Wrightsville Beach, N.C. — Palm Beach Atlantic University's sailing team delivered a resilient performance at the 2026 Azalea Bowl Regatta, navigating a highly competitive national field and challenging conditions on Banks Channel to finish with 178 total points.
The Sailfish faced demanding racing throughout the weekend, as strong winds over 20 mph, cold temperatures, and a persistent current tested teams from the opening rotation on Saturday. Despite the physically taxing conditions, PBA showed steady improvement across both divisions, highlighted by consistent mid-fleet finishes in a regatta where maintaining control and minimizing mistakes proved critical.
In A Division, Dawson Kohl ('27) and Brayden Valliere ('29) combined for 72 points, turning in several solid races including a fourth-place finish and multiple top-10 results. Their ability to stay competitive in heavy breeze conditions helped keep the Sailfish within striking distance throughout the event.
The B Division squad of Nathan Hjort ('27) of Grace VanGessel ('29) posted a total 106 points, battling through the fleet in a division that played a pivotal role in the regatta's overall standings. The group showed resilience in shifting conditions, particularly as racing transitioned into lighter breeze and more tactical racing on Sunday when Gabby Ramia ('29) stepped in to skipper the final 2 race set.
Priscilla Foster ('27) served as a reserve for the weekend.
Conditions evolved significantly over the two days, with Sunday bringing warmer temperatures and lighter winds, forcing teams to adjust from survival sailing to a more strategic, fleet-management approach. The changing environment led to frequent position shifts across the standings and kept the competition tight through the final races.
Jacksonville ultimately claimed the regatta title with 75 points, followed by NC State (79) and Roger Williams (83), in a finish decided during the closing rotations.
Hosted by UNC Wilmington and NC State at Carolina Yacht Club, the Azalea Bowl once again proved to be one of the premier events on the collegiate sailing calendar, combining high-level competition with a strong community atmosphere.
For Palm Beach Atlantic, the weekend provided valuable experience against a deep field and an opportunity to build momentum heading into Women's and Open Fleet Race Champs after Easter Break.
