The Seahawks are making waves — and this time, they’re on top.
Salve Sailing sailed away with a dominant first-place finish at the Brenton Cove Team Race last weekend, racking up 14 wins in 18 races and notching a program-first victory in team racing.
“This weekend marked a milestone for the program,” head coach Brittney Manning said. “While there is still work to be done, the result is a strong indicator of the team’s growth and upward trajectory.”
In college sailing, the spring season shifts into high-intensity team racing — a head-to-head format where three boats from each school battle in a round-robin showdown. And Salve delivered.
The breakthrough didn’t happen overnight.
Manning said the foundation was built last spring when the team hit pause on team racing to sharpen fundamentals in fleet racing — a move that’s now paying off in a big way.
After a grueling spring break training block featuring twice-daily practices, film sessions and weight training, the results are clear.
“The difference in execution, communication and confidence… is nearly night-and-day,” Manning said.
The Seahawks also got a boost from assistant coach Nick Johnstone, whose on-the-water presence — often racing alongside the team — helped raise the level of competition in practice.
Now, Salve is riding the momentum into the heart of the spring season.
Next up: a return to fleet racing at the Vietor Trophy at Connecticut College and home invitationals, both key tune-ups ahead of the New England Dinghy Tournament on April 4-5 — which Salve will host.
If last weekend was any indication, the Seahawks aren’t just improving — they’re arriving.
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