2026 Susan Widmann Sinclair Championship Entries

Noroton Yacht Club has confirmed a 12-boat fleet for the Susan Widmann Sinclair Women’s Championship, scheduled to be sailed in Sonars on May 16–17, 2026, with shore-side logistics coordinated for launch, parking, rigging space, and race committee operations out of Darien, Connecticut.

Selected skippers and clubs

Selection for the 2026 field was made on a resume basis and includes returning podium finishers from 2025 as well as top women sailors from across North America and Bermuda. The expansion from eight entries in 2025 to twelve entries in 2026 required additional coordination with the class measurer and local harbormaster to assure mooring, trailer storage, and trailer-to-water transfer windows for visiting teams.

Notable returnees and performance incentives

The 2026 roster retains Carmen Cowles, Katrina Williams, and Erin Maxwell, the top three from the 2025 Sinclair. The winning skipper from 2026 will receive an invitation to compete in the New York Yacht Club 2027 Joan H. Towse Trophy, matching prior practice of linking national women’s keelboat events to higher-profile invitational competition.

Race management and governance

Race operations for 2026 will again be overseen by experienced officials. Shannon Bush returns as Principal Race Officer (International Race Officer) and Jan O’Malley serves as Chief Judge (National Judge). Maintaining the same race management team for consecutive editions improves consistency in course setting, protest procedures, and application of Section C race signals, which is important for fleets sailing identical keelboats such as the Sonar.

Notice board and event documents

The event notice board lists key documents that affect logistics, sail handling, and on-the-water procedures. Organizers posted a Notice of Race, a Protest Form, a Sonar Handling Guide, and a Visitor’s Guide, with timestamps indicating document release between October 2025 and February 2026. These documents are standard for national championships and support fair competition and visitor planning.

Crew lists and fleet makeup

Entry lists show mixed crew compositions typical of keelboat championship racing: teams range from family crews to experienced campaign teams. Example entries include the Vermilion Boat Club entry helmed by Heidi Backus Riddle (boat named "Your Mom") and the Larchmont entry led by Carmen Cowles (boat "Spice Girls"). Each Sonar sails with a four- or five-person crew, so shore-side berthing, tender access, and trailer launching schedules were adjusted to meet class requirements and local marina capacity.

• Crew logistics: crew accommodations and transport to Darien arranged through host club contacts.
• Boat handling: Sonar-specific rigging and handling guidance provided to visiting teams to reduce on-site troubleshooting.
• Race schedule: two-day event with multiple races planned to qualify a champion and tie into NYYC invitations.

Event timing and local operations

With racing set for mid-May, tidal factors and prevailing spring breeze patterns in Long Island Sound factor into both course design and launch windows. The host club coordinated slip assignments and spectator boating zones to minimize interference and to comply with local harbormaster rules.

Historical context and evolution

The Sinclair Championship was inaugurated in 2023 to respond to increasing demand for national-level women’s keelboat regattas. The event honors Sue Sinclair, a long-time Noroton Yacht Club champion sailor. The inaugural winning team included Sara Morgan Watters, Gloria Kevliciute, Catherine Shannahan, and Sophie Taczak. Growth to a larger field in 2026 reflects both a rising pool of competitive women sailors and stronger support structures at yacht clubs for women’s campaigns.

Over the three editions to date, the championship has established a pattern: targeted selection of experienced skippers, standardization on Sonar class boats for parity, and linkage to invitational trophies that provide pathways to higher-level competition. That model mirrors other national women’s events that use consistent equipment and race management to produce fair, tactical racing while opening development opportunities for emerging sailors.

Forecast: implications for regional tourism and sailing activity

Expanding national regattas have measurable ripple effects on local tourism, marina utilization, and the charter market. Anticipated impacts include increased demand for:

• hotel nights and short-term rentals for crews and families;
• marina berths and on-site services (fuel, pump-out, provisioning);
• boat transport and local charter services for practice sails;
• racing support businesses such as sailmakers, riggers, and coaching services.

For destinations like Darien and Long Island Sound, recurring events create seasonal demand spikes that benefit restaurants, transport operators, and marine service providers. A steady calendar of women’s keelboat championships can also attract international entries over time, tying into broader yachting activity across marinas and fueling interest in charter and boat rental options for visitors seeking on-water experiences.

Operational takeaways for visitors and teams

Teams traveling to the Sinclair Championship should prioritize early coordination with the host for launch times, trailer parking, and shore power access. Visiting crews will benefit from reviewing the Sonar Handling Guide and confirming crew manifests to expedite check-in. Race officials have emphasized consistent application of class rules to keep race management predictable and fair.

In summary, the 2026 Susan Widmann Sinclair Women’s Championship brings a 12-boat Sonar fleet to Noroton Yacht Club on May 16–17, featuring past winners and top women skippers from North America and Bermuda, supported by experienced race officials and complete event documentation. The expansion to a larger field underscores the event’s steady growth since its 2023 inception and its potential to stimulate local marina activity, charter demand, and broader yachting tourism.

GetBoat is an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget. For sailors, captains, and visitors coming to regattas like the Sinclair Championship, platforms such as GetBoat.com can help arrange charters, find crewed or bareboat options, and secure motor or sailing boats for coastal cruising, fishing, or leisure time on the water. In short, the 2026 Sinclair lineup points to growing interest in women’s yachting events and related boating activities — from charter and rental demand to marinas and local tourism — and GetBoat remains a useful resource for those seeking yachts, charters, or boats for sunshine, sea, or racing support.