The Palm Beach Atlantic Sailing Team closed out its regular 2026 season this past weekend with a competitive showing at the SAISA Coed Championships for the Richard Tillman Trophy, held on Boca Ciega Bay. Facing many of the conference's top programs, the Sailfish completed a full slate of racing across two days of shifting conditions, marking the culmination of their spring campaign.
Saturday's racing opened in a light 6-knot southerly breeze, allowing A Division to complete the first race before conditions eased to 4 knots during Race 2. The wind faded completely as B Division took to the course, forcing a temporary postponement and return to shore. Racing resumed later in the afternoon under a steady 8–10 knot westerly, enabling B Division to complete six races. A late shift to the northwest introduced increased variability, but A Division was able to finish races seven and eight to conclude the day. All Saturday races were sailed in W4 course configurations, with one protest filed and dismissed and no equipment breakdowns reported.
Sunday provided another full day of competition, with sailors greeted by a steady 6-knot northwest breeze. Racing resumed with races 8B through 10A before a shift to the west required a course adjustment. As the breeze built to 8–12 knots, teams rotated through W4, W3, and W5 course formats to complete the regatta. One protest on Sunday resulted in a disqualification. Cooler temperatures in the low 80s, along with sightings of a manatee and several dolphins, highlighted a strong finish to the weekend on the water.
Palm Beach Atlantic fielded a young lineup across both divisions. In A Division, Dawson Kohl '27 and Priscilla Foster '27 competed in races 1–10, with Nathan Hjort '27 stepping in for races 11–12. The group recorded a total of 123 points. In B Division, Gabby Ramia '29 and Kalia Peterson '28 sailed in races 1–10, while Brayden Valliere '29 competed in races 11–12, finishing with 117 points. The Sailfish totaled 240 points overall in the regatta.
The SAISA Championships marked the conclusion of PBA's regular season schedule. The program continued to show growth throughout the spring, with underclassmen gaining valuable experience against some of the strongest competition in the conference.
Palm Beach Atlantic extends its congratulations to Charleston and Jacksonville, who secured berths to the College Sailing National Semi-Finals with their performances and are looking forward to see what other schools will be selected to join.
While the conference championship brings the primary season to a close, the Sailfish will continue their postseason campaign at the ICSA Regional Teams National Invitational, set to take place at Larchmont Yacht Club in Larchmont, New York. The event will provide PBA with another opportunity to compete on a national stage and build on the momentum established throughout the season.
