Stanford University’s sailing team is preparing for two upcoming regattas at Tulane University. The team will compete in the Nelson Rolsch Open Team Race and the Green Wave Women’s Team Race, marking their first road events of the spring season.
The Cardinal recently won the MacIntyre Open Team Race, achieving victory in all 18 races and finishing first among ten teams. This performance continues a strong trend for Stanford, which has placed in the top three in 22 out of 24 regattas so far this season, including 13 first-place finishes.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Stanford’s sailing program experienced its most successful season to date. The team secured three national titles and received its second Leonard M. Fowle Trophy. In total, Stanford now holds eight national championships—five women’s titles and three coed crowns—with seven of these championships won under head coach Chris Klevan over the last three seasons.
Many key members from last year’s successful squad are returning for the 2025-26 season. Vanessa Lahrkamp was unanimously named Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year for a second consecutive year, becoming only the second sailor to win the award more than once. Alice Schmid was recognized as Mitchell M. Brindley Crew of the Year, while Thomas Sitzmann was one of two finalists for the Everett Morris Memorial Trophy for Open Sailor of the Year.
Eight Stanford sailors earned ICSA All-America honors. Lahrkamp and Ellie Harned both received multiple recognitions; Lahrkamp as an All-American skipper in both Women’s and Open divisions, and Harned on both Women’s Skipper and Crew teams. Sitzmann received his second All-American award as an Open Skipper, while Sophie Fisher joined the Women’s Skipper team with her first career honor. Schmid and Piper Blackband were named First Team All-America crews, with Kit Harned and Ashtyn Tierney earning honorable mentions.
“Vanessa Lahrkamp was unanimously named the Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year to win the award for the second consecutive season, joining Dartmouth’s Dierdre Lambert (2013–14) as the only multiple-time recipient of the award.”
“Alice Schmid was honored as the Mitchell M. Brindley Crew of the Year, while Thomas Sitzmann was one of two finalists for the Everett Morris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the 2025 Open Sailor of the Year.”
