NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Cardinal claimed another regatta title over the weekend, taking the top spot at the Stu Nelson hosted by Connecticut College. It's the second-straight win for Stanford women's sailing after finishing first in the Women's ACC Round 1 last weekend.
Through four team competitions this season, Stanford has finished first or second in three.
"The team sailed well and they sailed together," said head sailing coach Chris Klevan. "This sophomore class, bolstered by two senior leaders in Gwendolyn Donahue and Lauren Taylor, has the potential to be really special."
Stanford topped a field of 16 teams including Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Tulane. The Cardinal earned the best score of all teams in the A division, tallying 37 points thanks to strong sailing from Vanessa Lahrkamp and Gwendolyn Donahue.
"They have come a long way in just a year. They sailed a very mature regatta yet learned some things in conditions we never see here in California," explained Klevan. "I'm impressed and encouraged to see how they progress the rest of the season, the year and, for some of them, the two years after as well."
The Cardinal scored 148 points to claim the victory, besting second-place Yale who finished with 163.
Sophie Fisher and Isabelle McNabb took control of the B division, scoring 65 points across the 12 races, finishing in first place in two individual races. Stanford took second in the C division as well, with Ellie Harned and Lauren Taylor leading the way to 46 points.
Meanwhile, Stanford was also competing in the Open ACC Round 1B, hosted by Harvard. The Cardinal earned second place in the regatta out of a strong field of 18.
"We learned a lot of valuable lessons about this year's Nationals venue and ended the regatta firing on all cylinders," said assistant sailing coach Shawn Harvey. "Especially Tommy and Alice, who won their last three races pretty handily."
Stanford took control of the B division, sailing to the best record among all teams. Thomas Sitzmann and Alice Schmid combined for the division victory, totaling 53 points, 18 better than the next closest team.
In the A division, Michelle Lahrkamp combined with Alexis Young to take fourth overall with 99 points, just four points outside of third.
The Cardinal returns to action next weekend, at the Women's ACC Finals, hosted by Yale the PCCSC Match Race Championship hosted by UC Santa Barbara, and the Captain Hurst Bowl hosted by Harvard.
