GALVESTON, Texas – Palm Beach Atlantic University delivered an impressive performance at the Harris Kempner Memorial Regatta, finishing second overall after a hard-fought, two-day battle with UC Berkeley. While the Sailfish were unable to hold onto first place through the final race, the regatta marked a major milestone for the program as its first-ever competition outside of conference play.
The Harris Kempner Memorial Regatta featured 10 teams from across the country, including UC Berkeley, SUNY Maritime, and Palm Beach Atlantic, along with several Texas programs such as Texas A&M University, the University of Texas, and Rice University.
PBA opened Day 1 strong, led by A Division skipper Dawson Kohl and crew Priscilla Foster, who posted two first-place finishes in their opening races. In B Division, skipper Nathan Hjort and crew Kalia Foster finished fifth and second in their first set of the day. As the winds and gusts intensified throughout the afternoon, A Division faced increasing challenges, recording second- and fourth-place finishes. B Division remained consistent, adding another second-place finish in race three.
Race four proved difficult for the Sailfish, as they were over early at the start. Despite recovering several positions on the downwind leg, they finished seventh. Heading into the final set of Day 1, PBA trailed Berkeley by four points while holding an eight-point cushion over Texas A&M–Galveston.
In race 5A, substitute crew Lily Frakes provided an immediate spark, helping the Sailfish secure a strong third-place finish. Race 6A brought unexpected adversity when a hiking strap malfunction on the first upwind leg sent Kohl into the water during a puff. Frakes quickly recovered him, and during rotations, the Sailfish swapped boats and returned to the course. The reset proved decisive, as PBA claimed two first-place finishes in B Division to close the day. Hjort and Peterson earned the first wins of their collegiate careers, pushing the Sailfish into the overall lead by one point heading into Day 2.
Day 2 began with multiple postponements as dense fog delayed racing. Once conditions cleared, competition resumed at 11:30 a.m. In A Division, Kohl and Foster posted a second-place finish in race seven before finishing fourth in race eight. With just two races remaining, PBA held a slim one-point lead over Berkeley.
Race 7B saw both teams battling tightly, with Berkeley finishing second and PBA close behind in third. That set up a dramatic final race with both teams tied at 40 points. The decisive race turned into a match-racing duel, with both boats even on the upwind leg. Berkeley gained the advantage at the windward mark and defended their lead through the remainder of the race, leaving the Sailfish with a fifth-place finish.
Palm Beach Atlantic concluded the regatta in second place overall with 45 points. As a newcomer to out-of-conference competition, the Sailfish made a strong statement and earned the respect of the field. PBA will look to build on the momentum and lessons learned when it competes next weekend at the SAISA Open at Rollins College.
