The University of Hawai’i sailing team secured its 10th consecutive victory at the Peter Wenner Rainbow Invite, which took place January 17-18 at Ke’ehi Lagoon in Honolulu. The event brought together 160 sailors from 14 schools across the United States and Canada to start their spring season.
Wind conditions were strong on the first day, with speeds over 20 knots allowing for fast-paced racing. However, the second day saw a significant drop in wind due to rain clouds, reducing the total number of races from a planned 24 to 22—11 each in the A and B divisions.
The University of Hawai’i’s Rainbows team finished well ahead of competitors, ending with a regatta-low score of 43 points and distancing themselves from the runners-up by 60 points. In the B division, senior Everett McAvoy and freshman Alister Muto, with Seaena Charlton serving as crew for two races, won eight out of eleven races and placed second in the remaining three. They accumulated just 14 points. In the A division, Erik Anderson and Amanda Turner won three races and finished in the top three seven times for a total of 29 points.
The Rainbow Wahine team claimed second place overall. Their B division trio—Stella Taherian, Peyton Lieser, and Elin Reigstad—scored 32 points after placing in the top three eight times out of eleven races and winning two. Their strong finish helped secure second place for their team. Martha Schuessler skippered all weekend in the A division alongside crews Avery Hogue and Jenna Englehart.
UC Santa Barbara completed the podium in third place, narrowly ahead of UH’s Rainbow Green team who came fourth. William Bagley shared time with Amanda Wheeler as skipper in A division; Leila Landay, Lily Beckerman, and Gabi Furnans served as crew members. Arden Rathkopf and Ann Tokoyoda raced all B division events.
Rounding out the top five was UH’s Rainbow White team: Kahlia Bailey, Grady Van Ness, Gabriella Delgado, Kylie Alexander, Quinn Gladstone-Lamas, Nova Hazen (A division), along with Spencer Fleming, Zach Brennan, Erin Wilmore, and Olivia Merz (B division).
Looking ahead, UH’s coed sailing squad will compete at the PCCSC Top Nine Open in Redwood City on February 14-15. The Rainbow Wahine are scheduled to race next weekend at Jeff Simon’s Women’s Regatta in San Diego on January 24-25.
