Sailing Wraps 2026 ICSA Open Team Race National Championship in Fourth

TULANE, La. – The Dartmouth Big Green concluded the 2026 Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Open Team Race National Championship, Saturday, sailing to a fourth-place overall finish with a 15-10 record.

"It was an exceptional three days of racing on Lake Ponchartrain," Interim Head Coach Rebecca McElvain said. "We had a lot of things break our way in the really tight battle for the top 8 and then the final four. Getting to the final four is very difficult, and the team stayed composed and focused after each race. They rise to the occasion in several "must win" races to keep us in the running."

The Big Green qualified for the top four when sailing concluded on Friday, April 24. Skippers Bella Cassaretto, Ryan Satterberg and Chase Decker alongside crews Lilly Baker, Madeline Koelbel and Phoebe Lee earned only the third top four finish in the open team race national championship in program history. It is Dartmouth's first top four finish since 2019 when current Interim Head Coach Rebecca McElvain was sailing for the Big Green.

Harvard, Stanford, and Roger Williams earned the top three spots of the field, as the four teams sailed in their final three races each Saturday morning. The Big Green swept the top four round of sailing, posting a perfect 3-0 record, concluding the championship with an overall record of 15-10.

Dartmouth posted its first wins of the regatta over the Crimson, Cardinals, and Hawks, entering the round with an 0-2 record against each team, but finishing 1-2.

"The team was eager to get some wins against the teams that had bested us in the first two rounds: Harvard, Stanford and Roger Williams. It was really rewarding to end on a clean sweep against some of the best in country! It's always the goal to peak at the championship, and I think we did that," McElvain added.

Senior Bella Casaretto echoed her head coach, "Our team worked super hard this entire season, and it shows in our finals results. We were able to come back from losses and improve consistently throughout the event. The last round was our best performance of the season and was a perfect way to end. I am really proud of our team!"

Harvard was the only other team to have a winning record in the final round, going 2-1 en route to its second straight ICSA Open Team Race National Championship and third in four years. Stanford went 1-2 followed by Roger Williams posting an 0-3 record.

The Big Green will immediately be back on the water in Louisiana, sailing in the ICSA Women's Fleet Race Championship beginning Sunday, April 26. More information on the regatta and full results will be available on DartmouthSports.com.

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