long Island Sounds, and all competitors will sail in Zim 420Es and Flying Juniors (FJs).
USMMA will welcome teams, fans, and parents to watch all championship events. Teams will have designated areas to set up team tents and sitting areas, and parents are more than welcome to visit their sailors in these areas. Fans and parents can watch the competing sailors on the second floor Pavilion of the Yocum Sailing Center and along the sea wall. Parents and fans can also watch the races live-streamed in the Event Tent on the Eldridge Pool Lawn.
Chris Love Productions is partnering with FlyPack, NY, to have all championships live-streamed for those who cannot attend. Live Stream will start May 25th with a Pre-Race Show beginning at 1:30 PM EST each day. Don’t miss out on live onboard dinghy cameras and audio, drones, on-course cameras and audio, live tracking, and more!
LIVE STREAMING
Chris Love Productions is partnering with FlyPack, NY, to have all championships live-streamed for those who cannot attend. Live Stream will start May 25th with a Pre-Race Show beginning at 1:30 PM EST each day. Don’t miss out on live onboard dinghy cameras and audio, drones, on-course cameras and audio, live tracking, and more!
Women will take center stage on May 23rd at 10:00 AM EDT. The first two days will be the Semifinals with two stages. Teams placing 1st through 9th in each Stage 1 regatta shall advance to the Finals.
Open Team Race Championship will start on May 27th at 10:00 AM EDT. After completing the first round robin of all sixteen teams, the top 8 teams will advance to another round robin. The top four teams from that will then compete in another round robin to determine who will be the Open Team Race Champion.
Open Semifinals will start on May 30th at 10:00 AM EDT with two stages: Stage 1, two concurrently-run semifinal First Round events, and Stage 2, a Final. Teams placing 1st through 9th in each Stage 1 regatta shall advance to the Finals.
Who will be named the victor of all these significant championship events? Can Tulane hold onto their Open National Championship triumph from last year? Can Roger Williams beat the number one ranked team currently to take first in the Open National Championship? Will Stanford take the 2nd place finish from Women’s Team Race Championship and turn it into a 1st place finish for the Women’s National Championship? Stay tuned to the live-streamed events, College Sailing Instagram, and College Sailing Facebook page!
To learn more about the teams competing in all championship events and to follow race results, visit the College Nationals webpage here!
Lexi Pline will be providing photos for the event and social media updates. (@lplinephoto on Instagram, but posting on @collegesailing and @ussailing)