Bring on the college fall season

The start of university education in the USA varies between the semester system (mid-August/early September) and quarter system (late September). With winter around the corner, the 2026-27 college season is fully on with Clear Air providing an update:

The fall season is three weekends old, and the early returns point to a familiar power at the top — and some new faces climbing fast. Brown has won four of its first five regattas, Georgetown has taken control of the Mid-Atlantic, and conference singlehanded championships have already set the table for November’s nationals. With more than 30 regattas in the books, the picture is sharpening.

The season opened under the long shadow of graduation. Harvard lost the Callahan twins, whose five national championships in four years defined an era. Stanford said goodbye to three-time Women’s Sailor of the Year Vanessa Lahrkamp, plus Sophie Fisher and Ellie Harned. Brown’s Open Dinghy title defense begins without A-Division skipper Guthrie Braun and Crew of the Year Caroline Keeffe-Jones. As our season preview noted, this fall would reveal which programs reload fastest. So far, Brown and Harvard look very much in business. – Full report

2026-27 Season

2026 Fall National Championships:
Nov. 7-8: Women’s and Open Singlehanded Nationals – American Yacht Club; Rye, NY
Nov. 14-15: Match Race Nationals – Balboa Yacht Club; Newport Beach, CA

2027 Spring National Championships:
Apr. 29-May 1: Open Team Race Nationals – United States Naval Academy; Annapolis, MD
May 1-3: Women’s Team Race Nationals – United States Naval Academy; Annapolis, MD
May 18-21: Women’s Dinghy Nationals – United States Naval Academy; Annapolis, MD
Jun. 1-4: Open Dinghy Nationals – United States Naval Academy; Annapolis, MD