Huskies Open Fall Season With New Sails and Strong Results
The Husky Sailing Team is back on the water for the 2026-2027 school year with more than 70 team members on the roster. The Team has returned to practice on Lake Washington three days a week, with Ava Butterfield ’28 and Ayana Owen ’28 serving as team captains.
The Huskies are sailing with 12 brand-new sets of FJ sails, made possible by the generosity of the Husky sailing community. The 2026 Husky Sailing Auction raised funds to purchase the new sails, an important upgrade for the Team and its fleet.
The Team kicked off fall quarter with a clinic led by HSF Board Member Mark Laura and Andrew Kerr, giving sailors a chance to sharpen their boat handling and race strategy early in the season. Laura and Kerr are both elite sailing instructors at North U. Funded by the Husky Sailing Foundation and supported by alumni volunteers, the clinic was free for Husky sailors and other college sailing teams across the Pacific Northwest. In the pre-season, the Team also hosted an “Intro to Sailing” practice week for new sailors and prospective members, part of its ongoing effort to recruit the next cohort of Husky sailors.
In September, the Team hosted the Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference Singlehanded Championships at Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle, with five UW sailors competing. Sammy Farkas ’27 placed third in the Women’s Conference Championship. In October, the Huskies opened their fleet racing season with an impressive showing at Cascadia Cup, taking first and third in the Varsity division and sweeping the top four spots in the Junior Varsity division.
The Team also welcomed a talented class of freshmen this fall, who got off to a promising start in their first regatta. At Cascadia Cup, freshmen made up six of the eight sailors on the top two JV teams.
The Husky sailing community has also been hard at work behind the scenes. Parents, alumni, and community members continue to volunteer at Team events, including the two regattas and the pre-season clinic hosted by UW early in the season.
The Team’s fleet of 12 FJs is in great shape for regatta season, thanks to the ongoing care of HSF Board Member Jim Skeel and team members, who have completed repairs to both the boats and their storage systems. Meanwhile, the Husky Sailing Advisory Committee resumed meetings at the start of the academic year. Bringing together current team members, alumni, faculty advisors, and coaches, the advisory committee provides continuity and guidance for the Team throughout the year.
As the fall season continues, the Huskies will build on a strong start while representing the University of Washington on the water. Follow the Husky Sailing Team on Instagram for the latest results, updates, and photos.
On the Horizon:
- Outlaw – October 17 – 18, 2026 at University of Oregon
- Frosh-Soph – October 24 – 25, 2026 at Western Washington University
- Top-9 Fall Invite and PCCSC Women’s Fall Championship – October 31 – November 1, 2026 at Stanford
- North-North – November 7 – 8, 2026 at University of Washington (Sail Sand Point)
- Pacific Northwest Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta – November 13 – 15, 2026 at Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle.
- Fall Pacific Coast Championship – November 14 – 15, 2026 at UC Santa Barbara
- Rose Bowl Regatta – January 2 – 3, 2027 at University of Southern California
Looking ahead, the Husky Sailing annual auction is scheduled for Saturday, January 30, 2027, at the Mountaineers in Seattle. The silent auction will also be available online for those who cannot attend in person. The auction remains a vital source of funding for the Team, helping pay for equipment, fleet maintenance, and opportunities for UW sailors to train and compete.
The Husky Sailing Foundation is proud to back the latest generation of Husky sailors through funding, leadership, and long-term vision. Thank you to everyone in the Husky sailing community whose generosity helps the Team compete, maintain its fleet, and grow both on and off the water.