San Francisco, Calif. (August 19, 2025) – Nicole Breault and her Vela Racing team — Molly Vandemoer, McKenzie Wilson, and Hailey Thompson — have captured the 2025 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship on the iconic waters of San Francisco Bay. By securing her fifth win of the Allegra Mertz Trophy, Breault is now the most successful women’s match racer in the history of the championship.
In a hard-fought final against skipper Lindsey Baab and her crew Kate Shiber, Elena VandenBerg, and Helen Lord, Vela Racing prevailed in foggy, challenging conditions with steady winds of 18–20 knots and strong San Francisco Bay currents. The win was sealed in style with a sparkling wine celebration for the victors courtesy of Sextant Wines.
“I love sailing here [in San Francisco], I love all the people here, and this event is amazing, and the talent level is so high,” said Breault. “I was really psyched to come away with the win, but I also really value what the other teams are bringing to the table. I feel so lucky that I have been able to play the game as long as I have. Competition was incredible, lots of newcomers who have come a long way in a short time.”
Breault and Baab have been training partners in San Francisco, staging a series of “match race Mondays” at St. Francis Yacht Club. Their head-to-head matchup in the finals is the culmination of months of drills, dial-ups, and debriefs to prepare.
Breault and her team will take the energy from this win into the Women’s Match Racing World Championship, where they will represent the U.S. this fall at Chicago Yacht Club. “We took the country, and now we’re ready to take on the world,” said Breault about Worlds.
The championship, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, featured a talented field of all-women teams from across the country. After a full day of tight quarterfinal and semifinal racing in classic Bay conditions marked by steady breeze and a signature visit from “Karl the Fog,” the stage was set for a thrilling final.
“The 2025 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship was an absolute highlight on the San Francisco Cityfront. Over three days, the regatta delivered thrilling races that showcased not only the sailors’ skill but also the tactical challenges of our venue. The energy onshore matched the intensity on the water—a true celebration of the sport of sailing,” said St. Francis Race Director Felix Weidling.
“We are incredibly proud that the St. Francis Yacht Club hosted three US Sailing National Championships this year. This demonstrates not only how versatile and challenging our racecourse, San Francisco Bay, is for nearly every discipline, but also the strength of our entire race management team—from the Race Office to our dedicated volunteers. The St. Francis Yacht Club continues to set the standard for excellence in race management, reinforcing its reputation as one of the premier sailing venues in the world.”
Molly Carapiet and her team of Kate Gaumond, Evan Cahill, and Megan Grimes took on Caroline Bayless, Nora Ong, Noelle Owen, and Emma Montgomery in the petit finals in a battle for third place. Carapiet and her team were able to best Bayless in the heavy breeze conditions, claiming third with a 2-1 victory.
Alongside amazing sailing, competitors were treated to world class hospitality, including complimentary drinks courtesy of sponsors Goslings and Sextant Wines. Local to Paso Robles, California, Sextant Wines offered a variety of wines for tasting including a 2022 Wheelhouse Zinfandel and a 2023 Crosscurrent white blend. Sailors also participated in a Saturday night panel discussion, gathering all the skippers to share their insights, tips and accomplishments in the regatta so far.
The event highlighted the strength and depth of women’s match racing in the United States, with outstanding performances throughout the fleet.
The U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship is part of US Sailing’s commitment to fostering opportunity, excellence, and growth in women’s competitive sailing. The playing field for the 2026 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship has been set in Michigan, hosted by Bayview Yacht Club. For more information, visit https://byc.com/uswmrc2026