Supporting the next generation of U.S. match racers while honoring a champion’s legacy
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US Sailing has opened applications for the 2026 David Storrs Match Racing Grant Program, a competitive development grant offering financial support and mentorship to help young sailors advance their match racing careers. Established in memory of David Storrs, a former match racer once ranked No. 1 U.S. and No. 13 in the world, and the 2017 Prince of Wales Bowl winner at age 73, the grant is made possible through his generous legacy and continues his commitment to excellence and mentorship in the sport.
For the 2026 grant cycle, the David Storrs Match Racing Grant will award up to $5,000 per selected team in reimbursable funding for a full calendar year, along with individualized mentorship support.
- Funding may be used for eligible expenses including entry fees, travel, and lodging.
- Grant recipients are paired with an experienced match racing mentor for guidance on campaign planning, crew development, logistics, and racing strategy.
- One male skipper and one female skipper may be selected for 2026; applicants are encouraged, but not required, to apply with a team in mind.
The program is open to sailors who:
- Are 22–29 years old before January 1, 2026
- Have prior match racing experience.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to competing at a higher level and continuing in match racing long term.
The grant is designed to support young adult sailors who may be balancing school, work, or early career responsibilities with financial and structural support to pursue a competitive match racing campaign. Grant recipients are expected to participate in at least one match racing clinic and at least three graded match racing events, including one U.S. Match Racing Championship Qualifier, during the grant year. Additional events are encouraged, with preference given to competitions physically located in the United States.
Key Dates
- January 15, 2026: Applications Open
- April 1, 2026: Applications Close
- April 1–15, 2026: Reference checks and interviews (as needed)
- April 15, 2026: Grant recipients announced
Through the David Storrs Match Racing Grant Program, US Sailing continues to invest in the future of match racing by providing young sailors with the resources, mentorship, and opportunity to grow while honoring the lasting legacy of one of the sport’s most respected champions as reflected in the experiences shared by 2025 grant recipients below:
George Higham: I am incredibly grateful to be among the recipients of the David Storrs Grant. This grant provided my team and I with the financial support we needed to compete and grow within the match race community. Thanks to this grant, we had the opportunity to participate in various events, such as Bristol Yacht Club’s Monday Night Match Racing Series, the USMRC Qualifier in San Diego, and the Koi Pond Classic. These events allowed us to practice weekly against strong competition in the area and compete at a high level. This grant also gave me the opportunity to work with Pearson Potts who has been invaluable in honing my skills as well as my interest in match racing. My team and I are looking forward to getting back into the dial up this year!
Lindsey Baab: Match racing is super fun because you really feel like you are going to battle. When the competition is good, you have to fight so hard to win the race and sometimes even if you give it your best fight you’ll lose on something small. We learned a ton and definitely have the match racing bug. Sailing with a lot of the same team and working towards a common goal was something I haven’t really been able to do since college sailing.
Will Donovan: This past winter I applied for the US Sailing David Storrs Grant with teammates Tyler Nash and Connor Rosow, and we were selected as one of three teams. We were paired with mentor Dave Perry, whose extensive notes, videos, and guidance helped us prepare and improve throughout the season. We competed in several match racing events, including the US Match Racing Championship Qualifier in Annapolis, the Koi Pond Classic in Bristol, and the Detroit Cup, our first Grade 2 event. The grant helped cover travel and entry costs and made it possible for us to sail against strong competition and gain experience at a higher level of match racing. We’re grateful to the late David Storrs for the opportunity to carry on his legacy through his grant.
To help ensure this program continues to support the next generation of match racers, supporters are encouraged to contribute to the David Storrs Match Racing Fund. Donations directly support grant recipients and help carry forward David Storrs’ legacy of excellence and mentorship in the sport.