NEW LONDON, Conn. —
The United States Coast Guard Academy sailing team has officially earned an at-large berth to the 2026 Open Team Race National Championship, marking the program's fourth consecutive appearance on the national stage in this discipline.
The championship regatta is set for April 23-25 and will be hosted by Tulane University at Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans. The event will feature 16 of the nation's top collegiate sailing teams competing in a high-level, three-day team racing format.
The Bears' selection continues a strong run of national relevance for the program, underscoring its consistency and competitiveness within collegiate sailing.
"Before the season began, the team set a goal of reaching the Team Race National Championship," said Head Dinghy Coach David Thompson. "We knew it would take focus, hard work, and commitment to get there. We're excited to now have the chance to see those goals through."
Coast Guard built its resume through a series of impressive performances across the spring season. The team's top result came at the NEISA Team Race Championship, hosted by Brown University, where the Bears finished tied for fifth place alongside Boston College. During that regatta, Coast Guard secured key victories over several nationally ranked opponents, including Boston College, Dartmouth, and Tufts.
The Bears also delivered a strong showing at the Southern New England Team Race, earning wins against Roger Williams, Yale, MIT, and Tulane.
The team will be represented by seniors Charlie Pohl (Euclid, Ohio), Bradley Whiteway (Potomac, Md.), and Luke Zylinski (Lavalette, N.J.); juniors Grace Austin (Moorpark, Calif.) and Julian Henderson (Camden, Maine); sophomore Benjamin Reeser (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); and freshmen Isabella Clark (Newport Beach, Calif.), and Peter Judge (Severna Park, Md.).
Team racing is a fast-paced, tactical discipline that emphasizes teamwork, communication, and advanced boat-handling skills. With momentum from a successful season, the team now turns its attention to nationals, ready to build on its success against the country's top programs.
