After three days of fierce competition on the Lafayette River in Norfolk, Virginia, Bonesaw emerged victorious at the 2026 U.S. Team Racing Championship, claiming the George R. Hinman Trophy for the first time. The championship-winning team featured Graham Landy, Chris Klevan, David Thompson, Elizabeth Redmond, Ian Barrows and Michaela O’Brien.
Rock City Cruising Club finished second, while three-time defending champions Los Huevos claimed third.
“It feels great!” said Bonesaw’s Graham Landy, who won his first U.S. Team Racing Championship. “This is my fifth Hinman and the first one where we really put it all together. It was tight, the Rock City Cruising Club is a really hard team that has won the event before, so we knew it was going to be a challenge. We tried to stay focused on sailing our boats fast and being consistent. Thanks to the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club and Coastal Virginia Youth Sailing Foundation for hosting a high-quality event from start to finish.”
“The competition was really tough all weekend,” Bonesaw’s Ian Barrows, 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the Men’s 49er remarked. “We were on the top of the Swiss League and had to race all the top teams. Even though the old guard are doing really well, we almost lost a race to a high school team early in the regatta, so it’s good to see where the future of sailing is going.”
Event Chairs Joan and Sam Patterson led a dedicated team of volunteers, umpires, and race officials, delivering an action-packed championship. Over the three-day event, competitors completed 216 Stage 1 Swiss League races, followed by quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship knockout rounds —all sailed in the stadium-style course just off the club’s main dock.
“Hosting a regatta like the Hinman is one of the most rewarding things you can do in sailing, no matter how much you do it” said Sam Patterson. “If you love going to great regattas, it’s up to you to host great regattas for others to attend, whether it’s a club annual or a US National Championship. This is the most competitive team racing regatta in the world, and the raw talent on display is something special to behold; second only to the insanely talented race management by Todd Fedyszyn and top-notch officiating by Katie Maxim’s umpire team. Special thanks to Joan Patterson, who did all of the real work; Zig Patterson, who spearheaded sail and powerboat fleet maintenance; Randy Stokes, who organized on-water ops; Sabrina Kanaley and Zach Tolles for their dedication to do whatever necessary to make the event run smoothly.”
US Sailing partners Pacific Life, Goslings Rum, Sextant Wines, Sailflow and Zhik elevated the level of the event, from Goslings and Sextant providing the post-race party to Zhik supplying the winning team with gift cards to celebrate their success. Thank you to local sponsor Elation Brewing for providing additional beverages.
Final Standings:
🥇 Bonesaw – David Thompson, Elizabeth Redmond, Graham Landy, Chris Klevan, Ian Barrows, Michaela O’Brien
🥈 Rock City Cruising Club – Shawn Harvey, Piper Holthus, Jack Egan, Julia Miller, Teddy Nicolosi, Anisha Arcot
🥉 Los Huevos – Mitchell Callahan, Sara Schumann, Carlos Bermudez de Castro, Addy Fisher, Robby Meek, Jacob Posner
Results: https://events.ksail.co.uk/2026/HinmanTrophy/
Photos by Lexi Pline: https://usst.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000jIciHhXA7tI/2026-U-S-Team-Racing-Championship-for-the-Hinman-Trophy