It was a slow start to the U.S. Sailing League Regatta at St. Francis Yacht Club the weekend of May 30-31, with a postponement ashore and an unexpected discussion with a local fishing trawler operating on the racecourse. Once racing started, conditions steadily improved and the seven teams, all stacked with talent, were soon working the Club’s J/22s for every advantage. StFYC was represented by one team, while San Francisco Yacht Club and Richmond Yacht Club each fielded two teams. Hailing from ports further afield were teams from Long Beach Yacht Club and Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
Both days began with a flood tide but turned to ebb as the afternoon breeze filled in, resulting in choppy and challenging conditions. Race Committee was signaling “no spinnakers” by day’s end on both Saturday and Sunday. This year’s lineup of competitors was undaunted by the physical demands of the Cityfront, and the talent on the racecourse showed how the Sailing League concept continues to gain traction in the US. After three years of testing this new racing format, the level of competition has clearly risen, with on-the-water duels becoming increasingly fierce and tactical.
Saturday’s racing largely centered around teams optimizing boat speed and refining boat handling, especially during key transitions. By contrast, Sunday’s racing was far more aggressive, with teams incorporating match racing tactics and seizing opportunities to pass competitors or force penalties in order to climb the leaderboard.
Windward mark roundings were especially tight, with crews skillfully applying their rules knowledge to gain and maintain controlling positions. Downwind racing—particularly on Sunday—featured classic and aggressive luffing duels, adding to the intensity and spectacle of the regatta.
Behind the scenes, the event was supported by a Race Committee led by Shannon Bush and Gerard Sheridan, and the regatta also showcased modern race management technology, including MarkSetBots as autonomous marks, while Velocitek supported precise start-line detection. Operations were further enhanced by two shuttle boats, enabling efficient logistics and seamless transitions on the water. Over the course of the event, we successfully completed 15 races.
Podium Results
San Francisco Yacht Club’s team of Nicholas Sessions, Will Foox, Caleb Yoslov and Aaron Ziegler, beat the Richmond Yacht Club team of Christopher Weis, Adam Corpuz-Lahne, Marcos McGee and Patrick Wilkinson. Third on the podium was the StFYC team of Russ Silvestri, Christopher Smith, Mario Yovkov and Laura Levy.
Two teams will from this event will go on to represent the United States at the SAILING Champions League World Final in Kiel, Germany—a testament to the high level of competition and the continued growth of league sailing in the United States. The Open Division Wildcard was awarded to San Francisco Yacht Club, who will race in Kiel on October 2-4, 2026, and the Women’s Division Wildcard went to Richmond Yacht Club, who will race in Kiel on August 7-9, 2026.
Youth Pathway
Youth sailing remains a key pillar of the Sailing League vision and an opportunity for young sailors to experience international competition. The Youth Team will be determined through the U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup, at Noroton Yacht Club, in Darien, Connecticut, on August 7-10, 2026. The winning team will advance to the Youth World Final in Split, Croatia, September 4-6, 2026
Looking Ahead
For competitors inspired to continue Sailing League racing, the next opportunity is on September 26–27, 2026 at the Sailing League Regatta East Coast at Eastport Yacht Club.
A special thank you to all participating teams, volunteers, race officials and organizers who made this event possible. Their dedication and enthusiasm created a professional, competitive and welcoming atmosphere both on and off the water.
RESULTS >>
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