The 2025 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy was hosted by Old Dominion University and Big Blue Sailing Academy in Norfolk, VA on June 18-22. This special event featured a 3-day clinic with US Sailing coaches followed by 2 days of racing, giving the 56 young female sailors an exceptional learning experience in the Club 420 and 29er classes.
The U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy championship was started in 1995 by Thomas Clagett and It became a US Sailing national championship in 1996. No private coaching is allowed, instead US Sailing Coaches are provided to lead world-class training and coach all competitors to enhance the experience, sailing skills, competitiveness, and sportsmanship of the group. This unique, all girls event provides junior sailors with a chance to build their skills in an all-female environment and foster friendships for a lifetime. This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Clagett Family.
The clinic was a highlight of this year’s Ida Lewis, with great sailing conditions and competitive training environment. Winds ranging from 5 to 20 knots and US Sailing coaches Ali Blumenthal, Beka Schiff, Caroline Young, Paris Henken, and US Sailing ODP Director Rosie Chapman pushed the sailors on the water and in the classroom over three days of training.
“These past 5 days have been an amazing experience and opportunity for these talented young women from across the country” said coach Paris Henken. “We saw a handful of different conditions here at ODU which gave them a big range of skill sets to home in on. As a returning coach, I am happy to see the growth and optimism in the world of women’s sailing.”
Weather conditions were lighter for the regatta days of the event. Saturday began with very light winds, but a moderate 5-10 knot seabreeze filled in at 3pm, with three races taking place in both fleets on a beautiful summer evening. Sunday again brought light wind, with the race committee attempting several races which were called off when the wind died. Racing was abandoned for the day, and Saturday’s three races decided the championship.
“It was an honor to host this great group of young women at Old Dominion University this week” said Event Chair Morgan Collins. “This type of event depends on outstanding support from the race officials and volunteers, and we are very thankful for their hard work.”
The awards ceremony celebrated the hard work and achievements of all participants. The following sailors were crowned champions in their respective classes:
Club 420
- 1st place: Merritt Sellers / Marina Priskich, St Francis Yacht Club
- 2nd place: Sophia Alexopoulos / Charlotte Crowley, Riverside Yacht Club
- 3rd place: Megan Soos / Sally Davis, 73 Sailing / BLYC / CYCCM
29er
- 1st place: Chloe Kong / Maggie Tripp, Skiff+
- 2nd place: Sophie Niemann / Matilda Niemann, Lake Geneva Yacht Club / Skiff+
- 3rd place: Julia Stewart / Sky Hillel, San Diego Yacht Club / Skiff+
Also awarded at the ceremony were the following awards:
Most Improved Award: Esther Ireland and Simone Reck
Thomas Clagett Sportsmanship Prize: Halsey Carter and Catherine Kammeier
“Sailing at an all-girls event is always 10 times more supportive” said Club 420 class winning skipper Merritt Sellers. “Unfortunately we only had three races, so we focused on keeping our scores low and avoiding mistakes. Twenty years from now, we will still remember this experience, and the connections we made with all the other girls at this event.”
The championship is part of US Sailing’s commitment to fostering youth development for women in the sport, providing a platform for young female sailors to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience. It also serves as a steppingstone for many aspiring sailors aiming to compete at higher levels, including national and international competitions.
The event not only provided a platform for competitive racing but also fostered camaraderie and sportsmanship among the young sailors. It was an excellent opportunity for these athletes to gain valuable experience and build connections within the sailing community.
Thank you to Old Dominion University and Big Blue Sailing for hosting this year’s Ida Lewis Trophy, and a special thank you to the Clagett Family for their generous support of the US Junior Women’s Championships!
Full results can be found here: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/E5yzARqv70/results