San Diego Yacht Club hosted the 2026 U.S. Match Racing Championship (USMRC) October 16-18, welcoming 10 teams from across the country to compete for the prestigious national title and a nomination to represent the United States at the 2027 Nations Cup in Cherbourg, France. Competitors raced in SDYC’s fleet of club-owned J/22s on the City Front of San Diego Bay, providing an excellent venue for close, tactical competition. The weekend’s weather, however, presented some unusual challenges. Santa Ana conditions competed with San Diego’s typical afternoon sea breeze, producing light, variable winds and dramatic shifts throughout Friday and Saturday. The SDYC Race Committee led by PRO Randy Smith worked to keep racing moving despite the difficult conditions. Supporting the competition were 12 on-the-water umpires, many traveling from across the country, who provided immediate decisions on racing rules incidents. With only one round robin completed during the first two days, the format was adjusted to eliminate the quarterfinals. Sunday brought more typical San Diego conditions, with a westerly breeze building to 8–10 knots, allowing the semifinals, finals and consolation races to be completed. William Stratton and teammates Matei Meglic and Sidney Gathrid delivered an outstanding performance, winning the championship with a perfect 13–0 record. Stratton defeated Peter Joslin in the semifinals before facing Molly Carapiet in an exciting final. Carapiet and her crew put up a strong fight, particularly in the second match, but Stratton prevailed to claim the national title. SDYC member Peter Joslin, sailing with brother Jack Joslin and Nick Budington, secured third place after defeating Cameron Feves in the Petit-Finals. The championship was about more than racing. SDYC hosted a series of social events beginning with Thursday’s casual welcome gathering in the Pavilion area. Friday featured snacks during the post-racing umpire debrief, while Saturday’s highlight was a Santa Maria-style BBQ on the Spinnaker Deck. Sunday’s awards ceremony brought competitors, officials and volunteers together to celebrate the weekend’s accomplishments. Event details/results: https://www.ussailing.org/competition/championships/2026-u-s-match-racing-championship/