Stanford University announced on Apr. 2 that its sailing team will compete for its first conference title of the spring at the upcoming Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference (PCCSC) Open Team Race Championship. The Cardinal will also participate in two additional regattas: the Tulan Open Team Race Scrimmage and the Tulane Women’s Team Race Invite.
This event marks Stanford’s first opportunity to secure a conference title during the spring season, following a strong fall performance where the team claimed four PCCSC titles. Last weekend, Stanford won the Dellenbaugh Women’s Team Race, finishing first among twelve teams.
The Cardinal currently ranks in the top two nationally in both Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) women’s and coed rankings. The women’s team holds the number one spot, while the coed squad is ranked second.
Stanford’s sailing program has had a successful start to 2026, finishing in the top three of 31 out of 34 regattas so far this season and earning twenty first-place finishes. The team’s achievements build on last year’s historic results when they captured three national titles and received their second Leonard M. Fowle Trophy during what was described as “the most successful season in program history.” Overall, Stanford now claims eight national championships—five women’s and three coed—with seven earned over just three seasons under head coach Chris Klevan.
Many key athletes from last year’s championship run are returning for another campaign. Vanessa Lahrkamp was unanimously named Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year for a second consecutive time, joining Dartmouth’s Dierdre Lambert as only the second multiple-time recipient of that honor. Alice Schmid received recognition as Mitchell M. Brindley Crew of the Year; Thomas Sitzmann was a finalist for Open Sailor of the Year; and eight sailors earned ICSA All-America honors—including multiple recognitions for Lahrkamp and Ellie Harned.
Looking ahead, Stanford aims to add more hardware to its trophy case as it enters these pivotal spring competitions.
